【コラム】 Luke Slater: 英国テクノの先駆者とその音楽世界

Column en Acid Techno UK Techno

04 Oct 2025

Full story about UK techno innovators and their various projects

Text: mmr｜Theme: Luke Slater = Examination of British techno pioneers and their music world

Luke Slater is a techno DJ/producer from Reading, Berkshire, England, who has continued to lead the global scene from the late 1980s to the present. Utilizing numerous aliases such as “Planetary Assault Systems,” “The 7th Plain,” and “LSD,” he has developed a wide range of activities from hard minimal to ambient, electro, and classical collaboration.

Early background and musical formation

Luke Slater was introduced to music through the influence of his father, and became a drummer by the time he was 12 years old.In the late 1980s, he rose to prominence as a DJ in London’s underground clubs.They made their debut with “Momentary Vision” in 1990 and have since become an indispensable part of the evolution of techno.

In the 90s, they released ambient to minimal works with Warp and NovaMute, and since the 2000s, they have been strongly connected to Berlin’s prestigious club Berghain and the label Ostgut Ton, and have quickly become a representative of the European techno scene.

Activity Map

flowchart TD A["Luke Slater"] --> B["Planetary Assault Systems"] A --> C["The 7th Plain"] A --> D["LSD (w/ Steve Bicknell & Function)"] B --> E["Hard Techno / Ostgut Ton"] C --> F["Ambient Techno/Warp"] D --> G["Experimental Collaboration"]

Features of each project

Planetary Assault Systems (PAS)

This is one of Luke Slater’s signature projects since the early 1990s. Featuring a hard and minimalist techno sound, it is known as a symbol of “peak time techno” played in clubs around the world.

Features

Hard kick and heavy baseline
Cosmic and futuristic sound processing
A long structure that leads to a trance state

Relationship with label

90’s: Numerous releases from Tresor (Berlin’s prestigious club/label)
After 2000s: Moved base to Ostgut Ton (Berghain direct label) and continues to release works to this day.

PAS = Luke Slater’s “front-line project for club hard techno.”

In contrast to the variety of solo acts and the ambient nature of 7th Plain, PAS can be described as a stoic techno expression that is purely meant to shake the floor.

Discography

Year	Album name	Features	Link
1997	The Drone Sector	Early masterpiece with strong industrial colors	Amazon
1999	Atomic Funkster	Evolution to Hard Minimal	Amazon
2009	Temporary Suspension	Released by Ostgut Ton	Amazon
2011	The Messenger	Fusion of minimalism and future-oriented	Amazon
2016	Arc Angel	Cosmic expanse and hard beat	Amazon
2022	Devotion	The latest PAS works, the essence of modern techno	Amazon

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The 7th Plain

The 7th Plain is an ambient/techno project started by Luke Slater in the mid-1990s. In contrast to Planetary Assault Systems, which is characterized by a hard sound for the floor, 7th Plain pursues an introspective and floating ambient techno.

Features

Dreamy and meditative soundscapes
A fusion of Detroit techno lyricism and ambient
Strong listening orientation, more like an “immersive experience” than a club

Position

A project that is Luke Slater’s “other side” and symbolizes his experimental and poetic side in the techno scene. The 7th Plain = “The deep world of ambient techno” by Luke Slater.

Discography

Year	Album name	Features	Link
1994	The 4 Cornered Room	A masterpiece of ambient techno	Amazon
1994	My Yellow Wise Rug	Experimental work with a high sense of space	Amazon
2016	Chronicles I	Archive collection (Warp Records period)	Amazon
2016	Chronicles II	Second archive collection	Amazon
2018	Chronicles III	Collection including unreleased sound sources	Amazon

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LSD (Luke Slater + Steve Bicknell + Function)

LSD is a techno project formed in 2017 by Luke Slater, Steve Bicknell, and Function (Dave Sumner). Each of them are veterans who have been active since the 90s, and through collaboration they pursue a hard and hypnotic sound.

Features

Long and stoic minimal development
Acidic textures and cosmic soundscapes
Drive feeling that brings the floor into a trance state

Position

LSD is a “supergroup” in modern techno, a project that combines the experiences and styles of each member. Live performances at Berghain and international festivals have received particularly high praise.

LSD = A ``culmination of hard minimalism’’ brought together by three masters, incorporating not only techno but also electro, funk, and vocal songs, developing a wide range of expressions.

Discography

Year	Album name	Features	Link
2017	Process	First collaborative work	Amazon
2019	Second Process	Minimal and sharp development	Amazon
2020	Third Process	Cosmic sound processing	Amazon

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Solo name Luke Slater

Under his solo name, he is known for a wide range of works spanning techno, electro, and breakbeat.

Features

Variety from hard and industrial techno to melodic and experimental pieces
In addition to 4/4 beats, we also offer breakbeats and ambient music.
Always balance club scene and artistry

Position

Slater is acclaimed as a flexible creator who crosses scenes, combining the hardness of techno with a pop sensibility. It laid the foundation for later aliases such as Planetary Assault Systems and The 7th Plain.

Discography

Year	Album name	Features	Link
1997	Freek Funk	A fusion of funk and techno, a masterpiece	Amazon
1999	Wireless	Unique work with strong vocals	Amazon
2002	Alright on Top	Pop/electro-oriented	Amazon

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Current activities

Luke Slater is still active and will release “Planetary Assault Systems Reassembled” in 2025.He is also working on fusion projects with classical music, and continues to experiment artistically beyond the boundaries of techno.

summary

Luke Slater is a pioneer of UK techno, developing a diverse range of musical styles through a number of aliases.His work goes beyond the boundaries of techno and continues to take on new musical challenges, such as fusion with ambient and classical music.I can’t take my eyes off his music in the future.

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