16-09-2008, 00:21
CMB1888 Wrote:Electronic seems to cover so many widely varying artists with really different appeal
I would say the same about rock, metal, jazz, classical, alternative...
Electronic music is largely defined by the technology used to produce it, much the way other genres are defined by their instruments. What the guitar is to rock things like synths, sequencers, samplers and computers are to electronic music. Because those items are the instruments. Electronic music has been around for some time, ever since there was an electric device made to produce music. I forget when exactly but it was in the early part of the twentieth century. It's largely influenced by classical. Then rock musicians starting using some of these electronic techniques in their music leading to things like krautrock and progressive rock.
It really got popular in the late 70's/early 80's when different styles of music like disco, rap, and industrial became inter-mingled and produced styles like techno, house and electro.
Most electronic music is meant to be danced to. There is a constant kick-drum, a bass-line and synths for the melody. It is single based, not album based. A lot of the artists produce music under many different aliases and different record labels. The songs don't always have the traditional song structure of verse-bridge-chorus-verse. There's no front-person to focus your attention on. They rarely play live. For these reasons it can be difficult for lay-people to approach electronic music.
I'm leaving out a lot but I don't want to go on for too long. This is a summary off the top of my head. Does it help?
This link should help as well:All Music Guide: Electronica