I’m trying to learn more about a particular style of music that I’m growing more fond of. To be honest, I don’t know exactly what it is though and that’s where you come in.
I really like Crystal Method, prodigy, and the Chemical Bros. When I try to do searches for this type of music however, I see many different sub-catagories such as: trance, drum/bass, jungle, electronica, ambient, house, industrial, etc…
Can someone begin to give me a little insight into what the differences are and what, based on my examples above, would be something I might enjoy?
I guess the two that I’d recommend as mainstays of recent music are Orbital (In Sides is unmissable) and Aphex Twin. Other than that, there’s no harm in going back to basics, and getting some Kraftwerk. It stands the test of time better than most.
There is an okay listing for electronic genres on Wikipedia. There is also a kinda fun list with hundreds of music samples here. It might give you an idea of which direction you might be interested in checking out.
That definitely provides a good starting point! It seems like a lot to decipher but at least I can get a few examples of artists under each style and listen to see what I like.
Thanks for the help. And if anyone else has more to add, please feel free!
I’m far from an expert on this sprawling genre, but the first Portishead album, pretty much anything by Massive Attack, and Morcheeba are all worth a listen. I recently picked up the first album by the Belgian outfit Hooverphonic (A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular) and have to consider it something of an overlooked classic (In Houston, Texas, at least). My understanding is that their later albums have moved away from electronica, however.
I’ve also stumbled on some things in the IDM vein that are pretty far out there, but that I’d highly recommend: Music has the Right to Children by Boards of Canada, and Tri Repetae, by Autechre. The former group makes amazing sonic collages out of densely-layered bits of ambient sounds, warped voice tracks from educational films and old analogue electronics, while the latter creates pieces that sound as if they were made by Marvin the Paranoid Android from one of Douglas Adams’ books.
I have only a passing familiarity with the entire genre, but I really, really recommend Amon Tobin’s Bricolage (he also has an alter-ego, Cujo, under which he released “Adventures in Foam,” another great album).
I also like Diesel Boy for something heavier.
It’s sometimes hard to tell the difference, but this is my understanding of how some of the major genres are defined:
Trance - Soft hypnotic sounds. Maybe soft female vocal tracks. Sasha & Digweeds Northern Exposures CD is a good example.
Drum & Base - Hard, rapid beats. Chemical Brothers “Block Rockin Beats” for example.
Jungle - Not sure but probably dance music with kind of a thumping base - like a jungle beat. Maybe a group like 2 Unlimited ("yall ready for this…DUSH DUSH DUDUSH)
Ambient - Not sure either but I think it’s similar to trance. As the name implies, the kind of music you might hear in the background in a lounge but not pay much attention to.
House - Basically what I call “gay dance music”. That kind of remixed disco dance sound you might hear in an epidode of Sex in the City or something.
Industrial - A heaver “industrial” sound like machinery or something - Prodigy, Crystal Method, Stabbing Westward, the “Blade” song (New Order).
I’m not an expert, but thats how I would sort it on my iPod. I recommend the following:
Paul Oakenfold
Ministry of Sound mixes
Sasha
Digweed
Ambient music tends not to have much in the way of rhythm or melody. It’s not quite just pleasant noise, but it can be close. Steve Roach is one of the big names of the genre.
Industrial started out as a more electronic version of some of the experimental music of the mid-20th century. As time went on, the experimentation was downplayed and the beat was emphasized, leading to industrial dance. Then somebody got the idea to add heavy guitars, and industrial metal was born. The archetypal industrial bands are probably Front 242 (industrial dance), Ministry (industrial metal), and Einstürzende Neubauten (avant-garde industrial).
I’ve got to strongly recommend, in addition to the above mentioned artists, definitely check out The Propellerheads and a bunch of Portishead.
If you like some live instrumentation mixed in, Portishead is the way to go; on the industrial side, NIN/Trent Reznor has it going on too.
Recently, I promoted a one-off show here in Madison with a band of Asheville, NC called SeePeopleS that blew me away. There a four piece - drums and bass (crazy tight and very deep in both the electronic and funk pockets, and a guitar player who does tons of looping and effects on the guitar, as well as playing keyboard and sampler. They also had another keyboard player (Pete Pisarcyk) who is an original member of Parliament and also plays with George Clinton’s Funk Mob.
Both of their cd’s are really well done, and very impressive. I’m pretty sure a fair amount of music is on their site as well.
Note: I have NO affiliation with this band in any capacity - I helped them out with a last minute date, and they played a mind-blowing show on a rainy monday for 8 people, and were gracious about doing so. I merely think they what you’re looking for, and do it well; I will always support young artists who are doing this for the right reasons.
Air is really good. George Acosta has done some pretty good work, too. And if you find any Trance compilations CD’s with the song Gouryella on it, pick it up… that one seems to be a standard among electronica artists (though I don’t know who first did it… Acosta had it on his Awake album, and that was the first time I’d heard it, but I’m pretty sure it was someone else originally).
From what your listening to (some of my favorites) i’d also recommend Propellerheads (find a sample of Take California).
Juno Reactor is also good, I think they did a lot of the music for the Matrix.
Well, rather than make recommendations about specific artists or genres, I’ll just tell you what I did when I first explored electronic music, and what worked best.
Go to a record store with listening stations, or better, one that will play discs for you on a listening bar. Explore the music there, and buy what you like.
(Tower Records used to accept exchanges of opened CDs within 14 days-- I’d spend $100 on attractive prospects, and listen to them. The ones I didn’t like, I’d return for store credit, and repeat the process until I’d gotten $100 of music I like. Sadly, they don’t have such a generous return policy anymore.)
Get on Kazaa or Limewire or whatever P2P network you like, and explore the genre. If you like an artist, go buy some of their CDs. This worked OK, but the audio quality was inconsistent.
Use iTunes or WMP radio and listen to some of the stations there. Most have websites that display a “currently playing” banner. If you hear something you like, make a note of the artist and title. This was very successful for me.
Stick around after movies with soundtracks featuring the music you like – e.g. Swordfish or The Matrix – and note the artists and titles. Go buy the soundtracks. (I went straight to the record store after seeing The Matrix and bought the soundtrack, and I still listen to it regularly.)
I think Gouryella (by Gouryella) = Ferry Corsten & Tiësto. Also look for Ligaya & Walhalla by Gouryella.
My favorite mix trance CDs: Boundaries of Imagination, A State of Trance 2004 & Transparance by Armin van Buuren In Search of Sunrise 3, Nyana & Parade of the Athletes by Tiësto Another World, Tranceport & Great Wall by Paul Oakenfold
