Why is electronic dance music typically very simple?

[vurt]

There's lots of electronic music that has some depth. Try Wendy Carlos' "Beauty in the Beast" or "Heaven and Hell".

But doesn't that fall into one of the excluded categories I mentioned (big analog modular synths doing a pseudo symphony, or avant-garde/experimental)? I'm mostly asking about ways to incorporate complex harmonies and counterpoint into more beat-driven electronic music.

counterpoint in electronica with beats, start with the orbs little fluffy clouds...

[Reverse Engineer]

Michel Banabila is a name that could never be mentioned enough.

[HunterKiller]

Lord no. More like I'm fishing for people to introduce me to some really kickass and complex electronic music that's not necessarily in the avant-garde experimental arena, or some kind of mellow synth pad drones.

Check out: Jean Michel Jarre, Klaus Schulze, Vangelis, Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk.

[xis23]

yeah i dont understand it: using technology to go backwards! wtf!

[3*s]

Because rhythm and texture are typically the main feature of electronic music.

Like how melody, harmony and syncopation are the main feature of traditional music, while the textural aspect remains very simple.

[Scot Solida]

There's lots of electronic music that has some depth. Try Wendy Carlos' "Beauty in the Beast" or "Heaven and Hell".

But doesn't that fall into one of the excluded categories I mentioned (big analog modular synths doing a pseudo symphony, or avant-garde/experimental)? I'm mostly asking about ways to incorporate complex harmonies and counterpoint into more beat-driven electronic music.

Neither, actually...Those two albums were made long after the analog modular was relegated to the corner of her studio. The former is an alternate tuning tour de force that makes use of additive synthesis techniques to create unusual synthetic "ethnic" sorts of instruments. The latter is more classical influenced, but is as electronic as it is orchestral. Neither are beat-oriented, neither are they popular music. It seems to me, though that your question is more about specific genres, rather than electronic music. There is lots of stuff that isn't beat oriented that is complex and electronic, and I quite imagine that there is some complex stuff out there that is both electronic and beat oriented...though I couldn't say what they were.

A brief bit of OT...I thought I might venture to say that I quite enjoy your art. I just started working with digital painting myself, after years of doing it the "analog" way.

[vurt]

Lord no. More like I'm fishing for people to introduce me to some really kickass and complex electronic music that's not necessarily in the avant-garde experimental arena, or some kind of mellow synth pad drones.

Man I dunno if you've heard of the big 5, but here are the guys/groups that invented electronic music:
Jean Michel Jarre, Klaus Schulze, Vangelis, Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk.

And I don't want to hear anybody's stupid comments how actually electronic music was invented in the 18th century! It wasn't until these guys started working with EM in the 70's and producing first-class material that it actually became popular across the world.

its a bit worrying that you dismiss at least 50 years worth of work just because it wasnt popular in your opinion.

[Armadillo]

I'm still waiting for some names of complex electronic music. I'd love to hear something new (for me). Who's the John Williams et al of electronic music?

A lot of Music by The Orb and FSOL was really complex, AND had a good flow to it. However, a lot of that complexity was created by skilful layering of samples, rather than built up note by note, which may bother you.

Massive Attack had some complex harmonies and counterpoint alongside their electronics, but they were often done with real strings.

Haven't listened to The Orb for quite a while, didn't think of it as complex, but they might have changed.
I have 3 CDs by FSOL, not the last 2 though. Dead cities was quite unique when it came out but not all that complex. Lifeforms was complex in the sense it had a shit loads of samples, but as you mention, not really loads of notes/chords/time signatures.

Massive Attack are great, but I'd consider their music being rather minimalistic and not really complex. They do have their own sound and was on the forefront with Trip hop so I have a lot of respect for them. I do for FSOL as well.

[Topiness]

Maybe the obsession with 'fatness', 'warmth', etc doesn't help the composer introduce close counterpoint, as the notes of many synth sounds can sound quite discordant unless you space them out a lot, upon which they then take up the whole spectrum and leave no room for anything else...

FM sounds can be quite good for intricate lines.

[pilot7]

*deleted*

[afreshcupofjoe]

Because rhythm and texture are typically the main feature of electronic music.

Like how melody, harmony and syncopation are the main feature of traditional music, while the textural aspect remains very simple.

Yes. I think this is what most people who don't care for electronic music don't understand.

[BONES]

Don't get me wrong, I love electronic music, and have been a fan of it since I was a kid, and also make electronic music as well. I've heard accomplished composers doing electronic stuff too (for example, Sakamoto Ryuichi), but they are very rare exceptions, and what Sakamoto does electronically tend to fall into the avant-garde arena--not the more accesible electronic stuff.

Given that, maybe it's nothing more than a requirement of the genre. That certainyl seems to be your attitude - if it is complex, like Sakamoto, then it's not electronic music. I find that bizarre but then I find the whole question strange.

[james0tucson]

Man I dunno if you've heard of the big 5, but here are the guys/groups that invented electronic music:

Leon Theremin, Maurice Martenot, Raymond Scott, Louis Barron, and Robert Moog.

[HunterKiller]

its a bit worrying that you dismiss at least 50 years worth of work just because it wasnt popular in your opinion.

Try 2-3 billion people mate!:x

Man I dunno if you've heard of the big 5, but here are the guys/groups that invented electronic music:

Leon Theremin, Maurice Martenot, Raymond Scott, Louis Barron, and Robert Moog.

Knew the left wing party couldn't contain themselves without making 'NWO' politically correct comments!

[herodotus]

Man I dunno if you've heard of the big 5, but here are the guys/groups that invented electronic music:

Leon Theremin, Maurice Martenot, Raymond Scott, Louis Barron, and Robert Moog.

Pierre Schaeffer, Harry Olson, Herbert Belar, Edgard Varese, Don Buchla, Pril Smiley, Otto Luening.