Electronic Music this decade so far

Blisterman

I've been thinking about this a bit, recently.

There doesn't seem to be much innovation in Electronic music this decade. Every club I go to (Ministry of Sound, Fabric etc), all I seem to hear is music that could have been released 10 years ago.

Compared to the amount of innovation happening in the 90's, and even more so, the 80's, it's quite glum.

For example the 80's saw the birth of house, electro, early drum and bass, rave etc.

The 90's saw Electronic music mature and evolve. Genres spawned subgenres. Producers were trying different things.

It seems, the only movement in Electronic music, that's been at all different this decade, has been electro house.

It's a shame, because there's so much potential out there. We'll never run out of new and exciting music. People just need to create it.
And creating music electronically, frees musicians, from the restraints of instruments. You can literally create any sound you want. Even ones, not found in nature.

Why has electronic music reached such a rut? When will we hear innovative and exciting electronic music again? Who out there is doing something new?

Smyth

Daft punk have carried their brillance from one decade to another..constantly innovating. Alive 08 is a mind blowing album.

seannash

here we go again:D

Scubadevils

There is lots of amazing electronic music being made at the moment, takes a bit of digging but thats the joy of it though!

Ye oldskoolers!

Blisterman

Bear in mind, I'm not saying electronic music recently has been bad. I'm saying, that there hasn't been much innovation within the genre as a whole.

Single Malt

Innovation is cyclic. It has to level off sometime, but will pick up again when the time comes. There are many possibilities with electronic music, but its limited to technology, what people want to hear, and to what is natural. Human sensibilities veer away from the unnatural.

It's a shame, because there's so much potential out there. We'll never run out of new and exciting music. People just need to create it.
And creating music electronically, frees musicians, from the restraints of instruments. You can literally create any sound you want. Even ones, not found in nature.

Actual musical instruments have very little constraints, and can replicate most natural sounds. Look at classical music. That is still the reference point from which all music takes heavily from. That by the way has suffered from lack of innovation for 100's of years. Also, only natural sounds are suitable for music, unless you like your music to be noise (some peeps do, but I sure as hell cannot understand:rolleyes:)

The innovation with electronic music happened in conjunction with technology. Technology has hit a plateau, when it comes to innovation. Why did someone decide to make music electronically? Because someone else invented the synthesiser. Why did electronic music evolve so much in the next 20 or so years? Because technology was improving rapidly, between electronic instruments, samplers, and the big one the personal computer. The only reason electronic music innovated so much in the 90's was the influx of the pc to homes, giving more people access to what was previously only few could afford.

The innovation of electronic music can be linked directly to the innovation of technology, and the time when electronic music was its most innovative was when technology was its most innovative (recently). [BTW, the same can be said for classical music. The best instrument innovation happened at the time the best innovation in the actual music.] In the last few years, there has been very little significant technological innovation relevant to electronic music, and as such any "innovation" in the actual music is something that was already done. I also don't consider the electro house movement innovation. Its just fusing two existing genres together because people are running out of ideas, which is a recurring thing across all music genres throughout history.

Now, I didn't back any of this up with fact. I do apologise, but it is an opinion, and I cannot be arsed to research my opinions (unless I get paid to;)). Do some research, and you may very well find out my theories hold up though.

Scubadevils

Single Malt wrote: »

Innovation is cyclic. It has to level off sometime, but will pick up again when the time comes. There are many possibilities with electronic music, but its limited to technology, what people want to hear, and to what is natural. Human sensibilities veer away from the unnatural.



Actual musical instruments have very little constraints, and can replicate most natural sounds. Look at classical music. That is still the reference point from which all music takes heavily from. That by the way has suffered from lack of innovation for 100's of years. Also, only natural sounds are suitable for music, unless you like your music to be noise (some peeps do, but I sure as hell cannot understand:rolleyes:)

The innovation with electronic music happened in conjunction with technology. Technology has hit a plateau, when it comes to innovation. Why did someone decide to make music electronically? Because someone else invented the synthesiser. Why did electronic music evolve so much in the next 20 or so years? Because technology was improving rapidly, between electronic instruments, samplers, and the big one the personal computer. The only reason electronic music innovated so much in the 90's was the influx of the pc to homes, giving more people access to what was previously only few could afford.

The innovation of electronic music can be linked directly to the innovation of technology, and the time when electronic music was its most innovative was when technology was its most innovative (recently). [BTW, the same can be said for classical music. The best instrument innovation happened at the time the best innovation in the actual music.] In the last few years, there has been very little significant technological innovation relevant to electronic music, and as such any "innovation" in the actual music is something that was already done. I also don't consider the electro house movement innovation. Its just fusing two existing genres together because people are running out of ideas, which is a recurring thing across all music genres throughout history.

Now, I didn't back any of this up with fact. I do apologise, but it is an opinion, and I cannot be arsed to research my opinions (unless I get paid to;)). Do some research, and you may very well find out my theories hold up though.

Very well put, all makes good sense.

Funny actually because a lot of the new techno I am listening to is very much a nod to an older sound of Techno / Detroit Techno but in terms of it's production actually sounds modern.

I love what is happening at the moment in techno and dub techno, I have not been this excited about discoveries in electronic music for several years... my pocket is feeling the pinch though.

Tim Robbins

Blisterman wrote: »

Bear in mind, I'm not saying electronic music recently has been bad. I'm saying, that there hasn't been much innovation within the genre as a whole.

I completly agree. Mixing has got easier with a load of gizmos that make beat mixing easier. The innovation in the 80's and especially 90's was absolutely staggering. A decent mix tape from that era is still a decent mix tape today. A decent track from that era is still a decent track today.

I think the problem is that when the 00's came along, it was too easy to make music, E's had gone out of fashion and the music suffered big time.

I've spend ages on the net looking for decent DJ mixes and it's rare I'd find a decent one.

Bring back Warren K and Northern Exposure is what I say.

JC 2K3

Single Malt wrote: »

unless you like your music to be noise

**** Yeah!

Single Malt wrote: »

only natural sounds are suitable for music

What do you mean by "natural sounds". A hell of a lot of electronic music doesn't sound "natural" to me by my definition of "natural"....


I think the problem with electronic music is that with the advances in technology occurring so quickly, anything is possible, which isn't as good a thing as it sounds. Creativity is largely the product of reasonable restriction.

cornbb

I still think there's plenty of innovation out there, though maybe not to the extent that there was during the 80s and 90s. New "instruments" (e.g. software synths) are constantly in production and new methodologies used to "play" them or to arrange electronic music are coming hard and fast: like the Lemur, the Monome and the Tenori-On. People are still experimenting with tools/techniques like Max/MSP for algorithmic composition. Producers are not longer restricted to using consoles/reel-to-reel or traditional DAWs (such as Reason, Cubase), and DJs/live performers are no longer restricted to using turntables.

As for "natural sounds", I think our definition of what a natural sound is will change. I'm sure that back when they were first invented bassoons or gongs would have sounded pretty alien! Sawtooth waves and other synthesised sounds have been around since the mid 20th century and they still haven't gained universal acceptance - its only a matter of time before the synth/drum machine is considered a bone-fide instrument by everyone though. If you look at a piano, it takes a fairly simple mechanism for a hammer to hit a string and produce a note. But a circuit to produce a sine wave is also very simple! And they're both artificial systems! So what makes a piano note any more "natural" than a synthesised one?

Digital music is even newer and is immensely powerful. I firmly believe the computer is the most powerful musical instrument there is, and I'm sure there's plenty of life left in it when it comes to exploring new techniques. I won't even start raving about that

Sorry, I veered off topic a bit there Its harder to say where actual electronic musical styles can go. The likes of Autechre are still making extremely innovative music, although thats unlikely to hit the mainstream anytime soon. I think the same question crops up for every generation and for every musical genre, maybe it'll take us another 10 or 20 years to fully appreciate the music thats being made today

jonny68

I would agree wit the original post and also add that there are far too many genres of dance music nowadays and frankly it's become boring listening to people come up with another name of some genre.

There is some good stuff around thesedays though most notably on the disco/funky house scene,uplifting house music is always a winner, and recently ive heard one or two Techno tracks that seem quite good and not the boring minimal rubbish that was around for a while, check out this quality Techno track.

Hydraulix B is the best one, not available on YouTube you can listen to a clip here though.


D.A.V.E. The Drummer vs The Anxious
"HYDRAULIX 37"

http://www.truelove.co.uk/catalog_master.asp?label=HYDRAULIX

drunkmonkey

Blisterman wrote: »

When will we hear innovative and exciting electronic music again? Who out there is doing something new?

I think moby has done a great job with his new album, he's given a nod to what's best in electronic music and thrown in a bit of everything else to boot....

You wouldn't know what year it is by listening to the album it could be 1989 0r 2009.....I won't say it brakes new ground but it's retro fresh....well worth buying..

and this could be smells like teen spirit on prozac just look at the crowd:D

seannash

jesus christ,show me any genre of music that has generated anything new in the last decade.
dance music is very innovative.your particular brand of it just might not be.
drum & bass in particular has really come along way in the past 10 years.
its gottan more laidback,soulful,but still as aggressive.
like i said just because your particular area of dance music hasnt progressed doesnt mean other areas of it havent

Swain

Alway makes me laugh this subject, normally comes from people with a very narrow view of music, i.e what's in the charts, or on the new Clubbers Guide and all that rubbish.

remus808

What do you folk make of the popularity of electro in recent times? I'm not a long-time dance music fan by any means, but really enjoy the likes of Justice, SebastiAn, Digitalism, Boyz Noise, Hystereo.... I don't see any mention of that style here yet, and to me it seems to be the dominant form of electronic music in recent times, on the back of Daft Punks success

JC 2K3

karmabass wrote: »

What do you folk make of the popularity of electro in recent times? I'm not a long-time dance music fan by any means, but really enjoy the likes of Justice, SebastiAn, Digitalism, Boyz Noise, Hystereo.... I don't see any mention of that style here yet, and to me it seems to be the dominant form of electronic music in recent times, on the back of Daft Punks success

Well it seemed like that to me too (though I don't agree that it is on the back of Daft Punk's success), but I started a thread on it here, and didn't exactly get many helpful responses. Apparently the electro scene hasn't come up with anything good in a year and most posters here don't seem to care much for it.

On a side note, I hate Justice (or at least that god awful "DANCE" song), love Hystereo, and haven't heard much of the others but like what I hear.

remus808

JC 2K3 wrote: »

Well it seemed like that to me too (though I don't agree that it is on the back of Daft Punk's success), but I started a thread on it here, and didn't exactly get many helpful responses. Apparently the electro scene hasn't come up with anything good in a year and most posters here don't seem to care much for it.

On a side note, I hate Justice (or at least that god awful "DANCE" song), love Hystereo, and haven't heard much of the others but like what I hear.

Will respond to your qualms with Justice and some recommendations in your thread

Executive Steve

Smyth wrote: »

Daft punk have carried their brillance from one decade to another..constantly innovating. Alive 08 is a mind blowing album.

RUBBISH

Executive Steve

karmabass wrote: »

What do you folk make of the popularity of electro in recent times? I'm not a long-time dance music fan by any means, but really enjoy the likes of Justice, SebastiAn, Digitalism, Boyz Noise, Hystereo.... I don't see any mention of that style here yet, and to me it seems to be the dominant form of electronic music in recent times, on the back of Daft Punks success

that's not "electro" - it's "electro house"

bit silly of them (and everyone else) to call it that tbh... would be like me calling a speed garage subgenre "metal" - great name, but it's already taken...

Trab

I find it very irritating that the consensus amount a lot of people these days is that electro is artists such as Justice, Boys Noise, Erol Alkan etc.

I have always been a big fan of electro and to me it means artists such as Legowelt, Drexciya, Ultradyne, Aux 88, ERP etc, who sound nothing like their conterparts mentioned above.

This all stems from people trying to create stupid sub genres to promote the next big thing. Someone decided to make a house song, without a standard 4/4 beat, and all of a sudden electro house was born. Now people such as Mixmag just shorten ot to electro, and a whole blurring of the lines occurs.

Its tiresome now that when I mention I listen to electro, people ask me what do I think of the new Justice single.......

I know it shouldn't bother me, but it does.

Sorry for the rant!

RealEstateKing

Daft punk have carried their brillance from one decade to another..constantly innovating. Alive 08 is a mind blowing album.

You are joking right?

I think that in the 90's there was a whole sub-culture around the electronic music that was being made: The clubs , the DJs, the drugs, Ibiza etc.

Now nobody beleives that taking ecstacy is gonna change the world, DJ's are no longer considered quasi-shamanic gods taking us on a musical journey, people no longer think that a simple gimmic like speeding up a hip-hop drum break actually constitutes a new-genre of music (Drum n' bass Im looking in your direction.)

As well as this the technology has been demystified: In the old days you used to look up at Orbital or somebody with their rackfulls of wierd looking synths, and it seemed like they were boffins of some arcane science, and normal people couldnt afford the expensive hardware.

Now that any dickwad with a laptop can have access to the same stuff: It doesnt seem as glamorous anymore. Taking samples and synths and running them through effects seems about as skilled/innovative as somebody endlessly messing about with pictures in Photoshop. Rember the late 90's craze for 'filtered disco' ? - Taking a sample of a disco tune and playing with the cutoff on a filter for 5 minutes (Hey, whats wrong with you..)

Plus with the advent of the iPod and downloading hundreds of albums in mere hours, recorded music has lost a lot of it's cachet. Live is where it's at these days: Getting on stage and giving it your all with whatever instrument you've got. Few people are prepared to put up with what passed for 'live' in the electronic era: Two guys prancing behind a mixing desk with a DAT playing , pretending to adjust knobs.

JC 2K3

You rarely see a band that's genuinely great live these days though.

I'd disagree that "live is where it's at these days".

I'd say that music is simply not a primary interest of people these days.

RealEstateKing

You rarely see a band that's genuinely great live these days though.

Republic of Loose are fantastic live. They're one of the one's shouting loudest about this at the moment: Ya cant rely on recordings anymore, as they are essentially just adverts for your live performances.

Fewer and fewer people are paying for recorded music every day. Best get used to it, and brush up your live chops.

JC 2K3

That's just your personal opinion on one band though. Personally, I see bands hailed as brilliant live without actually exhibiting any good live traits. They get called "great live" because "they played THAT song exactly like on the record" or they had a few visual gimmicks. Also, popular dance acts like Daft Punk or Chemical Brothers get called great live all the time.

If live music is popular right now, it's just a fad, not people wanting more for their money or anything like that.

RealEstateKing

If live music is popular right now, it's just a fad, not people wanting more for their money or anything like that.

No, it's not. It's a siesmic shift in the way music is percieved. Up until the 1950s or so , music was a live medium: Playing live was a musician's daily bread. That changed after more and more people got record players, and by the 1960's the idea of albums as an artistic statement emerged.

This continued on up until recently: 2 things have happened:

(a)Now, even an eejit who cant play a song all the way through can make an album thanks to ProTools and Autotune and all the rest. Home recording has made so that absolutely every band has a C.D. recorded, where in the old days it was a big deal to have made an album.

(b)Downloading became supreme: I dont know anyone my age (Im 31) who buys C.D.s anymore. And I assume almost everybody younger than me doesnt either. Revunues are way down. Music is like youtube clips, you want it, you grab it. The idea of it being a special peice of plastic with a nice cover that you're willing to pay 20 quid for is gone.

As a result, we're headed back to the 1930's (In a good way) - live performance is everything again: Charisma, musical talent, the ability to 'entertain' people are in the ascendant, studio chops will just be taken for granted. Besides which studios are closing down in droves too.

JC 2K3

RealEstateKing wrote: »

As a result, we're headed back to the 1930's (In a good way) - live performance is everything again: Charisma, musical talent, the ability to 'entertain' people are in the ascendant, studio chops will just be taken for granted. Besides which studios are closing down in droves too.

By saying that, you're ignoring this:

RealEstateKing wrote: »

Downloading became supreme

You're assuming that there always will be a constant flow of money into the record industry, which simply isn't true. Just because people stop buying albums doesn't mean they're going to spend more money on live gigs. People not paying for albums doesn't indicate a decline in recorded music, all it indicates in a decline in people paying for it. They still listen to it and enjoy it.

jonny68

RealEstateKing wrote: »

You are joking right?

I think that in the 90's there was a whole sub-culture around the electronic music that was being made: The clubs , the DJs, the drugs, Ibiza etc.

Now nobody beleives that taking ecstacy is gonna change the world, DJ's are no longer considered quasi-shamanic gods taking us on a musical journey, people no longer think that a simple gimmic like speeding up a hip-hop drum break actually constitutes a new-genre of music (Drum n' bass Im looking in your direction.)

As well as this the technology has been demystified: In the old days you used to look up at Orbital or somebody with their rackfulls of wierd looking synths, and it seemed like they were boffins of some arcane science, and normal people couldnt afford the expensive hardware.

Now that any dickwad with a laptop can have access to the same stuff: It doesnt seem as glamorous anymore. Taking samples and synths and running them through effects seems about as skilled/innovative as somebody endlessly messing about with pictures in Photoshop. Rember the late 90's craze for 'filtered disco' ? - Taking a sample of a disco tune and playing with the cutoff on a filter for 5 minutes (Hey, whats wrong with you..)

Plus with the advent of the iPod and downloading hundreds of albums in mere hours, recorded music has lost a lot of it's cachet. Live is where it's at these days: Getting on stage and giving it your all with whatever instrument you've got. Few people are prepared to put up with what passed for 'live' in the electronic era: Two guys prancing behind a mixing desk with a DAT playing , pretending to adjust knobs.

Best post on the subject yet, very well put.;)

RealEstateKing

You're assuming that there always will be a constant flow of money into the record industry, which simply isn't true

No, I am quite definitely am not assuming that. Im assuming people will be spending almost no money on recordings in years to come.

As a result of this, which we can already see happening, recordings lose the glamour and cachet that they once had. They just become yet more data on your hard drive. As a result of this, if people are interested in music at all, they will have more reason to be interested in live music: Im not saying I have a scientific proof of this or anything: Just a general feeling in the air.

Granted, live music has far more other entertainment to compete against than it did in the 1930's - youtube, xbox, internet and so on. , but I think that, as so many of our entertainments are virtual ones these days, that people feel drawn to something that is real.

Blisterman

RealEstateKing wrote: »

Now nobody beleives that taking ecstacy is gonna change the world, DJ's are no longer considered quasi-shamanic gods taking us on a musical journey, people no longer think that a simple gimmic like speeding up a hip-hop drum break actually constitutes a new-genre of music (Drum n' bass Im looking in your direction.)

To be fair, though. It's simple, but it works. Drum and Bass sounds completely different to hip hop.
Most innovations in music have been people taking an already existing style and changing elements of it, to make it sound different. E.g. The Ramones taking early rock n roll, and playing it harder and louder, to invent punk.
It doesn't take that much , to create music that can be innovative. How music evolves is through people innovating on other peoples innovations. Improving them, seeing where else they can go with it.
However, nowadays it just seems like everyone is going back to the same old stuff, and the genre isn't really getting anywhere.

JC 2K3

RealEstateKing wrote: »

As a result of this, which we can already see happening, recordings lose the glamour and cachet that they once had. They just become yet more data on your hard drive.

Personally, I feel that rather than people becoming detached from recordings, because they're just data on a HD, people will become more attached to data, as physical media become more and more redundant.