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I guess I started this thread because a lot of people seem to be interested in this type of music but don't know where to start. This is for discussing all forms of experimental electronic music including but not limited to IDM, folktronica, glitch, breakcore, acid or even trip-hop, downtempo, chillout, and ambient music! What is IDM? IDM stands for intelligent dance music. Yeah, the name is lame and pretentious, but for some reason that's what caught on in the 90's and there's pretty much nothing else to call it (besides electronic music, which is too broad). It spawned in the early 1990's and has stylistic origins in hip-hop, ambient, house, techno, and drum n bass music. It still has a considerably huge influence on music and also a relatively large fanbase. There isn't really a specific sound, rather it's a genre that "tends to rely upon individualistic experimentation rather than on a particular set of musical characteristics." Basically, though, it's mostly used as a catch-all term for electronic that is more headphone music than dance music. Godfathers: Aphex Twin  "The most inventive and influential figure in contemporary electronic music." If you've never really heard of him before, you might know him best for being an absolute loving nutter with crazy music videos who lives in an abandoned bank driving tanks around hating everyone he comes across. In reality though, he's a pretty awesome guy. Supposedly he's been releasing stuff under the alias The Tuss, and he's also in the process of making a new album under the Aphex name according to Steve Beckett of Warp. I'd recommend starting with Selected Ambient Works 85-92 and the Richard D. James Album. Boards of Canada  Two brothers from Scotland who have a ridiculously zealous fanbase for whatever reason. They are perhaps most famous for their subliminal and cryptic messages that they put into their songs, their incredibly secretive behavior, and their extensive backcatalog. They are in the process of releasing a new album according to a source close to Boards (mdg from Hexagon Sun). I would recommend starting with The Campfire Headphase since it's probably the most accessible, but the other albums and EPs are fantastic as well. The Flashbulb  Benn Jordan, as he is also known, has a really impressive discography, ranging from more acid sounding stuff in earlier work to more ambient stuff later on. Personally, I would recommend checking out Kirlian Selections and Soundtrack to a Vacant Life. Autechre  I'll be honest and say that I'm not the biggest fan of Autechre. I guess I just don't "get" it, but it's pretty undeniable that they have a huge fanbase, have been really influential, and they've been around since the dinosaur times so, here they are. They just released a new album entitled Oversteps to lots of publicity and great reviews. Someone else could probably give better recommendations, but I've been told that Tri Repetae and LP5 are great places to start. Guys I left out in this category that you should also check out: µ-ziq, Squarepusher, Plaid, Global Goon, Luke Vibert, among others. Recent Artists I Like: Bibio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgGsnYpT3zg Tycho https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYIlKkOSW2s Telefon Tel Aviv https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx3jta6zv1Y So yeah, those are pretty much the basics. Oh, and please, please, please don't argue over what IDM is and isn't.
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May 15, 2010 10:18
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Great OP, not much else to say really, although I'd suggest anyone getting into BoC to start with Music Has The Right To Children instead, it's a bit more representative of their other work, Campfire Headphase was a bit of a jump from the rest of it. All good though 
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May 15, 2010 15:23
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I'm stalking you Insomne :p we must have really similar taste one artist i've been really into lately is Wisp. he sounds kinda 8-bit at times, but his music usually has an upbeat tempo and is very melodic. he has released a ton of music, and a lot of it is free here: http://www.wisp.kaen.org/ I would start with "About Things that Never Were" Enjoy!Then, my personal favorite by far is Frog Pocket. "Moon Mountain of the Fords" is probably the most insane IDM album I've ever heard, but it still manages to maintain a lot of beautiful melody. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvlyezlHql8&feature=related goatmouth fucked around with this message at 16:29 on May 15, 2010 |
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May 15, 2010 16:22
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God, IDM is a dumb loving name. I've been liking Dntel lately. He's noisy and shoegaze-y, sort of like The Postal Service gone IDM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcbydKds9V8&a=RRYGEhYlJ8s&playnext_from=ML Iraff fucked around with this message at 17:39 on May 15, 2010 |
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May 15, 2010 16:52
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Iraff posted:God, IDM is a dumb loving name. Well he is one half of The Postal Service after all  Dntel - (This Is) The Dream Of Evan And Chan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE9k0OhoxXA' This is my favorite DNTEL song. It's got Ben Gibbard on vocals, so it's basically a Postal Service song, but it's glitchy and darker than The Postal Service. I don't have much more to add, since all the artists I would have listed (Aphex Twin, Boards Of Canada, Telefon Tel Aviv, Tycho, etc.) have already been mentioned. Just wanted to say great OP and I love IDM Also, sometimes I think of some of Bonobo's stuff as IDM, though I'm not too sure if he fits into that category all the time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfugtAWxooU
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May 15, 2010 17:33
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Great OP! Here's some people that haven't been mentioned yet. Xerxes is pretty cool. I guess he would be considered more electronic than IDM but he does use a "name your own price" model for his music. http://xerxes-music.com/ Del Dot does more traditional IDM. His whole debut EP, Excitati, is free on Soundcloud. http://soundcloud.com/d3ld0t/sets/excitati Jega http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW9I635ti6Q http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jega_(musician)
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May 15, 2010 18:16
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Since, classical/orchestral music is commonly perceived the most intelligent (perhaps snobbish) of all, I think this thread needs some suits and grandeur instead of just bedroom beatmaking weirdos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STpOak4iAJY
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May 15, 2010 19:51
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goatmouth posted:I'm stalking you Insomne :p we must have really similar taste Yeah geez what's up with that you stalker? Wisp is really cool, although I think I like We Miss You the most. Morning Myth is just an awesome song in general and a great opener to the album. It gets so amazing like half way through, maybe that's just me though. And wow that is really crazy. Is he playing with beer bottles? Rageaholic Monkey posted:Also, sometimes I think of some of Bonobo's stuff as IDM, though I'm not too sure if he fits into that category all the time. Bonobo is great and he for sure fits into this thread. For whatever reason he reminds me a lot of Four Tet. Sporadic posted:Xerxes is pretty cool. I guess he would be considered more electronic than IDM but he does use a "name your own price" model for his music. I actually really like this a lot. I randomly clicked on Non-Various in G-Minor and got hooked by the glitchy vocals. I pretty much adore glitchy vocals.
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May 15, 2010 20:55
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I wish IDM wasn't called Intelligent Dance Music. So I could say I like it without shame.
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May 15, 2010 21:04
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Nihnoz posted:I wish IDM wasn't called Intelligent Dance Music. So I could say I like it without shame. Seriously, dude. "Uhh, yeah I like... electronic music, I guess? Not like trance or anything but, actually you know what gently caress just forget it."
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May 15, 2010 21:12
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Nihnoz posted:I wish IDM wasn't called Intelligent Dance Music. So I could say I like it without shame. It'd be cool if you liked breakcore instead and said that. If you like Warp-y/Reflex-y poo poo, I think you should have to own up to it and say "IDM".
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May 15, 2010 23:32
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idm? what an embarrasing title, wonky/dickstep is the genre you can be proud to inject into conversations when someone mentions radiohead. Check out merck records and sublight; addict records if you want breakcore. (USER WAS PUT ON PROBATION FOR THIS POST)
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May 16, 2010 00:30
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when i listen to it, my brain dances! it hurts, tell it to stop! (USER WAS PUT ON PROBATION FOR THIS POST)
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May 16, 2010 01:47
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Does Caribou count?
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May 16, 2010 12:26
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insomne posted:Wisp is really cool, although I think I like We Miss You the most. Morning Myth is just an awesome song in general and a great opener to the album. It gets so amazing like half way through, maybe that's just me though. yeah, that song is great! very chill, and good-mood music. and yes. Frog Pocket was jamming on beer bottles, then at about 5 minutes plays the violin. he actually uses a lot of violin in his songs, and i think it adds a beautiful melancholy element.
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May 16, 2010 15:25
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Some other artists worth checking out: Vorpal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-idiLIOWyE Chris Clark (Now know just as Clark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owlaPVpwNmk Venetian Snares (No idea how he didn't get a mention in OP :P) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9beA88_66c Tim Exile (New album was a bit weak, but videos like this more than make up for it) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGT1tZT9C1o also, an absolute joy to see live Ceephax Acid Crew https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTe8lnad8nU Not exactly sure if he fits the IDM tag, but Milanese https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxqvX6niXoM And another godfather of sorts, Kid606 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frFtCDpWl5g
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May 16, 2010 16:00
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Seconding the gently caress out of Bonobo, if you ever get to see one of their live shows loving do it, it's a cerebral experience. Also going to nth Frog Pocket. My friend described it as "music to murder to people" and I think that's a pretty accurate description. Would Bluetech count? They're probably more psybient than anything else, but regardless, this song rules: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCkLvmcHRfk
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May 16, 2010 17:38
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Does anyone else think that the new Autechre album is absolutely incredible? It took me a while to get into it, but it truly is amazing.
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May 16, 2010 18:52
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Slackerish posted:Seconding the gently caress out of Bonobo, if you ever get to see one of their live shows loving do it, it's a cerebral experience. Bluetech is like textbook psydub but, sure, go ahead and call it IDM, go hog wild, its not like it isn't the most nebulous genre in the world soundwise already
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May 16, 2010 19:00
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Suicidal Spider posted:Does anyone else think that the new Autechre album is absolutely incredible? It took me a while to get into it, but it truly is amazing. I've tried listening to it like twice and I just don't get it. It's sitting on my Zune right now so maybe I'll go check it out, but does anyone have a super entry level recommendation of theirs so I can check that out instead? Exile and Clark are loving wicked, I love those guys. Also it's okay to discuss other fringe electronic like Bluetech in my opinion because really there's no other place to discuss that and that poo poo is cool anyways. It's kind of dumb to argue about what is and isn't IDM (because yeah, it's pretty loving vague) and people on the Internet are notorious for that. Also, it's a really, really dumb name we all get it and you are literally beaten by the second paragraph of the OP, it doesn't really need to be repeated like 40 times. insomne fucked around with this message at 22:55 on May 16, 2010 |
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May 16, 2010 22:48
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I like these fellows. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D5q71_yD1w Nihnoz fucked around with this message at 02:23 on May 17, 2010 |
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May 17, 2010 02:14
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Clark is pretty amazing. I listened to Ted in my car the other day and my sister thought that her ears were caving in. Body Riddle is such a wonderful and diverse album.
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May 17, 2010 03:01
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Suicidal Spider posted:Does anyone else think that the new Autechre album is absolutely incredible? It took me a while to get into it, but it truly is amazing. Yeah I like it too. There's a lot of DSP wanking (like everything else they've put out in the past decade), but it's melodic and the songs sound like they were actually written instead of arbitrarily recorded. Quaristice was almost good... there are a ton of cool ideas on that album and the production is weird in an interesting way, but it's not fleshed out at all and meanders a lot. Oversteps blends their newer processes with classic 90s Autechre and feels like a complete album.
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May 17, 2010 03:04
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Aaron Funk is so mad at you OP. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dexRDAMsX9I&feature=related
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May 17, 2010 03:13
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Whoa, I really, really like Lunar Testing Lab. I need something to hold me over until the new Boards album anyways, which hopefully will come out soon. I wish they would tell us something other than "hey it's going to be released this year welp see ya." Regarding Tim Exile, that guy is awesome on so many different levels. I actually really enjoyed Listening Tree, but I have to admit the vocals are something I hated at first. His production work is incredible all across the board though. He really deserves more attention I mean look at this crazy poo poo (fuckin wish I had this MIDI): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy6Njb9SgmU Here's some more music you guys should check out: Yppah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoCOPQ5R-ns Kettel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVbdh49Xc8g
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May 17, 2010 03:16
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I would have mentioned Mu-Ziq, Squarepusher, Bogdan Raczinski, Luke Vibert, and Cylob in the OP. It's worth it to mention the name IDM came from the 'Artificial Intelligence' compilation and not some need to feel superior about ambient techno. It's as good a label as any in my opinion. It's gotten kind of out of hand though. I always thought of Ceephax Acid Crew as ummm I dunno Acid maybe? Just for instance.
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May 17, 2010 11:42
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toadee posted:I would have mentioned Mu-Ziq, Squarepusher, Bogdan Raczinski, Luke Vibert, and Cylob in the OP. μ-Ziq, Squarepusher, and Vibert are all in the OP.
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May 17, 2010 11:46
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Is Four Tet considered IDM? I've been listening to his latest, There is Love in You, and am really loving it. Any recommendations for other albums of his to listen?
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May 17, 2010 13:10
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No idea if it counts as IDM, but Four Tet is lovely. Pause, Rounds, and Dialogue are all excellent albums too. Also the album, Rephlexions! is a great old compilation of Rephlex/IDM esque music.
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May 17, 2010 13:32
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insomne posted:μ-Ziq, Squarepusher, and Vibert are all in the OP. drat missed that between the pics and list of links! I can't stress Cylob enough though. He seems to just keep getting better and better, Formant Potaton was a drat masterpiece. Plus if anyone has a right to call themselves 'intelligent' it should be the dude who created his own production environement from scratch in SuperCollider.
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May 17, 2010 15:37
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insomne posted:I've tried listening to it like twice and I just don't get it. It's sitting on my Zune right now so maybe I'll go check it out, but does anyone have a super entry level recommendation of theirs so I can check that out instead? I think the easiest path to Autechre is through Incunabula.
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May 17, 2010 16:39
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joooohn posted:Some other artists worth checking out: Basically, this thread is a collection of disparate movements in electronic music, but since pitchfork mentioned a couple of them and college kids have heard of them, they get labeled as IDM. Like how anyone can think Boards of Canada has anything to do with like Aphex or Mu just blows my mind. insomne posted:I've tried listening to it like twice and I just don't get it. It's sitting on my Zune right now so maybe I'll go check it out, but does anyone have a super entry level recommendation of theirs so I can check that out instead? toadee posted:I would have mentioned Mu-Ziq, Squarepusher, Bogdan Raczinski, Luke Vibert, and Cylob in the OP. ManoliIsFat fucked around with this message at 17:36 on May 17, 2010 |
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May 17, 2010 17:29
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Some recommendations of recent idm-ish music that I enjoyed: ametsub: japanese act, lots of clicks and cuts while still maintaining great melodies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsPL2QoElmw gridlock: awesome pads & melodies with really gritty industrial like percussion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX73-xSNZpY loess: again, great atmospheres and interesting clicks & cuts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PCYOJartas and for more pretty melodic stuff I recommend: jon hopkins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNa1AZpmndA kettel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djh3EOsLDH0
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May 17, 2010 17:57
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insomne posted:I've tried listening to it like twice and I just don't get it. It's sitting on my Zune right now so maybe I'll go check it out, but does anyone have a super entry level recommendation of theirs so I can check that out instead? Tri Repetae -> LP5 -> Confield Don't bother with Incunabula, it's a rather boring album.
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May 17, 2010 18:00
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Since youube links seem to be the rage in here, here's cylob's 'i want to see you naked' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQUYn4aqrIo
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May 17, 2010 18:13
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slowdave posted:Don't bother with Incunabula, it's a rather boring album. WTF? Incunabula is an incredible release....especially for it coming out in 1993. Pretty much blew anything else coming out during that time period out of the drat ocean, and still holds up fantastically today. Put the track "444" on very loud in headphones, close your eyes, and it will take you places.
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May 17, 2010 18:39
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If you compare it to everything else Autechre have done since...
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May 17, 2010 19:38
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ManoliIsFat posted:Basically, this thread is a collection of disparate movements in electronic music, but since pitchfork mentioned a couple of them and college kids have heard of them, they get labeled as IDM. Like how anyone can think Boards of Canada has anything to do with like Aphex or Mu just blows my mind. I definitely see what you're saying and I agree with you 100%, but it'd be really, really boring to have a thread just discussing "illbient" or whatever you want to call Boards of Canada when we can have a thread for all fringe electronic music (which I think a lot of people use IDM as a term for: breakcore, acid, whatever). The genres usually share a lot of the same fan base, too. I don't think Pitchfork has anything to do with Kid606 and the rest of these artists being called IDM, since people have been associating them with it since the 90's (god I loving hope not, that is literally the worst website, calling Madlib "stoner rap" hahaha). So why can't be all be friends and discuss both Kid606 and Boards of Canada! Just checked out 444 and a couple of other tracks like Basscadet. Surprisingly pretty awesome, I think I'll check out Incunabula first and then if I like it go on to Tri Repetae.
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May 17, 2010 22:10
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I guess this is the place where I can accurately recommend Jean-Michel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-AAS33qV-E and SayCet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEnbxEfXQNU
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May 17, 2010 23:09
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ManoliIsFat posted:Like how anyone can think Boards of Canada has anything to do with like Aphex or Mu just blows my mind. well, it is pretty easy to connect the dots, actually, if you look at SCAM Records and the MASK releases of the early 90's, and even Warp records back in the day. All the kids were on there, trading sounds and influences and early Boards and all their side projects were very experimental (perhaps not at the level of what Aphex turned into, but on par with earlier stuff) Now on the condescending tone of the IDM label, yeah, pretty much everyone thinks that, but it really wasn't intended to be that way, as the term was coined from the Artificial Intelligence compilation that came from Warp records in 1992, which featured all the major players of the new style of electronic dance that wasn't rave. This sound was sort of viewed as much smarter than its candy colored rave rave sounds of the era. So IDM just sort of snapped to it and stuck. Even Richard James makes fun of it, but hey, what can you do? Wikipedia has a pretty good write up on the subject: quote http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligent_Dance_Music Artificial Intelligence In 1992, Warp released Artificial Intelligence, the first album in the Artificial Intelligence series. Subtitled "electronic listening music from Warp", the record was a collection of tracks from artists such as Autechre, B12, The Black Dog, Aphex Twin, and The Orb, under various aliases.[13] These artists, among others, would eventually become the main topics of conversation in the Intelligent Dance Music List, an electronic mailing list founded in August 1993. [edit] The IDM List In November 1991, the phrase "intelligent techno" appeared on Usenet in reference to Coil's The Snow EP.[14] Another instance of the phrase appeared on Usenet in April 1993 in reference to The Black Dog's album Bytes.[15] Wider public use of such terms on the Internet did not come until August 1993, when Alan Parry announced the existence of a new electronic mailing list for discussion of "intelligent" dance music: the Intelligent Dance Music list, or IDM List for short.[16][17] The first message, sent on August 1, 1993, was entitled "Can Dumb People Enjoy IDM, Too?".[18] A reply from the list server's system administrator, Brian Behlendorf, revealed that Parry originally wanted to create a list devoted to discussion of the music on the Rephlex label, but they decided together to expand its charter to include music similar to what was on Rephlex or that was in different genres but which had been made with similar approaches. They picked the word "intelligent" because it had already appeared on Artificial Intelligence and because it connoted being something beyond just music for dancing, while still being open to interpretation.[19] Artists that appeared in the first discussions on the list included Autechre, Atom Heart, LFO, and Rephlex Records artists such as Aphex Twin, µ-ziq, and Luke Vibert; plus artists such as The Orb, Richard H. Kirk, and Future Sound of London, and even artists like System 7, William Orbit, Sabres of Paradise, Tycho, Orbital, Plastikman and Björk.
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May 17, 2010 23:42
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