Content kicks off the year with Detroit tech-house pioneer Daniel Bell

It's been a storming year for Manchester techno night Content, whose small yet ever so perfectly formed basement parties at Joshua Brooks have firmly established them as one of Manchester's finest nights out.

They've even gained themselves a nomination in the 'Best Club Night' category in DJ Magazine's Best of British awards in the process.

And things are showing no sign of slowing down in 2012, with the club night kicking off the year with the kind of high quality, educated booking that's helped them attract and maintain one of the most discerning crowds in the city. For their first event of the year, Content have recruited pioneering Detroit producer Daniel Bell to come and lift the roof off their basement rave sanctuary.

There are few people in the world today who can claim to have had such an influence on the modern minimal and European tech-house sounds. Inspired by the funk of Chicago house and the sparse compositions of Steve Reich and Philip Glass, Daniel Bell was influential in creating a newer, more stripped back version of techno that we have now come to know as minimal, way back in the early 90's.

After growing up just outside of Toronto, Dan moved to Detroit where he met Richie Hawtin, and together the duo set about recording together as Cybersonik in 1990. Although their sound back then was a mixture of hard industrial techno and classic Mayday influenced Detroit styles, it wasn't long before Dan had simplified the trademark bleeps and blips of Derrick May's sound into a more raw and streamlined groove with his releases under his DBX alias on his own Accelerate label between '93 and '94. It was around this time that he also collaborated with Basic Channel's fellow minimal pioneer Maurizio on City On The Edge Of Forever released through the seminal Peacefrog Records.

Since then, Dan has accrued countless releases and remixes on huge labels such as Transmat, Perlon, Poker Flat, Klang and Logistic, under a myriad of monikers and utilising a mixture of his trademark stripped back sounds through to deeper, housier cuts and more traditional atmospheric laden Detroit techno.

His DJ sets are similarly wide reaching - taking in styles and influences from all across the 4/4 spectrum. Expect to hear the sounds of Chicago, Detroit, New York and Berlin (where Daniel is a regular guest at the Berghain/Panorama Bar) all spliced together with ease by a consummate professional.

We can't even remember the last time Dan played in Manchester so we urge you not to miss this rare opportunity to catch him in the rainy city.

As ever tickets are limited to 200 and we expect this event to sell out. Make sure you guarantee your place by getting your tickets now!

Content presents Daniel Bell, Friday 27th January, Joshua Brooks

Tickets are no longer available for this event