One of the first artists of international renown to take Motor City futurism to a major-label level, Angel (born Dave Gooden) signed with Island's Blunted sub-label in 1996 and recorded his debut long-form release, Tales of the Unexpected. Previously, Angel released EPs through the Black Market, Love, Apollo, and R&S labels, as well as his own Rotation label, which was established following a string of charting hits in the early '90s, including the "Nightmare Mix" of pop group Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)." The son of a jazz musician, Angel's roots are in bebop and modern jazz (as both a fanatic and a radio jockey) as much as in the Detroit-styled techno he is more often known for. Although he lived the common inner-city experience of crime and drugs, Angel glommed onto the burgeoning acid house scene in the late '80s after a series of jail sentences and the death of his father. Self-taught as both a producer and musician, Angel drew heavily in style and mood from original Detroit luminaries such as Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Eddie Fowlkes. A DJ of renown, Angel's following (both on the decks and on wax) has been strongest in Germany, where the hardcore, trance, and techno scenes regularly attract audiences far in excess of the house-centered U.K. and American scenes. His second album, Globetrotting, gained release on 4th & Broadway in 1997. Released from his Island deal the following year, Angel returned with two EPs, a two-disc mix album (39 Flavours of Tech Funk), and a second mix release via the X-Mix series. ~ Sean Cooper