what's the difference between Detroit's techno sound and Chicago's house sound? is there much of a difference? i'm wondering, after viewing this movie a number of times, if techno was as innovative as they say. was house more original, while techno is an outgrowth of house?
also, do you know of any good compilations of detroit techno or chicago house, respectively? thanks for your input!
-keeeeeth
People like Derrick May and Juan had a futuristic vision inspired by machines. The emphasis on machines in their music is what separates Detroit's sound from Chicago's disco-inspired sound.
sharethe Detroit sounds is more mechanical, yet funkier...it is "spacier", with the sounds calling to mind a colder, mechanical feel, while house music uses sounds more familiar to fans of disco...the greatest Detroit techno, again, manages to use these mechanisitic sounds while at the same time enlivening them with a funky, head-bopping feel. Detroit's Derrick May, one of the innovators of Techno, said it sounds like "George Clinton and Kraftwerk stuck in an elevator". May's double-album 'Innovator', Juan Atkins' 'Starlight', Carl Craig's 'Landcruising', and the difficult-to-find yet invaluable 'True People: The Detroit Techno Album' are each excellent introductions to this amazing genre of music.
shareIt's hard to track down affordable compilations of this music for the uninformed and those who didn't grow up with it, which is kind of criminal. Having downloaded some torrents of House and Techno compilations since first posting on here, I have come to a much better understanding of the differences between the two genres. My favorite of these downloaded finds was a Juan Atkins compilation: http://amzn.to/bz84pA. That collection helped me realize I like Techno better than House, because I prefer "colder" and "synthy" and "minimalist," I guess. (Shouldn't there be a site devoted to explaining the differences between all the many forms of electronic music for people who think it all sounds the same?)
shareHouse is very strictly just four to the floor and an anthem/vocals.
Techno is much more beat driven with the use of percussion.
Here's a site that explains the difference. But be wary and take everything he says as kind of tongue-in-cheek. Definitely an old school *beep* but he knows his stuff.
http://techno.org/electronic-music-guide/
But if you want straight facts and music theory explanation, of course try Wiki and go from there.