Electronica

[The Grand Beef]

I've recently been getting more and more into electronica, but its a bit overwhelming.

I've always hated genres, they're so confusing and there are so many exceptions to the rules.

I mean...techno, trance, triphop, house, acid jazz, downtempo, ambient, ect ect ect.

Sort of overwhelming and silly.

But, I guess if I had to describe the kind of stuff I like, I'd say I enjoy the more chill "instrumental" psychadelic/ambient experimental electronica. For instance, on band/artist/whatever I've fallen in love with recently is Four Tet.

I'm looking for more along that same vein. Relaxing, a bit off, something great to get stoned to. But I'm a bit turned off by music get gets ~too~ trippy, and you start hearing whales and shit.

Anyway. Yeah, so tell me what you think. And if anyone feels like explaining the various genres/sub-genres of electronic art music in a way that makes sense, that'd be swell too.

Peeeace.

~Richie!

[KrymynalChylde]

It's all about Jungle and Drum and Bass.

The other stuff sounds to girly and wierd for me, D&B is like the heavy metal of techno I love it. That and growing up in the 90s with rave culture and whatnot....

[Punchy]

I typically hate electronica but I've recently purchased a couple of electronica discs I dig. One it an Aphex Twin disc that is pretty good. The other is Imogen Heap's last record which I LOVE. Finally I hear some actual songwriting in electronica. Good stuff.

[Nate Grey]

Hey Beef! Long time no see.

I miss RadioSeven, they used to play all types of electronica. I mean its still around, but somehow became harder to navigate ever since they stopped direct streaming. And since the whole site's in Swedish, I can't figure out how to join or anything.

Some electronica I like: Bodies Without Organs, Da Buzz, Alcazar, Alice Deejay, E-Type, Lasgo, Milk Inc, and Ian Van Dahl.

[Spike-X]

I've been getting into trance-type stuff lately. And trying to refrain from having arguments with people who think it's not a valid form of music, simply because computers are used to make it. Or, as they put it, "It's all made by computers! All you have to do is press a button!" As if the music writes and records itself, with no input from human beings at all.

[Royal]

No such thing as Electronica.

Electronic music maybe. No Electronica.

And all you hip hop fans hating on techno need to stop and really listen to hip hop tracks now a days. If it itsn't a set beat rapped over, it's a certain electric sound. Chop and screw is an electronic technique. Haling all the way from the turntablism game. So grow up.

[Punchy]

I'm a huge him hop fan. Chop and screw suck. Acts I like such as MF DOOM, The Roots, Mos Def, Murs, etc. have nothing to do with electronica.

[Royal]

I'm a huge him hop fan. Chop and screw suck. Acts I like such as MF DOOM, The Roots, Mos Def, Murs, etc. have nothing to do with electronica.

So what do the turntables do then?

[KrymynalChylde]

Most of the bands he mentioned (roots especially) use live instruments. The Drummer from the Roots actually did some stuff on K-OS's new album as well.

[Royal]

Most of the bands he mentioned (roots especially) use live instruments. The Drummer from the Roots actually did some stuff on K-OS's new album as well.

I know. Much respect to ?uestlove as well.

What I'm trying to say is people don't wanna believe that hip hop has roots in the Electronic genre.

[Lubichev]

I dig on Amon Tobin and DJ Krush. Powerful sounds, amazing beats, excellent production.

Actually, anything on Ninja Tune Records gets the thumbs up in my book.

[Punchy]

So what do the turntables do then?

Turntables are an analogue device. Turntables are physically manipulated by a DJ. They can be viewed, in some ways, and an instrument unto themselves.

Turntables do not produce new sounds electronically like a sampler or computer.

[KenK]

I know. Much respect to ?uestlove as well.

What I'm trying to say is people don't wanna believe that hip hop has roots in the Electronic genre.

Dumb mother-f***ers.:mad:

[Royal]

Turntables are an analogue device. Turntables are physically manipulated by a DJ. They can be viewed, in some ways, and an instrument unto themselves.

Turntables do not produce new sounds electronically like a sampler or computer.

So's the theramin and several forms of synthesisers which are still being used in several forms of the genre today. Electronic doesn't just cover digital samplers and Apple iMacs.

[Royal]

Dumb mother-f***ers.:mad:

Yeah. There are people who actually think Rockit started Hip Hop. I mean everything about Hip Hop.

gggrrrr

[Punchy]

So's the theramin and several forms of synthesisers which are still being used in several forms of the genre today. Electronic doesn't just cover digital samplers and Apple iMacs.

So you're saying "Good Vibrations" is electronica because it has a theramin? Yes was an electronica band because they used synths?

If you want to get technical electronic music was started by Stockhausen and other modern avante-gaurd composers in the 70s. They manipulated tape and used primative synths to create new sounds.

[jessecuster3]

So you're saying "Good Vibrations" is electronica because it has a theramin? Yes was an electronica band because they used synths?

If you want to get technical electronic music was started by Stockhausen and other modern avante-gaurd composers in the 70s. They manipulated tape and used primative synths to create new sounds.

If you really want to get technical, it was actually started by John Cage in the 1950's.

[Punchy]

He would fall in to the "other avante-gard" composers realm although I guess I didn't realize it was as early as the 50s.

[jessecuster3]

There is actually a really fasinating documentary called Modulations that came out in 1998 that is all about the history and origins of electronic music. You can find some more info about it here: http://www.caipirinha.com/index1.html
Under the Films section.

[Jonathan Bogart]

Electronic music devices were being built as early as the 1910s, and being used by avant-garde composers as early as the 1930s. Randolph Scott, the maverick American composer (his work is quoted repeatedly in the Looney Tunes cartoons), created a piece of electronic music in 1949 that sounds uncannily modern.

(Edit: Make that Raymond Scott, and the piece is "Cindy Electronium." That's what I get for posting before coffee.)

On the other controversy, I believe that hip-hop and the "electronica" field are two sides of the same coin, like soul and rock in the 50s and 60s. They both have roots in disco and experimental production techniques. In other countries, particularly England, there's no dividing line between them. Grime (the most exciting version of British hip-hop) came out of garage (pronounced "garridge"), which came from rave culture.

Electronic acts I like? The Broadcast, Jamie Lidell, Ladytron, MIA, and the Notwist are favorites, though they all draw from other musics as well.

[Jared H.]

I typically hate electronica but I've recently purchased a couple of electronica discs I dig. One it an Aphex Twin disc that is pretty good.


"Selected Ambient Works Vol I," I'd wager(I've owned a lot of his cd's, but this is the one most gravitate towards).


If you like some actual songwriting in your techno, might I reccommend "Underworld"?

Freestyle modern poetry as song-lyrics. Makes for some neat songs.


As for the person who likes D&B: Dieselboy's "Dungeonmaster's Guide" and LTJ Bukem's "Progression Sessions" are quite good. The first is more pulse-pounding, the latter is a bit more trippy/melodic. But that's my favorite thing about D&B: you can some insane breakbeats/snare rush with a very relaxing melody on top.

[Leslie Lee III]

I DJ on occasion. Progressive Trance and Breaks: www.johnhyperion.com for mixes.

The genres aren't silly at all, this music is too diverse to label it all "electronica" (which is a genre unto itself). Jonathan Lisle is nothing like Concord Dawn is nothing like Muppetfucker is nothing like Misstress Barbara. With all the tracks and acts out, it'd be impossible for any DJ to find anything without the sounds being broken down into easy to use categories.

[Punchy]

"Selected Ambient Works Vol I," I'd wager(I've owned a lot of his cd's, but this is the one most gravitate towards).


If you like some actual songwriting in your techno, might I reccommend "Underworld"?

Freestyle modern poetry as song-lyrics. Makes for some neat songs.


As for the person who likes D&B: Dieselboy's "Dungeonmaster's Guide" and LTJ Bukem's "Progression Sessions" are quite good. The first is more pulse-pounding, the latter is a bit more trippy/melodic. But that's my favorite thing about D&B: you can some insane breakbeats/snare rush with a very relaxing melody on top.

It's an EP called 'Come To Daddy' that I bought in London actually.

[Cayman]

I suggest The Last Resort by Trentemoller and maybe some Boards Of Canada.

[Cayman]

Hey Beef! Long time no see.

I miss RadioSeven, they used to play all types of electronica. I mean its still around, but somehow became harder to navigate ever since they stopped direct streaming. And since the whole site's in Swedish, I can't figure out how to join or anything.

Some electronica I like: Bodies Without Organs, Da Buzz, Alcazar, Alice Deejay, E-Type, Lasgo, Milk Inc, and Ian Van Dahl.

I love BWO. They are so fun.

[Cayman]

"Selected Ambient Works Vol I," I'd wager(I've owned a lot of his cd's, but this is the one most gravitate towards).



One of my favorite albums. Good to dream to.

[Jared H.]

It's an EP called 'Come To Daddy' that I bought in London actually.

Ever see the music video to the title track? Creepy stuff.

IMO, "Flim" is the best song on that EP. Very melancholy/nostalgia-inducing.


And Cayman: I wholeheartedly agree. I used to have these "sanity sessions" where I'd lay on the floor, put on that CD or another similar, toss a ball up and down, and try to relax from the stress of the day. I'd also let my imagination run free during those times. For that reason, it became one of my all-time favs.

[Punchy]

"Flim" is the reason I bought the record. My favorite jazz group The Bad Plus covered it on their first record. It's a fantastic version, you should check it out.

[zombie]

Here's (http://www.popmatters.com/pm/features/article/8697/best-electronic-music-of-20061/) what PopMatters considered the best electronic music of 2006, if anyone's interested.