Alright, so I'm not particularly knowledgeable when it comes to music but recently I've noticed that electronic (dance) music has gained a lot of popularity. The thing is, I don't really understand why it appeals to so many people.
Sure, dancing to said music can be great and at times I really enjoy electronic/house music at clubs. I also like some songs with electro parts (e.g. mix of hip hop and electro and such). However, what's it with people listening to electronic dance music outside clubs?
It's like, there are no vocals, there is no melody, the songs have no "peak" and all sound exactly the same. Usually it's just a beat that goes on exactly the same for a minute (or even longer), then there's an "interlude" for a couple of seconds (can be anything, really), then another beat with some bass that might be a bit faster/louder or slower/heavier/whatever than the first one. Then the song is over.
Really, I don't want to criticize people for their taste in music, but I simply don't understand the appeal of listening to one simple, basic beat for 2 minutes straight when you're not in a club. I had to listen to that stuff on a bus tour for like 5 hours straight and I can tell that most songs sound almost exactly the same. Also, instead of bands we now seem to have only DJs. On facebook I constantly see people going to some festivals where famous DJs X, Y and Z make an appearance. It seems like regular concerts have died out. Same goes for new songs - I'm getting the impression that they are disappearing slowly but surely. Instead we now have the remix of the remix of the remix.
To sum it up, it seems to me that the songs are only about moving your hands to a really simple beat and feeling cool like that...
Could someone enlighten me?
This is a good example of what I mean - especially minutes 3-6 or so:
-
Electronic/house/techno music...
Last edited by Astaroth; April 02, 2011 at 03:56 PM.
Curious Curialist curing the Curia of all things Curial. -
Re: Electronic/house/techno music...
I'm into house music, I really like hearing Ministry of Sound remixes and some specific artists too.
Tiesto has some good things but some really boring stuff too. Same goes for most DJ's and producers of electronic music, it's better to stick to single songs and not to artists or genres.
Some stuff that I like:
(don't go all moderator on my ass because of the swearing, this is ''the Arts'' after all
)
etc...Last edited by Claudius Gothicus; April 02, 2011 at 05:14 PM.
Under the Patronage of Maximinus Thrax -
Re: Electronic/house/techno music...
Some electronic remixes are pretty good; I don't dislike everything that's connected to house/techno etc. But what I don't understand are the songs that seem to consist of nothing but 1-2 beats without any vocals or variety whatsoever.
EDIT: The songs you posted are not bad... I'm not a huge electronic/house fan, but I can understand why people like them. However, many pieces by DJs like Tiesto or Deadmau5 are just boring outside clubs. I don't get how people can listen to that.Last edited by Astaroth; April 02, 2011 at 05:20 PM.
Curious Curialist curing the Curia of all things Curial. -
Re: Electronic/house/techno music...
It's a good question, that why I said thats for the most part there's not ''good DJ's'' or ''good genres'' because one, two, three or four songs by the same guy can be pretty awesome but then he comes up with some unsubstantiated
Originally Posted by Astaroth
that doesn't really have any appeal and only works when your high on ecstasy.
I stick to songs not ''artists'', and so does most people the disco crowd doesn't really dig the minimalist approach and traditional clubbers stick to house for the most part.
Under the Patronage of Maximinus Thrax -
Re: Electronic/house/techno music...
Not all electronic music is dance you know. But that said dance music is perfectly listenable outside of clubs. Just in the same way metal is outside of a gig or mosh pit.
For example Deadmau5's album 'Random Album Title' just sucks away the hours no matter what context you listen to it. Or Burial's Untrue is the perfect night time listening album.Last edited by Their Law; April 02, 2011 at 06:27 PM.
"You have a decent ear for notes
but you can't yet appreciate harmony." -
Re: Electronic/house/techno music...
I think Deadmau5 sums it up well where he can produce gold "Ghosts n Stuff", "Raise your weapon" etc...
And complete horse manure "Faxing Berlin" etc...R.I.P. Eoin B. I'll miss you Grandad :'( -
Re: Electronic/house/techno music...
I kinda love Deadmau5, some of his mixes are crappy though.
Hammer & Sickle - Karacharovo
And I drank it strait down. -
Re: Electronic/house/techno music...
It depends on the artist and the beat really. Tiesto is okay but Daft Punk, Faithless and Deadmau5 are very good. They're well paced and have a very unique use of instruments and beats. Beyond dancing, they're simply nice to listen to and relax to. Many are quite downtempo. Most house and techno tracks have been cut (club edits) to the climax, I often prefer house songs without vocals, because the vocals are usually terrible, don't match the beat and distract from it.
Really, the better house and electronica songs aren't much different from the instrumental funk of the 60s and 70s or classical orchestra: A lot of buildup and fantastic climax or a constant nice beat with sporadic variations.
Some more downtempo house/electronica tracks:
Originally Posted by A.J.P. Taylor
Peaceful agreement and government by consent are possible only on the basis of ideas common to all parties; and these ideas must spring from habit and from history. Once reason is introduced, every man, every class, every nation becomes a law unto itself; and the only right which reason understands is the right of the stronger. Reason formulates universal principles and is therefore intolerant: there can be only one rational society, one rational nation, ultimately one rational man. Decisions between rival reasons can be made only by force.
Originally Posted by H.L Spieghel
Originally Posted by Miel Cools
Cò am Fear am measg ant-sluaigh,
A mhaireas buan gu bràth?
Chan eil sinn uileadh ach air chuart,
Mar dhìthein buaile fàs,Bheir siantannan na bliadhna sìos,'S nach tog a' ghrian an àird.
Originally Posted by Jörg Friedrich
Originally Posted by Louis Napoleon III, Des Idees Napoleoniennes
Originally Posted by Wolfgang Held
Jajem ssoref is m'n korewE goochem mit e wenk, e nar mit e shtompWer niks is, hot kawsones -
Re: Electronic/house/techno music...
My tastes fall a bit more within the "traditional" trance genre, so I don't listen to music that deviates from that style too much. What I like about it? Some DJ's manage to just consistently produce eargasms. I love full music that makes a lot of noise but still manages to be coherent, so 9 times out of 10, trance fits the bill.
I do admit that it's an acquired taste, because all that good trance really is, is sound with feeling put into it. There's no social message hidden anywhere, it doesn't adress topics of daily life, there's no deeper meaning to trance than just losing yourself in the music.
Here's some of my favourite tracks. Mind you, they're all long (5+ mins, up to 8) and take a long time to build up. But that's precisely what I love about trance music: the moment it opens up, there's no missing it.
This song is ridiculously powerful from 3:10ish to about 3:30. Listening to it on my headphones is a blast (as the highest rated commenter has also remarked). Haven't had the pleasure of hearing it live yet, but maybe the 9th of April when I'm attending A State of Trance 500 in Den Bosch I will.
The vocals here are chilling. I love Aruna in general (Velvetine is a collab project between two DJ's and aruna on vocals). I wouldn't highlight any particular part, it's just an all around good track.
Another stellar song by the same artists. The best part of this track is without a doubt the first half, just the way she sings is enough to send shivers down my spine. Especially 2:20 and on is amazing.I have approximate answers and possible beliefs, and different degrees of certainty about different things, but I’m not absolutely sure of anything, and many things I don’t know anything about. But I don’t have to know an answer. I don’t feel frightened by not knowing.
- Richard Feynman's words. My atheism.
-
Re: Electronic/house/techno music...
something more classic (great mix):
Last edited by Swagger; April 03, 2011 at 11:46 AM.
Under the Patronage of the Dreadful cedric37!
Ancs Guide, Emergent Factions , Yes/No Events |L'Outremer for Modders| Swagger's Skymod
-
-
Re: Electronic/house/techno music...
When it comes to dance music i generally fall into the 'less is more' category. I prefer the minimal approach as i think the gaps between the music accentuate the songs more effectively.
For example,
"You have a decent ear for notes
but you can't yet appreciate harmony." -
-
Re: Electronic/house/techno music...
I've grown a big liking for Techno recently, and its great when you are out clubbing or in parties. I don't really listen to it as much at home though.
I also like Drum'n'Bass and aside from a select few places its not really played in town (Dubstep is the big thing around here these days but I don't really like it) and most of my mates don't really like it so I only really listen to it at home.
My brothers really into his electronic and dance music. He owns decks and gets the occasional sets in town and all the rest of it (And hes younger then me!!)Last edited by Azog 150; April 03, 2011 at 07:16 PM.
Under the Patronage of Jom! -
Re: Electronic/house/techno music...
Dubsteb's
ing horrible. I seriously can't comprehend how any human being can find it appealing. Even Hardcore at least has some melody and a nice danceable beat, Dubstep is just . It's the lowest of the low of club music.
Originally Posted by A.J.P. Taylor
Peaceful agreement and government by consent are possible only on the basis of ideas common to all parties; and these ideas must spring from habit and from history. Once reason is introduced, every man, every class, every nation becomes a law unto itself; and the only right which reason understands is the right of the stronger. Reason formulates universal principles and is therefore intolerant: there can be only one rational society, one rational nation, ultimately one rational man. Decisions between rival reasons can be made only by force.
Originally Posted by H.L Spieghel
Originally Posted by Miel Cools
Cò am Fear am measg ant-sluaigh,
A mhaireas buan gu bràth?
Chan eil sinn uileadh ach air chuart,
Mar dhìthein buaile fàs,Bheir siantannan na bliadhna sìos,'S nach tog a' ghrian an àird.
Originally Posted by Jörg Friedrich
Originally Posted by Louis Napoleon III, Des Idees Napoleoniennes
Originally Posted by Wolfgang Held
Jajem ssoref is m'n korewE goochem mit e wenk, e nar mit e shtompWer niks is, hot kawsones -
Re: Electronic/house/techno music...
Originally Posted by Dr. Croccer
Dubsteb'sing horrible. I seriously can't comprehend how any human being can find it appealing. Even Hardcore at least has some melody and a nice danceable beat, Dubstep is just . It's the lowest of the low of club music.
If you disliked that then you have no soul Croccer, no soul at all
.
Last edited by Their Law; April 04, 2011 at 12:57 AM.
"You have a decent ear for notes
but you can't yet appreciate harmony." -
Re: Electronic/house/techno music...
That's bearable, but still unimaginative and gets boring after a while. The ''chav'' dubstep is what I was refering to. The more hardcore stuff.
Originally Posted by A.J.P. Taylor
Peaceful agreement and government by consent are possible only on the basis of ideas common to all parties; and these ideas must spring from habit and from history. Once reason is introduced, every man, every class, every nation becomes a law unto itself; and the only right which reason understands is the right of the stronger. Reason formulates universal principles and is therefore intolerant: there can be only one rational society, one rational nation, ultimately one rational man. Decisions between rival reasons can be made only by force.
Originally Posted by H.L Spieghel
Originally Posted by Miel Cools
Cò am Fear am measg ant-sluaigh,
A mhaireas buan gu bràth?
Chan eil sinn uileadh ach air chuart,
Mar dhìthein buaile fàs,Bheir siantannan na bliadhna sìos,'S nach tog a' ghrian an àird.
Originally Posted by Jörg Friedrich
Originally Posted by Louis Napoleon III, Des Idees Napoleoniennes
Originally Posted by Wolfgang Held
Jajem ssoref is m'n korewE goochem mit e wenk, e nar mit e shtompWer niks is, hot kawsones -
Re: Electronic/house/techno music...
Well it's each to his own, personally the album that song is from is perhaps one of the best pieces of electronic music that's come out in the past couple of years. But if you dislike the basis of the sound then well it's not going to do anything for you. Originally Posted by Dr. Croccer
Kind of like myself and hip-hop, try as i might i just can't 'get' why people would listen to it. But clearly there's good hip-hop out there which is musically valid and a great achievement for the artist in question, but to me it's a one tone musical dirge.
But saying a whole genre is because you don't like it is a bit hyperbolic don't you think. Not to mention going by your post it's a bit jike disliking metal as a genre because you dislike the Black Metal part of it.
Last edited by Their Law; April 04, 2011 at 01:05 AM.
"You have a decent ear for notes
but you can't yet appreciate harmony." -
Re: Electronic/house/techno music...
It's okay, it's just isn't doing anything for me. I think the dubstep nature is incredibly restrictive to the song, in fact. I hear a lot of potential in it but the boring beat that doesn't go anywhere is holding it back. Originally Posted by Their Law
Except Black Metal is a genre in it's own right. It has a completely different sound. The vid you posted is clearly dubstep. Better and more downtempo than most of the popular stuff, but still easily recognisable as dubstep. It's the recognisable aspects of dubstep which I dislike and which I dislike about your song. The amateurish drum loops; the sporadic vocals which don't flow well with the the beat; The beat which has little to no development, apart from additional ill-fitting filler loops. It kinda ruins it. Again, I'm not saying it's bad, but it's not wonderful either. A good remix of the song could be brilliant.But saying a whole genre is because you don't like it is a bit hyperbolic don't you think. Not to mention going by your post it's a bit jike disliking metal as a genre because you dislike the Black Metal part of it.
Originally Posted by A.J.P. Taylor
Peaceful agreement and government by consent are possible only on the basis of ideas common to all parties; and these ideas must spring from habit and from history. Once reason is introduced, every man, every class, every nation becomes a law unto itself; and the only right which reason understands is the right of the stronger. Reason formulates universal principles and is therefore intolerant: there can be only one rational society, one rational nation, ultimately one rational man. Decisions between rival reasons can be made only by force.
Originally Posted by H.L Spieghel
Originally Posted by Miel Cools
Cò am Fear am measg ant-sluaigh,
A mhaireas buan gu bràth?
Chan eil sinn uileadh ach air chuart,
Mar dhìthein buaile fàs,Bheir siantannan na bliadhna sìos,'S nach tog a' ghrian an àird.
Originally Posted by Jörg Friedrich
Originally Posted by Louis Napoleon III, Des Idees Napoleoniennes
Originally Posted by Wolfgang Held
Jajem ssoref is m'n korewE goochem mit e wenk, e nar mit e shtompWer niks is, hot kawsones -
