Originally posted by DigiNut
I've been making this complaint for years. Most of what's being called techno is only superficially techno - that is, it's very dark and percussive and serious and often minimal with little to no hint of a melody or hook, but unfortunately also lacks many of the elements traditionally associated with techno like filters, mashups, funky or weird or old school samples, or even interesting or unexpected cuts and splices.
This happens with every genre though. It was the same with electro when it became just a buzzword for blips and bloops and farty basslines.
Well put. What Toronto has, Techno-wise is too much of one style of music - there's little to no place for sounds and styles of playing that veer to one side or the other of what most of the "popular" d.j.s (meaning, there are tons of "popular" Techno d.j.s out there, the majority of which rarely or never set foot on North American soil) are playing these days. And it does happen with every genre - North American Jazz went through a big-band phase, then guys like Miles Davis and Charlie Parker broke away from that and shook things up, then Free Jazz followed and was openly criticized by Davis - talk about a merry-go-round. Of course, all the while the Europeans were lapping it *all* up, just like they are today.
What I hear in most of these 'minimal' Techno sets are too much of the same sounds, both being played out by too many d.j.s and in the actual sets themselves. There's an extended, grainy, ascending whooshing sweep that seems to qualify as *the* signature buildup in so many tracks that I hear - after hearing a however subtle variation of the same sound several times over in the same set, it has the tendency to lose its desired effect, that of building anticipation. Without that, what are you left with? I've only heard a handful of d.j.s who can consistently pull off uniquely interesting minimal sets, the rest of it simply comes off as mediocre bandwagoning.
I believe the classic minimal and harder sounds will become popular in Toronto again, but only when people in clubland start becoming exposed to, and appreciating it - just as all sub-genres of Jazz eventually found their place in North American popular culture and history (and even if it still gets TONS more love overseas). There's an entire generation of clubbers who were never exposed to the likes of Claude Young, Cari Lekebusch, Dez, Twonz or Murat when they used to roll through town and lay waste to 1000+ people at a time, and there's been little to fill the void since. I'm looking forward to seeing that change.
PivotTechno
P.S.:
samhouse
quote:
Originally posted by jchung52
its taken me a while to take on this fad although i still havent fully embraced it. i agree that the "techno" sound has become rampant however, as stated earlier, thats just how the scene moves, from one "genre" to the next. I find it amusing how so many people can just suddenly switch gears. many friends HATE electro yet just 4-5 months earlier, they couldn't live without it. I find it hard to believe that their tastes could sour so quickly. Im a fan of all genres and keep my binder up to date with techno/minimal,techhouse, tribal, electro, and progressive. obviously not everyone can enjoy so many types of house at one time or can they..........
i agree here^^^
sometimes reading the drama that goes on here on TA and other msg boards, I thank my lucky stars that I can find a place in my heart for a variety of genres (hate that word).
The line between minimal, tech-house and techno is getting finer day by day and I for one will be the first to admit that I probably mistake one for the other repeatedly. Kudos to those who can make that difference. What it all comes down to in the end is that music is different to all of us. We define our own genres and it shows our passion for it when we spend hours on a computer trying to convince others that our "point of view" is the right one.
Owen M
quote:
Originally posted by The Highroller
[color=ccff00]I've only been back in the city for a month, but it is my observation that there is an overabundance of techno* (and other sub genres) in Toronto. As you all know, I love techno.
what you're actually listening to is rock n' roll.
it's all rock and roll to me.
clicks & clacks with heavy bassline...it's all still rock and roll baby :D
ego007
ya rock n roll !!! :D
Jem_hadar
quote:
Originally posted by PivotTechno
P.S.:
T E C H N O !!!!!!!!!!!
The music I live and breath for!!! :D :D :D :D
PivotTechno
What I would give my (figurative) left nut to hear being played out more in Toronto:
gummybear
Dave Clarke is a legend IMO...:crazy:
VDub
I'm so glad that there still are REAL TECHNO lovers in here...
minimal techno to me is an oxymoron...
But what do I know since I'm ignorant and all...
ChemEnhanced
quote:
Originally posted by gummybear
Dave Clarke is a legend IMO...:crazy:
+ 1...definately a pioneer in techno...would love to see him back in TO again.
VDub
quote:
Originally posted by gummybear
Dave Clarke is a legend IMO...:crazy:
He was my first techno experience...
Warehouse 2000 or was it 2001...
Insane...
junkie_val
quote:
Originally posted by VDub
He was my first techno experience...
:D :D :D :D