Correct me if I'm wrong (I know you will :)
I thought, years ago, when I first got into IDM that the
term was supposed to mean the 'intelligent' upper crust
of dance music (techno). At the time this was embodied
by the Warp releases, the Aphex Twin, the Orb, Fax, etc.
It was my understanding that IDM wasn't supposed to just
mean those groups and albums, but was rather supposed to
change with the times, so those were the IDM groups of that
era and maybe today we have an entirely new set of musicians
making IDM.
So, when people say that IDM groups aren't innovating any
more then I say that they aren't IDM groups right now. However,
their past albums are still IDM for their time and their future
albums may be IDM in that time.
A related question is whether innovation is necessary for intelligence.
Can't a well executed peice of music be enjoyable, fresh, danceable,
and listenable without actually being innovative?
Also, while I'm on my soap box, I don't think an entire genre of
music can be innovative (pseudo genres like "innovative music" and
"idm" notwithstanding). So, I think it's pointless to talk about
whether goa or trance or ambient or jungle or electro or hardcore
or breakbeat or disco or euro or techno are innovative, but it is
interesting to talk about whether certain groups within all of those
subgenres are doing interesting things within (or without) those
genres.
ps, why is the GOA discussion subject line RTTS + Cab. Volt.?
[fletcher]