Microhouse
A quiet, detailed house style that uses tiny clicks, cuts and strange samples.
History
Microhouse appeared in the late 1990s in Germany and beyond s1. It mixed the groove of house and tech house with the small, detailed sounds of glitch music s1. Producers used tiny clicks, short cuts and unusual samples, often taken from everyday sounds s2. Akufen's album 'My Way' (2002) was built almost completely from small pieces of radio and music s2. Luomo's 'Tessio' (2000) used a clear pop-style vocal with very fine production s1. Isolée's 'Beau Mot Plage' (1998) was an early and much-loved example s1. The style was popular in smaller clubs and on headphones, where the small details can be heard s1. It influenced later minimal house and the wider minimal scene s1. The style was popular with DJs who liked quiet, detailed music. It also influenced later minimal house and the sound of many German labels s1s3. Producers often released on vinyl in small amounts for collectors s1.
Sound
- Very small, detailed clicks and cuts
- Unusual found sounds and short samples
- A soft, steady house beat
- Warm, rounded basslines
- A quiet, close, headphone-friendly mix
Key figures
- Akufen — Canadian producer behind the microhouse album 'My Way'
- Luomo — Finnish producer of 'Tessio'
- Isolée — German producer of 'Beau Mot Plage'
- Herbert — British producer who used everyday sounds
Labels
- Force Inc. Music Works — Frankfurt , 1991
- Force Tracks — Frankfurt , 1998
- Playhouse — Frankfurt , 1993
Defining tracks
Connections
Came from: Tech House , Minimal Techno , Ambient
Led to: Minimal House
Sources
- Microhouse — Wikipedia
- A guide to microhouse — Bandcamp Daily
- Podcast 529: Akufen — XLR8R