Techno, a Unifying Genre

Preface - Techno & Electronic Music

On too many occasions have I heard people mix up the terms Techno, Electro, Electronic Music, and Electronic Dance Music. Now is the occasion for me to set the record straight (so to speak).

It all starts with Electronic Music. This musical style simply includes any music which uses a majority of electronic instruments (computers, synthetisers...), should it be for club purposes, lounge, or even relaxation.

We then get to Electronic Dance Music (or EDM) which involves electronic music produced for dancing purposes. The term EDM has also recently been adopted by the commercially successful electronic music scene in the USA.

Electro - although seemingly a shortened version of the two previous terms - is a specific electronic music genre generally composed of fast-paced distorted sounds.

Techno is also an electronic music genre, but very few similarities can be found with the previous genre. We will be looking at the history of Techno and its pioneers.

Chapter 1. Inspiration

At the end of the 1960s, a new sound emerged from Germany. While synthetisers had been in use for a while, these artists were the first to use electronic instruments exclusively. Bands like Kraftwerk or Tangerine Dream added a new dimension to music. The electronic instruments brought new possibilities to artists who could now create a melody but also modulate, multiply, loop, slice and model the sound to their liking. Even the voices were distorted and computerized thanks to the appearance of vocoders. 

In a country where industry and technological advancement were a priority after WW2, people's lives were deeply influenced by machinery and this somewhat emotionless environment transpired in the musical culture.

These artists have inspired electronic music artists all around the world and are often referred to by the biggest names in Techno as their first look into the music of the machines.

Chapter 2. Detroit, the Cradle of Techno

At one point or another everybody has a family member who works in the industry, so the effect is indirectly there. And it's not necessarily a positive effect, it's also an unaffectionate and cold effect. A machine has no love nor feelings, and sometimes the people who work for these machines end up having no feelings nor love, because they're working relentless hours, they're putting in total commitment to something that is giving nothing back. We tended to find the idea of making music subconsciously. [...] We took these same ideas of machinery, not necessarily the synthesisers, but rather the sound of synthesisers and we created our own sounds. And all these sounds, subconsciously, came from the idea of industry, of mechanics, of machines, of electronics. And why? Because we come from Detroit.

Derrick May - Universal Techno (Arte 1996)

Detroit, commonly called 'Motor City', was once considered the capital of the automobile industry. Henry Ford was the first to settle his factories in this city, and the Piquette Plant is where he invented the Ford Model T. Much later came General Motors who made Detroit its headquarters and encouraged the city's technological revolution.

This now derelict post-industrial city, and birthplace of Motown, was the perfect cradle for what would first be called Techno.

Juan Atkins was one of the first to play with the Techno genre, and while attending Belleville High School in Detroit, he befriended Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson. Juan taught them his sounds and over time they became known as the originators of one of the greatest electronic music genre. 

Other artists joined the Techno scene over time. Artists such as Carl Craig, who is originally from Detroit, or Richie Hawtin who lived on the other side of the Detroit river in Windsor, Canada.

Chapter 3. German Unification

Post-war Germany, Berlin is divided in two: East and West. The Berlin Wall forbids any passage from one side to the other, and people are unwillingly separated from their families and friends. However, one thing does not stop at the border: radio waves.

As the excitement that surrounds Detroit Techno arrived in Germany, certain radio DJs started playing this new sound. The genre was heard on both side of the wall and encouraged new artists to start their own projects. 

November 9th 1989, the Wall comes down. People were finally free to roam both sides of the city, discover new places, new artists and share their experiences. What used to be no man's land was now a massive opportunity for young artists to find abandoned warehouses to facilitate their own reunification. As illegal raves became more and more attractive thanks to Techno and its lively beats, a mixture of young Eastern and Western Berliners were meeting around a common interest for celebration and unity. 

Techno became the symbol of love in Germany and grew in popularity when artists such as Sven Väth became the new superstars. Clubs such as the Tresor and the Berghain became landmarks in the Techno world with their warehouse environments reflecting the atmosphere of Techno music.

Nowadays, Berlin is still considered the capital of European Techno with new talents still arriving every day.

Chapter 4. Diversification of the Genre

The stage was set for a truly free genre to evolve and grow. After two decades, Techno still encourages people to share and have a good time. While interest in a genre fades over time, Techno's infinite ability to be modelled meant it was able to adapt with the new trends and mix itself with other genres. 

For example, a mixture with House created the Tech House sub-genre. This genre is characterised by its more soulful and melodic sounds.

Decades after the Bauhaus art revolution, minimalist design was still widely demanded, and this has transpired in Techno. Minimal Techno is now one of the biggest Techno genre of the current decade. This genre is constructed more on the modulation of minimalist sounds individually, along with a very progressive construction of the beat.

Over time Techno also reached many different countries and encouraged British (e.g. LFO), French (e.g. Laurent Garnier), Japanese (e.g. Ken Ishii) and many more to join this great adventure.

Chapter 5. Conclusion

This conclusion is more personal then factual and is here to encourage you to discover this great and varied genre. Some might not like the typical 125 BPM kicks, some might find it repetitive, but don't let this stop you. Dig deeper and you will find the Techno of your liking.

If you wish to discover more Techno, please visit the Forum of 3MS, in the section Discovery > Electronic Music > Techno. Here you will find a continuously growing list of Techno music videos. Do not hesitate to post your own discoveries as well as your requests for a specific type of Techno (more lounge? minimalist? funky? dark? you name it).