J00F's Myspace said:Regular readers of my diary's and blogs will know that I'm honest when I put pen to paper. I like to write about what's on my mind even if it's good or bad. A recent post on my forum has lead me to writing this latest blog on Electro House where there was a huge discussion.
I'm very open minded when it comes to music, I enjoy all styles of music even away from dance music, but I can't get my head around Electro and the sudden craze surrounding it. Firstly it has absolutely no connection what so ever with the original form Electro that we all know. I hear no Kraftwork or Manparish influences? Anyway Electro has a breakbeat that breakdancers use, and not a 4/4 beat used in todays Electro? I uncomfortably watched many DJ's jump on this sudden craze with a feeling of embarrassment, like when watching a politician on the TV trying to dance....that eeek feeling!
Why? Because many of these guys had been leading the way musically for many years breaking new boundaries and where highly respected for this, yet now they are following the masses?
I'm trying so hard to get my head around this. I hear their side of the argument saying they find it challenging making something new and groundbreaking, but to me that doesn't make any sense. What's groundbreaking about making the same music that everyone else has jumped on, your doing the same as the masses. Some of my all time favourite producers are now making Electro, it seems such a shame as they used to be unique but now they are lost with the masses making the same stuff.
My only theory is that the media where looking for something new to write about, after all they need to sell units. Maybe Electro seemed to be the answer and the public got caught up in it. Due to changes in licensing laws in the UK pubs and bars could stay open to anytime they wanted, and these places soon become packed as its free entry and Electro House was the music of choice and certainly suits these places. It also had a huge effect on clublands attendance numbers. Is Electro pub music?
My other theory is that producers find it very hard to make a living out of music these days due to file sharing and poor record sales, so they jumped on this latest fad hoping to earn some decent money and roll with the sudden craze and maybe get a fruitful career from it? I also see that the fashion industry is involved with the Electro scene, all seems very glam indeed.
Maybe it's just me and I don't understand it. I'm not knocking it at all, Im simply trying to understand the attraction of this latest fad. Music is part of my life, so I try and understand everything that's going on around me, may it be Drum & Bass, Breaks or whatever, I like to keep an eye on things.
Throughout my 22 year career I've seen many fads come and go; we saw piano House in the late 80's (Blackbox), bands sampling kids TV shows in the early 90's shortly followed by Diva vocals (M People) then Faithless introduced the 'plucked string' phenomena. Maybe Electro house is another one of these quick fads?
Something isn't clicking with it for me, so maybe you can help me understand it. I'd love to hear your thoughts on my forum/Myspace. Oh and don't worry, I wont be playing any of it soon
Not that I really want to spark this debate any more, and yes, I too find it difficult to find myself nodding in agreement on a musical point with anyone so associated with cheesy trance, but it does kind of sum up quite nicely my entire attitude of it all.
(I'll wait and see on the last sentance though
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