WHAT IS BREAKCORE ANYWAY??

[JBL Profile]

Yeah I can imagine that about breakcore prefences as well.. I'm not a huge fan of gabber breakcore nor ragga breakcore.. even if there are many songs featuring these elements that I love.. but still its far from being my favorite kind of breakcore..

I think I'm having problems to imagine such a situation (refering to the dnb people leaving because breakcore is playing) because most people I know (in this case, the word "know" refers to someone I know enough to know a bit about their musical taste... aka.. I know a shitload of people) so... people I know either totally hate electronic music or love it. hmm wait.. electronic is not the good word.. anyway.. according to what I saw here in quebec/canada. if we talk about the young people (lets say between 15 and 25) people will either listen to metal OR hip hopish stuff.. OR pop, in the older part of my 15-25 range there's also some of them listening to techno, rave, dance, house, trance, etc.. wow while I'm thinking about it.. I think I've never met someone under 20 who were in those 5 genres I listed. anyway.. most of the young are into either metal/rock/punk stuff or hip hop/pop stuff... now if we refer to the older people.. I know these a bit less.. but now we get a bunch who listens to blues, jazz, vocal jazz, etc.. another bunch who are into classical music and stuff... there's always people who likes rock.. and pop.. anyway.. you know what I mean..

All that to say that, from what I've seen here, breakcore and dnb are enjoyed by the same people. Those, mostly young people from 15 to 25 who are open minded, most of those who listen to breakcore now obviously listened to other stuff before.. (personnaly I started with rock/metal then I found out about those awesome metal band who fuses many genres.. which opened me to jazz, experimental, fusion, avantgarde, electronic, drum and bass, idm (yeah I said "idm"), etc.. you get the idea...

I believe that most of people in my era who listen to breakcore have a musical life "parcours" (I bet thats one of the french word that can be used in english.. you know?) similar to mine... similar in that way that they have listened to tons of stuff before and they still enjoy tons of different genres.. everyone I know who listens to breakcore doesn't hate dnb.. maybe some aren't crazy about it.. but I'm sure they still like it more than various other genres because it's obviously closer to breakcore than like.. idk.. rock.

That's why I find it hard to imagine people who loves dnb and can't stand breakcore at all.

TL;DR

[BOKO91 Profile]

I have to agree. I was D&B deciple for over 10yrs. It was the only music I listened to. i was always a fan of the darker stuff like tech itch, but like most people i found myself looking for something harder which led me to breakcore..i.e Bong Ra which i think is a natural progresion from D&B.
I think most D&B fans would quite happily listen to Shitmat - Grooverider but Shitmat - Hang the DJ...not so much!!

[xTxRxAxVxIxSx Profile Website]

I think most D&B fans would quite happily listen to Shitmat - Grooverider but Shitmat - Hang the DJ...not so much!!

Haha, definitely. I actually wasn't much a fan of Grooverider. Bored me. Don't remember what I thought of Hang The DJ, but it's not on my computer anymore so I must not have liked it much either.

And @ phleg. Sorry I'm just now getting back to this thread, but I don't have a lot else to add.

[+ToRMeNT+ Profile]

Ok ok, here's my two cents, particularly regarding the DnB thing.


I listen to all kinds of music, always have, but "creatively" come from a hardcore punk & hip-hop background - that's pretty much when i became aware of the substance of musics/subcultures that i was listening too. I've always liked reggae, some pop music, of course more extreme stuff, noise, industrial etc. Naturally, in the "old" days, that was a pretty easy path to techno, or specifically dnb. From a punk perspective, i was drawn to anything experimental, that may have had a point, the subversive as political thing, if ya get me.

Creatively, i was a dnb dj for years, did a dnb radioshow here in Canada for 10 years.. 1994 - 2004.. so i've readily had my fix, wouldnt you say? heh. I was kind of more attracted to the 'broken beat' aspect more than anything. I'm sure most can attest. Dnb audiences didn't specifically come to the music for a political reason. In most areas outside of Europe - Canada for me once again - "rave" wasn't a political movement, or scene. It was just a dumb party. Dnb broke the mainstream in the Uk, it was pop music, not much politics, even within the black/white dichotomy. I think the issue of race was as far as dnb got with politics, which is standard for a music originating in the UK right? Its one thing that dnb got so big that anything subversive about the music didnt' matter, it was just party music, but on the other hand, it definitely lost its balls. Producers mucking about, innovating i'm sure as in the early dnb days, trying to out do each other in the studio, quickly turns to a jerk off session for those doing the same thing. And that's what dnb is. A wank off session. I still listen to dnb on occasion, but i'd never take it a serious as some people do. And i think dnb fans may have realised that its not the be all and end all of music production skills. Or atleast i hope the heads are now firmly out of asses. (can't really say that for dubstep fans now heh)

"Breakcore" on the other hand was kinda the antethisis of that shit. DIY. The aspect of not having a "dance music industry" to dictate what goes, as is the case of all other dance musics that have come to light. Anybody can do it. Alot of it was overtly underproduced music that some thought sucked shit, but to others, bliss. Whether you like it or not, as alot would surely disagree, the biggest crossover of any breakcore would certainly come from dnb fans, but as a whole, dnb audiences would never respond to anything political. How many political dnb labels or artists are there? NOT MANY.. if at all. And to think now, dnb fans are only starting to see some connections to extreme music crossovers via Evol Intent, etc. - putting hardcore punk vocals over a dnb track - when DHR and labels like D-TRASH, early Hardliner et all have been doing that for years. Or A full decade ago now or MORE in some cases. What about the idm shit? Once again, Evol Intent have put out a new album putting all aspects of these sounds on one release. To think dnb fans have to relearn whatever the fuck "idm" is, if only as a marketing term (which idm is.. simply a term NOT a genre of music, GOT THAT?!!)

In some places outside of the UK, dnb has very much died.. not at all at the forefront of any party scene. I'm sure that has more to do with current marketing tastes, its not 1998 anymore. Chain record shops are closing, nobody is buying music @ shops. Kids aren't listening to dance music, people aren't buying vinyl. At least here, 16 yr olds are into death metal, all ages black metal or hardcore shows. Locally, Metal is pop music now. "Raving" wtf is that, they simply don't know. Not alot of kids know what real hip-hop either. Things change. I think breakcore falls into that as well, its easy to move on from a music or scene that has no scene outside of specific countries, outside of the Belgiums, or say the Uk's at some points. I've never been to a large breakcore show in my life, and i've been into some breakcore since '96 or '97 give or take. Its just not a reality in most places.

Creatively, i've moved on from the fight. The need to prove something, like telling people what breakcore is, or WAS. ya know what i mean? As a term for me, breakcore was just an easy way to say "anything goes", rather than a specific genre catch. My inspiration was more from actual dj's and specific producers taking the effort to put anything and everything in the mix and making it work, which is something that seems to be big now in dance music circles, ya know, the mashup thing. Peeps like Bomb20 were doing that in a single track a full decade ago or more, ya know? Anyway, breakcore may have moved on too. I hope it has. Its not gonna be about amens or glitch pre-sets forever. And with that, its easy to see why even experimental music fans might have no interest in current breakcore - there's no new ideas. Breakcore may have proved its point.. time to move on. I dont know.

Anyway, there's lots to say. Blah blah.. Big up the old farts ok?

[pimperteen Profile Website]

How do you lot describe breakcore to people who've never heard it? I get asked a lot what kinda music I make or am into ... trying to describe it without mentioning DnB is really hard.

And as soon as I mention it, I can sorta see their face drop or the eyes glaze over as if ... "oh. That kinda crap."

I've taken to calling it "electronic punk" recently.

[+ToRMeNT+ Profile]

How do you lot describe breakcore to people who've never heard it? I get asked a lot what kinda music I make or am into ... trying to describe it without mentioning DnB is really hard.

And as soon as I mention it, I can sorta see their face drop or the eyes glaze over as if ... "oh. That kinda crap."

I've taken to calling it "electronic punk" recently.

i did that recently actually, just mucking about for a friend who wanted to hear me spin stuff at home. They weren't really into "genres", as apposed to stuff they hear on a random nite out. I was playing old techno, then dubstep and dnb, just to give examples. Then i played breakcore, and it instantly clicked. My friend liked the volume of it all. The kick in the ass factor. heh. Everything else was boring. So maybe there was truth to a saying i had - breakcore as more of a spectacle of sound. Does that make sense?


I'm listening to a 0=0 dnb set as i post this drivel btw. heh.

[meatsweeper Profile]

How do you lot describe breakcore to people who've never heard it? I get asked a lot what kinda music I make or am into ... trying to describe it without mentioning DnB is really hard.

And as soon as I mention it, I can sorta see their face drop or the eyes glaze over as if ... "oh. That kinda crap."

I've taken to calling it "electronic punk" recently.

electronic punk ......i like that

[+ToRMeNT+ Profile]

^^ but what about electronic punk as anything remotely viable? I mean if you were trying to describe breakcore to the uninitiated? Once again, DHR happened more than 10 years ago, and nobody gave a shit. We're not even mentioning some industrial in the 80's, which was purely over the industry's heads. Peeps just don't take it seriously. But is that the point? To be validated?

[jinty Profile]

ts rad

[Idiron Profile]

breakcore is a term invented to describe what people like snares started. if you wanna use genre labels then its just drill'n'bass, d'n'b and hardcore/gabba stuff. the term seems to have really kicked off in america where people like to define their 'thing' with music, and artists seem to have been more than willing to play up to it. also probably only america where its a 'scene' in its own right.

2p

[Silent Frog Profile]

also probably only america where its a 'scene' in its own right.

2p

Ummm, really just no to that. As far as I'm aware, from both first hand experience and this forum, the breakcore scene in america is nothing compared the European scene, especially the UK, Belgium and the rest of northern Europe. Think about it, where the hell do you think the music comes from? Planet Mu (the label on which Venetian Snares has released a large portion of his music) is based in London. Wrong Music (home to Shitmat, Scotch Egg, Ladyscraper, Floorclearer, Ebola and more) is based in Brighton, UK. Peace Off (possibly the the cream of the breakcore crop at the moment with such names as Rotator and Cardopusher to name a few) is based in Rennes, France. Parasite's Death$ucker label, with the UK's best independent online record distribution service, is based in Bristol, England, where trust me, there is a big scene "in its own right". Even the label which arguably set the ball rolling, Digital Hardcore Recordings, is a mainly German label, although it is in fact based in London.

Look at our events listings, read some of the posts. Come to some of the parties! The scene in the UK, especially cities like Bristol, Brighton and London is thriving and it has been for some time.

[Idiron Profile]

you seem to have missed what i was saying. from bristol right? so thinking toxic dancehall, bashout?

class nights, but theyre coupled with rooms for reggae/ragga, techno, dubstep etc... most of the nights here are under one umbrella... thats what i mean by in america it being "scene in its own right". not to say its all a bad thing, nor there isnt good music coming out the states (because there is a fuck load) but i think the term is somewhat void in the uk. america is such a big country that the tag is propagated to meld a community together, largely through the internet - which is a good thing that culminates in communities like this.

ive played with half of those artists you mentioned, some multiple times, but they would hesitate to class themselves as 'breakcore' artists! all styles of producers play together, thats the way it is.

anyway, im in danger of getting too far into this 'breakcore?' thing now, the very term is a bit of a running joke in itself (see other thread)!

if youre in town (not norwich *shudder*) then come to the croft on the 30th may for a beer and a rinse. laptop battle 6 innit.

peace.

[Silent Frog Profile]

you seem to have missed what i was saying. from bristol right? so thinking toxic dancehall, bashout?

class nights, but theyre coupled with rooms for reggae/ragga, techno, dubstep etc... most of the nights here are under one umbrella... thats what i mean by in america it being "scene in its own right". not to say its all a bad thing, nor there isnt good music coming out the states (because there is a fuck load) but i think the term is somewhat void in the uk. america is such a big country that the tag is propagated to meld a community together, largely through the internet - which is a good thing that culminates in communities like this.

ive played with half of those artists you mentioned, some multiple times, but they would hesitate to class themselves as 'breakcore' artists! all styles of producers play together, thats the way it is.

anyway, im in danger of getting too far into this 'breakcore?' thing now, the very term is a bit of a running joke in itself (see other thread)!

if youre in town (not norwich *shudder*) then come to the croft on the 30th may for a beer and a rinse. laptop battle 6 innit.

peace.

Oh seen. Completely missed your point it seems! Never really noticed that myself though to be honest. True, most nights seem to give a wide spectrum of genres a go but I think with Bristol especially it's down to the huge amount of artists available and the eclectic tastes of the punters. I think in smaller towns and cities you are more likely to find breakcore only nights, or at least variants on the breakcore sound. But I see your point.

Wish I was there for the Laptop Battle, was going to be around until they changed the date but now I have an exam up in Norwich that very same day. Shame, I went to number 4 and it was amazing. Plus you wouldn't get my vote cos I'm backing Hoonboy all the way!

[thescythian Profile Website]

I used to dj dnb, a lot... it started off pretty mild, but over the years I found myself being more and more annoyed by my audiences, and totally bored with the music... so I started seeking out harder and more annoying dnb. it got to the point where I was really irritating my audiences, which made me laugh. eventually it led me to breakcore... and that my friend, pisses the dnb fans off... a lot.

I got black-listed from the local weekly here because the promoter said, "you can play, but take it easy on em.".. I deliberately played more breakcore influenced dnb type stuff... not breakcore mind you... and I cleared the club.

while this made me laugh... it pissed off the promoter and my audience to where there was basically noone left in the club, but maybe 4 other people that thought is was funny I cleared the club too.

hence why I call it anti-music

it's an aquired taste, and I like it

Your anecdote is very interesting but I don't understand how a bunch of people who like dnb would leave the place when they are breakcore.. I mean.. it's not like the show was supposed to be some relaxation landscape music... dnb and breakcore are kinda close if you look at it that way..

unless your breakcore was like.. harder and weirder than making orange things.. I really don't get it.. I would have been so happy to hear a dnb thing turning to breakcore! I understand that not everyone has my tastes.. but.. still.. I can't see how breakcore is hated by someone who likes dnb.. maybe they could prefer dnb over breakcore.. but.. well.. I gave up.

nice anecdote.

I've experienced what Hue-E is talking about first hand. Breakcore isn't "gangstah" enough for these kids in the states.

[phleg Profile WebsiteYIM]

man, all of you describe it from "music paradigm"?