Electronic Music and Innovations

         The technical innovation that I am choosing to discuss is modern minimalism discussed by Bjork. It is a documentary featuring Arvo Pärt, Alasdair Mallory, and Mika Vainio. The impact I feel that modern minilalism has had on eletronic music would be by the simple sounds it produces, how the sounds are produced or what are the things that produce these sounds, and above all, how these sounds are turned into music. The sounds produce when hear put you directly in the mind of electronic music. It’s that organic everyday industrial or natural sound that is the basis of electronic music; for instance in the very beginning of the documentary, when it showed a man playing the glass harmonica. What struck me is the sharpness and tone of this instrument. It is that simple ambient sound produced by the playing of this instrument that is noticeable in electronic music.  How the sounds are produced is I feel another element that has impacted electronic music. This can be seen when Bjork met a man by the name of Mika Vainio in Barcelona. During her meeting him, she saw the various things he used to produce these “electronic” type sounds in which one of them were made by turning a old wooden cigar box into some type of bass synthesizer. It was very interesting. All these sounds like I mentioned are produced in simple ways. And I think after looking at this documentary, I feel that in a way, a lot of electronic music is simple and not that complex. Two characteristics of this innovation are simplicity and its organic qualities mentioned frequently above. The impression this innovation has made on me is that you can make music out of the most basic and “non-musical” things. It makes me as a listener and industry professional have more of an appreciation of sound no matter where it comes from.

Electronic Music

         The music and image of Kraftwerk (which means in German power plant) was very different from other acts throughout there time. And though some tried to imitate (i.e. Gary Numan), there was only one original. Their music was futuristic and industrial as Kraftwerk got inspiration from things like the radio, cars down a highway, and even trains in Europe. Their image was uniformed and emotionless, as they would wear suits while giving emotionless faces as they performed on videos or in live settings. The albums Kraftwerk released between the years 1974 to 1981 would get for the most part, receive little recognition initially but more so later on as their work would influence a whole genre of music and artist. When  Kraftwerk  drop Autobahn at the tail end of 1974, it push them to international status. Unlike previous albums released, this one would actually have a concept. They would in dropping this record give homage to the Beach boys with the title track. Their next album Radioactivity in 1975 was very different from Autobahn were even though it was another concept based record, the focus however was on nuclear energy and the radio. It was an album with shorter tracks and a record that pushed their sound into different areas were the sound would move very much into the electronic sphere contrary to previous work where they would incorporate non-electronic instruments. Following this was Trans Europe Express, a record about the train system of Europe. It wasn’t as anticipated as Radioactivity due to Radioactivity being deemed unsuccessful.  Man Machine conversely became a break though for the group as this album presented a new image with commercial material.  Two characteristics that set the group Kraftwerk in a position of being the biggest influence of electronic music would definitely be the number of musicians following them taking cues and because of their musical aesthetic. Kraftwerk inspired many from their music to generate a synth/ industrial sound whether it was pop, rock, or hip hop. Their music aesthetic was contagious. It also inspired a slew of artist like David Bowie, Afrika Bambaata, Donna Summers, Throbbing gristles, and Gary Numan as mentioned. The impression left on me by the group Kraftwerk is that creativity is everything. I really enjoyed their originality because it longer lasting and will get farther than mediocrity or imitation.