What is Techno music?

[PurpleCatfishBettie]

basically, you had 'rock' (foghat, rick derringer, ted nugent, ac/dc, etc.) versus 'techno' (gary numan, depeche mode, pet shop boys, etc.); then later on, the 'hybrids' (new order, etc.).

the more free form 'techno' from the '90s is called 'house' or 'techno house'.

just lay down some rhythms and free form whatever else over that.

ymmv

[Tricky-Loops]

'techno' (gary numan, depeche mode, pet shop boys, etc.); then later on, the 'hybrids' (new order, etc.).

(Let's make a New Wave of Techno!)

[ghettosynth]

Chemical Brothers.

You're takin the piss, right? Chemical Brothers=Big Beat, the first frat boy friendly EDM style, they are absolutely not techno.

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Notice the first label, that's what the Chemical Brothers are known for, they are not techno artists. The first paragraph of the wikipedia page tells you what you need to know.

The Chemical Brothers are a British electronic music duo composed of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons. Originating in Manchester in 1991, along with The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Crystal Method, and fellow acts, they were pioneers at bringing the big beat genre to the forefront of pop culture. In the UK, they have had five number-one albums and 13 top-20 singles, including two number ones.

Emphasis mine.

Big Beat is the label that's applied to the style of music that the chemical brothers were known for.

Here's a link to their first album on Wikipeda, note that it is NOT techno.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exit_Planet_Dust

You only need to listen to the first 10 seconds or so to get that this is a big beat album.



Their style was (is?) big beat, not techno. They helped to define the genre, in fact, they are famous for it, if you're going to include them in a conversation about the definition of techno then you might as well include Britney Spears.

[ghettosynth]

basically, you had 'rock' (foghat, rick derringer, ted nugent, ac/dc, etc.) versus 'techno' (gary numan, depeche mode, pet shop boys, etc.); then later on, the 'hybrids' (new order, etc.).

the more free form 'techno' from the '90s is called 'house' or 'techno house'.

just lay down some rhythms and free form whatever else over that.

ymmv

That is not techno, you are confusing the general public's use of the word for the much more narrow definition that is well understood by EDM culture.

[ghettosynth]

As for tarnce or tracne I'm not sure. I prefer to avoid delving there. My guess would be that it becomes "acid trance" when you replace the 909 and hats/cymbals with something more familiar to the trance scene and tack on some pads, delay/echo, massive amount of chorus and/or, 'super saws', though which mostly didn't exist at the time of course... I think in general it also becomes less progressive and more melodic.

The whole extensive pads and supersaws and whatnot is definitely tarnce, but I wouldn't say it's trance. To me trance is more about the (often arpeggiated) melodic synth parts and filter sweeps - but it's actually pretty minimal in most cases. The whole modern tarnce = supersaw + bombastic pads thing sound to me much more like the continuation of "eurotrash" - or what the mainstream media generally meant went they talked about "techno" back in the early 90s. It doesn't sound like trance at all to be honest.

I agree completely. I really like classic trance, (Ishkur's label, not mine), because it lives up to its name.

[Igro]

I'm surprised noones mentioned Plastikman, also check out stuff on mute, they've been going a long time and do some darker more experimental stuff.

Oops, meant novamute.

Stuff like this:

The 909 and 808 were staples of techno music, and the 303 hence acid techno but it's all about driving rhythms and pulsating basslines and textures, quite stripped down and minimal at it's roots but it's evolved a lot over the years.

Fantastic tune and pretty much correctly describes a pure techno without any prefixes, line minimal, progressive and so on.

[Igro]

Now techno sounds in most cases the same but even more sublime and for small dedicated group of listeners. This guys never been obsessed with profit (kudos):

[Igro]

Gotta love Hawtin. Even if you don't like him, the fact that everyone else does means that it's going to be a good party.

Hawtin is not making any good right now. His music is strictly commercialized now and for the mainstream folks out there who anyway put the party upon the quality of music. Really boring, dull and total lack of innovation. That is why he is one of the top DJ along with other commercial djs. Well, exactly for Ibiza

[ghettosynth]

Gotta love Hawtin. Even if you don't like him, the fact that everyone else does means that it's going to be a good party.

Hawtin is not making any good right now. His music is strictly commercialized now and for the mainstream folks out there who anyway put the party upon the quality of music. Really boring, dull and total lack of innovation. That is why he is one of the top DJ along with other commercial djs. Well, exactly for Ibiza

In your opinion, I'm sure. His show in SF was fantastic. I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "commercialized" though, he's still pretty much playing minimal stuff that's very enjoyable to dance to for hours. I suppose that much of it is more house than techno, per se, but that's fine by me, I'm a househead at heart. I've been listening to Hawtin for quite a few years and, while his (DJ) style has changed, it hasn't changed that much. I don't buy into the "techno must be innovative" camp, the set must be inspiring to dance to and Hawtin is still doing that. The fact that he's been successful doesn't make his stuff any less interesting than it ever has been.

That said, I don't really buy his records anymore, or, that is, they don't show up on my radar. I view him as a good DJ that always plays a set that is a pleasure to dance to. That's enough for a party.

[Igro]

I don't buy into the "techno must be innovative" camp, the set must be inspiring to dance to and Hawtin is still doing that.

Ah, ok. We have just different point of view on techno music. For me it must be enjoyable not only on the dance floor, but while sitting on a chair with a bottle of wine.

Also many new techno artist decided to overcome 4 bars 4 beat kick lines making techno more experimental like:

[ghettosynth]

I'm surprised noones mentioned Plastikman, also check out stuff on mute, they've been going a long time and do some darker more experimental stuff.

Oops, meant novamute.

Stuff like this:

The 909 and 808 were staples of techno music, and the 303 hence acid techno but it's all about driving rhythms and pulsating basslines and textures, quite stripped down and minimal at it's roots but it's evolved a lot over the years.

Fantastic tune and pretty much correctly describes a pure techno without any prefixes, line minimal, progressive and so on.

Yep, that was top notch. I like this in a similar vain.

[ghettosynth]

I don't buy into the "techno must be innovative" camp, the set must be inspiring to dance to and Hawtin is still doing that.

Ah, ok. We have just different point of view on techno music. For me it must be enjoyable not only on the dance floor, but while sitting on a chair with a bottle of wine.

I can't sit still and listen to techno, DNB, yes, but techno makes me get out of the chair. It's a different mindset.

[Igro]

I don't buy into the "techno must be innovative" camp, the set must be inspiring to dance to and Hawtin is still doing that.

Ah, ok. We have just different point of view on techno music. For me it must be enjoyable not only on the dance floor, but while sitting on a chair with a bottle of wine.

I can't sit still and listen to techno, DNB, yes, but techno makes me get out of the chair. It's a different mindset.

JB, Luke Slater, Early Plastikman, Surgeon, Speedy J. Yes, i grew up listening to this artist. Still have all those originals CDs.

[ZenPunkHippy]

This set by Bristol (UK) DJ Simmer is what Techno is all about ...

https://soundcloud.com/simmer-1/simmer-sept-2012

Nice to see he's still playing. Simmer was always regarded by the Bristol underground scene as one of the all time top DJs, and his sets never disappointed.

[ghettosynth]

Also many new techno artist decided to overcome 4 bars 4 beat kick lines making techno more experimental like:

Yeah, parts of that are ok, but, I'm not sure that I'd put that in the techno bin. IDM, yes, maybe gloomcore, experimental breaks, or some such. But I think if you were to have a conversation with 100 DJs they'd all put the novamute tracks above in the techno bin but maybe only half would call that track techno.

Not unlike the Chemical Brothers mentioned above where someone called them techno, they're not, of course, but perhaps the style of music that you presented will earn a label. Just because a techno artist produces something new, doesn't make that new thing techno.

In particular, that track is missing the "machinery" aspect, it's not really entrancing, it's more listening music, hence, I'd call it IDM.