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Dada & the State of Consciousness (1916)

It is 1916. Anarchists Hugo Balle, Tristan Tzara, Marcel Janco & Richard Hue- lsenbeck are founding the Dada artistic movement after their first meeting at the Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich. The movement doesn`t advocate any ideology whatsoever, but the ``essence of spirit``, freedom of expression, an open antagonism to the World War, the conservatism of the middle class & moral de- gradation of humankind. The Dada advocate a transfer of ideas via sound rather than via words, considering it more liberal & sincere. their artistic oeuvre comprises a mixture of languages, which helps destroy the ethnic & social bar- riers. As standard means of their rebellion, the Dada create music based on newly-formed industrial noises. Compositions by Kurt Schwitters, such as `An- na Blume` (1919) & `Ursonate` (1923) seem to have formed a basis for the de- velopment of abstract music in the 20th century.

Dada`s main inspiration, though, seems to have been Luigi Russolo, an Italian Futurist artist & composer who has designed a series of noise-producing machines i.e. The Noise Intoners (`Intonarumori`) in 1912, instruments which have been hi- ghly used even by some famous composers like Stravinski, and which used to depict sounds from nature on various frequencies.

Along with the Dada, the `godfather of abstract art` - Russian artist Vassil- iy Kandinski experiments in trying to define various shades of colour by using tones.

The Birth Of Synthesizer (1920)

In 1920. Russian electronics genius Leon Theremin develops the first ever ve- rsion of a synthesizer. What`s really characteristic of this design is that it makes use of electromagnetic waves, meaning that it`s played without any physical contact with the instrument. The first `Theremin` produces different tones and loudness level relative to the player`s movements in space. Nowada- ys, the chief producer of this instrument is Robert Moog and his "Big Briar Inc".

New Sounds (1960`s)

The 20th Century belongs to "new sounds". New concepts such as mathematically based composing proposed by Arnold Schonberg and Erik Satie, machine sounds by Luigi Russolo and Mauricio Kagel, or the frequency generators of John Cage expand greatly. Previously, in the 50`s, Karlheinz Stockhausen founds his th- ory and praxis of electronic music. After the invention of E-piano in 1958 & the first ever analogue synthesizer created by Moog in 1965, modern electro- nics enters the domain of modern music. Late 60`s bring about the music of electronic pioneers such as Walter Carlos, as well as bands including Pink Floyd, Emerson Lake & Palmer and the Residents. In New York a colony of avant-gardists emerges with the likes of Steve Reich and Phillip Glass, cha- mpioning the "aesthetics of melodic and rhythmic repetition".

(1970`s)

a) Soul/Disco/Funk

Soul & Funk dominate the discos of the 70`s. Giorgio Moroder is considered to be the pioneer of pro-synthesizer electronic disco music. Simultaneously, High Energy (Hi NRG) prevails in gay-clubs, while New York based labels such as Sal Soul create an ecstatic version of Gospel.

b) Kraftwerk

In 1971. Ralf Hutter, Florian schneider & Co. form Kraftwerk - the first electronic band ever! Kraftwerk bring the use of drum machines & the ele- ctronic conception to its extreme. Their first releases such as "Autobahn" (1974) and "The Man Machine" (1978) actually become first real electronic classics. Moreover, starting from 1970, Berlin based cosmorockers Tangerine Dream (Edgar Frose, Klaus Schulze & Co.) quickly become eminent, not to me- ntion other experimentalist with the likes of Can. Such ambition has paved the way for young talents such as Jean-Michel Jarre and his 1976 breakthrough - the subtle musical epic of "Oxygene". Parallel to this, San Francisco loca- ted Alan Vega & Martin Rev start their band Suicide, which provided a stable basis for further development of electronic music in the 80`s to come.

c) New Wave

The seeds of Kraftwerk yield further developments in late 70`s, as Throbbing Gristle, Human League, Ultravox, Cabaret Voltaire, Devo, Yellow Magic Orchestra (from Japan), Simple Minds, Joy Division, Pere Ubu, Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark and Gary Numan hit the lists.

(1980`s)

a) US Pre-House Era

The sharper sounds of the 70`s Disco were nurtured on the US East Coast & the Midwest, to give birth to the preliminary New York club hits. Tony Humphries & David Morales become actual DJ stars, whereas The Paradise Garage Club be- comes #1 trend. At the same time Frankie Knuckles earns his status as a DJ at The Warehouse in Chicago, and Farley Keith founds a DJ collective called Hot Mix 5. In Detroit, the founder of Cybotron - Juan Atkins - produces his first Electro.

b) The New Romantics

A fresh-from-the-oven generation of young European bands such as Visage, Depeche Mode,Yazoo, heaven 17, Yello, Klaus Nomi, D.A.F., Japan, etc. creates a brand new electronic style! Slowly but surely, Skinny Puppy from Canada & Severed Heads were sure to follow, defining a very tough style, while the fi- rst ever Techno club - Talla2XLC - gets opened in Frankfurt in 1984. Eventually, the market gets flooded by Heavy Metal acts, as well as outfits such as Einsturzende Neubauten, Swans, Sonic Youth, etc. where the concepts of "No Wave" and "Noise", put forward by Lydia Lunch, pave the way for the creation of Hardcore Techno/Gabbahouse in the late 80`s. The Hip Hop culture, on the other hand, plays a later role in the formation of Breakbeat.

c) Ambient

Using the parameters of Glam Rock from the early 70`s, the "E" & "U" music, & the concepts of "Eternal Music" of La Monte Young, the former member of Roxy Music - Brian Eno- creates a fresh sound based on atmospheric noise. He names it "Ambient" music, or music which depicts the experience of space, but which, in turn, requires a spatial effect to be experienced fully. 1979 sees the release of his "Music for Airports" album, and various Ambient classics as well.

(1984-1985)

a) New York House

Only two years before the Paradise Garage closed down, top DJ Larry Levan provides a name to that previously well-known "4 to the floor" sound: Garage House. DJ producers akin to David Morales, Robert Clivilles, David Cole, Musto & Bones, and Todd Terry provide an uptempo version of the same musical style: New York Club House.

b) Chicago (Deep) House

Prominent labels such as Trax and DJ International invent a new kind of dri- ving club music, comprising a synthesis of basslines & computer-generated to- nes. The term "House" owes its name to the Warehouse club, where DJ Frankie Knuckles, together with Marshall Jefferson & Fingers Inc. becomes the pioneer of Chicago House scene.

c) Electronic Body Music

Electronic Body Music/Electro Body/EBM was an idea launched by the inspi- rational Belgian band Front 242, making an appearance for the first time by being inscribed on the sleeve of their debut 12" single in 1984. Since then, EBM has been a synonim for tough, driven, extremely dynamic, colourful and apocalyptic music, manifested through the works of The Klinik, Nitzer Ebb, Vomito Negro, Frontline Assembly, Ministry, Clock DVA, etc.

d) German House Roots

The rapid development of new technologies (especially personal computers) pro- vides new producing techniques to DJ producers such as Westbam and Klaus Ja- nkuhn, who launch their Low Spirit label, as well as compose Westbam`s first tracks: "This Is Not a Boris Becker Song" & "Monkey Say, Monkey Do". Together they produce DJ Sven Vaths`s first ever single - "Electrica Salsa" - with the Munzing/Anzilotti producer team (who were later to form Snap!).

(~1987)

a) Detroit Techno

Inspired by Alvin Toffler`s novel "The Third Wave" which puts forward the arrival of "techno rebels", Juan Atkins founds Model 500 and his label Metro- plex in 1985, with his debut release "No UFOs" to follow suite. Under the influence of Kraftwerk, Kevin Saunderson (Inner City) and Derrick May create the original sound of Detroit Techno.

b) Chicago Acid House

Parallel to the happenings in Detroit, Chicago develops a brand new minimal version of House, which fully relies on the use of Roland 303 Bassline and Roland 808 Drumcomputer, and the sounds these machines can produce. A perfect illustration of this sound are tracks like "Phuture Trax" by Phuture, Sleazy D`s "I`ve Lost Control" and Maurice`s "This Is Acid". The term "Acid", howe- ver, was coined by DJ Larry Sherman & the founder of "DJ International" - Rocky Jones, describing the acidic biting feeling this music invokes.

c) DJ Europop

Sampling emerges as a technology which, together with the expansion of House, makes young DJ producers throw a sort of Crossover Clubstyle, cunningly mix- ing sampled vocals with the underground styles, albeit hitting the charts as well. M.A.R.R.S. release their classic "Pump Up the Volume", while S-Xpress, Bomb the Bass ("Beat Dis") and Coldcut follow suite.

(1988)

a) Bleeps & Clonks

British version of Detroit Techno is based on sharp electronic sounds ("ble- eps & clonks") and almost inaudible very low frequency oscillations which owe their existence to the expansion of videogames by the end of 80`s. The abso- lute trend become LFO, Tricky Disco and Nightmares On Wax.

b) Detroit Goes European

Derrick May & Kevin Saunderson go to England to do some remixes. 808 State & A Guy Called Gerald appear under their influence and develop their own style in Manchester, while their single "Pacific" becomes a legend.

c) UK Acid House

1988 is the year of Acid in the UK. It is also a period of Smiley-culture do- minion, together with its imposing fashion, spontaneous Raves & wild House mutations. This DIY culture soon becomes a lifestyle, which helps the format- ion of many new independent labels. "We Call It Aciiieeed" by D-Mob becomes the hymn of urban England.

d) German House Boom

Frankfurt & Berlin become German House centres #1. Together with Westbam & Sven Vath, other names emerge which are to forge the sound of future House & Techno such as Kid Paul & Dr.Motte, who are considered to be the original fo- unders of Tresor and Turbine clubs respectively. Meanwhile, Sven Vath takes over The Omen club & founds his first label - Eye Q.

e) New Beat

"New Beat - a musical phenomenon" emerges in 1988 in Belgium to provide firm ground for the creation of Tekkno later on in the process, manifested through the works of Van Lierop (MNO), Praga Khan, Lisa M, Fatal Error, Public Rela- tion, Tragic Error, Ghentlon, etc. well presented via the releases on Play It Again Sam label.

(1989)

Gabba/Hardcore

In his live session in Parkzicht Rotterdam, DJ Rob (Rob Janssen) shocks & re- freshes the Dutch audience, bored to death by the prevailing twee Disco tunes. That is how Hardcore Techno, or Gabbahouse was born, which still remains one of the most extreme musical styles this planet has ever known. The speed of certain tracks exceeds even 1000BPM (Moby-"Thousand", The Dreamteam-"Killer Machinery"), making Gabba the fastest possible music on Earth. Gabba was soon to flood entire Holland, spreading from its main centre Rotterdam to cities like The Hague and (to a lesser degree, due to the rivalry between the two cities) Amsterdam. Labels such as ID&T, Mokum, Rotterdam Records, Terror Trax etc. emerge in the Netherlands and soon infect the rest of the world, in pa- rticular Germany and the US, creating the New York Hardcore scene.

(1990) Global House Nation

By the end of 1990, a fusion of American & European House & Techno styles comes forth, thus forming new substyles such as Italo House/Latin House (e.g. Black Box), Experimental Techno, Progressive House, Trance & Ambient House.

(1991)

a) Neo-Techno

While certain artists create their House sound on classic principles, a group of new Techno acts form a brand new style: Joey Beltram ("Energy Flash"), Richie Hawtin (+8 label), Jeff Mills (UR) and Blake Baxter (Hard Wax label).

b) Tekkno

1991 is the year of very popular hard and powerful Techno beats worldwide. The hot-collars of modern music had a hard time accepting well calculated Tekkno anthems such as "Das Boot" by U96, "Anasthasia" (T99), "James Brown Is Dead" (L.A. Style), etc. which obtained much international acclaim.

c) UK House/Disco House

Britain founds its House music on the Disco elements of the 70`s, so that new trends arrive, bearing the names of Kinky Disco & Neo Disco. The much respected Republic label makes its founders Dave Lee & Joey Negro famous. Other important names from this period are Krush, Sharon Redd, Alison Lime- rick, N-Joy and Bass-o-matic.

d) Ambient Wave

Starting from 1990, an atmospheric music for the head springs up, manifested by its soft rhythm & restrained noise level. Classics are born in the shape of "Chill Out" by KLF, The Orb`s "Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld", while Mixmaster Morris, Pete Namlook, Aphex Twin, The Future Sound Of London and Underworld come up strong, as well as labels such as Fax and Planet Dog.

(1991-1997) Breakbeat

Since 1992 Britain witnesses the birth of a Techno variant with its origin in Ragga/Hip-Hop frenetic beats and high-pitch samples. The musical style unde- rgoes various mutations and upgradings, passing through the stages of Hardcore Breakbeat, Darkside(a dark, urban sound), Jungle (lots of ragga vocals & samples) and finally its most mature form - Drum `n Bass, characterized by a profound fusion of industrial sounds, breakbeats, as well as jazz & funky ele- ments, its most prominent protagonists being Goldie, LTJ Bukem, DJ Hype, Nico, Ed Rush, Grooverider, etc. The derivative to breakbeat culture, its more ambient- al cousin - Trip Hop - represents a melange of restrained psycho-beats, human vocals, guitar & bass strings, and jazzy elements, providing an excellent vibe for clublife.

(1994-1997) Trance

Whereas Techno & House lean towards harder & rawer beats, something completely new appears: Tribal music, considered to be no-man`s-land between Hardcore & Ambient. Its primary counterparts being artists such as Cosmic Baby, Oliver Lieb (The Ambush, Paragliders, Spicelab), Trance spawns various subgenres: Hardtrance, Acid Trance, Trancecore (a mixture of Trance & Hardcore!), & eventually - Goa Trance/Psychedelic Trance, a more dynamic, richer and ethno-based version of Trance, which gained global popularity in 1996 & 1997 through labels such as Blue Room Released, Dragonfly, Phantasm, TIP, etc. Artists such as The Infinity Project, Juno Reactor, Mindfield, & Youth play a major role in reviving the ideologies of the late 60`s & early 70`s, but this time within a technological agenda.