IDM Mailing Archive

1999-03-13 06:04Al RitchieHere's something I've been wondering about for quite a while: Electronic music is rife wit

From:: Al Ritchie <ritchie@netaxs.com>
To:: <idm@hyperreal.org>
Date:: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 01:04:34 -0500 (EST)
Subject:: (idm) Whaddya call that stuff?

Here's something I've been wondering about for quite a while: Electronic music is rife with labels and categories for virtually every style, genre, and sub-sub-subgenre. While some argue (correctly) that over-categorization of music can be a dangerous thing, I often find that for me, having a name for something is a really big help - especially when you're "in the bizness" or just trying to explain something to somebody. That said, I've never heard a name applied to cover the spectrum of 90s electronica that features vocals and pop hooks. Sure, Portishead, Tricky and Lamb can be filed under trip hop, but what about Gusgus, Saint Etienne and Bjork? It's obvious to me that all these artists are riding in the same boat, but what do we call the boat? Strange that as popular as this stuff is, I've still never heard anyone attempt to coin a singular term to encompass it all. "Electro-pop" or "techno-pop" would make sense, but those have already been used many times to identify what I call "synthpop": Depeche Mode, New Order, etc. So I put it to the masses. Is there a popular name for this subgenre that has somehow eluded me? Can anyone recommend a name for it? Al.

1999-03-13 15:48AndrewC.From: Al Ritchie <ritchie@netaxs.com> >Here's something I've been wondering about for quit

From:: AndrewC. <bloat@javanet.com>
To:: <idm@hyperreal.org>
Date:: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 10:48:53 -0500
Subject:: Re: (idm) Whaddya call that stuff?

From: Al Ritchie <ritchie@netaxs.com>

quoted 6 lines Here's something I've been wondering about for quite a while:

>Here's something I've been wondering about for quite a while: >and Lamb can be filed under trip hop, but what about Gusgus, Saint Etienne >and Bjork? It's obvious to me that all these artists are riding in the >same boat, but what do we call the boat? Strange that as popular as this >stuff is, I've still never heard anyone attempt to coin a singular term to >encompass it all.

It seems to me that pop music has always used the latest tech in its quest for the perfect 3 minute chart smash. St Etienne and Bjork are doing much the same thing, so I'd say they're just pop music. Good pop for sure, but pop none the less. Certainly interviews I've read with SE make it clear that they consider themselves pop... CheerioAndrewC.

1999-03-14 12:35Irene McCFrom: Al Ritchie <ritchie@netaxs.com> Re: (idm) Whaddya call that stuff?: > I've still nev

From:: Irene McC <substar@iafrica.com>
To:: <bloat@javanet.com>, <idm@hyperreal.org>
Date:: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 14:35:31 +0200
Subject:: Re: (idm) Whaddya call that stuff?
Reply to:: Re: (idm) Whaddya call that stuff?

From: Al Ritchie <ritchie@netaxs.com> Re: (idm) Whaddya call that stuff?:

quoted 2 lines I've still never heard anyone attempt to coin a singular term to

> I've still never heard anyone attempt to coin a singular term to > encompass it all.

Why not ask those ever inventive guys at the Wire magazine, who seem to churn out new terminology with virtually each issue : there's Electronica and Jazz, Avant Rock, Modern Classical, Global, Critcal Beats, Out Rock... in the end it's still arbitrary and one man's Avant Rock is another man's Critical Beats - or something. I'd have to agree with Andrew C's comment:

quoted 2 lines I'd say they're just pop music. Good pop for sure, but

> I'd say they're just pop music. Good pop for sure, but > pop none the less.

I *

1999-03-15 08:34ibss@ukrpack.netIt seems like a new thread has just started on the subject of labeling music. Alien P.S. B

From:: <ibss@ukrpack.net>
To:: idm@hyperreal.org <idm@hyperreal.org>
Date:: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 10:34:50 +0200
Subject:: Re: (idm) Whaddya call that stuff?

It seems like a new thread has just started on the subject of labeling music. Alien P.S. Bjork is Bjork and no labels would even inform you of the music she makes. Al Ritchie wrote:

quoted 24 lines Here's something I've been wondering about for quite a while:

> Here's something I've been wondering about for quite a while: > > Electronic music is rife with labels and categories for virtually every > style, genre, and sub-sub-subgenre. While some argue (correctly) that > over-categorization of music can be a dangerous thing, I often find that > for me, having a name for something is a really big help - especially when > you're "in the bizness" or just trying to explain something to somebody. > > That said, I've never heard a name applied to cover the spectrum of 90s > electronica that features vocals and pop hooks. Sure, Portishead, Tricky > and Lamb can be filed under trip hop, but what about Gusgus, Saint Etienne > and Bjork? It's obvious to me that all these artists are riding in the > same boat, but what do we call the boat? Strange that as popular as this > stuff is, I've still never heard anyone attempt to coin a singular term to > encompass it all. > > "Electro-pop" or "techno-pop" would make sense, but those have already been > used many times to identify what I call "synthpop": Depeche Mode, New > Order, etc. > > So I put it to the masses. Is there a popular name for this subgenre that > has somehow eluded me? Can anyone recommend a name for it? > > Al.