The way Schranz is going....

[The Overfiend]

the problem with Schnranze/dark/funky techno these days, is that it tends to be mostly made by a group of producers all copy the originator in that sub genre.

That`s my take, I think all techno suffers the same copycat, unimaginative blandness more and more these days.

I almost feel like rebelling against the prevailence of soft studios.

I don't agree but I'll ask you for example?

[audioinjection]

i don't listen to alot of schranz, nor do i know exactly what it is......because i have hard techno records that are classified as schranz but to me its just hard techno........i dont know haha

but some of it is cool, but that same ol reverbed/distorted/compressed kick drum over a pop song is pretty wack imo

ive heard sets from arkus p, sandy warez, robert natus.......they have some cool hard bangin tracks in there, but alot of it does get to sound the same

[dirty_bass]

I don't agree but I'll ask you for example?

I`ll turn it around and ask for ome examples of something that isn`t following the route of same old same old made-to-fit-my-hero`s sound techno.

I think there is some great schranze out there, as is other techno, but for the good stuff there is a 20-1 ratio of sounds just-the-same as "insert genre leader here"

I think it`s easy to scapegoat schranze, but it`s a wider problem.

Too many people just making tunes to be popular or get ahead/get a name.

Obviously, this is my cynical view though.

[ds2]

I`ll turn it around and ask for ome examples of something that isn`t following the route of same old same old made-to-fit-my-hero`s sound techno.

dirty bass obviously...

[dirty_bass]

dirty bass obviously...

At last someone with guts.

[The Overfiend]

I`ll turn it around and ask for ome examples of something that isn`t following the route of same old same old made-to-fit-my-hero`s sound techno.

I think there is some great schranze out there, as is other techno, but for the good stuff there is a 20-1 ratio of sounds just-the-same as "insert genre leader here"

I think it`s easy to scapegoat schranze, but it`s a wider problem.

Too many people just making tunes to be popular or get ahead/get a name.

Obviously, this is my cynical view though.

I don't think I am following any hero sound.
Nor is Patrick Dsp
Nor is Brad Lee
Nor is David F.
Nor is Paul Mac.
Nor is Scott Gray for that matter....

I think there are a few who are trying to carve their own niche in the boat that is about to float over the water fall.

[dirty_bass]

I don't think I am following any hero sound.
Nor is Patrick Dsp
Nor is Brad Lee
Nor is David F.
Nor is Paul Mac.
Nor is Scott Gray for that matter....

I think there are a few who are trying to carve their own niche in the boat that is about to float over the water fall.

Carving a niche in a niche is probably not the best idea, but the peeps in your list I respect musically, and don`t represent the majority of dross out there.

Mac is a good example though of a Diverse Producer. He turns his hand to all things and does it very well, his music contains many references and influences, and really techno needs more people like him, as too many producers have a very limited pallette in both influence and product, and it`s starting to show in the increasing blandness of the techno genre as a whole.
I also think that distributers wield the blame as well, as the shrinking market causes a tendancy to be popularist, and so less risks are taken.
I`m almost hoping for the death of vinyl now, as it will losen the stranglehold of the distributers and possibly increase the diversity within techno, both from the listener/clubber and the producer, who can take more risks due to lower overheads etc.
Who knows.

[Sunil]

I`m almost hoping for the death of vinyl now, as it will losen the stranglehold of the distributers and possibly increase the diversity within techno, both from the listener/clubber and the producer, who can take more risks due to lower overheads etc.
Who knows.

Ah man, don't be like that. Digital is an option for everyone if they want, but the death of vinyl won't suddenly help achieve what you're talking about at all. What about the people who actually like releasing vinyl and do put out good records? There are a lot of labels that wouldn't be as bothered if their only option was digital. You need to give this subject a bit more thought I think.

[dirty_bass]

Ah man, don't be like that. Digital is an option for everyone if they want, but the death of vinyl won't suddenly help achieve what you're talking about at all. What about the people who actually like releasing vinyl and do put out good records? There are a lot of labels that wouldn't be as bothered if their only option was digital. You need to give this subject a bit more thought I think.

I`ve thought a lot, believe me, but we are entering a time when techno is almost run by one distributer, and this is a scary situation to be in. Monopoly does nothing for any business or organisation/scene.
Pretty soon the financial arrangemnts will start twisting further, and we will see less labels being able to afford to run within this monopolies idea of the techno market.
I don`t wish anyone out of business, but taking a big step back and a realistic look at the way things have gone without wishful eyes, or a head in the sand mentality, and it don`t exactly paint a pretty picture.
The mp3 revolution however, is nothing but positive really.

[Sunil]

I`ve thought a lot, believe me, but we are entering a time when techno is almost run by one distributer, and this is a scary situation to be in. Monopoly does nothing for any business or organisation/scene.
Pretty soon the financial arrangemnts will start twisting further, and we will see less labels being able to afford to run within this monopolies idea of the techno market.
I don`t wish anyone out of business, but taking a big step back and a realistic look at the way things have gone without wishful eyes, or a head in the sand mentality, and it don`t exactly paint a pretty picture.
The mp3 revolution however, is nothing but positive really.

Ok, so Neuton - as an example - might dictate some stuff from Germany or whatever, but that said, they (bigger companies) are necessary too. They are useful to smaller 'middle-men' companies, and when a big one goes down, sometimes lots of great labels go down, and smaller distributors suffer. EFA anyone?

As a matter of interest, who is/are the big bad wolf 'monopoly' distributor(s) in your opinion?

Personally I can think of quite a few small independent companies that are doing a good job and who I want to see continue selling records. Veto, Electronik, Possible, Base Level are quick examples. None of them have embraced Mp3 yet, and seem to be still managing, albeit probably not making bucketloads of money.

Also, there are many rock, and A-Z style distributors that are doing more electronic vinyl now, which I think is good. I've seen records pop up on lists I wouldn't have expected to have previously seen - sure, it might be a sign of labels having to spread their wings to shift units, but personally I think it's good to see a wider chain emerging for electronic/techno vinyl.

Ok, monopolies are not good, especially as mediocre music will prosper more as a result. That's why it's good to have faith in the existing companies that are keeping it real, putting out good records, and keeping independent spirit alive.

Relying on or putting all your faith into mp3 only and you're subscribing to an invisible and potentially *far* weaker scene in my opinion. The proof is already in the pudding, if you analyse the 'history' of digital labels, and vinyl labels converting to digital only.... I mean, where are the success stories?

More adventurous releases from some distributors would be a big advantage alright, but bland music seems to be more visible for a number of reasons now, including:

- Less new music being released, full stop.
- DJs (Big name) playing too many new records that don't cut the mustard.
- A disintigration of innovation

This said, I have lots of hope for the future, and hope many people can claw their way back, and that the appetite for edgier music in general... returns a little bit more.

I understand what you're saying about digital bringing control back to the independent artist, but that option is already there and has been for some time. The 'good' days of successful distributors are what brought us the great records we all own. There's a lot to be said for the single minded vision of distributors, past and present, which can't be scoffed at. If I were a label under the wing of a happening distributor, I know I'd be far happier than being a dot in the ocean of the digital label internet highway...

[SlavikSvensk]

Carving a niche in a niche is probably not the best idea, but the peeps in your list I respect musically, and don`t represent the majority of dross out there.

Mac is a good example though of a Diverse Producer. He turns his hand to all things and does it very well, his music contains many references and influences, and really techno needs more people like him, as too many producers have a very limited pallette in both influence and product, and it`s starting to show in the increasing blandness of the techno genre as a whole.
I also think that distributers wield the blame as well, as the shrinking market causes a tendancy to be popularist, and so less risks are taken.
I`m almost hoping for the death of vinyl now, as it will losen the stranglehold of the distributers and possibly increase the diversity within techno, both from the listener/clubber and the producer, who can take more risks due to lower overheads etc.
Who knows.

yeah you really hit the nail on the head there. the business model for techno is so broken that it's desperately seeking anything even moderately successful then caning it to death for any possible profit. they have supply and need more demand. can't blame them, really...but it's an institutional problem. a switch from vinyl might lower the overhead, but the key problem would still be there...which is a problem not so much with the demand but with the supply

the solution for me though is to have more producers like paul mac who can do everything and do everything with some quality and care. i know i'll probably get hammered for being elitist, but maybe there need to be fewer producers out there?

i mean, label owners and distributors can do what they want but maybe there should be fewer producers, fewer labels, etc. and higher quality standards. maybe tracks should be evaluated on how they function as songs rather than as loops that fit a category? maybe there needs to be some consolidation among labels, but in the sense of creating label collectives that pool resources and sustain each other?

just throwing ideas out there...

[The Overfiend]

yeah you really hit the nail on the head there. the business model for techno is so broken that it's desperately seeking anything even moderately successful then caning it to death for any possible profit. they have supply and need more demand. can't blame them, really...but it's an institutional problem. a switch from vinyl might lower the overhead, but the key problem would still be there...which is a problem not so much with the demand but with the supply

the solution for me though is to have more producers like paul mac who can do everything and do everything with some quality and care. i know i'll probably get hammered for being elitist, but maybe there need to be fewer producers out there?

i mean, label owners and distributors can do what they want but maybe there should be fewer producers, fewer labels, etc. and higher quality standards. maybe tracks should be evaluated on how they function as songs rather than as loops that fit a category? maybe there needs to be some consolidation among labels, but in the sense of creating label collectives that pool resources and sustain each other?

just throwing ideas out there...

Good stuff in here.

[MorePunkThanFunk]

I`ll turn it around and ask for ome examples of something that isn`t following the route of same old same old made-to-fit-my-hero`s sound techno.

I think there is some great schranze out there, as is other techno, but for the good stuff there is a 20-1 ratio of sounds just-the-same as "insert genre leader here"

I think it`s easy to scapegoat schranze, but it`s a wider problem.

Too many people just making tunes to be popular or get ahead/get a name.

Obviously, this is my cynical view though.

no i completely agree, i think the majority of techno and tbh dance on the whole is the same old stuff being churned out over and over again with the exception of a minority of records being unbelievably good.