UK Techno
A hard, dark British techno sound with rough drums and industrial textures.
History
British producers began making techno in the late 1980s and early 1990s s1. Orbital's 'Chime' (1989) was an early British techno hit and was played on television s1. In Birmingham, a darker and harder sound developed s2. Surgeon, Regis and their project British Murder Boys made records with rough drums, harsh noise and few melodies s2. Their labels, Downwards and Counter Balance, released much of this music s2. The style was often called Birmingham techno or dark techno s2. It was made for small, loud clubs rather than large festivals s1. This harsh sound later influenced industrial techno and the 2010s warehouse revival s2. British techno also includes many other sounds, from the melodic to the experimental s1. British producers also released techno on labels such as Blueprint and Surface. The scene had strong links with the country's free party and club culture s1. London club nights and record shops helped spread the sound s1.
Sound
- Hard, rough and distorted drums
- Noisy, industrial textures
- Very few melodies
- A dark, serious mood
- Fast, driving four-to-the-floor beats
Key figures
- Surgeon — Birmingham producer and member of British Murder Boys
- Regis — Birmingham producer and founder of Downwards
- British Murder Boys — Duo of Surgeon and Regis
- Orbital — British duo behind an early techno hit
Labels
- Downwards — Birmingham , 1993
- Counter Balance — Birmingham , 1995
- FFRR — London , 1986
Defining tracks
Connections
Came from: Detroit Techno , Industrial , EBM
Led to: Techstep , Hardgroove , Industrial Techno , Warehouse Techno
Sources
- Surgeon (musician) — Wikipedia
- Birmingham dark techno album guide — Bandcamp Daily