"Intelligent dance music" was a term coined in the early '90s to describe a certain set of artists like Aphex Twin, Autechre, Future Sound of London, and The Orb. The term was applied mostly to artists who were either on the Warp Records label or making stuff that was similarly weird, complex, or outside the typical styles of clubby dance music.

The term was made up by some fans on a mailing list. The artists themselves never described their tracks as "intelligent dance music," as far as I know.

It's a slightly more pretentious way of calling your music "underground." It lets people know they won't hear any pop remixes, vocal trance, etc. It's a preemptive response to people calling your music "boring."

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It's snobbery.

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Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles "Intelligent dance music" was a term coined in the early '90s to describe a certain set of artists like Aphex Twin, Autechre, Future Sound of London, and The Orb. The term was applied mostly to artists who were either on the Warp Records label or making stuff that was similarly weird, complex, or outside the typical styles of clubby dance music. The term was made up by some fans on a mailing list. The artists themselves never described their tracks as "intelligent dance music," as far as I know.

This is the correct answer.

Minimal/techno is not IDM. IDM does not simply mean "intelligent" dance music. IDM refers to a specific musical movement in the 90s that aimed to be deliberately avant-garde and designed to be listenable at home as well as in the club. Although often associated with pretentious wankery, IDM is largely responsible for fusing the idea of electronic dance music and electronic music for home listening.

The people you're talking about are just pretentious clowns mis-using a term.

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Originally posted by Mr.Mystery It's snobbery.

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Originally posted by Mr.Mystery It's snobbery.

+2

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quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles "Intelligent dance music" was a term coined in the early '90s to describe a certain set of artists like Aphex Twin, Autechre, Future Sound of London, and The Orb. The term was applied mostly to artists who were either on the Warp Records label or making stuff that was similarly weird, complex, or outside the typical styles of clubby dance music. The term was made up by some fans on a mailing list. The artists themselves never described their tracks as "intelligent dance music," as far as I know.

This is correct. And also there were some who were ex patriot Trance listeners that graduated and would call Progressive House intelligent dance music, 1999-2002, and then in 2002-2004 many attached the lable to Progressive Breaks.

Personally I see Trip Hop as intelligent dance music, but I can see how Minimal Techno can be made with the intelligence of the listener in mind, it would have to be crafted in a way that the intelligentsia understand what the producer is trying to convey with his music versus the average listener who is listening for enjoyment and doesnt deconstruct the music to see what is being conveyed. The attachment of "intelligent music" would require intelligence from both the producer and the listener.

Yea the A-phex twin/autechre stuff is what I know as IDM as a genre. One of the main aspects of it that makes it 'intelliegent' is the fact that structurally it is not repetitive. BPM in the tune may vary, and the high hat patterns may keep changing throughout the tune. That being said, a lot of IDM is horrendously repetitive in the way that it sounds imo - regardless of intricate things that keep changing.

As for minimal techno, I suppose it is the genre that is closest to the way IDM sounds. Since its pretty difficult to find real IDM nights, minimal is probably the colsest you can get.

I don't think it's intelligent though - I think its boring and without energy Just my opinion though!

I think the acronym is slowly changing into "Independent Dance Music".

Putting "intelligent" to describe your music is pretty ludicrous.

Last edited by chadi on Mar-02-2008 at 16:11

I love that music but hate that term. The term sounds like it's invented by elitists who think they are in some way more intelligent and cooler than others.