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Intelligent Dance Music, The noise that became music This almost anti-genre genre of music is something that has been growing on me for a number of years, only recently to blossom. Calling it an anti-genre provides a good frame of mind to be in before approaching it. Don't expect what you have always expected, don't expect anything. On the flip-side, calling it anti-genre does not do justice to the quality of what you might find. I have found that it takes patience and open-mindedness to break into this world. The results, are vastly rewarding. The basic concept is derived from the title, in a twisted sense. This is not dance music, in fact, no matter how good a dancer you are, you'll find most of these songs impossible to dance to. That is intentional. The theory is to truly listen and to think, hence the usage of the word: Intelligent(1). It stands for the boundary of music, pushing our concepts into the future with everything from the frantic scratchings, beeps and beats of Aphex Twin to the soothing retro-neon lounge collections of Amon Tobin's innovative genius. These songs tend to be very personal due to their nature. What I describe is my personal interpretation. You may listen to the songs and hear something vastly different. That is part of what makes Intelligent Dance Music(IDM) as magic as it is. Some of the songs go far beyond description, taking root in basic elemental emotions and thought patterns. You don't always realize what you are feeling, they are that deep, all you know is the overwhelming senses that arrive. I am very rarely reminded of subject matters, but instead the emotions around the subject matters. For instance, some songs stimulate a profound sense of nostalgia, but for nothing in particular. There is no nostalgic object, just the feeling. Feelings, stripped away from objects like this, in potent amounts can brings tears to your eyes, and smiles to your lips. Never before have I found music with such raw power, hidden under such delicate beauty. Disclaimers and words of caution are necessary however. To many, especially those who do not have a liking for electronic music, IDM sounds like pure noise. The rules of music are often broken. Sometimes harmony is lost, beat can become random. In short, it is much like beer. If you don't like beer, you'll never understand it, and for you that is Okay. If you love beer, you'll be able to detect nuances in each of the different brewing processes, and enjoy the subtle differences in various country's beers. To some people, like myself, music can almost become a religion. To others, it is background sounds to take away the bite of silence. To others yet, it is not important. I have found that on the average, most people who enjoy IDM are people who intensely love music, and have found a universe within constructed sound where they can go to better understand the reality around us. I will list a few of my favorite groups, and a few reasons why I like them. If anyone else here enjoys this genre, or if you think it is crap, feel free to add your comments(2), group suggestions or whatever else comes to mind. As with all "obscure" genres, it isn't always easy to find good music, so hopefully this will be a good way to introduce each other to some new sounds. Autechre There are few reasons to ever omit Autechre from any list of good IDM groups. In many ways, this was the duo that got the culture to where it is today. Surely, there were others doing it long before them, but Autechre managed to bring an intense amount of emotion, soul, and intensity to their music. Their debut album, Incunabula, remains an industry classic to this day. A masterpiece that can be played over and over without ever tiring. Chaistic Slide is one of my personal favorite albums. The last four songs speak to me in an incredible way that has yet to be matched. As good as they are, they still do not manage to out-shadow the rest of the CD. Autechre never gets old for me. With each listening, I find new sounds and areas to explore within the music. Aphex Twin Another one of the pioneers. In my personal opinion, I do not enjoy the bulk of Aphex Twin's music. One album stands out for me, Selected Ambient Works, Volume 2. This radically differs from the normal Aphex style and offers a glimpse into the soul of reality for me. The songs are beat-less, simply the expression of a motion standing still. Wind-chimes in the desert, lights in an underground cave. Arovane Much of IDM is composed using harsh sounds, noises, and synthesizers rebuilt from the ground up. Arovane proves that beauty can come out of this process in a way that is both astounding and immersing. I'd like to suggest this as a starting point for anybody interested in the genre. It is accessible and full of depth at the same time. Amon Tobin Not everything is purely electronic and experimental, as Amon so adroitly makes us aware. Using elements of sound from music spanning the 20th century he innovates and casts a fresh glaze onto everything we've learned to cherish from Jazz, to the newer sounds of Drum & Bass. I wrote a bit of inspired text regarding his music once. I likened the experience to walking around in a city at night. Sometimes it is as if all of the noises of the city have come together in one place, at one point in time, to create an ensemble that could be likened to God coming down and becoming a musician, using the city as his instrument. Pole In contrast to the warmth of Arovane, the depth of Autechre, and the richness of Amon Tobin, Pole creates a cold simple world that only hints at something bigger. Like an artist using deft brush strokes to create the suggestion of a face in a crowd. Boards of Canada Their music brings me back, way back, to my days as a child. The simple wonder in everything, the laughter, the tears -- it is all here and described so well with tones alone. Other noteable groups: These deserve mention. In many ways they helped to create the basis for what this genre would eventually become, some as far back as the 1970s.
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