There is a fine line between cohesion and discontinuity. Thankfully Modeselektor’s latest album, the self-referentially titled Monkeytown, trends toward the former.
modeselektor
Modeselektor, Presents Modeselektion Vol.01
Modeselektion Vol.01 demonstrates why the term “bass” has become so popular as a way to describe the current state of electronic dance music.
LWE reviews Speaking In Code
For many Americans, most electronic dance music lacks the overt personality they demand from music, as it carries on without an obvious beginning or ending and can be reduced to an easy to mock “oontz oontz oontz.” Aware of this popular perception, Amy Grill placed the focus of her documentary, Speaking In Code, on contemporary artists and important figures in techno and house scenes rather than examining their history or the finer points of sub-genres. Early on, Grill (who narrates the film) states that her hope is to rehabilitate electronic dance music in Americans’ eyes. But given the difficulty of their task, it’s easy to forgive them for doing more to contrast the tribulations of passionate American techno fans with the wealth of choices and opportunities open to artists and their fans across Europe.