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HISTORY OF DANCE MUSIC

(1988)

a) Bleeps & Clonks

British version of Detroit Techno is based on sharp electronic sounds ("ble- eps & clonks") and almost inaudible very low frequency oscillations which owe their existence to the expansion of videogames by the end of 80`s. The abso- lute trend become LFO, Tricky Disco and Nightmares On Wax.

b) Detroit Goes European

Derrick May & Kevin Saunderson go to England to do some remixes. 808 State & A Guy Called Gerald appear under their influence and develop their own style in Manchester, while their single "Pacific" becomes a legend.

c) UK Acid House

1988 is the year of Acid in the UK. It is also a period of Smiley-culture do- minion, together with its imposing fashion, spontaneous Raves & wild House mutations. This DIY culture soon becomes a lifestyle, which helps the format- ion of many new independent labels. "We Call It Aciiieeed" by D-Mob becomes the hymn of urban England.

d) German House Boom

Frankfurt & Berlin become German House centres #1. Together with Westbam & Sven Vath, other names emerge which are to forge the sound of future House & Techno such as Kid Paul & Dr.Motte, who are considered to be the original fo- unders of Tresor and Turbine clubs respectively. Meanwhile, Sven Vath takes over The Omen club & founds his first label - Eye Q.

e) New Beat

"New Beat - a musical phenomenon" emerges in 1988 in Belgium to provide firm ground for the creation of Tekkno later on in the process, manifested through the works of Van Lierop (MNO), Praga Khan, Lisa M, Fatal Error, Public Rela- tion, Tragic Error, Ghentlon, etc. well presented via the releases on Play It Again Sam label.

(1989)

Gabba/Hardcore

In his live session in Parkzicht Rotterdam, DJ Rob (Rob Janssen) shocks & re- freshes the Dutch audience, bored to death by the prevailing twee Disco tunes. That is how Hardcore Techno, or Gabbahouse was born, which still remains one of the most extreme musical styles this planet has ever known. The speed of certain tracks exceeds even 1000BPM (Moby-"Thousand", The Dreamteam-"Killer Machinery"), making Gabba the fastest possible music on Earth. Gabba was soon to flood entire Holland, spreading from its main centre Rotterdam to cities like The Hague and (to a lesser degree, due to the rivalry between the two cities) Amsterdam. Labels such as ID&T, Mokum, Rotterdam Records, Terror Trax etc. emerge in the Netherlands and soon infect the rest of the world, in pa- rticular Germany and the US, creating the New York Hardcore scene.

(1990) Global House Nation

By the end of 1990, a fusion of American & European House & Techno styles comes forth, thus forming new substyles such as Italo House/Latin House (e.g. Black Box), Experimental Techno, Progressive House, Trance & Ambient House.

(1991)

a) Neo-Techno

While certain artists create their House sound on classic principles, a group of new Techno acts form a brand new style: Joey Beltram ("Energy Flash"), Richie Hawtin (+8 label), Jeff Mills (UR) and Blake Baxter (Hard Wax label).

b) Tekkno

1991 is the year of very popular hard and powerful Techno beats worldwide. The hot-collars of modern music had a hard time accepting well calculated Tekkno anthems such as "Das Boot" by U96, "Anasthasia" (T99), "James Brown Is Dead" (L.A. Style), etc. which obtained much international acclaim.

c) UK House/Disco House

Britain founds its House music on the Disco elements of the 70`s, so that new trends arrive, bearing the names of Kinky Disco & Neo Disco. The much respected Republic label makes its founders Dave Lee & Joey Negro famous. Other important names from this period are Krush, Sharon Redd, Alison Lime- rick, N-Joy and Bass-o-matic.

d) Ambient Wave

Starting from 1990, an atmospheric music for the head springs up, manifested by its soft rhythm & restrained noise level. Classics are born in the shape of "Chill Out" by KLF, The Orb`s "Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld", while Mixmaster Morris, Pete Namlook, Aphex Twin, The Future Sound Of London and Underworld come up strong, as well as labels such as Fax and Planet Dog.

(1991-present) Breakbeat

Since 1992 Britain witnesses the birth of a Techno variant with its origin in Ragga/Hip-Hop frenetic beats and high-pitch samples. The musical style unde- rgoes various mutations and upgradings, passing through the stages of Hardcore Breakbeat, Darkside(a dark, urban sound), Jungle (lots of ragga vocals & samples) and finally its most mature form - Drum `n Bass, characterized by a profound fusion of industrial sounds, breakbeats, as well as jazz & funky ele- ments, its most prominent protagonists being Goldie, LTJ Bukem, DJ Hype, Nico, Ed Rush, Grooverider, etc. The derivative to breakbeat culture, its more ambient- al cousin - Trip Hop - represents a melange of restrained psycho-beats, human vocals, guitar & bass strings, and jazzy elements, providing an excellent vibe for clublife.

(1994-present) Trance

Whereas Techno & House lean towards harder & rawer beats, something completely new appears: Tribal music, considered to be no-man`s-land between Hardcore & Ambient. Its primary counterparts being artists such as Cosmic Baby, Oliver Lieb (The Ambush, Paragliders, Spicelab), Trance spawns various subgenres: Hardtrance, Acid Trance, Trancecore (a mixture of Trance & Hardcore!), & eventually - Goa Trance/Psychedelic Trance, a more dynamic, richer and ethno-based version of Trance, which gained global popularity in 1996 & 1997 through labels such as Blue Room Released, Dragonfly, Phantasm, TIP, etc. Artists such as The Infinity Project, Juno Reactor, Mindfield, & Youth play a major role in reviving the ideologies of the late 60`s & early 70`s, but this time within a technological agenda.

Last updated 4/3/2002

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