Digital Reset #1: Rise of Electronica

EDM or Electronic Dance Music hasn’t been around as long as the more traditional band and orchestral sounds. It has always been a more ‘underground’ sound, with a brief moment in the spotlight in the 90s during the rise in ‘Rave Culture’ due to its introduction to a larger audience via popular films such as Transpotting, Groove, 24Hr Party People, and Human Traffic. Its popularity waned in the early 00′s but EDM has seen a shift late in the decade with the rise of Bass Culture.

Bass Culture, since you asked, has fused a more ‘rock concert’ style of parties (less the traditional ‘rave’ dance), coupled with a growing wave of love for massive and super high quality speaker systems, playing super programmed bass heavy music. Examples of its reach into the new popular consciousness is the usage of big songs on movie trailers (the new Transformers, Fast Five) car commercials, as well as big name stars playing at the big festivals (Cochella, VirginFest etc).

Its popularity waned in the early 00′s but EDM has seen a shift late in the decade with the rise of Bass Culture.

We’re going to be looking at two tracks at a time — one old, to offer historical context or significance, and one new and cutting edge, to expose you to whats up and coming. We’re not going to present them in chronological order, and we won’t adhere to any specific timeline. But the different tracks from different eras will be presented with unabashed love and enthusiasm.

This week I’ll start with the very first Electronic track I ever heard, which my Dad owned on Vinyl. These guys influenced a lot of the electronic scene, with their work, inspiring hundreds of people to start making electronic music. Kraftwerk was an electronic ‘band’ from Dusseldorf Germany in 1970. They were pioneers in the field, being one of the first to become popular using drum machines and synthesizers. This track, “Autobahn,” was on their fourth album, and was their first real commercial success.

Kraftwerk – “Autobahn” (1974)

And the more recent selection? How about Foreign Beggars’ “Contact”?  We dig it for two reasons. One, because Noisia is probably one of the biggest Electronic producers in the world with countless hits on numerous labels including their own. Secondly, this track encapsulates two different musical sides: the mid-tempo/dubstep/hip hop range, which is slower, and the fast paced heavy drum and bass side at the end. It’s interesting to note that Foreign Beggars are also rising stars in the hip hop scene (which will get more attention very soon).

Foreign Beggars  – “Contact”

Both of these musical genres are fast becoming the primary sounds of the newer generation, but we won’t be ignoring all the other music that doesn’t get as much press such as house, techno, breaks, and maybe even some trance (most likely in the older track section though).