Free Tekno
Fast, raw European party techno played at free parties and teknivals.
History
Free tekno is the music played at free parties in Europe s1. The spelling 'tekno' separates it from other techno s1. It is fast, usually 150 to 185 beats per minute, with a pounding, repetitive kick s1. It evolved with the teknival movement in the early 1990s s1. At first it came from acid house, then added hardcore, jungle and techno s1. The British sound system Spiral Tribe helped create and spread the style s1. After the British Criminal Justice Act in 1994, many sound systems moved to France and Eastern Europe s1s2. Producers often use TV and film samples s1. Early tracks were made with cheap drum machines and trackers s1. Artists often use many different names and give their music away for free s1. The scene has its own rules and is separate from commercial dance music s1. Free tekno is usually less distorted than hardcore s1.
Sound
- A fast, pounding kick drum
- Repetitive, hypnotic loops
- TV and film samples
- Simple, raw production
- A hard but less distorted sound than hardcore
Key figures
- Spiral Tribe — British sound system that shaped and spread free tekno
- Mark Harrison — Spiral Tribe co-founder
- Crystal Distortion — Producer in the Spiral Tribe network
- 69db — Producer in the Spiral Tribe network
Labels
- Network 23 — London , 1994
- Spiral Tribe Sound System — London , 1990
- Kadath — France , 1995
Defining tracks
Connections
Came from: Acid House , Hardcore Techno , Hard Techno
Sources
- Free tekno — Wikipedia
- The history of Spiral Tribe, the UK's most notorious travelling sound system — DJ Mag