Steve PMHDid you know that Techno music was born in Detroit? The state isn’t only best known for its automobile designs; its musical heritage is also something to speak of.
In the 1980s, the state gave birth to one of the most popular music genres today: Techno music. 11 different types branched out of it later on.
Contrary to common belief, Techno music isn’t the same as EDM. Instead, it’s one branch of it, along with House, Dubstep, and similar genres. Today, I’ll be shedding some light on the 11 types of Techno music.
Detroit Techno
Detroit Techno is the foundation of Techno music. It was developed in the 1980s by Detroit-based artists, and musicians branched all the other types out of it. It’s not clear who invented Detroit Techno, but three artists are most associated with its birth:
- Juan Atkins.
- Kevin Saunderson.
- Derrick May.
The three were called ‘The Belleville Three.’ They were high school mates, and they supposedly used to meet in a basement to create electronic music tracks. It’s believed that these three laid the foundation of the genre, and a lot of other artists carried the flag later on.
It’s noteworthy that Derrick May once described Detroit Techno as a complete mistake, despite its global success!
Detroit Techno artists include Jeff Mills, Blake Baxter, and Mike Banks.
Acid Techno
Acid Techno has an interesting history. The music derives from Acid House, which is originally a mistake made by Roland, who intended to create a bass synth that replicates a bass guitar. Obviously, it went wrong, and the synth was discontinued.
The story doesn’t end here, though. Some Chicago producers kept using the synth and found its secret potential. It turns out that the squelching sound of the device makes for a great Techno sound.
From there, Acid House was born, and Acid Techno quickly followed. It spread throughout Europe in the early 1990s.
Acid Techno’s been making a reappearance since the 2010s, when the Roland TB-303 synthesizer’s clones were found on the market and tried out by experts.
Berlin Techno
A lot of Germans believe Berlin laid the foundation for Techno music. While that’s not necessarily true, the country did latch on to the genre since its start.
It was a destined coincidence that Techno music came out around the fall of the Berlin Wall, and that time witnessed a significant change in everything in the German capital, including music.
From there, Berlin Techno was born. It’s strikingly similar to Detroit Techno, but with minor differences.
The genre was born in 1989 when the first Love Parade passed through the streets of Berlin. The parade became an annual festival afterward, and it used to attract millions of Techno-lovers from all over the world during its peak. Even after its discontinuation, German artists continue to produce Berlin Techno.
Ambient Techno
Ambient Techno music, otherwise known as Intelligent Techno, is a subgenre of Ambient and Techno music. It’s the perfect harmony between the rhythmic melodies of Techno and the atmospheric tones of Ambient music. Like most Techno genres, it was invented in the 1990s, right after Techno.
Ambient Techno wouldn’t have gotten popular if not for the pioneering artists who adopted it, including Carl Craig, The Orb, and Biosphere.
Some critics describe Ambient music as the digital upgrade from Programme music, and some also referred to it as a Post-Rave genre. It’s true; the music went from being dance-oriented at rave parties to becoming an electronic music form adopted by many artists.
Birmingham Sound
Birmingham Sound is a type of Rechno that originated in Birmingham, England, during the 1990s. It’s best known for its hard and fast sound that doesn’t include the Berlin and Detroit Techno’s Funk roots. The music sounds like repetitive pumps, and it’s often described as harsh and heavy.
The subgenre is closely associated with Downwards Records, which is a record label founded by Regis and Female in 1993. Regis and Female are well-known Techno producers in the UK.
Dub Techno
Dub Techno is a subgenre that includes the Reggae sounds of Dub music and Techno’s dance-oriented sounds. So, you can consider it a type of Techno with cultural influences.
The producers Mark Ernestus and Moritz Von Oswald are known for influencing Dub Techno music. They created a label called Chain Reaction that released Techno music with delayed Dub effects.
They started the label Rhythm & Sound as well, which focused solely on Dub Techno and Dub Reggae. The label featured a lot of sound culture in Jamaica, the birth country of Dub music. It also featured authentic sound elements of Dub.
Dub Techno is described as background music. Like Ambient music, it’s more soothing than pumpy, and its tones give a placid effect. Some critics described its sound as ‘half-there.’
Hard Techno
Hard Techno is a subgenre of Techno, but it’s considered the original Techno sounds’ remnants. While Techno music took a soft direction with subgenres like Bleep and Dub, Hard Techno’s sounds only got harder and more profound. A lot of musicians consider it a genre on its own for that reason.
The subgenre started as a harder style of Hardcore music. It’s directly related to the German Schranz movement, and its birthplace is believed to be Rotterdam, Netherlands.
A lot of countries contributed to Hard Techno’s popularity, though. Belgium’s R&S label took Europe by storm with releases like Mentasm by Second Phase and Energy Flash by Joey Beltram.
On top of that, Germany’s Frankfurt added some resolute vibes, thanks to PCP and similar artists.
Hard Techno music is identified by its high tempos. It runs at around 160 bpm, and it’s best known for its kick drum sounds and heavy distortion.
Industrial Techno
Industrial Techno is a hybrid genre of Industrial Dance music and Techno music. Like most Techno types, it originated in the 1990s. It’s known for incorporating bleak, noisy sounds with Industrial music acts.
One of the labels that significantly influenced this subgenre is the American Wax Trax! Some Industrial artists did, as well, including Throbbing Gristle and Cabaret Voltaire.
Industrial Techno went through a slump for the early 2000s, but it surged around the 2010s, thanks to Orphx, Adam X, and later acts like Karenn and Blawan. Some British labels were also credited for the revival, such as Perc Trax, which included releases of Ansome, Truss, Perc, and other artists.
Some people mistake Industrial Techno with Post-Dubstep since they both have similar power rhythms. However, Industrial Techno incorporates sci-fi and reverb effects.
A lot of artists are associated with Industrial Techno music, including Helena Hauff, Jeff Mills, Dominick Fernow, and Cut Hands.
Bleep Techno
Like Birmingham, Bleep Techno is another British subgenre of Electronic Dance music. It’s known for combining the rhythmic tones of Acid Techno with the futuristic sounds of Detroit Techno. Additionally, it first originated in the early rave scene, most probably in Yorkshire.
While Acid Techno is known for its distorted sound, Bleep Techno’s synth lines are natural, resulting in a ‘bleepy’ sound. The music is also known for the deep pitches and the scattered melodies.
A lot of artists adopted Bleep Techno, including LFO, Unique 3, and Nightmares on Wax. The subgenre is believed to have shaped British bass music, thanks to its unique combination of breakbeats, bass, and synthetic bleeps.
It also significantly influenced other young EDM sounds that followed, such as Grime and Dubstep.
Minimal Techno
As its name implies, Minimal Techno is a minimalist variation of Techno music. It originated in the early 1990s by Detroit producers who created Techno music, including Robert Hood, Daniel Bell, and similar artists.
A lot of musicians regard the subgenre as the second wave of Detroit Techno.
Along with Detroit artists, some German labels contributed to the popularity of Minimal Techno, including M-nus by Richie Hawtin, Perlon, and Kompakt.
Minimal Techno is believed to have been shaped by the younger generation of Detroit producers like Jeff Mills, Mike Banks, and Daniel Bell. The global success of Techno inspired them, and they focused on a minimalistic approach to the music.
Robert Hood described Minimal Techno as a raw, stripped-down sound with drum sounds and funky grooves. He said the sound consists of only the essentials without extra additives.
The subgenre supposedly goes through Skeletal and Massification phases. In Skeletal Techno, musicians use only the essential elements. Meanwhile, Massification includes layered sounds with some variations in sonic elements.
Toytown Techno
Toytown music is a playful subgenre of Techno. It’s known as Kiddy Rave or Cartoon Rave because of its use in cartoon tracks and children’s songs. The music is known for incorporating Jungle music and Breakbeat Hardcore with repetitive, powerful Techno rhythms.
Moreover, the music’s origin is the old Rave record that featured children’s cartoons. After a couple of famous songs, a lot of people adopted the subgenre, and its peak lasted until 1993.
One of the most famous songs of this genre is Smart E’s from Sesame’s Treet. There’s also Summers Magic by Mark Summers and Charly by the Prodigy.
11 Types of Techno Music: Conclusion
In the decades since its origins in 1980s Detroit, the genre of Techno has blossomed into a rich tapestry of diverse subgenres, each with its own distinct flavor and characteristics.
From the raw, futuristic sounds of Detroit Techno and the distorted, industrial-tinged Hard Techno, to the atmospheric Ambient Techno and the playful Toytown Techno, the Techno landscape continues to evolve and expand.
While the core elements of pulsating rhythms and electronic textures remain, producers have expertly combined Techno with influences ranging from Dub, Acid, and Breakbeat, to create wholly unique sonic experiences. As the music progresses, new offshoots are sure to emerge, allowing the spirit of innovation that defined Techno’s beginnings to live on.
Whether you’re drawn to the austere minimalism of Minimal Techno or the aggressive, punishing sounds of Industrial Techno, the expansive world of Techno offers something for every electronic music enthusiast. The genre’s ability to continuously reinvent itself is a testament to its enduring appeal and influence.
1 comment
Nice guide. I think it's only missing Peak Time Techno, the recent kind of arena/big-room techno with banging kicks and melodies, pushed by the likes of UMEK and tons of Drumcode/Filth On Acid artists (Enrico Sangiuliano, Joyhauser). Some people just dismiss it as "commercial" or "business techno" but it has its distinct sound.