definitions

manny at telerama.com manny at telerama.com
Fri Apr 2 17:43:48 EST 2004


Synthpop is a broad term. To say that 'synthpop' is 'defined' by A
Different Drum is presumptuous and myopic. It's more useful to say that
the synthpop aesthetic has perserved and has also rebirthed as part of
an 80s-sound revival. Several different scenes are approaching synthpop
from several different angles.

The G/I scene is approaching it from the trance-thud-with-Depechey-vocals
angle. That's what Different Drum and others are about. Generally it's
also called futurepop, as others have pointed out.

The indie rock scene has adopted synthpop from both a 'dark' (ie goth
leaning, eg the Faint) angle and a 'light' angle ( emo or indiepop
leaning, what's known as 'poptronica', such as Lali Puna and Postal
Service etc).

The IDM, electro and electroclash scenes (all of which overlap with the
other scenes above) also have their versions of synthpop. Artists such
as Solvent, Porn.Darsteller, Freezepop, Ladytron, and Avenue D - to name a
few disparate ones - certainly earn the title of synthpop. 

I think all of these can be considered outgrowths of synthpop. Therefore
it is more useful to talk about subgenre terms or individual bands and
styles than an overarching 'synthpop' supercategory at this point.

As far as 'EDM', this seems like a new term that recently came up in the
past year or so. 'EDM' of course means 'electronic dance music' and is the
latest term to refer to what used to be generic reference to 'rave' or
'techno' or 'electronica', i.e. what is left of the rave scene which is
now mostly in clubs. No doubt, someone in that scene thought up 'EDM'
because they noticed the use of 'IDM' and 'EBM' for years and years, and
though it would be funny. 

Actually I welcome the term 'EDM', and this is
why: for years near the tail-end of the rave scene here (and I'm sure
elsewhere - it's not like Pghers would have an original idea), in order
to throw authority types off the scent, organizers would say 'electronic
music event' instead of 'rave.' I always had a big problem with this,
since there are plenty of types of 'electronic music' (whether you're
talking about Karlheinz Stockhausen, or Autechre, or Lustmord, or whoever)
that of course would never be played at a rave, and therefore it is beyond
presumptuous for a raver to declare his event to be 'electronic music.'

I always thought the simple injection of the word 'dance' in there would
make it clear, that at least what they are doing is a dance, and has
nothing to do with experimentalism etc. So now that they are using 'EDM'
I welcome it because it makes it perfectly clear what they are presenting.
They are doing *electronic dance music*. (So, you better not play any
Fela!). Now just tell us what kind of EDM and you have a
perfect description.

BTW, that is not to say I am 'against' EDM or anything like that. Both
electro and drum 'n bass are defined as types of EDM and I am more than
OK with some of that (in fact I will be going to an 'EDM' club in the
Stirp to see DJ Assault unleash his legendary ghettotech style.
shake that ass!). In fact, EBM, since it is a type of electronic dance
music that encourages club play, is itself a part of EDM, at least
technically, if not in spirit (i.e. it's a different clique of people).



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