WTF happened to the term "techno"?

[tetsuneko]

Yes, of course House music has a 4/4 kick drum and very often a 909 open hat "umchi" pattern (ie. the Green Velvet link could almost be called "house"?!). But in my mind, House is slower in BPM than techno and is usually (always?) more melodic / bassline driven than techno (?) And I always thought progressive house to be even more melodic driven than vanilla house, almost to the point of being "trance"..

But I agree that the origins of "techno" are a bit different than what it has later become. Front 242, early Juan Atkins and early Detroit techno was the first chapter... And in the early days, as well as throughout the 90's, pretty much all electronic music was called techno (kinda like the term EDM is now used)

But at the end of the day, we all have our own opinions and viewpoints on these matters of course!

[IncarnateX]

And I always thought progressive house to be even more melodic driven than vanilla house, almost to the point of being "trance"..

Well on closer examination you could be right about that one:



Seems like I pulled the term right out of my a....

Sorry. I have warned you about my incompetence in the matter though, so I hope you can forgive me.

[beltrom]

In the late 80s and beginning of the 90s we would label artists like Nitzer Ebb, Front 242 and Frontline assembly...

Hmm, so I'm still stuck back then with the term. That would be my def.
Interesting...

[Acid Mitch]

Sorry Mate. It is just that 4 to the floor thingy, which prominence I can not help associating with the rise of house music in all it's flavors.

But techno is one of those flavours.

[xalama qo]

GENRE IS BALLS.

I'd suggest Ball Room as an alternative to Big Room... but I think that's kinda already been taken. Mush Room anyone?
Genres, pu-leez, when will the madness end?
It does become a problem when you don't even know what music you like. I usually stick to naming the artist or specific songs if asked what music I like.

[ZenPunkHippy]

Well on closer examination you could be right about that one

I would never call that type of music (in your latest linked video) "progressive house". It suffers from the same problem as your OP. It's just standard commercial EDM, dressed up as something else.

The problem is most likely record labels commissioning this music from generic producers, while trying to pass this off as something other than what it is. They do this to impart some underground cool on the music, to attract more customers. People (mostly kids but some adults) who don't "get it" will be duped, until they figure out what's going on (if it even matters to them).

Bonus points of putting a pretty woman sex object in the video. That always sells a few extra copies

It's dishonest, and yeah pretty annoying ...

Peace,
Andy.

[Mushy Mushy]

When I come to power the incorrect use of the word Techno will be punishable by death. Along with any use of the word Rave.

[IncarnateX]

But techno is one of those flavours.

Yeah as far as Detroit techno goes, it makes sense. But the origins I mentioned are from a time, where we did not know or use the term. And the funny thing for me is that the first music I heard of as "house" hardly can be claimed to set any standards to the genre and probably wouldn't fit the term today beyond the four to the floor(or would it?):

[ericj23]

@tetsunko. I am not competent enough within genres to disagree with you, but the guiding 4 to the floor in your Jeff Mills video makes me associate this kind of music with "house" and in this case maybe "progressive house", but that just my egocentric and probably, incompetent, view of it.

Jeff Mills = One of the absolute Techno gods !
NEVER call him house !! Let alone progressive

So the purpose maker series, which largely consists of disco loops and 909 beats and started with a song called casa (Spanish for house) has nothing to do with house music

Jeff mills loves house - check the ep he did for dj gigolos

But frankly never understood the house/techno differential - why does Phutures acid trax (classic Chicago acid house) differ from speedy j's 303 (as public energy). Surely it makes more sense to sort dj tools by bpm, time signature and style. Although traktor/ableton rather get round the first one these days. House & techno - same unrelenting 4/4 groove (the tyranny of the beat!) to my ears

[IncarnateX]

I would never call that type of music (in your latest linked video) "progressive house". It suffers from the same problem as your OP. It's just standard commercial EDM, dressed up as something else.

Oh Dear! Double failure

This is not going very well for me is it?

Thus the reason I need your expertise

[ZenPunkHippy]

Thus the reason I need your expertise

As I said in an earlier post, the problem is these types of promo videos polluting Youtube. It's probably not the best source for judging genres of electronic music.

FWIW, the same thing was happening in the 60s with garage or psychedelic rock. As soon as there's some money in it, the larger record labels want a taste of the action and will commission "psychedelic" songs from any band with a phaser + delay, just in case they accidentally produce a #1 hit.

Peace,
Andy.

[risome]

[Acid Mitch]

Yeah as far as Detroit techno goes, it makes sense. But the origins I mentioned are from a time, where we did not know or use the term.

That time you mention comes after people started making techno. It started in Chicago where it was house/acid then guys in Detroit heard it, made there own and called it techno.Then people in Europe heard both of them and started making the sound defined as "techno" (a bit harder, faster, more machine like), which the Americans were in turn influenced by.

Pump up the Jam was 1989. It sounds like they were copying Kevin Saunderson who was having hits with similar ( but better in my opinion) stuff.

And the funny thing for me is that the first music I heard of as "house" hardly can be claimed to set any standards to the genre and probably wouldn't fit the term today beyond the four to the floor(

or would it?):

I think it does. There are obvious examples and a clear lineage when you start looking. Not to mention interviews, etc with Derrick May , Juan Atkins,Marshall Jefferson and others that talk about going back forth between Detroit and Chicago for the House parties and how things developed from there.

Do you have links to what you would call techno , rather than what you wouldn't ?

[Acid Mitch]

As I said in an earlier post, the problem is these types of promo videos polluting Youtube.

They certainly don't help.

It's probably not the best source for judging genres of electronic music.
.

Lol, no matter what I seem to search for I get more irrelevant hits than relevant on youtube.

[ZenPunkHippy]

Lol, no matter what I seem to search for I get more irrelevant hits than relevant on youtube.

Just add the secret code:

underground