I have often wondered about the sub-genre: why is it there, what is its purpose, is it just another fad? All of which are valid questions to ask, and there are many views, both for and against its existence, so let’s take a quick look at both.
Let’s say for one minute you are new to this world of House and Techno: where do you start? There’s the ever-standing opinion that “it all sounds the same”, so in steps the sub-genre to act as your navigational system to this new found land. Whether you’re at your local record shop or trawling through the online stores, they act as a guide to the evolving tribes of music under the Mother and Father that is House & Techno. ‘Dub-Techno’ is one example. Individually they represent two different streams of music; Techno, with its origins in Detroit, and Dub with its origins in Jamaica. The marriage of the two in the early 90’s across the globe in Berlin birthed a beautiful, warm, stripped-back sound capable of filling spaces in ways unknown previously. Basic Channel were the forefathers on the sub-genre we have still thriving to this day, with descendants of the movement such as Sven Wiesemann now flying the flag.
Basic Channel: Quadrant Dub I
Sven Weiseman: Light Sway
Each sub-genre has its own set of associations, whether it’s the tempo, the kick drum or an arrangement of percussion. It all relates to a state of identity; a real sense of belonging to not only the artists and DJs, but the listeners and partiers alike.
And then we flip the coin. Some feel that the sub-genre is simply a black-hole in music; a void in which elements rarely surpass the embryonic stage; a system of pigeon-holing artists for the purposes of the marketing leviathan in a consumerist culture. There is some concern that sub-genres are nothing other than a current fad. It becomes almost fashionable, for a short period and then falls by the way side, having no real essence, powered by the drivers behind the commercial steering wheel.
Which of the two arguments you choose to side with is neither wrong, nor right. Personally I feel that both sides hold elements of truth. I don’t feel there should be any boundaries when it to the progression of music as an art-form. But, as with the example above, some great sub-genres have developed out of this process and still remain today. “Survival of the fittest” as Charles Darwin would say…
But what are your thoughts and opinions?
Words: Anwaar Bent
