Album titles like Sexplosion, Confessions of a Knife, and 13 Above The Night certainly describe the sticky landscape described in the creations of Groovy Mann, Buzz McCoy, and the revolving cast of band called MLWTTKK. Equal parts sleaze, exploitation, Satanism, sadism and disco, TTK has been painting music red and black since forming in 1987. (more…)

The origins of various sounds within the world of electronic music are sometimes difficult to pin down. Calling any one artist or group the first to do something is to invite a barrage of skepticism and incredulity. But this afternoon I’ll risk it and pin a title on our tech school subject: Jack Dangers, AKA Meat Beat Manifesto is the originator of breakbeat jungle. There. I said it. Meat Beat Manifesto represents one of the earliest, most innovative peaks in the experimentation with chopping up beats and samples.

So let’s start at the beginning: (more…)

Hip hop means a lot of things to a lot of different people. It calls to mind images of its so-called elements: break dancers, djs, mcs, and graffiti artists. Rarely does it bring to mind the Seine, country roads, or a hearty meal. Enter Buck 65. (more…)

Why is it that British people always seem to do things better? I know that isn’t a universal truth, but the minute you start to think it, it seems to be true. Other than tired clichéd jokes about teeth and cuisine, the UK can seem to be able to take everything we do and turn it up a notch or three. Music is definitely a place where this perceived truth can come in to sharp focus. British songwriters and composers seem to be able to generate tunes that crank my chain something fierce, and today’s Tech School subject is no exception – in fact, he is one of the bars by which to measure others.

Born in 1963 in Coventry, England, Clint Mansell rose to fame first as the lead singer and guitarist of British industrial outfit Pop Will Eat Itself. He currently works exclusively as a film score composer, with his most renowned work being collaborations with writer/director Darren Aronofsky. (more…)

The Orb are electronic music pioneers, innnovators who expanded on the idea of house music early in the advent of raves, creating slower, often psychedelic-sounding tracks which would be embraced by partied out ravers at the end of a night, as well as home listeners who could find more complexity in the carefully crafted compositions. (more…)

Josh Davis AKA DJ Shadow, was born in 1973 in Davis, California. He is one of the most influential and experimental hip hop producers of the last decade. (more…)

Ryuichi Sakamoto is one of the earliest innovators of modern electronic music. (more…)