A work of genius - for such a robotic song, this tune drips with human emotion.
Created by Richard Davies and Juan Atkins this was a seminal moment in Electro history.
Juan Atkins was obsessed with the idea of humanity entering a new enlightened era of technology. With Detroit a crumbling post-industrial city, he was convinced that this would happen in his city first and his music would be the catalyst for this new age. And in a way he was right.
Clear is the finest track by Cybotron and easily the most famous. Cold and electronic, and yet full of nostalgia and a kind of robotic soul, this track calls to mind a shimmering image of a futuristic metropolis. This was the sound of the future, at least for a while. Cybotron were really pushing forward the Electro sound.
However, Afrika Bambaata beat the Cybotron crew in releasing their track Planet Rock first. Planet Rock met with massive acclaim which was apparently a very bittersweet thing for Juan Atkins, hearing the sound he loved so much credited to someone else.
Clear was created in 1983 and was absolutely massive in hip hop clubs and still is. Modern producers should take note.
Juan Atkins went on to be on of the instigators of Detroit Techno.
Cybotron - Clear goes for very cheap - buy a piece of historic futurism today:
