Show me some melody in modern electronic music.

[ouroboros]

Cool post w the examples, ghettosynth.
thanks for taking the time.

[ghettosynth]

This is from a paper written in 1951. We've understood the connection between strong physicality and simple rhythms for a long time. There is a lot more to this and more recent work explores mechanisms in more detail. Also note, that even the simplest of house music often has more melody than say a simple tribal beat, hence, we are talking about trying to identify the knee in the curve. What is just melodic enough to stimulate the desired level of introspection in the minds of your audience while you simultaneously stimulate them physically. I think that the best data that we have on this is empirical. That is, we've observed fairly consistently that rhythm and texture trumps melody in a lot of dance music.

There is, however, support for our need to predict sound and its connection to physical movement. There is both a temporal and spatial connection. That is, it's quite possible that the attributes of "good" dance music may be driven by more than choice, or lack of choice, and in fact, may be driven by physiological factors.

http://mej.sagepub.com/content/37/4/42.short

Most primitive peoples develop highly complex
rhythms, but rarely develop melodies of equal complex-
ity or worth. I want to play for you a few measures of
primitive African music. (War dance music was played.)

This music stimulates and demands physical activity.
It is uninhibited. It enhances and builds up physical
energy. It is unrestrained. It is not particularly in-
tellectual. It stimulates the emotional, and, shall we say,
the subcortical. It does not urge the contemplative,
the thoughtful, the dreamlike, or phantasy states.

Melodic passages of a sustained nature in which the
percussive element is lacking produce a very different
response-for even though there may be rhythm, it is
at a minimum. The responses induced are not physical,
not tension of the striped musculature, but more in-
tellectual, more contemplative; the result is much more
that of sedation rather than stimulation. I should like
you to hear music of this sort. (Adagio from Diverti-
mento by Mozart was played.)

Did you notice the sudden change in mood in your-
selves? Slyly observe your neighbor out of the corner
of your eye as the illustrations are played.
All dances must contain the detached, rhythmical
factors. The more uninhibited and unrestrained they
are, the more of the percussive factors they will employ
even in modern dances. The detached notes are the
demand for physical activity; the sustained melody is
the inhibiting, the more civilizing factor. Truly ro-
mantic dance music always contains both elements nicely
balanced, because romance is not complete liberty;
neither is it frustration. Let us listen to a modern
dance and hear clearly these two elements. First there
will be the typical detached, percussive factor which
will demand action and wll continue throughout; but
always from time to imnea very sustained melody will
be superimposed over the more dynamic factor, saying
in effect, "Be careful, you must use restraint; you are a
civilized person." (Tango Cumparsita is played.)

If a dance contains mostly the detached, staccato
rhythms then it will be an active dance. If it is more sus-
tained the opposite effect is secured. All dances must
have the staccato or they do not dance, so to speak-
unless it be some dance which does not require leg and
foot action but rather hip and torso movement.
The military band, the uniformed marching band of
the present time, is a descendant in many ways of the
war dance and its music. The march is a form of dance.
It would be difficult to conceive of a war dance not
consisting of the staccato, percussive quality. Just so it
is difficult to conceive of a march not having the same
qualities. There is a basic physiological and neurological
basis for the true style of a march or nearly any other
kind of dance. The real reason for our attempt to get
this quality is not aesthetic per se, not because of ex-
pression marks, not because of attack; rather, it is be-
cause the music does not stimulate and induce physical
action unless this quality inheres. Notice how the notes
are separated in a march well played.

[ZenPunkHippy]

There is, however, support for our need to predict sound ...

It could be argued that the contents of some DJ sets are more sophisticated than the (old) classic tracks that have been posted here.

What I mean is that you will hear some amazing / melodic part near the start of the set, which is mixed in to a new track, only to resurface (or "resolve") much later i.e. not within the same "song" but spanning over several tracks. The typical effect of this is to raise the energy levels of the dance floor significantly.

The point is: all of the same devices are used in EDM, just not in a way that is familiar to people who expect traditional music.

Peace,
Andy.

[ghettosynth]

There is, however, support for our need to predict sound ...

It could be argued that the contents of some DJ sets are more sophisticated than the (old) classic tracks that have been posted here.

What I mean is that you will hear some amazing / melodic part near the start of the set, which is mixed in to a new track, only to resurface (or "resolve") much later i.e. not within the same "song" but spanning over several tracks. The typical effect of this is to raise the energy levels of the dance floor significantly.

The point is: all of the same devices are used in EDM, just not in a way that is familiar to people who expect traditional music.

This is spot on. I alluded to some of this in another thread where I described how the form of electronic music facilitates DJ manipulation of the tracks. Good DJs are able to assemble music in real time in ways that are interesting to the EDM audience.

But it doesn't really negate the need to predict which happens on multiple scales. This may be why repeated sample snippets work, they can hold tension while still facilitating predictability in the short term. The conscious mind is held while the body gets its predictability fix.

[ZenPunkHippy]

The conscious mind is held while the body gets its predictability fix.

Yeah, that's it. I like to think of the low end as the mover and shaker, generally predictable as you say, with the odd surprise here and there to keep things interesting and fun, while the mid-range and high end create a visual space on to which we project our imagination.

When I've reached an appropriate level of trance my body is submitted wholly to the the performer and the technology. I am no longer listening to music but rather: guiding waves of light. There is a lot of trust required for this to happen.

Peace,
Andy.

[Tricky-Loops]

When I've reached an appropriate level of trance my body is submitted wholly to the the performer and the technology. I am no longer listening to music but rather: guiding waves of light. There is a lot of trust required for this to happen.

Trust or drugs?

[codec_spurt]

The conscious mind is held while the body gets its predictability fix.

Yeah, that's it. I like to think of the low end as the mover and shaker, generally predictable as you say, with the odd surprise here and there to keep things interesting and fun, while the mid-range and high end create a visual space on to which we project our imagination.

When I've reached an appropriate level of trance my body is submitted wholly to the the performer and the technology. I am no longer listening to music but rather: guiding waves of light. There is a lot of trust required for this to happen.

Peace,
Andy.

They don't call him 'And E' for nothing.

That's one of the most beautiful things I think I've ever read.




Are you in the forest? Are you in a middle of a crowd? Are you 'off on one'?

Is your body banging to bumping beats? Are you on the phone?



"It's ok, I'm just posting at Kvr".

Now that, I could understand.

[ZenPunkHippy]

"It's ok, I'm just posting at Kvr".

In the future the brain-machine interface will enable live tweeting from the dance floor ...

Banging tunes, mate! #peaking

Moving up now #peaking

Wish you were here #peaking #morefunthanyou

Uh oh yeah #peaking

Uh uh uh #peaking

OMG! OMG! OMG! #peaking #OTT

[Ch00rD]

"It's ok, I'm just posting at Kvr".

In the future the brain-machine interface will enable live tweeting from the dance floor ...

Banging tunes, mate! #peaking

Moving up now #peaking

Wish you were here #peaking #morefunthanyou

Uh oh yeah #peaking

Uh uh uh #peaking

OMG! OMG! OMG! #peaking #OTT

The future is now. Get your Emotiv headset and start coding.

[codec_spurt]

"It's ok, I'm just posting at Kvr".

In the future the brain-machine interface will enable live tweeting from the dance floor ...

Banging tunes, mate! #peaking

Moving up now #peaking

Wish you were here #peaking #morefunthanyou

Uh oh yeah #peaking

Uh uh uh #peaking

OMG! OMG! OMG! #peaking #OTT

The future is now. Get your Emotiv headset and start coding.

Err.. Are you sure you're not at the same party? Andy is the bloke to the left of you - the one with a big smile on his face and a phone in his hand.

[Aiynzahev]

"DJs have a skillset that, no matter what one thinks of it, is distinct from the skills of producing music. I've even observed this among producers who aren't DJs. Often their music reflects a lack of understanding of the D in EDM, that's ok, there's nothing wrong with producing electronica. No matter what one might think of DJs, however, IMNSHO, producers who also DJ tend to produce better music for the dance floor than producers who don't DJ. In fact, if one wants to produce dance music, I think learning to DJ is at least as, if not more, important than learning how to play an instrument."

Awesome post Ghetto

[jsd]

I love this song, very beautiful and melodic, with key changes and everything. Pure dancefloor magic and not cheesy at all.

LA Synthesis - Agoraphobia

[codec_spurt]

I think learning to DJ is at least as, if not more, important than learning how to play an instrument.

Err.. that man never held a six-string in his hand, did he? Or a four string Fender Precision Bass.

[ghettosynth]

I think learning to DJ is at least as, if not more, important than learning how to play an instrument.

Err.. that man never held a six-string in his hand, did he? Or a four string Fender Precision Bass.

I can't tell if you're laughing at me, or with me, or not at all, but, in the interest of helping people to understand where I'm coming from, for me neither is true.

I started out playing harmonica and then moved to guitar. I have played guitar and harmonica in several rock bands, all small time, all local, and none that have ever released anything. Music has always been a hobby for me. The closest it ever came to being a job was when I played in a cover band and we were playing every weekend. It very much felt like a part time job and I started to resent music, so I went back to treating it more like a hobby trading in a tele for some keyboards to write electronic music. Later I got involved in the local EDM scene and then on a whim I purchased some turntables and with the help of a friend, started spinning. So for me, being a musician, albeit a mediocre amateur musician with very little formal training, came first.

[codec_spurt]

I think learning to DJ is at least as, if not more, important than learning how to play an instrument.

Err.. that man never held a six-string in his hand, did he? Or a four string Fender Precision Bass.

I can't tell if you're laughing at me, or with me, or not at all, but, in the interest of helping people to understand where I'm coming from, for me neither is true.

I started out playing harmonica and then moved to guitar. I have played guitar and harmonica in several rock bands, all small time, all local, and none that have ever released anything. Music has always been a hobby for me. The closest it ever came to being a job was when I played in a cover band and we were playing every weekend. It very much felt like a part time job and I started to resent music, so I went back to treating it more like a hobby trading in a tele for some keyboards to write electronic music. Later I got involved in the local EDM scene and then on a whim I purchased some turntables and with the help of a friend, started spinning. So for me, being a musician, albeit a mediocre amateur musician with very little formal training, came first.

Nope, I wasn't laughing at ya or with ya.

I was just throwing ideas about. Both approaches are good in my book.
The most amazingly gifted musicians I have met have nothing but disdain for the craft. And those that want it so badly or who think they are the best, are the worst. I'm an example of the latter so I know what I'm talking about.

I can't beat match, but I love to get on a pair of 1210s and just get it going along. Someone elses record collection preferably. I bought a collection of nearly 2000 records and I have only played about 10 percent. The guy/girl I bought them off really had mad taste. And it does my head in more than anything else that they could have this connection with the music so deep and yet just give it away for pennies.

There in lies a deeper Buddah lesson. And I am up for that.

Bandulu, Juno Reactor, Air Liquide, Telepathic Fish etc. etc. etc..

The decks are where it is at man. When it's late, and everyone is wrecked. To even be able to stand up or sit down and play is a gift. All that f**king guitar wankery never impressed me very much past 13 years of age.

Sometimes we just throw ideas in the air, like boomerangs. And sometimes we get to catch them.

We are the new priests. Those of us that love and worship music so much. And spread the word.