John Thomas

Le Petit Prince may evoke a cherished children's story for many readers, yet the rave community operates by altogether different associations. In that world the same phrase, whether or not appended with "de techno," serves as the working alias of French techno producer and mixer John Thomas. Both the nickname and the artist are recognized across English- and French-speaking circles; Thomas belongs to the cohort of French techno figures who gained a following within Detroit's techno community around 2000.

Contemporary commentary on the era, when Thomas released numerous tracks such as "Working Night" and "Vision," paints a far from flattering portrait, with reviewers charging that his output began "Downhill" and remained there. Observers generally concede the briskness of his mixing, which yields concise cuts suited to fleeting attention and largely free of scratches or overt live-performance gestures. The harshest judgments, however, rest on the notion that fellow French techno artists who likewise registered in the Motor City simply outclassed him, rendering his contributions comparatively lackluster and uninspired. ~ Eugene Chadbourne