Music: The Origin Of Electronic Dance Music

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The first morsels of electronic dance music came into existence in the late 70’s, thanks to the integration of synthesized instruments by influential European artists such as Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder (europopmusic.eu). This concept came into full realization in the 1980’s, with the rise of house music, whose existence is often credited to recently deceased pioneer Frankie Knuckles. The vast majority of this music is reliant on a “four on the floor” kick drum, providing a thumping, danceable rhythm. The general term for this style soon became Electronic Dance Music (EDM). The underground house movement eventually attracted British artists seeking a more syncopated, fast paced kind of music, leading to the foundations of Jungle and Drum’n’Bass. Yet some people still yearned for an even more contemporary, experimental sound. These innovative musicians began to form record labels such as Warp Records and Rephlex, dedicated to a less accessible, more complex branch of dance music. Over the past decades, this music has become known as a variety of things, one of the most common being Intelligent Dance Music, or IDM.
The rapid incline of house music’s popularity in the 80’s led a handful of its followers to utilize the hardware and machines used in house to craft new, arguably more classically inspired music. For instance, the legendary Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer was often heard in the subgenre Acid house. This device is also widely heard throughout the IDM world, as both a beloved sound and as homage to its roots. While oftentimes danceable, Intelligent Dance Music is not always quite so. In fact, it commonly incorporates intense rhythmic breaks, shuffling rhythms, and odd time signatures. The general feeling of the music ...

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...tation with time signatures and algorithmic programs, along with their rather lengthy song times. The duo’s latest album, Exai, is over 2 hours long (discogs.com). Another early founding act is The Black Dog, whose particularly house-inspired sounds and beats helped lay the starting points of industrial techno, tech-house, and dubstep, as well as IDM. Yet another, albeit odder example is Brazilian producer Amon Tobin. While starting his career in Drum’n’Bass, his intensive dabbling in field recording has made his recent material considered IDM. He is most notable for his astonishing three-dimensional imaging during concerts. Last but not least is the R&S Record Label, founded in 1988. It is considered one of the first supporting labels of IDM, thanks to their willingness to sign artists such as the aforementioned Aphex Twin and Black Dog, as well as newer artists.

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