Les McCann

This time of year — when late autumn begins giving way to the dawning chill of winter — often takes me back to the year 2001, a swirling vortex of electronic jazz and machine soul.

Now we venture beyond the cozy climes of Laurel Canyon and assorted outposts into the realm of the metaphysical, the music that lies at the fringes of canyon proper.

The elegant beat matrix of electro is to rave what the blues were to rock 'n roll. In other words... it all started with Kraftwerk.