Techno music is an acquired taste. It took me a long time to be in a place where I could fully appreciate it. My relationship with electronic music started with Avicii way back in my early high school days; from there I got into underground house, then branched out into other genres.
It’s only been a couple years since I really started listening to techno, and only a few months since I realized how much impact it’s had on me. I appreciate music in a whole new way. The more I learn about techno and related genres like ambient, the more I’m convinced that the main engine through which music creates emotion is not melody or harmony: it’s rhythm and texture.
Some of you might disagree with me here, and that’s fine. But something about techno’s inherent repetition; its relentless kick drums, pads blossoming from warmth to glittering brightness – these elements, when woven together, create something beautiful and rare.
The songs aren’t afraid to give you time to think. Sometimes ten minutes or longer, they develop an atmosphere and let you soak it up. Changes are sparse. Instead of adding and removing elements frequently, sounds evolve over time, developing a familiarity that never dries into boredom.
Not to say that changes to the arrangement never happen. They’re just rare enough that even small ones feel extra impactful. A techno track might live in a completely rhythmic space for multiple minutes before bringing in chords, creating a powerful shift in dynamics. Alternatively, long sections might be exclusively ambient and textural before the drums kick in.
I could go on about why I love techno so much, but ultimately it’s a matter of preference. It speaks to me because it focuses on elements of music that, in most genres, tend to get less attention than I think they deserve.
Some people, especially those who are getting older, think music is past its prime – that the golden era is behind us. But every time period has had great music – you just won’t be exposed to the interesting, underground stuff unless you look for it. Even if you’re not interested in techno, I’d encourage you to broaden your horizons. Maybe, like me, you’ll discover something that changes how you listen to music forever.