Category: Techno

The techno music genre has been popular for decades after its first appearance in Detroit in the 1980s, created by Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, and Derrick May who were members of the group The Three Belleville. Techno is part of a genre of electronic dance music that is usually produced to be played in continuous DJ sets, with varying tempos of 120 and 150 beats per minute. Senteal rhythms are usually in regular time characterized by four-story beats.

To date, famous techno music has given birth to various subgenres performed by talented techno artists. Some iconic techno music artists who are known as pioneers include Carl Cox, Jeff Mills, Maceo Plex, Richie Hawtin, and many others. Until now, many talented techno artists have emerged who produce their music.

In this discussion, our website will review some of the latest techno music that has just been released in February 2024. Check out the review below!

Reviewing the Latest Techno Music Releases in February 2024

During February 2024, there will be lots of new releases of techno music from various artists uploaded on music platforms. Here is a list of 5 techno artists who released songs along with reviews!

• Esc by Command D

Command D is an artist from Australia who released his latest work entitled Esc on February 19 2024. This EP contains four songs, whereas Animalia is a masterclass in groove and atmosphere.

The “Esc” EP successfully navigates both downtempo and dancefloor-oriented tracks, both of which have powerful bass line beats, layered pads, and sharp percussion that manages to hypnotize the listener. This EP succeeds in generating a palpable tense atmosphere.

Command D gets inspiration for his songs from the dynamic interaction he feels between the outdoors and the urban environment. This combination was later expressed in his work, especially in the EP’s title track, “Esc”. Command meticulously manages to create a rich soundscape with lush textures and incredible sequences, supported by rhythmic intermittent beats and subtle dubby beats.

Read also : Beginner’s Guide to Creating Techno Music At Home

• Hidden Forest Lake by Adhémar

Adhémar is a multi-talented producer from France who produced his latest album entitled The Birth of Mist. Adhémar got the inspiration for his songs in the inner forests of Jeju Island, which led him to explore his music this time. True to its form, a strong emphasis can be felt on nature and the foundation of each song on the album can entice listeners to dance to the rhythm of the percussion.

The setting of “The Birth of Mist” is the beginning of morning dew, as if the artist deliberately drew attention to living creatures through the vocabulary he used. Listeners of this song will be enveloped in colorful sounds and rhythms, contemplating a fluid landscape that is little by little dimmed by mist throughout 9 compositions.

The song that is the main highlight of the album is Hidden Forest Lake which was released on Huinali Recordings on February 26, 2024. This song seems to invite listeners on a journey of understanding introspection in time that seems to move slowly and blur the boundaries between self and nature. Hidden Forest Lake is proof that the power of timeless melodies and rhythms can transport you to unseen places as if the mysteries of nature are unfolding majestically before you.

• Red Wine by Daniel[i]

Daniel [i] released a new album entitled “In Flux” on February 28, 2024. The album is a bridge between the artist’s introspective side with the influence of gas pioneer sounds, resulting in interesting atmospheric and ambient techno music.

The album is powerful in its subtlety, seeming to strip away the overused techno tropes for clubs. Instead, “In Flux” floats through the atmosphere, much like Andrei Tarkovsky’s “Stalker.” The deliberately slow beats and detailed presence create a sense of wonder and awe that fans feel as if they are hearing a sea of ​​sounds that are both familiar and unfamiliar and leave them adrift.

His flagship music is Red Wine, which brings this album another brilliant achievement for Daniel[i], adding to his list of extraordinary releases in 2024.

• Diminished Ark by Wrecked Lightship

British electronic duo, Osborne and Winchester, who are members of the group Wrecked Lightship, released their debut album entitled “Antiposition” on Peak Oil. In the album, they explore six songs that have the nickname “cyberspace aquatic alien bass music”.

Osborne and Winchester put a variety of musical influences into “Antiposition” with the centerpiece “Diminished Ark”. Drums, bass, and dub form the foundation for the duo’s innovative soundscapes. Osborne and Winchester’s interest in “retro-futurist dreams” and “unstable rhythms” is expressed in the songs “Hex” and “Bizzare”.

Wrecked Lightship instead of deconstructing an existing genre through “Antiposition”, created something completely new. The duo draws on a variety of musical influences to form one cohesive whole through the gravitational pull of their unique vision.

Read also : Uncovering the Origins of Techno Music

• Midnight Taxi by Vera Logdanidi

Vera Logdanidi became the first artist for the Konstrukt record label to release a song in 2024. Logdanidi released a three-song EP entitled “Far Away”. The EP explores deep and dub techno, left-field electronica laced with mesmerizing cosmic melodies and never strays from its hypnotic path.

The EP “Far Away” has a core song entitled “Midnight Taxi”. This song is a transcendent work that manages to navigate the world between “Daily Life” and “Midnight Taxi” as the EP’s main song. In this song, there is a combination of musical elements that create a unique and stunning feel.

Through “Midnight Taxi”, listeners are taken on a journey through time and space to understand the deep meaning of life.

Gradually, this song develops and stretches beautifully through heavenly elements and primal percussion elements that are both enchanting and awe-inspiring. This music creates a complex narrative full of interstellar attraction. With the beauty and uniqueness of the universe as its inspiration, this music invites an extraordinary spiritual journey.

Closing

That’s a Kalh.org review of some techno music that was just released in February 2024. You can listen to it via music platforms like SoundCloud. Listen carefully and let yourself be carried away by the beauty of this music.

Making music doesn’t have to be in a professional studio, you can learn to make music for the first time at home. This is what almost every musician does at the start of their career. You will get a professional studio someday.

Is there a difference when making music in a home studio versus a professional studio? Of course, there is, but you don’t need to worry about that if you are still in the learning stage. Especially as a beginner, you have a limited budget, so it’s better to get your initial ideas down at home while developing your skills before taking it to a professional studio.

Guide to Creating Techno Music At Home

Techno music is music that has hypnotic rhythms, incessant beats, and futuristic sounds. This is why techno music is perfect for hitting the dance floor and is so popular in clubs around the world.

If you want to dive into the world of techno music, you can start learning to produce your techno music at home. There are several guidelines that you can follow as a beginner to produce techno music that can lead you to become a techno music maestro in the future.

Learn the Basics

Learning the basics of techno music is the first step before you make techno music. Techno is music that has beats repeated four times, with a tempo of 120 – 150 beats per minute (BPM). The sound produced depends on the techno musical instruments used, such as drum machines, synthesizers, and effects that create a distinctive sound. You can get inspired by the diversity of genres from techno artists Jeff Mills, Carl Cox, and Richie Hawtin.

The main characteristics of techno music are minimalism and repetition, then a hypnotic pattern will gradually develop. Several drum elements are needed to create complex rhythms, such as hi-hats, kick drums, and percussion. You can experiment with effects and sound design to shape the sonic landscape.

Techno music tracks must follow a properly structured arrangement, starting from the intro, main part, and grouping, until condensed. To produce professional sound, you need mixing, mastering, and creative use of effects and automation. In essence, producing techno music depends on the creativity and innovation of the creator, whether the techno music produced will attract attention on the dance floor or not.

Read also : Uncovering the Origins of Techno Music

Required Equipment and Sound Design

To make techno music, even in a home studio, you need the right electronic musical instruments. Although some producers prefer analog music equipment, many beginners in producing techno music use digital audio studios (DAW), such as FL Studio, Ableton Live, and Logic Pro. This software platform is frequently used because it provides various types of virtual instruments and effects that are commonly used to shape sound.

Other equipment needed is a studio monitor or a set of headphones so you can listen to music accurately. You can also use hardware such as synthesizers (Moog Sub Phatty – Roland TB-303) and drum machines (Elektron Analog Rytm – Roland TR-808).

Techno music means the process of designing sounds, you can experiment using synthesizers to create unique textures and distinctive directions. Explore various module, wave, and filter techniques to produce techno music. Layer and process sound to achieve complexity and depth in your techno music productions.

Beats, Structuring, and Automation

The foundation for producing techno music is the beat, considering that its characteristic is a non-stop beat. Create a beat through a solid kick drum with consistent hits every time instead of just a quarter, so it will push the rhythm forward. Layer the beat with sharp hi-hats and snares to spice it up with groove and energy. You can experiment to create new characters in your music using percussion elements such as hand claps, snare drums, and others.

Next is structuring the techno track which is an important part of making techno music. Start by composing an intro to build anticipation, followed by creating a main section where the core elements of the song can come into play. Introduce new elements step by step, and mix in improvements and breakdowns to keep the techno music flowing with energy.

Techno-music has succeeded in achieving rapid development due to the use of effects and automation through the creativity of music producers. You can experiment with distortion, delay, and reverb to add levels of depth and atmosphere. Automate several musical parameters, for example, filter cuts and tones that are used to create dynamic and evolving sounds.

Get Creative By Mixing and Mastering

You can create professional techno music sounds through well-mastered song mixes. In this process, you need to pay attention to compression, EQ, and spatial effects to achieve balance and clarity of sound. To get inspired, you just need to use references from your other favorite techno artists to then mix and perfect the mix.

Because Techno is a music genre that emphasizes experimentation in its music creation, you don’t need to hesitate to go beyond your safe limits in making music. There are many types of sounds, common and unusual, to make what you create stand out even more.

Keep Practicing

To achieve professional techno music production results, of course, you have to continue practicing through your home studio so that your skills can develop. It may take longer than you think, but if you are patient and practice, it will one day pay off with satisfying techno music results. Because it emphasizes experimentation and creation, you have more room to innovate with various subgenres that you can try.

Read also : Main DJ Equipment for Beginners

Sharing Music With The World

If you manage to make some techno songs that you’re proud of, don’t hesitate to share them with the world. Upload to various music platforms and promote via social media. You may be able to quickly gain fans or find a techno community that can help you improve your skills.

Conclusion

In essence, learning to produce techno music doesn’t have to be in a professional studio, you can use one of the rooms at home as a studio. As long as you understand the basics of making techno music and you have the equipment to support it, producing your techno music at home is not impossible.

Techno music is a genre of electronic dance music (EDM) that uses futuristic themes and is usually played by a DJ (disk jockey). Currently, techno music is very popular throughout the world due to technological developments in the field of music in the form of increasingly diverse digital musical instruments. So what is the history of techno music? Let’s explore more deeply the history of techno music.

The Beginning of Techno Music

Techno music was first created in the early to mid-1980s in Detroit, Michigan. Techno music is shaped as dance and party music, where it relies on an active audience and an energetic dance style. The unique sound that characterizes techno music is a combination of European electronic music styles with African-American music, such as Chicago house, electro, and funk.

The group that had an important influence on the beginnings of techno music was the group “The Three Belleville”. Here’s a look at the members of this group.

Juan Atkins

Juan Atkins was a major pioneer in the formation of the techno music genre. Atkins had a great love for guitars and garage bands, then he became obsessed with things that were considered modern music technology, such as drum machines and synths. Together with Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson, he formed a group with a deep love for music.

Read also : Main DJ Equipment for Beginners

Derrick May

The second member of the original pioneer of the group The Belleville Three is Derrick May. May joined Atkins and Saunderson in high school forming a group with a passion for music production. Then Atkins taught May to DJ.

From there Atkins, May, and Saunderson formed a group known as Deep Space Soundworks. This trio is often present as emcees and performs at some of the first techno music parties in the world.

Kevin Saunderson

Kevin Saunderson is considered a living legend as the creator of the music genre. It even still has the original mixing board that was used to make the earliest techno music recordings which is currently on display at the Detroit History Museum.

The three friends spent the late 1970s to early 1980s in the Detroit suburb of Belleville, where it is their home. At that time, they grew up along with rapid technological advances in the field of music and often enjoyed music played on radio shows such as The Electric Mojo.

Later, Atkins, May, and Saunderson began experimenting with creating their music based on what they heard. Juan Atkins was the first to successfully release music officially in 1981 with Richard ‘3070’ Devis under the duo name ‘Cybotron’. The single they performed was entitled Alleys Of Your Mind/Cosmic Raindance and was a blueprint for the techno music genre Atkins earned the title ‘The Originator’ based on its achievements.

Atkins immediately invited Saunderson and May to join him in his studio to continue what they were doing in the field of music and eventually, they became known as The Belleville Three. After that, Saunderson managed to release a hit song and sell around six million records. May also had success with the single Strings Of Life in 1987, released under the stage name Rythim is Rythim, and became an explosion in the UK.

Expansion of Techno Music to Europe

At the end of 1980, techno music managed to reach all of Europe and became news in itself until techno music became the most popular music genre on the market. In 1982, techno succeeded in making its mark in England with such extraordinary popularity that Dimitri Hagemann brought this music genre through the Atonal festival to the market.

In 1990, Hagemann invited Jeff Mills to Europe with Underground Resistance to play for Tresor, his newly formed club. From here, techno succeeded in going global, and this club was named the Berlin-Detroit link. Because of this, many of the biggest emerging American techno musicians chose to move to Berlin with high hopes of making a career in the industry.

Techno Music in The 1990s and 2000s

In the mid-1990s, techno music spread and underwent rapid changes. This genre continues to split and give rise to various sub-genres that spread to every corner of the world. In Europe, techno music developed rapidly and several techno subgenres emerged such as acid, bleep, ambient, hardcore, and dub techno.

In Berlin itself there is a sub-genre of minimal techno to a harder industrial techno style, and it continues to develop. Then there was the Netherlands which created Gabber, Sheffield created IDM, and Goa created Trance.

Techno artists who have succeeded in gaining international recognition by bringing the techno music genre are Jeff Mills, Carl Cox, and Richie Hawtin. They managed to spread the influence of this genre throughout the world due to their popularity. Especially Jeff Mills has a unique way of gaining fame as a DJ despite the fierce competition between Detriot DJ stations.

Mills made an effort to play techno music that no other DJ had ever played by introducing more live instrumentation during his live DJ broadcasts. So, Mills will play new music on every live broadcast and the music he previously played will no longer be used. With what Mills did, he almost created a new sub-genre.

At this time, Mills along with other selected DJs began to achieve superstar popularity as celebrities in global clubs. Especially the clubs in Berlin which became the center of marketing for this genre, made many Techno music pioneers guess what would happen to this genre in the late 1990s to early 2000s.

Read also : Reviewing 5 Techno Music Releases February 2024

Techno Music Today

Techno achieving its current popularity cannot be separated from a journey along a steep path, from the challenging suburbs of Detroit to the sparkling clubs of Berlin. You could say, that techno is more than just a genre, it is a music genre created by creativity, innovation, and a deep love for music.

Even though its initial appearance was several decades ago, Techno music has managed to maintain its existence on the global music scene to this day. With advances in music technology, the techno soundscape is more complex and diverse, supported by the rise of digital DJs. Currently, there are many popular techno-music artists from various countries.

Do you want to be a DJ? You should know what equipment is needed to become a DJ and how to manage music creatively. Before you take the professional step, find out first what the main DJ equipment is and how to choose it.

Exploring DJ Equipment

Some DJ equipment is used for a DJ to mix songs and some other equipment has other functions. To support a DJ’s musical performance, it is very important to choose the right equipment and use it optimally. Check out some of the main DJ equipment at the following points:

– Mixer

The role of a mixer is very important as a DJ’s ‘weapon’. The main function of the mixer is to combine music, which can be from two or more audio sources. DJ equipment that can combine songs can control various elements, be it effects, equalizers, volume, and so on.

There are usually two audio channels on a mixer but there can be more depending on the mixer you have. A DJ can play multiple tracks simultaneously using a mixer.

Read also : Reviewing 5 Techno Music Releases February 2024

– Turntable

Turntables are used to play vinyl, a DJ can play certain tracks and can control them. This DJ equipment can transform analog signals into digital signals. Turntables can coordinate with speakers or mixers with these characteristics.

– CD Player

Some DJs still utilize turntables in their learning and performance. But instead of turntables, CD players have become more mainstream DJ equipment, especially for electronic music performance. So what are the features of a CD player?

CD players used by DJs generally have looping functions and pitch control. DJs can use CD players to provide creative effects as well and make unique transitions.

– DJ controller

You can use a DJ controller to play music using a laptop. There are many buttons that you can use on the DJ controller so that you have complex controls. You can use effect controls, faders, jog wheels, and many more buttons.

Using a DJ controller can allow you to play music tracks more precisely according to your preferences. You can also freely add certain effects that you want and embed transitions that you like.

A DJ needs to decide which music he will play as well as be able to control the tempo and cue points. A DJ controller can make it easier for DJs to perform various tasks including mixing song tracks.

– Headphones

The function of headphones for a DJ is that they can keep track of the music being played and anticipate the next track to be played. DJs need to use headphones that have important features such as volume control, noise cancellation, or other features. Investing in headphones is important for a DJ so that they can give a neat and controlled performance.

– Speaker

As the output source of DJ tracks, speakers are very important DJ equipment. Speakers can deliver DJ music to the audience. The output power of the speakers used by DJs is usually able to provide strong output power. The important thing for speaker speakers is the bass sound which must also be powerful and deep.

Deep bass is needed to improve the output quality of electronic music and similar music. You can install portable speakers or fixed speakers. DJ speaker setups are usually in stereo or can be installed in a portable or fixed manner. Those are some of the DJ equipment that beginners should understand well.

Start by finding out what the most important equipment for DJ performance is. Once you know them, you also need to understand how to use them to achieve the vision of a professional DJ. Although DJ equipment usually tends to be expensive, you can also research DJ equipment products that are more budget-friendly.

The development of DJ equipment products has been increasingly significant which makes many brands produce these products and many variations in product types as well. But don’t just focus on low prices, make sure the features and specifications of the DJ equipment are following your goals and needs.

Tips for Choosing DJ Equipment

To better understand how to wisely choose various DJ equipment, please refer to the following points:

– Choose Something Simple For Beginners

If you’re a beginner in the world of DJing or just want to learn, then you can consider simpler DJ equipment. There are quite a lot of affordable DJ controller products that you can consider. Adjust to your budget and don’t be too pushy to get premium DJ equipment.

Although investing in DJ equipment is important, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on it, especially for beginners. If you are already on your way to becoming a professional, then you can only upgrade your equipment to support more optimal performance. There are many budget-friendly DJ equipment options for beginners, so take your time to find the most suitable product.

– Choose The One With The Best Features

When we use a modern DJ controller, we can access many things on it. There are many responsive buttons that we can use and we can get creative with various sound effects. The feature to mix tracks is very reliable on DJ controllers in the market now.

But you can consider analog turntables if you like the classic DJ style. The feel that analog turntables provide is more unique, authentic vinyl spins might provide a different experience for you compared to the modern approach. But customize the features of your DJ equipment based on your taste or music style.

Think of these features as spices and you have to mix and match to get the best results. Before buying DJ equipment, try to research what features you need the most.

– Make Sure It’s Easy Enough To Use

Beginners should choose musical instruments that they can easily play including DJ equipment. It is better not to choose gear that is too complex for you even if there is a clear user guide. Choose a DJ controller with a simple interface and clear features.

If you plan to take the professional step, then you can try to consider more complex DJ gear. In addition to the above, you should compare the pluses and minuses of DJ equipment. Compare which one is the best for your DJ style.

Exploring DJ equipment products is very important so that you can choose the best one. It’s better not to focus on just one brand, try to look at several other brands or types and find one that suits your technical DJ needs.