Electronic Music

There are many different terms for electronic music. One term - techno - refers to a particular variation but for many acts as a coverall term for much of electronic music. There are those who argue that techno is entirely separate from the family of blues-derived popular music and that its origins can be traced to classical music via the avant-garde. This may make sense if all one looked at were experimenters like Kraftwerk or Jean-Michelle Jarre. However this overlooks the context in which techno has grown and dismisses the content of many of its sub-genres.

The progressive supergroups in the 70s and pop acts in the 80s popularized the use of electronic instruments and thus paved the way for mass acceptance of techno into the 90s. In addition many of its sub-genres draw specifically on blues-derived genres. Trance is inspired by psychedelia. Industrial draws on hardcore and post-punk music. House draws on hip-hop and post-disco music. These sub-genres bleed into one another making it difficult to identify particular artists with particular variations.

A selective list of electronic acts includes Tangerine Dream, Yello, The Orb, Endorphin, Severed Heads, Enigma, Underworld, Ministry, Massive Attack, Nine Inch Nails, Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim, Moby, The Prodigy, Portished and Propellerheads.

With modern technology the waveform of any instrument in existence can be captured and incorporated into techno. Everything from 'tribal' percussion to cinematic incidental music graces techno tracks. Elements can be combined and modified with mathematical precision. As a result techno is eminently versatile and can be crafted for any purpose from frenetic dance raves to relaxation massages.