Overview
Tassilo Ippenberger and Thomas Benedix, the two members of the revered German techno outfit, Pan-Pot, first connected in a rather traditional manner. They were the only two students at Berlin’s creative institute, SAE, who sought to make dark, experimental techno music.
After connecting they almost immediately put their shared drive into action with consistent original releases on respected labels like Mobilee and Einmaleins. The growth was slow and steady, but in 2007 the duo really took off with the release of their debut album, Pan-O-Rama.
The album contains both peak-time rippers and more subtle pieces of music along with their classic heater, “Charly.” Two singles that followed, "Confronted" and "Captain My Captain," solidified their reputation as one of the world’s most in-demand techno acts.
This reputation came from more than just their productions, though. Ippenberger and Benedix live the quintessential life of techno artists today, fitting production in between a constant string of live gigs, and the scene could not be more grateful.
They’ve played at giant festivals around the world like Awakenings, Timewarp, and Creamfields, but they’ve also lent their considerable experience to intimate clubs as well as smaller markets and events like Symbiosis Gathering in Northern California and REFORM in Los Angeles.
In 2014 the duo started their own record label called Second State which has been a home for much of their own music, but also a stomping ground for some of techno’s most exciting veterans and rising stars.
Amelie Lens, Luigi Madonna, Perc, Robert Capuano, and dozens more have added their creations to Second State’s more-than-100 releases, and Ippenberger and Benedix have even revived some of their classics through Second State under the impetus of new remixes.
For example, in 2019 the duo put their own new spin on “Confronted” along with Anfisa Letyago, Farrago, and Frazi.er. Given how celebrated these new remixes are, it’s clear Pan-Pot’s sound and style will live on for decades to come.
