First and foremost: Merry Christmas!
I had originally posted this in Idol's thread, but seeing as he was unable to help, I figure I should create my own.
I'd like to start with a quote I like... “When people hear good music, it makes them homesick for something they never had, and never will have.” At the moment I'm not even getting the chance to feel homesick because I am unable to find somewhere to download electronic music. For the past six months, I have been gratifying my electronic needs by relying on google to find decent underground electronic music, and usually to no avail - although there are some incredible artists that I have discovered. I feel belonging to a community whose very reason to exist is for the sharing and discussion of electronic music is nothing short of what I have been looking for.
Unlike most requests for trackers in the vein of this one, I am not someone who seeks trance music explicitly. Although I have flirted with - and enjoyed, may I add - it, I believe I have reached the epitome of discovering artists within trance and its subgenres that I enjoy. My main interests in electronic music lie in ambient and dance music. I was first introduced into ambient music through an artist called Emancipator. Although, evidently by his style, Emancipator wasn't an electronic artist but a trip-hop artist, he still maintained a level of ambience that other artists in the genre did not and inspired me to look further. I originally only listened to it when I was studying because of its relaxing soundscapes and because it drowned out the background noise wherever I was. After looking for more I learned that there was an entire genre of ambient music, devoted to creating unique yet relaxing sounds. I'd like to introduce people right now to some of my favourite ambient artists in the hope that someone can find a band they like from this post alone:
Sleep Research Facility
I think the name on its own is curious enough to make you want to download more. He specialises in sleep-conducive beatless ambient music which is both artistic as well as functional. Now, this is the kind of ambient you want if you plan on sleeping. This is not like other ambient artists in that they are never as ambient as this one! His music usually contains no rhythmic elements (one exception is “2.5” on Dead Weather Machine), but instead relies on spacious, extended, richly-textured sounds. Occasionally, true ‘musical’ elements appear in his work, such as sustained chords (in “c-deck” on Nostromo for example), but the majority of his compositions consist of evolving layers of manipulated noise and mechanical drones.
audio safari
No, I didn't get lazy with capitalisation - it's a Japanese band so I'm assuming it's lost in the translation. There isn't as much to say for AS as there is for SRF because they aren't as non-standard. Their ambient electronic has strong elements of indie pop pushing through which makes it a fun and enjoyable album to listen to at any time.
Emancipator
I have already discussed Emancipator, but I cannot reccommend him enough! I think this is also a good album to check out if you are looking for a start in getting into trip-hop.
Now, to dance music which I am not quite as schooled on as I am only new to the genre. I was in fact, originally introduced to it through an album that was freeleech on what.cd not long ago. The album was Informant's demo album. There is not much more I can say other than that I want to get up and dance everytime I hear it! It's also nothing like the "dance music" you hear in the top 40 charts. It has complicated soundscapes with layering of multiple sounds and intricate beats. That...is real dance music! And my quest now brings me to looking for more similar music as I am at a dead end right now.
Of course, I also like other electronic artists but there are no two genres I like as much as ambient and dance. A few of my other favourite electronic artists: Supreme Beings Of Leisure, Bibio, Guitar, múm, Nero's Day At Disneyland, Air France, Iannis Xenakis, Nosaj Thing, The Avalanches, Chequerboard, Radical Face, Black Moth Super Rainbow and busting into the mainstream...Daft Punk!
So, as I conclude my post, I humbly ask that if you have one, an invite to elektROnik would be highly appreciated. And if not, I simply hope that someone is able to find some music they will come to love in the future by reading my post.
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