Episode 71

Contemporary Electronic Dance Music

After doing my previous podcast about the vintage roots of electronic dance music, I said to myself, why not an episode featuring some examples of EDM as it stands today?

Collected here are sixteen examples from fourteen artists of what I call more extreme electronic dance music sounds. These tracks all share a few characteristics, as outlined in the last episode. These characteristics are the use of electronic sound sources, especially types that are easily programmed and operated in a live situation; music that is beat-driven and generally sparse on lyrics; a heavy reliance on repetition patterns and textures while preserving a spot for the artist to display some solo musicianship. The soloing may in fact come from manipulating various controls and buttons, or it may come from a more overtly inserted musical passage played on a keyboard, all to inject a touch of personal expression to the automation.

Here is a selection of tracks from around the globe, showing how EDM has become somewhat culturally agnostic.

Playlist

1. Chris & Cosey, “Fantastique” from Muzik Fantastique! (1992 Play It Again Sam Records). Written-By, Performer, Chris Carter And Cosey Fanni Tutti. UK duo.

Opening background music:

Thom Holmes, “To the Automation” (2022). Instrumentation, Spark, ARP Odyssey, and Buchla Easel plug-ins, Thom Holmes.

Opening and closing sequences voiced by Anne Benkovitz.

Additional opening, closing, and other incidental music by Thom Holmes.

For additional notes, please see my blog, Noise and Notations.