What is the point of techno?
 

After about 3 seconds of listening, I can pretty much figure out what the entire song is going to sound like. Pretty boring if you ask me

To LISTEN to? No, it's not good.

But it does have some good uses:
Jogging
Dancing
Background music at work

I'm really not a very big fan of techno...but sometimes I enjoy industrial techno...not often though.

You could pretty much say the same thing about disco, bubblegum pop, some hip hop, and some new country.

First, you can't really use John Cage for background noise when you're doing something else. And second, some people want zero surprises in their music. That's why oldie stations are so popular.

I'm not saying that other musical styles don't have repetition. But it seems like most techno takes repetition to an extreme. Also, with other musical styles with repeitition, the vocals help out significantly sometimes. I haven't heard a lot of techno with vocals (excluding techno remixes, which also get very boring).

Probably more thoughts to come later...

The universal permanent truth is that 90% of everything is crap.

There is good and bad techno and I've heard both. However, that being said, yeah most of it is incredibly boring and unimaginative and I find the whole techno-trance-rave scene to be dull as watching paint dry.

I agree with the comment that 90% of everything is crap. I used to HATE country music until I heard Dwight Yoakam's first album.
I realized at the time I just hadn't heard the good stuff before.
Now I like just about every style of music around except for heavy metal. I think there is some excellent techno that is not mindless droning. Of course, what do you define as techno? To me, bands like Mouse on Mars, Moby and Air don't sound like rave music, but do fit into electronica. Good stuff.

I'm a pretty big fan of Techno. The Lords of Acid and 2 Unlimited, they put out good techno music. The point of it, pretty much what Guess said, jogging, working out, dancing, and it is something you can move to.

I've got an uncle who only listens to classical and jazz. He told me once that good music always builds tension in the listener and releases it. A couple of examples he gave where the 1812 Overture and Cannonball Adderly's "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy". A better known example of tension and release would be Led Zepplin's "Stairway to Heaven".

Most techno I've heard takes a different approach to this theory. A typical techno track will often start with just a beat- and that beat continues unchanged throughout the song. However, after that beat has been established, the artist will add in a new element, another beat or a melody or maybe just 1 or 2 new notes played at a certain interval. Then another element gets built on top of that and so on. So by the end of a 8 min track, what started as an simple beat, now has several other layers all working together on top of one another. The musical tension is created in how those layers work for or against each other.

Of course, it doesn't all follow this formula. If you want surprises in your techno, try Aphex Twin. If you want something that has an actual melody, try "The Box" by Orbital (on their 'In Sides' album). And if you want actual songs with your techno try Madonna's newer stuff.;)

I'm a big country fan and I don't really care for Dwight Yoakam. A couple of his songs are okay, but for some reason, I can't stand to listen to him sing most of the time. The music doesn't bother me, his voice does.

I have a fairly wide range of musical tastes (Country, Alternative Rock, Classic Rock, some Pop) and can listen to a lot of stuff without it bothering me (but that I normally wouldn't listen to), but I wouldn't go as far as saying 90% of everything is crap. I couldn't come up with a percentage if my life depended on it.

Huh? I have plenty of techno that isn't repetitious.

It's a typical cynic's statement. Basically it means for every "Strawberry Fields Forever" you can find at least 9 "Ice, Ice Baby" type songs. I tend to agree, but also agree "the remainer is worth dying for".

We now return you to our regularly scheduled thread...

I love all kinds of music, and it really depends on what I'm doing to decide what to listen to.

The techno I listen to is all about energy. Download "Sandstorm" by Darude, turn up the bass, and tell me it doesn't make you move. It's probably one of the most overplayed house songs ever, but it ALWAYS gets the crowd going.

Jason Northrup, it is painfully obvious that techno was invented to confuse the already confused music sale employee.

When in a store, I often hear the argument that "_________" is not techno, their house. No they are not house, they are Euro-dance. No, no, no you're both wrong. They are obviously Euro-trance trip hop.

Poor, poor music sale employee. :(

"I don't understand it, and since I've heard maybe .001% of what I think it is, I'm just gonna dismiss the entire term and anything remotely associated with it."

Most of my music is bacckground music. I don't want to be sitting there and 5 minutes later wondering why the music hasn't changed.

I probably haven't heard much of it. A friend of mine claims to be into techno, so I've heard whatever it is he listens to. He says that not all techno is repetative, but I have nothing to go on other than what he plays. Any recomendations for good, non-repetative techno tracks?

Check out a band called PLAID. Secondly, it's rather unfair to lump all dance music as techno, where there are many styles and groups that are trying to sound different.

People complaining about a certain piece of music being too repetitive is kind of a bugbear with me. A lot of it rests on what you personally determine to be repetitive. Many people who like the Ramones or your everyday punk band can't stand dance music for its repetition, when the Ramones or whoever use a great deal of repetition themselves. (Listen to the Ramones' rhythms -- they weren't ELP.) And given your average pop song, you can have lots of repetition there -- a chorus gets used three times, the verses often pattern themselves similarly, etc. Variation in a lot of rock songs can often be pinned merely on the existence of a solo, which is something most dance music avoids like the plague. So how much variation in a song do you need to prevent you from nodding off?

Techno has become a very nebulous term. It's been applied to innovators like Kraftwerk and Derrick May just as often as it's been applied to your Lords of Acids and your Crystal Methods. If/when I have more time, I'll try to go further into detail. Surely there are several people lurking around who can provide more info as well???

I guess my biggest gripe with the thread is the somewhat uninformed dismissal of an entire genre. I've heard maybe .0001% of the country music that has been released in the last 20 years -- and I haven't liked any of it -- but I would never think of slagging off the entire field, taking what little I've heard as a fair representation.

In my dreams I could spend all the time and money in the world to listen to everything. In reality, which is where I live, I have VERY limited time and even MORE limited funds in which to explore music. If I waste my time and money on techno cd after techno cd, it's only going to hurt my collection of items I have heard to be good.

I think there is a big difference between slagging off the entire field and living within your personal means.

That said there is some techno that I do like: Joy Electric, Looper, Massive Attack, and a few others that just aren't popping into my head. Mainly bands that use old synths.

I don't think techno is about sitting and listening to unless its ambient, its about being part of. You've got to dance, move or generally express yourself with your body. I work out to it, its a great way of getting a steady beat 140- 170 bpm which infusses you with energy. I find it very uplifting.

Re: What is the point of techno?
 

"Techno" is as nebulous a term as "Rock And Roll". There are dozens of subgenres and styles within that are categorized as "Techno" but sound nothing like their siblings. For example, "EBM" (Electronic Body Music) sounds nothing like "Freestyle", which in turn sounds far removed from "Rave".

As for calling "techno" repetitious, I think Pikul summarized things admirably with his Ramones analogy. I won't bother trying to repeat his point, but I will say that there are several music genres that I find bland, repetitive and uninteresting: jazz, blues, country, R&B, hip hop, rave, house, jungle, and ambient. Now that list contains a lot of musical styles that have scores of hardcore fanatics - and while I find the music boring (and in most cases, annoying) I certainly will respect their opinions and just go with the idea that they appreciate that music on a level I just don't understand.

There's certainly a lot of my friends who can't stand the EBM, synthpop and retro 80s music that I spin ad nauseum. ;)

Cheers!

-matt

I can't speak for you, but there are scores of Trance and Freestyle tracks I listen to regularily.

I think it's just a question of personal taste. To me, something like Jazz seems to be only good for "background noise", or as filler material... but there are those who listen to it religiously. Go figure! ;)

-matt

What is the point ot techno?
 

What is the point of techno? What is the point of your post? Obviously, no matter what I, or anyone else says your ingnorance will debunk it. So, if you don't like it fine. But, what do you expect to get out of bashing a sytle of music? I myself can not stand to listen to country. But do you see me here whinning about how twangy and pointless it is? No, because I have a thing called respect. Even though I may not listen to it or like it for that matter, I still respect every country artist for what they do. Techno is not for the masses. To many people such as yourself seem to have a major lack in the attention span area. You have to hear techno, not listen to it. If you listen to it all you hear is boom, boom. But if you hear it, you will be suprised what lurks behind the repetition. You said it yourself "i listened to it for about 3 seconds". Well hell if I listened to about 3 seconds of your average pop, rock, jazz song I would be asking what is the point as well. I will also say that yes, 90% of COMMERCIAL techno is crap. That is the main problem. People hear one techno track and think that "well this is what it sounds like". If you really what to be open minded and listen to it for more then 3 seconds I will give you some good artists to listen to. But, somehow I think the majority of you lack the sense of exploring that avenue. I'm not trying to be a di*k in this message. I'm just simply stating the fact that ingnorance will get you absoluetly no where in the music world. Especially if you just disregard a WHOLE genere of music based on 3 seconds.
Even though matt (post above me) doesn't seem to like techno and blues (listen to some srv!) I very much agree with what he says "and while I find the music boring (and in most cases, annoying) I certainly will respect their opinions and just go with the idea that they appreciate that music on a level I just don't understand." To bad more don't think the same.

The point is to have so much bass that it makes you lose control of your bowels.

Re: What is the point of techno?
 

If you can't get the point then it's useless trying to explain it to you with words.

If Post = Sarcasm Then
. Reply = :lol:
Else
. Reply = :rolleyes:
End If

-matt

It's a :lol:

i wasn't much into techno before i started listening to oakenfold and van dyke. give it a try, its great chill//smoke/roll/party/dance music.

Re: What is the point ot techno?
 

For the most part, all I do hear is the repeating "boom boom". I've listened/heard more than 3 seconds, I was just using that as an example of how repetitive I've found it to be based on what a friend of mine has played (could be more, could be less). I'm not saying other music is repetative, I even said before that I feel techno takes it to the extreme (based on what my friend has played). Also with many other musical styles (from what I've heard) when repetition is used, there is more going on to distract you from that (such as vocals).

I'll definately go along with everybody saying it's great club music (possibly even excersise music), but can't see much use beyond that (based on what I've heard).

When I have the time (probably after Christmas is over), I'm going to see what I can acquire from some of the techno suggestions in this thread and give them a shot. I'll be sure to let you all know what I think of it after that. I'll also let you know if it similar or different than what my friend has caused me to generalize techno as.

Well, I'm glad to see that at least your giving it another shot. You are correct though, techno can be the most repetative music known to man. But on the other hand it can also be the least repetative. It all depends on what you listen to.

One of my favorite artist is Plastikman. Some of his tracks are very repetative in certain matters. But there is always something changing within it even though the bass line might sound the same.

Plus, there is a big difference between techno, house, trance, electro, jungle, hardcore... Like I for instance don't like trance, hardcore or jungle, but I love techno and house. There are alot of grey areas.

The thing that upsets me the most is the fact that 90% (if not more) of the techno that is mainstream is CRAP. I will be the first to admit that. You know like that Mortal Kombat junk you hear. And of course that is what everyone hears. So they assume that this is what all techno sounds like. Which is like listening to crappy guitarist and then assuming that all guitarist are the same.

Techno to me is good for any type of playing... driving, sleeping (ambient), partying, chillin, computer time. Like I think it is great computer music (graphics, programming...) because when I listen to like blues for instance I get distracted because I'm singing along with the music. But with techno I don't get that. But, this is my personal preference. Just thought that I would add my 2 cents.

What artists (djs) have you heard? I'm just curious as to what you have heard. Because if I listened to the same I might very well agree with you.

Check out: Richie Hawtin - Closer to the edit.
It is a very good cd in my opinion. And if you don't like it, fine. No harm done. Or, check out my site and download some of my free mp3s.

modiman

I think that would just annoy me. Satriani is good for that (or any other instrumental guitarist). I've also done classic rock for that purpose (this one works really well for me). As for sleep, silence is great.

I don't know about Satriani (he is very good, just to chaotic for computer music. In my opinion). Although, I like listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan as well. So, I guess Satriani would not be too far out of the picture.

My bad, I worded my sentence incorrectly. I ment ambient is good music to fall asleep to. Not, to play when I'm sleeping. Although, it does make for some interesting dream. But, then again so do shrooms. But, that is for another forum.

modiman

I have a hard time falling asleep to music. Silence works best. Unless I'm extremely tired, then it doesn't really matter what's going on.

Shrooms eh? I don't think there's a "Tripping Talk" forum yet. :)

no, i suppose not. although, it would make for an interesting forum.

modiman

Underworld's groundbreaking album "Dubnobasswithmyheadman" is a great place to start, it's an excellence marriage of electronic and classical rock styles.

(I wrote that myself!)

Personally as far as "techno" goes i like the sub-genre of trip-hop. Nothing like some Tricky to get me going - as well as Portishead, Massive Attack, and that Nearly God disc. It's all even yummier on vinyl.

I don't like techno - though I haven't heard enough of it to form that bias really. I liked the old electronica stuff - like what Bowie and Eno did in the 70's. But I wouldn't even know where to start with the new stuff. Like what is the difference between trance, jungle, house, techno, etc.? Everything I've heard just gives me a headache and makes me nauseous. It seems more like white noise than music; just something to be there instead of silence. I'm not trying to be critical of other people's opinions - and I don't think most of the other non-techno people here are either - I just don't get it. What would one call Bowie's "Low" or "Earthling" or Eno's "Music for Airports" - that ones obvious, Ambient - or Bjork's "Homogenic" or even NIN? All of those are electronic music but how does it break down into the other fields? If I knew that then I might be able to get into techno more - because I like those things - whatever the hell you can classify them as.

wow, this thread is back from the dead. Much has already been said, and I won't argue old points, but it has been said that the pleasure derived from listening to music is from counting without knowing that we are doing so.

Everyone LIKES repitition. Listen to avant-garde, random stuff like john cage,and you will be bored. There is nothing to catch on to. It is just sound.

What is the point of a blues twelve? It just is, just like a four beat of techno or a jungle breakbeat.

I would like to add, that most techno, like most classical, starts with a theme. The main theme is repeated many times, but from there, the music takes off. Different nuances are explored. With each count, a subtle nuance is added, leading to a penumbral zone of what is called optimal unpredictability. A zone which is a cross between chaos and order.

Quite possibly the most helpful site on the web when it comes to music, the All Music Guide is very helpful when it comes to trying to define music genres, and finding key artists. Here's the page for the Electronica Styles: Electronica

Like xmiyux, I find that I like Trip-Hop/Downtempo more than the rest of the genre. Usually there are vocals, and it's less blatantly repetitive. So you might find it more appealing than your basic club/trance/techno/jungle/drum'n'bass/industrial music...