Electronic+Music

Electronic Music

Electronica is defined as music created using electronic instruments (synthesizers, samplers, drum machines, etc) and remains dominated by that electronic sound. It can be further characterized by its emphasis on melodic and harmonic structure, and also on its catchy, danceable rhythms and bass lines. Some people have difficulty distinguishing between what is considered Synthpop, Techno, House, Acid Jazz / Fusion, Trance, Drum and Bass, Jungle, Industrial, Dance, etc. Everyone makes their own distinctions, based on factors like: "seriousness" or "deepness" of lyrical content, presence (or lack) of lyrical content, lyrics vs. samples vs. purely instrumental, presence (or lack) of melodic content, types of sounds/timbres within the music, and with what sort of image the artists present themselves.

Artists representative of Synthpop (often also referred to as "New Wave" - indicative of the changing style of British music in the early 80's) include: The Human League, Depeche Mode, Eurythmics, Pet Shop Boys, Alphaville, Erasure, and Duran Duran, among many others. Synthpop's style usually encompasses a strong lyrical and melodic / harmonic bent - the focus often falls on the singer and the image he/she presents for the band, as well as the mood / content of the lyrics, which is usually light in tone and not often very deep, although it can be highly emotional and serious, even dark and political at times.

Techno is typically founded in purely instrumental music, sometimes involving spoken word samples drawn from a variety of sources: film, television, radio, and even other artists' works. Generally it is driven by its beat, although melodic and harmonic lines still figure heavily in its definition. Artists such as 808 State, Fluke, Orbital, Crystal Method, and Chemical Brothers, typically fall under the Techno category. Additionally, Synthpop and Techno are thought to be largely European innovations, blooming from their roots in one of the first all-electronic bands - Germany's Kraftwerk - and developing simultaneously with the early vestiges of Hip-Hop and Rap in America under the guidance of artists such as Parliament Funkadelic, Inner City, and Grandmaster Flash.

Literary Movement Music of the 20th Century (Home)