Friday, February 20, 2009

Deciphering Noise

Here's a list I've compiled of noise music genres. I'm still trying to figure out the histories behind all of these forms, but I feel a list of definitions is the best start. These are the various titles that the noise directory uses to categorize artists. (The noise directory is becoming proficient in recent months, keep checking back to it).

1. Heavy Industrial - This is supposedly a combination of industrial and heavy metal music. Classic band Throbbing Gristle (who are still touring, suprisingly) (1, 2) is claimed as an originator of the genre. Now, it's been reduced to describing musicians like Rob Zombie. Artists have even started to include hip-hop sensibilities, creating wild sounding groups like Kevin Martin's Techno Animal (1, 2).

2. Rhythmic Noise - A.K.A. Power Noise is where noise meets dance. Its been described as post-industrial, but since I'm still not sure what industrial music is or means I don't subscribe to that designation. Combichrist (1, 2, 3) and germans Dulce Liquido (1, 2) are credited as the prime crafters of this form now. Wiki says they use "militaristic 4/4 beats." Mostly, an old modded Roland ( like this pretty one) and a distortion pedal is all you need for this form.

3. Noisecore- I get this confused with mathrock/proggressive/industrial/noise... whathaveyou. This is one of those genres that feels like an SAT prompt. "Alternative is to Rock, as Noisecore is to Experemental."

4. Breakcore- This style is huge and growing in popularity by the second. If you don't take my word for it, ask the guys over at ihatebreakcore.com. Jungle artists, hardcore fans, and general fast tempo loving dance junkies are jumping on board. My favorite example is the classical music mashing and blippy Venetian Snares (1, 2).

5. IDM- Intelligent Dance Music, that's what the acronymn spells. This was born out the 90's British rave scene. There are a lot of well known artists here, (I know, right? Well known noise musicians? They exist?) Aphex Twin (1) being the most popular in the states. I love machinedrum, given name Travis Stewart (1). He finds the wildest little samples to work into the beats. Who doesn't want to dance to wolves howling?

1 comment:

  1. This is a good post for people like me who are new to the noise music genre. Your posts have a good personal twist to them, they are informative,but they still let the reader hear your voice.

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