Biography
Rhythim Is Rhythim served as Derrick May's outlet for a series of foundational techno tracks issued toward the close of the 1980s, earning a lasting place among the genre's most respected monikers. Although May supplied the primary creative drive behind these releases, several supporting contributors participated at times. Carl Craig supplied some of his initial studio work on the pieces "Drama," "Kaotic Harmony," and the 1989 edition of "Strings of Life," while Thomas Barnett assisted on "Nude Photo" and Mike James added to "Strings of Life." D-Wynn joined May on the related R-Thyme project, which yielded "R-Theme" and "Illusion." Even so, May's singular forward-thinking approach accounted for the steady succession of standout recordings. The first of these appeared on his Transmat imprint with the 1986 release of "Nude Photo," after which he issued further classics through 1991. Within that span, both "Nude Photo" and the piano-driven "Strings of Life" achieved anthem status inside England's burgeoning late-'80s rave culture. Tracks carrying a less overtly celebratory character, such as "Beyond the Dance (Cult Mix)," "It Is What It Is," and "Icon (Montage Mix)," earned recognition for their atmospheric quality built from synthesizer lines and understated percussive patterns. May gathered most of the Rhythim Is Rhythim catalog onto the double album Innovator in 1998.