Welcome.... to the info section,
Electro
(short for either electro-funk or electro-boogie) is a genre of electronic music directly influenced by the use of TR-808, Moog keytar synthesizers and funk sampling.... Records in the genre typically feature drum machines and heavy electronic sounding deprived of vocals in general, although if present, they are delivered in a deadpan manner, often through an electronic distortion such as vocoding. This is the main distinction of electro from previously prominent late-1970s genres such as disco and boogie, in which electronic sound was only part of the instrumentation rather than basis of the whole song....
From its origins, the definition of the electro sound is the use of drum machines as the rhythmic base of a track; however as the style has evolved, and with the advent of computer usage in electronic music, the use of drum machines has become less and less practical and widespread. Electro drum patterns tend to be electronic emulations of breakbeats, with a syncopated kick drum, and usually a snare or clap accenting the downbeat. The difference between electro drumbeats and breakbeats (or breaks) is that electro tends to be more mechanical, while breakbeats tend to have more of a human-like feel, like that of a live drummer. The definition however is somewhat ambiguous in nature due to the various use of the term....
In 1982, Bronx based producer Afrika Bambaataa released the seminal track "Planet Rock", which contained elements of Kraftwerk's Trans-Europe Express and "Numbers" (from Kraftwerk's Computer World "Planet Rock" is widely regarded as a turning point in the electro genre. album).
It was also in 1982 a collection of albums were released that would change the world forever for millions of people. These albums were on the iconic Street Sounds record label and for almost a decade epitomised the sound of the street and were pivotal in changing the face of music, club and street culture.
The Street Sound ‘ELECTRO’ compilations would be considered to be one of the greatest compilation series ever It seems almost unbelievable that only a handful of people were championing the Electro cause from the beginning. Mike Allen (Capital Radio DJ) contributed tireless energy in promoting and playing over the airwaves the tunes other DJs were afraid to touch....
Each new Street Sound Electro release saw sales increase and by 1986 we had witnessed the growth of a scene that had its own language, fashion, art in the form of graffiti, dance; breakin’ and poppin’. In fact, even Hollywood saw it’s potential and released a series of movies including ‘Breakin’ (a.k.a Breakdance)’.
On the 19th July 1986 Street Sounds flew over the most happening and influential Electro artists and staged UK Fresh ’86. UK Fresh was the most successful Electro/Hip Hop event ever outside the U.S. Over 16,000 people crammed into Wembley Arena to watch Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, Mantronix, Hashim, The Real Roxanne, Lovebug Starski, The World Class Wreckin’ Cru and many other seminal artists of the Electro scene. History was made.
Electro defined a new era; It’s legacy is unquantifiable. Without Electro many genres of music would not have existed including Drum & Bass, Jungle, Breakbeat and Hip Hop as we know it today.
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