Muscle memory and instinctual reactions are two things that are built from years and years of experience. From repetition that borders on insanity, innovator Richie Hawtin is a pioneer when it comes to the creation of progressive and seminal music production, DJing and live performance.

His career spans over 30 years alongside the birth of minimal techno and has seen him flourish with other legends Robert Hood, Jeff Mills, Carl Craig and Daniel Bell as well as the classic label, Kompact.

Since then, his many aliases including the famous Plastikman have seen Hawtin travel across the world. With residencies in global dance hot spots Ibiza and Miami, we are lucky to be seeing him play this weekend in Australia at Days Like This in Sydney and Pitch Music & Arts Festival in Victoria.

While impossible to fully summerise his discography, here are five of the most important Richie Hawtin releases across his illustrious career.

Richie Hawtin – Acid Probe (1996)

Imagine the scenes of your first time at a dark and dingy club. Low light and heavy strobes when this soviet-esque vocal first cuts through the earlier part of the track. Before you know it, a crunching and heaving drum starts marching forward, unrelenting… a moment you’d unlikely forget when hearing “Acid Probe” in 1996.

Richie Hawtin & Steve Bug – Low Blow (2002)

Who knows what Steve Bug and Richie Hawtin were up to in the studio in 2002 but their track “Low Blow” is flat out weird. It’s a combination of the absolute minimum sounds but also a wobbling slap of low-frequency noise that’ll shake you from the insides.

Richie Hawtin – Minus/Orange 1 (1998)

Richie Hawtin must have been heavily on it in the late 90s and explains ‘Minus/Orange 1’, a scratchy acid laden vessel that’d take anyone willing on a chaotic journey to the depths and back.

Richie Hawtin – Call It What You Want (1995)

Yep, Richie wasn’t fucking around in the ’90s with his output reflecting his relentless energy as a fresh face on a new scene wanting to leave a mark. Case in point “Call It What You Want”, a challenging joint of thumping analog goodness but kept light with blasts of arpeggios.

Richie Hawtin – Core Resonance (2019)

This recent release from the Canadian producer, “Core Resonance” is a hypnotising and droning offering that winds and spirals in the most perfect showcase of what defines electronic music was and still is.

A career spanning 30 years with multiple aliases is always going to be an impossible task to cover. Here are five that have stood the test of time and could floor a club today or tomorrow. Catch Richie Hawtin alongside Nina Kraviz, The Black Madonna, Maceo Plex, Hunee and more this Saturday at Days Like This. Grab tickets here.