# Good, melodic indie-electronica **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 11, 2004, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-melodic-indie-electronica/279260 "2004-12-11T04:26:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eb8c5e/32.png) [@gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gentle)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-melodic-indie-electronica/279260/1 "2004-12-11T04:26:17Z")
I listen to, in no particular order: Boards of Canada Apparat Bonobo Styrofoam The Postal Service Goldfrapp Dntel Chronomad Four Tet Air Manitoba/Caribou I Am Robot and Proud Mouse on Mars Lali Puna Ms John Soda Frost Kraftwerk Ellen Allien The Notwist Triosk Skalpel Isan Portrait of David Excepter Múm King of Woolworths Boy in Static Multi-Panel Junior Boys Fischerspooner Kazumasa Hashimoto Diefenbach Myrakaru You will notice a certain predilection for European, especially warm, glitchy indie-electronica. Some of these (MoM, Notwist, Apparat) often integrate acoustic instruments (or samples thereof) to achieve a wonderfully textured, organic sound that I like; Notwist’s use of wind instruments is wonderful. Mouse on Mars is a particular favourite, as is The Notwist and its various offshoots and collaborators. Of late, Apparat’s _Duplex_, Ellen Allien’s _Berlinette_ and Styrofoam’s _Nothing’s Lost_ (which I highly recommend to any Postal Service fans out there) have impressed me the most. On the other hand, I’m not into Allien’s DJ stuff, or DJ mixes in general, nor weirdo club techno like Miss Kittin which to me comes across as too harsh and crude. Fischerspooner is borderline. And while I enjoy ambient music, I usually need something more solid. What is missing? Recommendations, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-melodic-indie-electronica/279260/2 "2004-12-11T06:09:47Z")
There’s plenty to check out over [here](http://www.adifferentdrum.com). Of course, over there it’s called synthpop, but it’s more or less the same thing when you really look at it. I’d recommend [Iris](http://www.irismusic.com), [The Echoing Green](http://www.echocentral.com), [Mesh](http://www.mesh.co.uk), and [Neuropa](http://neuropa.biz/). Some of these bands may sound a little more polished than the more “indie” influenced sound and are often more upbeat, but hey, it’s worth a shot. ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-melodic-indie-electronica/279260/3 "2004-12-11T06:12:06Z")
> [@gentle](#): > > Ellen Allien Sweet, I thought I was the only one. I might take some of those groups on your list as recommendation, since I do already listen to a handful of the groups listed. Nothing to add though, your knowledge on the subject pretty much covers mine. ---
**Author:** ![gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eb8c5e/32.png) [@gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gentle)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-melodic-indie-electronica/279260/4 "2004-12-11T06:23:41Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > There’s plenty to check out over [here](http://www.adifferentdrum.com). Of course, over there it’s called synthpop, but it’s more or less the same thing when you really look at it. To me, synthpop is Pet Shop Boys, New Order, Duran Duran, Joy Division and so on. Slick, heavily synth-based pop music, danceable beats, traditional song structures, chart music material. Indie electronica, while I dislike the name, is a different beast altogether. Even at their most melodic, Mouse on Mars is nothing like synthpop. Same goes for everything else I listed. The Postal Service, on the other hand, is somewhere in between; it’s IDM with with unconventional structures and instrumentations. Anyway, thanks; I will check out your recommendations. ---
**Author:** ![gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eb8c5e/32.png) [@gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gentle)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-melodic-indie-electronica/279260/5 "2004-12-11T07:07:12Z")
> [@Kid\_A](#): > > Sweet, I thought I was the only one. I might take some of those groups on your list as recommendation, since I do already listen to a handful of the groups listed. If it’s _Berlinette_ you like – in my opinion most of her other stuff is nowhere near as melodic – then I would highlight these recommendations (forgive me if you already know them): **Mouse on Mars** – German genius duo. Heavily influenced by progressive rock, classical music and Kraftwerk. Specializes in an organic, finely textured, “dirty” electronic sound that often sounds like somebody (metaphorically) crumpled up the music and then unfolded it, alternating between atmospheric, wistful, symphonic passages and heavy beats and intense rhythms that ascend into heavenly cacophonies. They have been gradually adding more vocals, even if they’re usually nonsensical, and on the latest record they even do full-blown pop songs. If I were to make any comparisons, it would be to Einstürzende Neubauten, and like Neubauten there’s something intellectual and poetic about Mouse’s music. They have never made a bad record, but my favourites are _Idiology_, the softer _Niun Niggung_, and the latest, _Radical Connector_, where they combine their existing dirt-ronica with a more breezy Air/Röyksopp-like pop sound; a few missteps along the way, but in general, one of this year’s best albums. **Apparat** – German IDM/glitch heavily influenced by Mouse on Mars; a little like MoM without the beats. _Duplex_ is mostly instrumental, a warm, delicious wave of calm, intelligent electronic music. **Styrofoam** – alias Arne Van Petegem from Belgium. His latest album, _Nothing’s Lost_, is a collaboration with Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie, Andrew Kenney of the American Analog Set, Markus Acher of The Notwist, and that girl in Lali Puna. Sweet stuff. (Arne himself sounds a lot like the main vocalist in Broken Social Scene.) **Dntel** – alias Jimmy Tamborello. Glitchy, downtempo, mostly instrumental indie electronica. **Chronomad** – one of the first artists to be signed to the Notwist’s new record album, Alien Transistor. A Turkish guy who incorporates Middle-Eastern influences into instrumental electronica. **Caribou** (formerly Manitoba) – similar to Dntel, but a little more lively. **Lali Puna** – similar to the Notwist, but without the baroque minimalism. Female singer, oddly affecting German accent. Several Notwist members contribute. _Scary World Theory_ is the one to grab. **Ms John Soda** – again a Notwist outgrowth, with a similarly minimalistic sound, but focusing on tight pop songs. _No P. or D._ is their only full-length album so far, and the only one worth listening to. **The Notwist** – combine flutes, tubas, cellos, guitars and some synthesizers; influences from rock, jazz, techno, classical music; terse, abstract, intelligent lyrics; add a tall, lanky, geeky-looking singer with long hair and a German accent; and that’s one way to describe the Notwist. Its chamber music minimalism, spaceous sound and geekiness makes me think of them as the IKEA of electronica (stylistically, not in that mass-produced-in-Slovenia kind of way). **Boy in Static** – another of Alien Transistor’s new artists, if I remember correctly. Sounds promising, if obviously Notwist-influenced. I also remembered this band: **Tied and Tickled Trio** – if you like jazz, this one is a winner. This is sax player Johannes Enders with most of the Notwist people, doing electronic jazz. Wonderful stuff. As for the other stuff: **BoC** you surely know. **Bonobo** , **I Am Robot and Proud** and **Four Tet** are all vaguely similar – instrumental, not too overtly electronic electronica with good beats. **Goldfrapp** , at least _Felt Mountain_ is sultry vocal jazz done electronica style; Frost tries to do something similar. **Triosk** is a more traditionally jazz-sounding outfit. **Isan** is ambient, or at least pretty quiet. **Portrait of David** is an interesting Norwegian guy who does quiet, somber songs with a lone synth and a lot of silence. **Múm** , Icelandic fairy folk who record in lighthouses. Similar to Mouse in many ways, without the beats and plus a lot of chamber music influence. **King of Woolworths** is a BoC clone, but a good one. **Multi-Panel** , **Kazumasa Hashimoto** and **Myrakaru** are all pretty recent discoveries; until I know them better I would peg them as “stuff that’s low-key without being boring”. I like Myrakaru in particular; minimalistic, sweet and friendly, perfect work music for me. ---
**Author:** ![gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eb8c5e/32.png) [@gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gentle)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-melodic-indie-electronica/279260/6 "2004-12-11T07:10:02Z")
Oh, and the album to get by the Notwist would be _Neon Golden_. ---
**Author:** ![Nightime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nightime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightime)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-melodic-indie-electronica/279260/7 "2004-12-11T07:28:12Z")
**Mouse on Mars** is one of my favorites too, though I like _Glam_ and _Instrumentals_ the most. **BoC** and **Lali Puna** are also favorites from your list. For recommendations… have you heard **Zero 7** ’s _Simple Things_? That seems like it would belong on your list. And **Broadcast** , both _The Noise Made by People_ and _Haha Sound_. Also, I’d recommend **µ-Ziq** , _Tango N’ Vectif_, to anyone who likes electronic music at all. **Amon Tobin** - _Permutation_… Maybe **Stereolab** , _Dots and Loops_. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-melodic-indie-electronica/279260/8 "2004-12-11T07:40:30Z")
I second Zero 7 and (I can’t believe I’m the first to mention them) suggest Frou Frou as well. I found them both recently and love them dearly. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-melodic-indie-electronica/279260/9 "2004-12-11T07:42:37Z")
[www.ampcast.com/tictok](http://www.ampcast.com/tictok) - Mostly tracks from **Arecebo** ---
**Author:** ![UselessGit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/74df32/32.png) [@UselessGit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UselessGit)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-melodic-indie-electronica/279260/10 "2004-12-11T13:42:53Z")
gentle, have you heard [Ampop](http://www.ampop.co.uk/)? If not, you should check them out; they should be right up your alley, methinks. ---
**Author:** ![gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eb8c5e/32.png) [@gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gentle)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-melodic-indie-electronica/279260/11 "2004-12-11T23:21:41Z")
> [@Nightime](#): > > For recommendations… have you heard **Zero 7** ’s _Simple Things_? That seems like it would belong on your list. I know it. Zero 7 is decent, though a little too slick and lounge-ish for my taste. > [@Nightime](#): > > And **Broadcast** , both _The Noise Made by People_ and _Haha Sound_. I love Broadcast. Good point. I tend to think of them as indie rock; while they’re mostly electronic in sound, they’re fundamentally a rock band, I think. Anyone who likes Broadcast should check out Saturday Looks Good to Me, in particular _All Your Summer Songs_. While not really electronic, they are similarly influenced by 1960s rock’n’roll, folk and psychedelic rock. > [@Nightime](#): > > **Amon Tobin** - _Permutation_… Amon is pretty good, though I’m not a big fan of jungle/drum’n’bass and the cut-up triphop jazz thing he does. I like Stereolab, too, but as with Broadcast, I’m not sure I would call their music electronica. ---
**Author:** ![gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eb8c5e/32.png) [@gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gentle)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-melodic-indie-electronica/279260/12 "2004-12-11T23:29:01Z")
I am checking out the recommendations. Thanks. Oh, and Zero 7 isn’t really the kind of electronica I’m looking for. I would not really call it electronica at all; it’s more like pop/smooth jazz with a breezy electronic sheen reminiscent of Air and Stereolab. (Both of which are closer to synthpop than indie electronica.) ---
**Author:** ![gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eb8c5e/32.png) [@gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gentle)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-melodic-indie-electronica/279260/13 "2004-12-11T23:36:48Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > There’s plenty to check out over [here](http://www.adifferentdrum.com). Of course, over there it’s called synthpop, but it’s more or less the same thing when you really look at it. I’d recommend [Iris](http://www.irismusic.com), [The Echoing Green](http://www.echocentral.com), [Mesh](http://www.mesh.co.uk), and [Neuropa](http://neuropa.biz/). Some of these bands may sound a little more polished than the more “indie” influenced sound and are often more upbeat, but hey, it’s worth a shot. Sorry, but misses the mark by quite a wide shot. This is pure synthpop, which _nothing_ like the artists I mentioned as examples (with the possible exception of Air and certain Kraftwerk tracks; in retrospect, I really should have omitted Air from that list). ---
**Author:** ![gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eb8c5e/32.png) [@gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gentle)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-melodic-indie-electronica/279260/14 "2004-12-11T23:39:07Z")
> [@UselessGit](#): > > gentle, have you heard [Ampop](http://www.ampop.co.uk/)? If not, you should check them out; they should be right up your alley, methinks. And they’re Icelandic! Looks promising. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eb8c5e/32.png) [@gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gentle)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-melodic-indie-electronica/279260/15 "2004-12-12T02:35:01Z")
> [@gentle](#): > > And they’re Icelandic! Looks promising. Thank you. And they’re great! Thanks again. Return recommendation: Check out Myrakaru’s _Tammetoru_ and Kazumasa Hashimoto’s _Epitaph_. Both ought to appeal. And of course, you probably know about Múm. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-melodic-indie-electronica/279260/16 "2004-12-12T02:44:41Z")
Have you heard The Magnetic Fields’ [Holiday](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4781ED84AA97320C2933945CFB575F30FDF45FB881F264B53DDB33068850262EC5DFC85D3E2A528F811D9B959ED0974B686EF54E3DD67223F8DEEA22C31344F0E02254390A897&sql=10:ufjw7i4og72r)? It’s probably my favorite “production album.” Lots of synthesizers layered over brilliant indie-pop. Glitchy and European-ish. ---
**Author:** ![gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eb8c5e/32.png) [@gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gentle)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-melodic-indie-electronica/279260/17 "2004-12-12T03:04:47Z")
> [@Lisa-go-Blind](#): > > Have you heard The Magnetic Fields’ [Holiday](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4781ED84AA97320C2933945CFB575F30FDF45FB881F264B53DDB33068850262EC5DFC85D3E2A528F811D9B959ED0974B686EF54E3DD67223F8DEEA22C31344F0E02254390A897&sql=10:ufjw7i4og72r)? It’s probably my favorite “production album.” Lots of synthesizers layered over brilliant indie-pop. Glitchy and European-ish. Interesting. I only know MF from _69 Love Songs_ and _i_. Merritt writes witty lyrics and produces catchy melodies, but something prevents me from really loving his music; something in the glib, coldly sarcastic and polished delivery, I think. And _69_ is simply too crammed with “perfect little gems” to make any impact at all; eventually it all blends together into so much gray country mush (with slide guitars). I much prefer, say, The Shins. But I digress. I will check out this album. ---
**Author:** ![gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eb8c5e/32.png) [@gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gentle)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-melodic-indie-electronica/279260/18 "2004-12-12T06:12:16Z")
> [@Lisa-go-Blind](#): > > Have you heard The Magnetic Fields’ [Holiday](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4781ED84AA97320C2933945CFB575F30FDF45FB881F264B53DDB33068850262EC5DFC85D3E2A528F811D9B959ED0974B686EF54E3DD67223F8DEEA22C31344F0E02254390A897&sql=10:ufjw7i4og72r)? It’s probably my favorite “production album.” Lots of synthesizers layered over brilliant indie-pop. Glitchy and European-ish. Sorry, but this is just synthpop again.