James Ruskin

Croydon-born producer and DJ James Ruskin is one of the most respected figures in British techno, both for his Blueprint label and his own recordings, which are equally informed by the no-nonsense drive of the Birmingham sound as well as the adventurous sound design of Autechre. Consistently releasing quality material through Blueprint since the label's mid-'90s foundation, he's also issued several full-lengths and EPs through German institution Tresor, including 2001's Into Submission. In addition to releasing collaborations with Surgeon and Oliver Ho, Ruskin has also worked with Regis (Karl O'Connor) as O/V/R, and produced more experimental, IDM-leaning material with Mark Broom as the Fear Ratio. Ruskin began to DJ in 1991, and started producing in 1994, initially with studio partner Richard Polson. First releasing a 12" under the name Void in 1995, the two founded Blueprint in 1996, and started issuing records as Outline, quickly establishing the label's hard, uncompromising techno sound. Ruskin began releasing material under his own name in 1997, and his debut full-length, Further Design, arrived on Blueprint in 1998. Tresor released his next two albums, Point 2 (2000) and Into Submission (2001), and Ruskin continued issuing EPs on Blueprint and Coda. Ruskin and Blueprint went on a brief hiatus in 2006, following Polson's death due to natural causes, but Ruskin returned in 2008, issuing fourth full-length The Dash through Tresor. He formed O/V/R with Sandwell District/Downwards co-founder Karl O'Connor, debuting with Interior in 2009. This was followed by 2010's Post-Traumatic Son; the EP's title track was subsequently remixed by Robert Hood, Marcel Dettmann, and others. Starting in 2010, Ruskin released several techno EPs with Mark Broom, and the two formed a more abstract, fractured project called the Fear Ratio, issuing debut album Light Box in 2011. The pair's second album, Refuge of a Twisted Soul, appeared on Skam in 2015, and Live E.P. surfaced in 2018. After going five years without a solo release, Ruskin returned in 2019 with Reality Broadcast Off (Blueprint) and Siklikal (Tresor). He kicked off 2020 with the Blueprint-issued Consumer Patterns. ~ Paul Simpson