How Incredible Is Techno Music?

[christoofar 0]

Most Techno is what I've heard a gay friend of mine call "tired House."

I really can't stand to listen to a lot of it. BUT... some of the techno that is mixed off of older soul vynil happens to be actually really good and isn't too "thumpy". One internet radio station I like is Netmusique (Toronto station)..

There are a few techno tracks I like that I take with me to the gym on my mp3 player... 'Shiny Disco Balls' is quite "trust".
netmusique.com

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I'm RICK JAMES! Fo shizzle.

[Frenchy68 0]

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some of the techno that is mixed off of older soul vynil happens to be actually really good and isn't too "thumpy".

There's a pretty good album by DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist, where they spin 60's & 70's soul 45rpms for an hour or so... (I think it's called "Brainfreeze")

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

[ahegeman 0]

No doubt. Its perfect for ending a party with. If that won't clear people out, nothing will.

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There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'.
--Dave Barry

[lawrocket 3]

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If it's so easy, I challenge you to produce a track.

Get me some equipment, an engineer and a studio, and I'd be happy to produce several tracks.

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you think of it like that, you've obviously been listening to some pretty shitty electronic music to draw your conclusion from.

You're right. My wife brought some back from Europe. I think one of her favorites is a disc with some cuts from the "Buddha Bar." I didn't like it.

Honestly, I haven't found any electronic music I've liked. It's what got got me away from listening to popular radio when I was about 10 in the early-mid 80's when "No Parking on the Dance Floor" was considered iconic. The, "hey, this is a cool sound effect" stuff that dominated Top 40 for the last 20 years.

Then I found some music where people played instruments. Actual instruments! Whoa!

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I don't like certain genres of music either, but I can still differentiate between tracks that require talent and tracks that do not.

This line is becoming ever fuzzier, my friend. Milli Vanilli were great, till people figured out they didn't do their own songs. They had talent, and were given a Grammy for the "Best New Artist." Ashley Simpson-Hung has talent, too, right?

It doesn't take much talent to program a drum machine. It doesn't take much talent to play the right hand only on a keyboard for some parts. I know, because I have no talent and I've done both.

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Even if you just don't like electronic music, you'd have to be pretty ignorant to make a comment like you just made about it.

I don't like it. But, when I hear it, I'm not that ignorant when it comes to how it's put together.

I'll put it this way. I can put a drum beat to "The Theme from a Summer Place" and spice it off with laser sounds, sunthesizer wheezes, and even a fog machine and people will go for it.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[hexadecimal 0]

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Get me some equipment, an engineer and a studio, and I'd be happy to produce several tracks.

Why do you need all that? You obviously have a computer since you're posting on this message board... and you did say that all you would have to do is fuck around on a computer for a few seconds to make a track, didn't you?

[Frenchy68 0]

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Milli Vanilli were great, till people figured out they didn't do their own songs. They had talent, and were given a Grammy for the "Best New Artist."

That's funny!

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It doesn't take much talent to program a drum machine. It doesn't take much talent to play the right hand only on a keyboard for some parts.

Nor does it take much talent to grab a paint brush and start painting.
Talent should not be measured by the level of diffuculty or technicallity, but by the final result.

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I can put a drum beat to "The Theme from a Summer Place" and spice it off with laser sounds, sunthesizer wheezes, and even a fog machine and people will go for it.

Of course. But that goes for anything. Even in music. "Satisfaction" by the RS is 3 notes played on and on. But it has its merit...
Level of difficulty is irrelevent. I studied classical music for 10 years and have a masters degree in music. I still consider that some "electronic" artists or DJs are truly talented people.

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

[hookitt 1]

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I can totaly see that guy as some one would be right at home saying "It puts the lotion on it's skin"

I played that lotion vid for my room mate and he requested I turn it off.

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[lawrocket 3]

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Why do you need all that? You obviously have a computer since you're posting on this message board... and you did say that all you would have to do is fuck around on a computer for a few seconds to make a track, didn't you?

Yes I did. I should have expanded it into drum machine, computer, and synthesizer. Microphone, too, as well as mixing software and/or a board.

Back when I was playing music regularly, I still didn't have any of the editing or mixing equipment. I wish now I had. Some mixing software, even, for my computer (though I find Macs work better with that).

Yeah, more than just a computer goes into it. You got me.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[flyingferret 0]

Dude, THAT is some funny shit!

And Yeah strongbad kicks ass.

DELETED!

--
All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

[lawrocket 3]

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Talent should not be measured by the level of diffuculty or technicallity, but by the final result.

True dat. I had a guy on the drums on a band once that was a brilliant technician on that set, and could really do some amazing things. But he was a lousy drummer since he couldn't keep the beat because he was so busy with his fills.

I agree that plenty of DJ's and techno "artists" are talented. Plenty of people dig it. And plenty of people thought I was a damned good guitarist, while others thought I played too weird and hated it.

To each his own. I just don't like electronic music. If I want electronic music, I'll set off my smoke alarm.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[flyingferret 0]

Oh yeah, to answer your question:

O-Zone - Dragostea Din Tei

--
All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI.

[champu 1]

and to answer your next question, it's in Romanian.

a few good electronic (not just techno) artists with my quick attempt at a favorite song in parenthesis

Dabrye (Hyped-Up Plus Tax)
Air (La Femme D'Argent)
Benny Benassi (Love is Gonna Save Us)
The Chemical Brothers (The Sunshine Underground)
The Crystal Method (Murder)
Daft Punk (Alive)
Dutchforce (Deadline)
Fatboy Slim (Don't Let the Man)
High Contrast (Return of Forever)
Hybrid (Finished Symphony)
Juno Reactor (Pistolero)
Prodigy (Voodoo People)
Underworld (Push Upstairs)

/eta:

Squarepusher (I Wish You Could Talk)
Mirwais (Disco Science)
Dieselboy (End of the World, although with drum and bass it's especially hard to pick one song out of an album cause they tend to be mixed together)

[Frenchy68 0]

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Dabrye (Hyped-Up Plus Tax)
Air (La Femme D'Argent)
Benny Benassi (Love is Gonna Save Us)
The Chemical Brothers (The Sunshine Underground)
The Crystal Method (Murder)
Daft Punk (Alive)
Dutchforce (Deadline)
Fatboy Slim (Don't Let the Man)
High Contrast (Return of Forever)
Hybrid (Finished Symphony)
Juno Reactor (Pistolero)
Prodigy (Voodoo People)
Underworld (Push Upstairs)

Good list.
Non techno, but "electronic", one of my favorite band of all time: Groove Armada.
And, as was mentioned above, the Salmonella Dub (one of modern music's best kept secret, at least in the US!)

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

[Kramer 0]

More ????s

What are the fundamental differences between the genres within techno?

Such as Ambient, Dance, Trance, House, Electronica; etc. Or are they all just a way of saying "techno" ?

Thanks

The FAKE KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER!!!!!!!!!

[ChangoLanzao 0]

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To each his own. I just don't like electronic music. If I want electronic music, I'll set off my smoke alarm.

Reminds me of something my wife once said to sum up free Jazz, "If I want to listen to that, I'd just dump all the pots and pans on the floor at once!"

"Music is the Healing Force of the Universe"
-- Albert Ayler



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[BikerBabe 0]

check this out...it's on the di station site, and it's apretty good pirmer for all of the different genres.

The guy has some opinions I don't agree with, but the definitions are pretty dead on:

http://www.di.fm/edmguide/edmguide.html

I tend more towarrds trance, progressive house, and breakbeats, myself...

Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

[champu 1]

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What are the fundamental differences between the genres within techno?

^^^^^
argh, that's the site I was looking for

[Kramer 0]

This site is exactly what I was hoping existed. Thanks a million. It will take me a while to learn all this stuff though!

The FAKE KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER!!!!!!!!!

[Thijs 0]

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Go back to the old classics:
Paul Oakenfold
Pete Tong
Paul Van Dyke
Timo Maas
All the "Essential" selections...

These I consider the "old" basics...

They aren't stricly Techno, more Trance acctually. Techno is still a bit of underground music, the things you here on radio are acctually Trance music. It is sometimes difficult to here the difference between the subgenres of electronic music. Just watch out. Some technolovers tend to freak out when you say you listen to the techno music from oakenfold or tiesto. I prefer to name it electronic music.

Here are some names I like (most techno but also other genres)
Dave Clarke
Marco Bailey
Adam Beyer
DJ Redhead
Joris Voorn
Marco Remus
Umek
James Ruskin
Pet Duo
Carl Cox
Alexander Kowalski
T-Quest
Psychogene
Cajmere aka green velvet
Jack De marseille
and I could go on for quiet a while.
Some of them are good producers, other are very good DJ's, some are both, Umek for example

I mostly listen to DJ sets instead of just tracks. It is just great to hear what some good DJ's can do while playing 3 tracks at a time, scratching etc

Thijs
Edit to add: if you really want to learn what good techno is, then come to Europe (Belgium, Germany, France, Holland)

[Thijs 0]

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I'm not a fan of techno.

Fuck around on the computer for 3/4 of a second to generate a beat in 2/4 time. Loop it over and over.

Add sound effects.

Turn it up to 11.

The end.

If it's so easy, I challenge you to produce a track.

Also... if you think of it like that, you've obviously been listening to some pretty shitty electronic music to draw your conclusion from. I don't like certain genres of music either, but I can still differentiate between tracks that require talent and tracks that do not. Even if you just don't like electronic music, you'd have to be pretty ignorant to make a comment like you just made about it.

I agree with you.
You have to try once to mix one techno track into another and it has to sound good. I've tried it and it is very difficult. Just listen to a good DJ set, sometimes you'll be amazed what they can do with just some beats
Some DJ's have the skills to produce there music live, without CD's or vinyl. Now that's crazy
Thijs

[BikerBabe 0]

heh...about a month ago I saw one of BT's "laptop symphonies".

Basically a DJ set, but he doesn't use vinyl, he mixes real time on his laptop...pretty cool.

He did a live remix of Lenny Kravitz's "Are You Gonna Go My Way" that practically brought the rafters down in the club.

Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

[GQ_jumper 4]

Its not really techno, but the newish Linkin Park remix with some rapper is pretty cool.***
there's a couple of cd's out like that, one is the linkin park reanimated cd. it has all the songs from there first two albums and a little of their underground stuff all remixed, and recently they did a show with jay-z, i have yet to get the cd but heard a little bit of it. all i can say is DAMN!!!

also check out tranceairwaves.com streaming trance 24/7 i usually fall asleep to it. online if you are looking for cd's check out satelliterecords.com bangingtunes.com ukdancerecords.com and theres also tranceaddict.com they have links to all kinds of sites. enjoy!!!

History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.
--Dwight D. Eisenhower

[audacium 0]

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I'm not a fan of techno.

Fuck around on the computer for 3/4 of a second to generate a beat in 2/4 time. Loop it over and over.

Add sound effects.

Turn it up to 11.

The end.

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I don't like it. But, when I hear it, I'm not that ignorant when it comes to how it's put together.

Sorry, but you obviously are that ignorant, and you do not give the impression you ever listened to good electronic music. When you go to Walmart and get a "Dance Now" (or whatever) sampler for USD 2.99 then chances are your observations will be correct. But this is like going into any bar in any city, listen to the live band playing rock music and then saying "all I need to make a hit is get a guitar, fiddle around, beat the drums to death and hurl like crazy into the mic to make it sound like rock". Sure you will agree it is not fair to judge rock this way.

Most really good electronic dance music is still to be found on vinyl only, so you have to dig in record stores and see what you like (there is good music on CD, but the real treasures are on vinyl imho). And I can guarantee it will not meet the cliché of some 17-years old computer geek creating a techno hit within half a second with his music software. Also, most of the techno artists (especially the older ones) have a long career in other music paths only to grow into techno / electronic music. Some have a formal education in music / studied music, some don't. But they have a solid background in music, more than any computer geek will have. They are "real musicians".

That said, I understand if you do not like electronic music - it is not for everyone, and good techno music surely is not for the mainstream. But before judging it so harshly you should know more about it I dare say.

--
Eduard

[GQ_jumper 4]

Most really good electronic dance music is still to be found on vinyl only, so you have to dig in record stores and see what you like (there is good music on CD, but the real treasures are on vinyl imho). ***

that's true that all the beswt tracks are on vinyl, but it usually doesn't take long for them to make their way onto a CD, when the bigger name DJ's get ahold of them.

one thing i've seen in the last few years is that as techno and trance started to become more mainstream all the big well known DJ's are using a lot of the same tracks, just different remixes. you get a lot of the same with names like oakenfold and paul van dyke. don't think i don't like their mixes, those guys have some great talent but in my opinion the best mixes are done by the no name dj's you will only find at dance clubs, the ones who haven't hit it big and put out CD's yet. the place to see all the real talent used to be raves before the federal rave act came out and put an end to all that fun!!

History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.
--Dwight D. Eisenhower

[Avion 0]

John Digweed!!!
Nick Warren!!
Paul Oakenfold!

Are DJs that spin some of the best dance music.

I tend to like Trance, particularly Goa Trance.

I made my aquantance with this music several years ago, and liked it so much I named my dog, Bean

If you have high speed internet access you can get all you can listen to on internet radio. Live365 stations are good, and there is a lot more.