Well, the genre was named after a compilation by Warp Records called "Artificial Intelligence". If that compilation was called "Abstract Intelligence", you might have had your wish come true.
Your knowledge of music is INSANE. Since I started watching this channel 2 months ago, I've learnt so so much, and gotten back into touch with artists that I used to listen to, but never understood their music so much. Thank you thank you thank you Oliver!
Solid list! Here's some other great ones: 6) Various Artists - Artificial Intelligence (1992) 7) Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92 (1992) (I just have to include it) 8) The Future Sound of London - Lifeforms (1994) 9) Mouse on Mars - Autoditacker (1997) 10) Drexciya - Harnessed the Storm (2002)
Excellent list and pretty much exactly what I would pick if I could only choose 5. Here are some other good albums from the genre: Amon Tobin's Permutation and Supermodified are also good additions, especially if you like Hard Normal Daddy. Tobin goes for a slightly darker, more atmospheric approach in comparison to 'Pusher. Clark - Body Riddle. Another Warp artist, although this one's from Germany. Chris Clark has always had a slightly different approach to IDM, going for very rich synthesisers and slightly more poppy tempos and melodies. However, he can also produce some of the most achingly beautiful stuff in the genre, such as the closer of Body Riddle, The Autumnal Crush. James Holden - The Inheritors. This is a bit less accessible and has some slightly odd, wonky melodies, but is extremely rewarding. Holden perfectly fuses instrumentation with synthesisers for a very rich listening experience. Jon Hopkins - Immunity. I should probably preface this by saying that this is my #1 album of all time. This is a really good introduction to the genre if you're into progressive house, as Hopkins perfectly fuses pounding beats and morphing melodies with rich soundscapes and real piano. Lusine ICL - Serial Hodgepodge. Lusine's brand of IDM is fairly accessible and melodic, but still provides a nice variety of complex beats. You'd like this if you like Clark. Metamatics - Neo Ouija. Metamatics is a pretty obscure artist, but he has some excellent, very minimal IDM, focusing on tight beats and funky melodies. His side project Norken with the album Soul Static Bureau also expands on this sound. Monolake - Ghosts. Monolake were originally a minimal techno group from Germany, but have moved over to a sound closer to IDM. Their beats are often minimal and their soundscapes range from very accessible to quite difficult. Mouse on Mars - Autoditacker. Mouse on Mars continue the original essence of IDM, featuring many fast complex beats and melodies. While this isn't one of my favourites, it is still a good listen. Plaid - Not For Threes. Another Warp duo from the UK, while the likes of Aphex Twin and Autechre went on to completely abandon that original Artificial Intelligence sound, Plaid have stayed strong with aesthetic and expanded it. Not For Threes is probably their best work, but they have stayed relatively consistent. Oneohtrix Point Never - R Plus Seven. This is a slightly controversial pick, as I know many would contest whether OPN was even IDM. In the traditional sense and sound, not so much, but in the idea of IDM, I'd say he was. This album is probably the most challenging of the list, which very bizarre, other-worldly soundscapes and tracks going what seems like all over the place. However, it is very rewarding and one of my all-time favourite albums. I should probably mention alva noto and Ryoji Ikeda, who are more glitch, but come under the genre to an extent. Dataplex and Univrs are good starts with them. µ-Ziq's Lunatic Harness just gets everything right from a drill and bass IDM perspective, perfectly mixing the melody with the beat, sometimes creating something very emotionally resonant. I'll throw Venetian Snares in there as well. He's another 'borderline' artist, but he still has some of the aesthetic, especially on his latest album Traditional Synthesiser Music, which gives a lot of groovy rhythms and a classic afx sound. Rossz Csillag Alatt Született is also outstanding, especially if you like the drill and bass side of IDM. Finally, if you want my opinion on the 5 best IDM records, regardless of accessibility, I'd say Immunity (as mentioned), drukqs by Aphex Twin, Ultravisitor by Squarepusher, Music Has the Right to Children (as mentioned in the video) and Oversteps by Autechre. If you read this far, I hope this was helpful in some way.
You know your stuff. Big fan of Clark, Venetian Snares and Jon Hopkins in particular of who you mentioned. I prefer Clark's self titled LP from 2014 to Body Riddle. That and Hopkins Immunity were on repeat in my house for 12 months solid. And check out George Fitzgerald mix of Open Eye Signal. He's turned that slippery beast of a tune into a big room house banger.
I'd ask you to do one for future garage but it'd probably go something like this: 1) Burial - Untrue 2) Burial - Kindred 3) Burial - S/T 4) Burial - Street Halo 5) Burial - Rival Dealer
Glad to see FSOL getting love - they're in their own realm imho - top shelf artist who do what they do - very well. 1 of a kind and they incorporate so many influences - including rock and psych rock and organic sounds (of course). Cheers to FSOL for their amazing albums and classic live broadcasts.
I needed this channel back in 07-08 when my drug use and circle of musically inclined friends (spelled noise for the sake of noise, no instrument necessary) were at a peak. Between this, the shoegaze vid, and some of the back catalog, it's just nice to know other people were out there listening to the same stuff we were. Even if it didn't seem like it at the time. Keep doing what you're doing, mate.
Not enough time to watch the whole video right now, I skimmed it though. Goooooood list, and I mostly agree with your picks of favorite Autechre albums. Although I'd pick Draft 7.30 over untilted, I always say that it has the mindblowing sound design of confield but with a really catchy and fun twist to it. 10/10 album in my opinion. I hope you don't skimp over it too much in the guide. And I agree, brits make the best IDM. Although this american over here is gonna try giving us a better name in the experimental electronic scene soon.
Glad you got the Aphex Twin question out of the way early. You should do a real-time review of Elseq 1-5. Also, a list of any five Autechre albums would have sufficed. Good video!
Every single one of their albums has so much gems. Greedy Baby and Spokes are my personal favorites, Scintilli and Rest Proof Clockwork are so close too. E.M.R... one of my essential tracks next to Bladelores by Autechre (there's a lot of tracks I love in IDM it's hard to choose and think on the spot haha).
I'm already a big fan of MHTRTC, Tri Repetae and HND. Haven't listened to the other two albums on this list, but I'll absolutely be checking them out this week. Excited for the Autechre guide too!
If you haven't heard it certainly listen to BT - This Binary Universe. Possibly the finest, most detailed and beautifully composed and realised electronic albums in existence. Unreal sound design, beautiful melodies, sublime linear composition, it is probably the most underrated album I can think of. Hardly anyone I know has heard it but everyone loves it once they do.
I've heard he isn't keen on his work being compared to it. It's not available on his site either. Or maybe its a attribution thing with Trifonic. Who knows. It's one of my favorite albums ever.
I love that album, got into it recently. Sad that it's unavailable for streaming (at least on Apple Music). Definitely an important one, and a nicely cinematic experience reminiscent of Post Rock meets IDM meets Ambient meets Classical. My other biggest recommendations are (and I strongly recommend listening on good headphones in the dark without distraction, in an altered headspace if that's your game): - Max Cooper (starting with Human and everything released after that, most notably Emergence, One Hundred Billion Sparks, Yearning For the Infinite, Chromos, and Earth EP; the vast majority of what was released before Human is, IMO, unimpressive compared to his later stuff) - Flume (particularly Hi This Is Flume in all its abrasive Psychedelic glory, although I would also strongly recommend listening just to the song '3' from his previous album as a very unique example of off-kilter-yet-danceable rhythm in electronic music) - Oneohtrix Point Never (he makes great music but, at least to me, none even come close to the monstrosity that is Magic Oneohtrix Point Never, possibly the most deeply Psychedelic electronic album I've ever heard) - Shpongle released a solo album called "Flux & Contemplation - Portrait of an Artist in Isolation" under the name "Simon Posford & Shpongle" which is another serious contender for most Psychedelic electronic album I've ever heard. Took me a while to really "get it" unlike his work as Shpongle, but when I finally listened all the way through on good headphones, I was blown away by the complexity and at the same time relative simplicity.
What a brilliant intro to the genre! How difficult to not include Autechre for 1 2 3 4 and 5 slots for this, but you didn't mention Plaid, or The Black Dog to me both absolutely essential for the more discerning listener.
You opened up, defining it well, with the IDM umbrella. Because "IDM" kind of encompasses a lot of sub genres of expremental elecontic music and most often represents a lot of it, its hard to pin point what exactly is a "top" album because it evovlves in its expermeintaiton so much from artist to artist and from time to time. Elements of glitch and complex drums give it different feels and textures. But this is a really good list to know the basics and your list is good. The "IDM" genre has developed in the present, and in my opinion, the best years for its sounds were "1994-2003." Everything we hear in "IDM" and its subgenres now has its roots in those decades.Great review! Much respect for making this video.
just came to comment that this video got me into the genre. gonna be seeing autechre live this year! thanks for that, never really connected with music before I tried this genre.
Great stuff as usual, glad to see Squarepusher represented. Jon Hopkins' Immunity has gotta be my #1 IDM choice, but I'm really digging Kelly Lee Owen's self-titled from this year too (ALSO BRITS WOO).
Awesome video, I’ve been getting into IDM lately but not many of my friends vibe much with it so it’s nice getting the validation lol. Also the way you describe these records is a feat in itself, It’s difficult to put words to such unique sounds presented by these artists!
Thank you for posting this. I love the genre and look forward to listening to your suggestions. You clearly have a great grasp of the subject matter and our generously sharing it with others!
strange to me that geogaddi never gets a mention! i feel like it pushes the conceptual envelope so much further then 99% of stuff in the genre. it's deffo a personal fave of mine as much as i love the other stuff
Geogaddi is amazing but not quite as accessible as music has the right I guess? I would recommend music has the right to a new IDM listener well before Geogaddi
Geogaddi is one of the best albums ever made regardless of genre and i think that, at least for me it pushes a narative so deeply hidden yet so aparent that anyone should listen to it at least once
Brah... I love your page so much! I am always up to expand and challenge different kinds of styles and genres. I been writing down all the albums you mentioned on this and other videos I have seen.. I then stream them... since I was late to the program.. I been watching random past videos.. it's so awesome. Much love, from southern California
Very cool video. Had a feeling you wouldn't include Aphex Twin and glad you didn't. He may be my favorite artist of all time but his genius has a tendency to overshadow other brilliant artists.
Gen M lmao flying lotus is one of the first electronic artists I listened to, but I don’t really consider him IDM, if you listen to a lot of hip hop and not much else I would definitely start out with him
1. Autechre - Yup, spot on. Up there with Aphex for mind blowing tracks. 2. FSOL - OK, but I would probably choose Lifeforms. 3. Squarepusher - OK, but I would personally go for "Feed me weird things" The last two I would go for something by RH Kirks alter egos, The Black Dog or u-Ziq.
Excellent selection, and the most accessible and accurate discussion of Autechre I have ever heard. “Dead Cities” is also notable for modern classical composer Max Richter’s collaboration with FSOL on this album. Richter’s classical compositions and film/tv soundtrack scores (e.g., HBO’s “The Leftovers”) show strong influence of Philip Glass.
If you google the tri repetae album art you'll notice that every image is a slightly different shade, making it quite hard to determine what the actual colour of the album is
Looove this list! I'm surprised you didn't dig more into Geogaddi, I find it even more striking that Right to Children, if only slightly, though that's just personal preference I'm sure. What are your thoughts on Flying Lotus?
One you could’ve included in my opinion (and I know you mentioned you wouldn’t use Aphex Twin, but is still great nonetheless) is Drukqs by Aphex Twin, especially with songs like Vordhosbn, Cock/ver10, afx237.7 seem to be cut from the same cloth and have a lot of sonic textures from breakbeat, drill ‘n’ bass and speed bass that are similar to IDM. Other than that, great video!
To mention a few of my favorite albums from some relatively lesser known artists: Kelpe - Ex-Aquarium Gridlock - Formless Stendeck - Can You Hear My Call? Ochre - Lemodie Secede - Tryshasla
Gridlock!! Stoked you know of him! Check out the song Hide to Seek by Comaduster. It's a cross between Gridlock and edIT. They used his music in various parts of Mass Effect
Hi Oliver, I have watched most of your "5 albums" videos over the last few days. Listening to Neu!'s Hallogallo for the first time in my life while you hearing you describing it at the same time was a great thing to experience (and I hereby encourage everyone else to try it in the Krautrock video). You are a talented speaker :) For some reason (life habits changing, mostly) I had stopped searching for music bands and genres to discover. You got me back on track (pun intended). So I will thank you by telling you about a discovery I made a couplue years ago an amazing discovery and I would like to share it with you (although I can certainly assume that you already know it): Aluk Todolo's Occult Rock.The whole album has that nervous, eerie yet warm, throbbing, wanting to explode feeling, like the band is trying to slowly hypnotize you into going berserk. Something I find amazing about it is that most prog rock / post-rock stuff have a somewhat goofy, hallucinated feeling, but that never happens with Occult Rock, they manage to pull you into that weird space almost without you noticing. Their other albums are definitely something as well but Occult Rock is just not from this world, in its own unique way. But by all means, if I am wrong and there are dozens of hours of material like this, please tell me. I definitely need more of that! :D Please keep enjoying shooting those videos. You've just gotten yourself one more subscriber.
Another video proving this you are one of the best music blogger on youtube right now! I was wondering if you could do video about contemporary jazz sometime in the future. Because when it comes to jazz, most of the time I still stick with greats from the 50s to the 70s, which is cool because still alot music left to discover, but I would be really interesting in hearing some of your recommendations to get into the contemporary jazz scene and see how they might be still pushing the boundaries of that genre.
My list: Four Tet - Rounds Squarepusher - Feed Me Weird Things Machinedrum - Now You Know Prefuse 73 - Vocal Studies and Uprock Narratives + One Word Extinguisher Roni Size/Reprazent - New Forms Amon Tobin - Supermodified and from my country, Poland: Noon - Studio Games EP (Gry Studyjne EP)
Personally i thing having specific names for genres like IDM is important, it allows people to define their musical taste and find others who share their taste in music!
Autechre is a no brainer for sure, especially their mid to late 90's albums. Two lone swordsmen (Swimming Not Skimming for instance) could also be in the list, I also fancy Chris Clark (Empty the bones of you and Body Riddle) but I'm not quite sure that he falls into the IDM genre. Solid choice of artists/albums by the way !
really good content, mate. Well done! I was curious to know a little bit more about the genre, because I've been creating music for some time now and I've recently started to use AI to understand witch genres of music I tend to create more and it turns out it's IDM.
Good stuff! Idk if you've ever listened to Jan Jelinek, but I really recommend you check him out, Loop Finding Jazz Records was a bit of minimalist downtempo house, and his stuff with Masayoshi Fujita is brilliant, well idek what you would categorize it!
Great list! Halfway through it I couldn't help but notice how they're all British - which of course you mentioned later - and I wonder why, if it's something to do with the history of the "genre" or the wider context of its birthplace. I was wondering if you would be willing to do a different type of list, related to a theme or subject rather than genre or artists. I keep seeing it in film-related publications, and I understand that perhaps it makes more sense that way, yet I believe it would be interesting.
Love your channel! Great to see someone other than Anthony Fantano talking about music on RUclips. Here's Some suggestions for future videos: 5 Albums to Get You Into Gothic Rock 5 Albums to Get You Into Reggae 5 Albums to Get You Into Britpop 5 Albums to Get You Into Ska 5 Albums to Get You Into Punk
Oh, man, Music Has the Right to Children. It's an album, I think, that illustrates best what it's like to have a vision about something and to execute it in a perfect way. This album is the definition of 'inspiration' for me. The producers had something in mind when creating this piece, and when I listen to it I can see what they were going for, and I can sense a feeling of connection. A similar artist, for me, is The Caretaker, and I'm curious what you have to say about his work. Also, how would you compare MHSTRTC to Geogaddi?
in my opinion, Bogdan Raczynski’s 2019 album, Rave Till You Cry and Aphex Twin’s 2018 EP, Collapse really got me into music like IDM. but people go into IDM for different reasons.
I've been searching for any info on the track Hands from Rounds, and there's very little on that specific track. The way its described in this video is perfect.
These guides on IDM and Ambient are quite nice but, Oliver, I really hope someday you do a guide on musique concrete, or at least on generalities of Electroacoustic music (or Noise!, why not?); we need to get to the core of it.
I would have called it ADM - Abstract dance music
Yeah I thought the same
Well, the genre was named after a compilation by Warp Records called "Artificial Intelligence". If that compilation was called "Abstract Intelligence", you might have had your wish come true.
The music isn't abstract at all though. Most IDM has a very clear narrative.
ADM is me.
Alex Dzemianoviċ Michailoviċ
I call it IDM as Introverted Dance Music
Wow you love that autechre album so much that youre even wearing it on your shirt
Wow
Is that LP5?
I wish I could listen to IDM but I'm just not intelligent enough!!! 😥
REED BUUKS
To be fair, you have to have a very high IQ to understand IDM
congratuations on getting the joke and spoilling it for those who come after you
oh I made you sad I'm so sorry
hold on, lemme program the world's smallest violin on maxmsp so it can play just for you
Your knowledge of music is INSANE.
Since I started watching this channel 2 months ago, I've learnt so so much, and gotten back into touch with artists that I used to listen to, but never understood their music so much. Thank you thank you thank you Oliver!
Solid list! Here's some other great ones:
6) Various Artists - Artificial Intelligence (1992)
7) Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92 (1992) (I just have to include it)
8) The Future Sound of London - Lifeforms (1994)
9) Mouse on Mars - Autoditacker (1997)
10) Drexciya - Harnessed the Storm (2002)
11) Telefon Tel Avi - Fahrenheit Fair Enough
12) Flying Lotus - Cosmgramma (Although I prefer by far You're Dead!)
8) T.Power - The Self Evident Truth Of An Intuitive Mind
It should be Varcharz for MOM, and Drexciya is more detroit techno
15) Orbital - In Sides (1996)
nice, mouse on mars for sure m8
I love listening to others describe their love for Boards of Canada
Excellent list and pretty much exactly what I would pick if I could only choose 5. Here are some other good albums from the genre:
Amon Tobin's Permutation and Supermodified are also good additions, especially if you like Hard Normal Daddy. Tobin goes for a slightly darker, more atmospheric approach in comparison to 'Pusher.
Clark - Body Riddle. Another Warp artist, although this one's from Germany. Chris Clark has always had a slightly different approach to IDM, going for very rich synthesisers and slightly more poppy tempos and melodies. However, he can also produce some of the most achingly beautiful stuff in the genre, such as the closer of Body Riddle, The Autumnal Crush.
James Holden - The Inheritors. This is a bit less accessible and has some slightly odd, wonky melodies, but is extremely rewarding. Holden perfectly fuses instrumentation with synthesisers for a very rich listening experience.
Jon Hopkins - Immunity. I should probably preface this by saying that this is my #1 album of all time. This is a really good introduction to the genre if you're into progressive house, as Hopkins perfectly fuses pounding beats and morphing melodies with rich soundscapes and real piano.
Lusine ICL - Serial Hodgepodge. Lusine's brand of IDM is fairly accessible and melodic, but still provides a nice variety of complex beats. You'd like this if you like Clark.
Metamatics - Neo Ouija. Metamatics is a pretty obscure artist, but he has some excellent, very minimal IDM, focusing on tight beats and funky melodies. His side project Norken with the album Soul Static Bureau also expands on this sound.
Monolake - Ghosts. Monolake were originally a minimal techno group from Germany, but have moved over to a sound closer to IDM. Their beats are often minimal and their soundscapes range from very accessible to quite difficult.
Mouse on Mars - Autoditacker. Mouse on Mars continue the original essence of IDM, featuring many fast complex beats and melodies. While this isn't one of my favourites, it is still a good listen.
Plaid - Not For Threes. Another Warp duo from the UK, while the likes of Aphex Twin and Autechre went on to completely abandon that original Artificial Intelligence sound, Plaid have stayed strong with aesthetic and expanded it. Not For Threes is probably their best work, but they have stayed relatively consistent.
Oneohtrix Point Never - R Plus Seven. This is a slightly controversial pick, as I know many would contest whether OPN was even IDM. In the traditional sense and sound, not so much, but in the idea of IDM, I'd say he was. This album is probably the most challenging of the list, which very bizarre, other-worldly soundscapes and tracks going what seems like all over the place. However, it is very rewarding and one of my all-time favourite albums.
I should probably mention alva noto and Ryoji Ikeda, who are more glitch, but come under the genre to an extent. Dataplex and Univrs are good starts with them.
µ-Ziq's Lunatic Harness just gets everything right from a drill and bass IDM perspective, perfectly mixing the melody with the beat, sometimes creating something very emotionally resonant.
I'll throw Venetian Snares in there as well. He's another 'borderline' artist, but he still has some of the aesthetic, especially on his latest album Traditional Synthesiser Music, which gives a lot of groovy rhythms and a classic afx sound. Rossz Csillag Alatt Született is also outstanding, especially if you like the drill and bass side of IDM.
Finally, if you want my opinion on the 5 best IDM records, regardless of accessibility, I'd say Immunity (as mentioned), drukqs by Aphex Twin, Ultravisitor by Squarepusher, Music Has the Right to Children (as mentioned in the video) and Oversteps by Autechre.
If you read this far, I hope this was helpful in some way.
You know your stuff. Big fan of Clark, Venetian Snares and Jon Hopkins in particular of who you mentioned. I prefer Clark's self titled LP from 2014 to Body Riddle. That and Hopkins Immunity were on repeat in my house for 12 months solid. And check out George Fitzgerald mix of Open Eye Signal. He's turned that slippery beast of a tune into a big room house banger.
nice list. would prefer Monolake's Silence (or Polygon Cities) to Ghosts tho
chris clark is english but resides in berlin. He is def not german
Immunity man. What an album.
Bogdan Simeonov Yep my bad. Do your research kiddos.
I'd ask you to do one for future garage but it'd probably go something like this:
1) Burial - Untrue
2) Burial - Kindred
3) Burial - S/T
4) Burial - Street Halo
5) Burial - Rival Dealer
James Blake, ArthuR Laftur
Burial is future garage?
Burial is the original Future Garage musician
@@Fiyeroification Back when he would've been called a dubstep artist
@Onton - Do you think Burial creates the standard for this genre? Lorn gives out the same kind of vibe but just in a different way.
Glad to see FSOL getting love - they're in their own realm imho - top shelf artist who do what they do - very well. 1 of a kind and they incorporate so many influences - including rock and psych rock and organic sounds (of course). Cheers to FSOL for their amazing albums and classic live broadcasts.
I needed this channel back in 07-08 when my drug use and circle of musically inclined friends (spelled noise for the sake of noise, no instrument necessary) were at a peak. Between this, the shoegaze vid, and some of the back catalog, it's just nice to know other people were out there listening to the same stuff we were. Even if it didn't seem like it at the time. Keep doing what you're doing, mate.
An Autechre guide? Hell fuckin' yeah! It's probably gonna be like an hour long god damn I love them
haha.. been getting into autechre for 15 years.. so good!
Not enough time to watch the whole video right now, I skimmed it though. Goooooood list, and I mostly agree with your picks of favorite Autechre albums. Although I'd pick Draft 7.30 over untilted, I always say that it has the mindblowing sound design of confield but with a really catchy and fun twist to it. 10/10 album in my opinion. I hope you don't skimp over it too much in the guide.
And I agree, brits make the best IDM. Although this american over here is gonna try giving us a better name in the experimental electronic scene soon.
Glad you got the Aphex Twin question out of the way early.
You should do a real-time review of Elseq 1-5.
Also, a list of any five Autechre albums would have sufficed.
Good video!
hey what do you think about this dude named Aphex twin
GustavoGaming don't think he'll last tbh
GustavoGaming
deep_cuts already has a 40-minute guide into Aphex Twin, so probably you should check it (if you haven't yet)
Nice one.
Иван Чугуй sarcasm mate
Ryan Smith sarcasm mate
Boards of Canada is more of a drug than music.
Totally....
Board of Canada are close to Aphex Twin to me, i wish there was AphexCore IDM lol
Wrong. BoC is so good it doesn't need any drugs.
@peloquinful What the Fuk you think this is Pop Music? This IDM. Carry that crap to the kiddie pop channel.
@peloquinful are you crazy, they have always been genius you uncultured swine!!!!!!!
Please, 5 Albums to Get You into DREAM POP, Cheers and keep going with your great work ;)
Plaid is an oft-overlooked IDM group. I used to listen to their Rest Proof Clockwork all the time back in the day, along with these.
rest proof or not 4 threes wouldve fit in here
Plaid are the best on Warp by miles.
I saw them perform live last year and they were amazing
THANK YOU for reminding me about Plaid... it's one of the discs I'd lost in my move many years ago and just... wow... :)
Every single one of their albums has so much gems. Greedy Baby and Spokes are my personal favorites, Scintilli and Rest Proof Clockwork are so close too. E.M.R... one of my essential tracks next to Bladelores by Autechre (there's a lot of tracks I love in IDM it's hard to choose and think on the spot haha).
I'm already a big fan of MHTRTC, Tri Repetae and HND. Haven't listened to the other two albums on this list, but I'll absolutely be checking them out this week. Excited for the Autechre guide too!
oH MY GOD HES GOT AN AUTECHRE GUIDE IN THE WORKS YEEESSSSS
If you haven't heard it certainly listen to BT - This Binary Universe. Possibly the finest, most detailed and beautifully composed and realised electronic albums in existence. Unreal sound design, beautiful melodies, sublime linear composition, it is probably the most underrated album I can think of. Hardly anyone I know has heard it but everyone loves it once they do.
Why isn't that record on Spotify 😢
I've heard he isn't keen on his work being compared to it. It's not available on his site either.
Or maybe its a attribution thing with Trifonic.
Who knows.
It's one of my favorite albums ever.
I love that album, got into it recently. Sad that it's unavailable for streaming (at least on Apple Music). Definitely an important one, and a nicely cinematic experience reminiscent of Post Rock meets IDM meets Ambient meets Classical. My other biggest recommendations are (and I strongly recommend listening on good headphones in the dark without distraction, in an altered headspace if that's your game):
- Max Cooper (starting with Human and everything released after that, most notably Emergence, One Hundred Billion Sparks, Yearning For the Infinite, Chromos, and Earth EP; the vast majority of what was released before Human is, IMO, unimpressive compared to his later stuff)
- Flume (particularly Hi This Is Flume in all its abrasive Psychedelic glory, although I would also strongly recommend listening just to the song '3' from his previous album as a very unique example of off-kilter-yet-danceable rhythm in electronic music)
- Oneohtrix Point Never (he makes great music but, at least to me, none even come close to the monstrosity that is Magic Oneohtrix Point Never, possibly the most deeply Psychedelic electronic album I've ever heard)
- Shpongle released a solo album called "Flux & Contemplation - Portrait of an Artist in Isolation" under the name "Simon Posford & Shpongle" which is another serious contender for most Psychedelic electronic album I've ever heard. Took me a while to really "get it" unlike his work as Shpongle, but when I finally listened all the way through on good headphones, I was blown away by the complexity and at the same time relative simplicity.
BT kind of made the "glitch" ascpect of IDM more pop centered and introduced it to Pop/Dance music and the billboards.
I was just about to throw stuff at the screen but then you mentioned Aphex Twin at the start and I was relieved. Great list btw!
What a brilliant intro to the genre! How difficult to not include Autechre for 1 2 3 4 and 5 slots for this, but you didn't mention Plaid, or The Black Dog to me both absolutely essential for the more discerning listener.
You opened up, defining it well, with the IDM umbrella. Because "IDM" kind of encompasses a lot of sub genres of expremental elecontic music and most often represents a lot of it, its hard to pin point what exactly is a "top" album because it evovlves in its expermeintaiton so much from artist to artist and from time to time. Elements of glitch and complex drums give it different feels and textures. But this is a really good list to know the basics and your list is good.
The "IDM" genre has developed in the present, and in my opinion, the best years for its sounds were "1994-2003." Everything we hear in "IDM" and its subgenres now has its roots in those decades.Great review! Much respect for making this video.
just came to comment that this video got me into the genre.
gonna be seeing autechre live this year! thanks for that, never really connected with music before I tried this genre.
Great stuff as usual, glad to see Squarepusher represented. Jon Hopkins' Immunity has gotta be my #1 IDM choice, but I'm really digging Kelly Lee Owen's self-titled from this year too (ALSO BRITS WOO).
Good god man, you explained perfectly exactly how I feel about MHTRTC. Never really knew how to explain that feeling to people.
Design : Velocity : Comfort by Sweet Trip lead me to this genre. Its a bit closer to Dream Pop but Its a wonderful intro
Same can't wait for their new album
@@samanthaanderson3351 IT'S COMINGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!
If you like IDM, dream pop - check Seefeel debut
Yes. Thank you.
Awesome video, I’ve been getting into IDM lately but not many of my friends vibe much with it so it’s nice getting the validation lol. Also the way you describe these records is a feat in itself, It’s difficult to put words to such unique sounds presented by these artists!
Thank you for posting this. I love the genre and look forward to listening to your suggestions. You clearly have a great grasp of the subject matter and our generously sharing it with others!
strange to me that geogaddi never gets a mention! i feel like it pushes the conceptual envelope so much further then 99% of stuff in the genre. it's deffo a personal fave of mine as much as i love the other stuff
Geogaddi is amazing but not quite as accessible as music has the right I guess? I would recommend music has the right to a new IDM listener well before Geogaddi
Geogaddi is one of the best albums ever made regardless of genre and i think that, at least for me it pushes a narative so deeply hidden yet so aparent that anyone should listen to it at least once
@@CitizenOfRiften Weirdly enough, Geogaddi was the one that got me into BoC.
Wisp, I Am Robot And Proud, Bogdan Raczynski, Casino Versus Japan, The Flashbulb, Ochre, Murcof, Yasume are some of my favorite IDM artists
This squarepusher record is so goddamn beautiful, thank you for making this video man I wouldn't have known about it otherwise!
Brah... I love your page so much! I am always up to expand and challenge different kinds of styles and genres. I been writing down all the albums you mentioned on this and other videos I have seen.. I then stream them... since I was late to the program.. I been watching random past videos.. it's so awesome. Much love, from southern California
I think I would've liked to see Flying Lotus on this list, I love the jazz and hip hop edge he puts on IDM
i feel that he's more wonky than idm
Flying lotus is nowhere even close to wonky lmao.
@@ilovecody7514 Do you even know what Wonky is then? Because FL is Wonky... It's a fact.
lol nerds arguing about IDM
@@emotionallesbian3503 yeah, two years ago
Very cool video. Had a feeling you wouldn't include Aphex Twin and glad you didn't. He may be my favorite artist of all time but his genius has a tendency to overshadow other brilliant artists.
Flying Lotus
is gay
FlyLo's great, and I consider him part of IDM, but he might not be the first guy you go to for a good grasp of what to expect out of the genre.
Gen M lmao flying lotus is one of the first electronic artists I listened to, but I don’t really consider him IDM, if you listen to a lot of hip hop and not much else I would definitely start out with him
I’m sorry, but if Squarepusher can get a pass for bending the confines of IDM while still being considered an IDM artist and Flying Lotus can’t...
mochondrius yeah this comment hasn’t aged well I realized that idm is a really broad term
OMG. This video has just made me want to return to all my old IDM records. Well, no sleep for me tonight looks like. Thanks deep cuts!
Man I would love a guide to boards of Canada, great video Oliver (:
1. Autechre - Yup, spot on. Up there with Aphex for mind blowing tracks.
2. FSOL - OK, but I would probably choose Lifeforms.
3. Squarepusher - OK, but I would personally go for "Feed me weird things"
The last two I would go for something by RH Kirks alter egos, The Black Dog or u-Ziq.
Tri Repetae came out at the perfect time in my life- end of high school, heard it on college radio, seminal, emotional..I could go on.
Excellent selection, and the most accessible and accurate discussion of Autechre I have ever heard. “Dead Cities” is also notable for modern classical composer Max Richter’s collaboration with FSOL on this album. Richter’s classical compositions and film/tv soundtrack scores (e.g., HBO’s “The Leftovers”) show strong influence of Philip Glass.
If you google the tri repetae album art you'll notice that every image is a slightly different shade, making it quite hard to determine what the actual colour of the album is
Looove this list! I'm surprised you didn't dig more into Geogaddi, I find it even more striking that Right to Children, if only slightly, though that's just personal preference I'm sure. What are your thoughts on Flying Lotus?
the one i listened to first on this list was Music Has The Right To Children and GOD damn it's so good. pure bliss
Very solid list!
Oliver my man! (I asked for this vid 6 months ago and I'm super happy it finally exists)
I like Autecre most of all and know others.
But I admire the album Proem - Socially Inept (2004)
Really hope you enjoy this one too
One you could’ve included in my opinion (and I know you mentioned you wouldn’t use Aphex Twin, but is still great nonetheless) is Drukqs by Aphex Twin, especially with songs like Vordhosbn, Cock/ver10, afx237.7 seem to be cut from the same cloth and have a lot of sonic textures from breakbeat, drill ‘n’ bass and speed bass that are similar to IDM. Other than that, great video!
To mention a few of my favorite albums from some relatively lesser known artists:
Kelpe - Ex-Aquarium
Gridlock - Formless
Stendeck - Can You Hear My Call?
Ochre - Lemodie
Secede - Tryshasla
Gridlock!! Stoked you know of him! Check out the song Hide to Seek by Comaduster. It's a cross between Gridlock and edIT. They used his music in various parts of Mass Effect
There are more flashy albums in Ochre's discography, but Lemodie is the most emotional and memorable.
Check out dryft The blur vent
1. 85-95
2. Incunabula
3. Feed me weird things
4. Autodidacker
5. Lunatic Harness
Hi Oliver,
I have watched most of your "5 albums" videos over the last few days. Listening to Neu!'s Hallogallo for the first time in my life while you hearing you describing it at the same time was a great thing to experience (and I hereby encourage everyone else to try it in the Krautrock video). You are a talented speaker :)
For some reason (life habits changing, mostly) I had stopped searching for music bands and genres to discover. You got me back on track (pun intended). So I will thank you by telling you about a discovery I made a couplue years ago an amazing discovery and I would like to share it with you (although I can certainly assume that you already know it): Aluk Todolo's Occult Rock.The whole album has that nervous, eerie yet warm, throbbing, wanting to explode feeling, like the band is trying to slowly hypnotize you into going berserk. Something I find amazing about it is that most prog rock / post-rock stuff have a somewhat goofy, hallucinated feeling, but that never happens with Occult Rock, they manage to pull you into that weird space almost without you noticing. Their other albums are definitely something as well but Occult Rock is just not from this world, in its own unique way. But by all means, if I am wrong and there are dozens of hours of material like this, please tell me. I definitely need more of that! :D
Please keep enjoying shooting those videos. You've just gotten yourself one more subscriber.
Now I know what I'll be listening to during the eclipse, thanks!
Machinedrum’s “Now You Know” and Otto Von Schirach and Prefuse73’s first projects were what really got me into IDM
I’m sure others have pestered you but a boards of Canada episode would be awesome.
Really love your taste, please make many videos about your favorite records!
Yet another great video! Cant wait for the Autechre guide. One question; where in your house you film your videos?
Another video proving this you are one of the best music blogger on youtube right now!
I was wondering if you could do video about contemporary jazz sometime in the future. Because when it comes to jazz, most of the time I still stick with greats from the 50s to the 70s, which is cool because still alot music left to discover, but I would be really interesting in hearing some of your recommendations to get into the contemporary jazz scene and see how they might be still pushing the boundaries of that genre.
I Don't know how mainstream this generes are for you, but how about a Goth Rock or Funk album guide, that would be interesting. Great Vid as always.
Boards of Canada are amazing. I first heard them via John Peel many years ago and have never stopped loving them.
My list:
Four Tet - Rounds
Squarepusher - Feed Me Weird Things
Machinedrum - Now You Know
Prefuse 73 - Vocal Studies and Uprock Narratives + One Word Extinguisher
Roni Size/Reprazent - New Forms
Amon Tobin - Supermodified
and from my country, Poland: Noon - Studio Games EP (Gry Studyjne EP)
Good list Oliver. Gotta throw Squarepusher's "Feed Me Weird Things" LP out there too.
Seriously looking forward to the Autechre guide. Would love a Pan Sonic/MikaVainio one too :-)
Personally i thing having specific names for genres like IDM is important, it allows people to define their musical taste and find others who share their taste in music!
Great video. Looking forward to the Autechre guide.
FSOL - Dead Cities. Bought this one on it’s release. Such great dark music. I was 31 that year. Omg 24 years ago.
Yes, this album pulled me right in to the electronic music world, still one of my favorites
Autechre is a no brainer for sure, especially their mid to late 90's albums. Two lone swordsmen (Swimming Not Skimming for instance) could also be in the list, I also fancy Chris Clark (Empty the bones of you and Body Riddle) but I'm not quite sure that he falls into the IDM genre. Solid choice of artists/albums by the way !
3:17 BEEN WAITING 4 IT!!! What are your thoughts on Elseq 1-5?
Telefon Tel Aviv - Fahrenheit Fair Enough
I was listening at this when reading your comment haha
Most underrated album ever... even some idm fans don't know about this one lol
really good content, mate. Well done! I was curious to know a little bit more about the genre, because I've been creating music for some time now and I've recently started to use AI to understand witch genres of music I tend to create more and it turns out it's IDM.
amazing stuff, thanks for all of the effort!
im already a fan of aphex twin and boards of canada so i think im gonna like these ones alot
I think you should do a video on the important albums from Dooms many projects. It would be very appreciated.
Hi ive been watching your videos over the last few days, I watched the Ae The Warp And now This One, you know your stuff, keep them coming :) mB
I'm looking forward to your Autechre guide! also would love if you do one on FSOL
Bt - This Binary Universe is probably my favorite album of all time, definitely recommend that one as well!
You should do a guide to Plaid, mate! 🙏😁
YESS!
@@sen-te8oq If there's one artist/group worth it, to bring this channel out of hiatus, it's PLAID.
A complete guide to Warp's most significant records would be interesting, even if you made an Aphex Twin Guide
Nice list! Body Riddle is the big one I'd add, though it arrived a bit later than the genre's heyday.
Good stuff! Idk if you've ever listened to Jan Jelinek, but I really recommend you check him out, Loop Finding Jazz Records was a bit of minimalist downtempo house, and his stuff with Masayoshi Fujita is brilliant, well idek what you would categorize it!
Drackaris also is texstar album 👍
Great list! Halfway through it I couldn't help but notice how they're all British - which of course you mentioned later - and I wonder why, if it's something to do with the history of the "genre" or the wider context of its birthplace.
I was wondering if you would be willing to do a different type of list, related to a theme or subject rather than genre or artists. I keep seeing it in film-related publications, and I understand that perhaps it makes more sense that way, yet I believe it would be interesting.
Love your channel! Great to see someone other than Anthony Fantano talking about music on RUclips. Here's Some suggestions for future videos:
5 Albums to Get You Into Gothic Rock
5 Albums to Get You Into Reggae
5 Albums to Get You Into Britpop
5 Albums to Get You Into Ska
5 Albums to Get You Into Punk
You have the best channel on RUclips!
Great video, although I’m surprised Mike Paradinas/μ-ziq never got a mention! Lunatic Harness should be there for sure
Some of my favorites : Bola, Proem, EOD, Vector Lovers, William Orbit. A bit of everything, def check out EOD if you like Aphex
Oh, man, Music Has the Right to Children. It's an album, I think, that illustrates best what it's like to have a vision about something and to execute it in a perfect way. This album is the definition of 'inspiration' for me. The producers had something in mind when creating this piece, and when I listen to it I can see what they were going for, and I can sense a feeling of connection. A similar artist, for me, is The Caretaker, and I'm curious what you have to say about his work. Also, how would you compare MHSTRTC to Geogaddi?
Yet again, nice list.
'mon the lads Boards of Canada - it's difficult to select 'the best' one they're all perfectly splendid.
in my opinion, Bogdan Raczynski’s 2019 album, Rave Till You Cry and Aphex Twin’s 2018 EP, Collapse really got me into music like IDM. but people go into IDM for different reasons.
"Dead Cities" is easily in my top five of all-time, regardless of genre. Simply gorgeous.
GUIDE TO AUTECHRE AND WEEN, YOU CAN DO IT MAN
he did autechre
Just out of curiosity Oliver are you pushing the guide to Björk back because of her announcement of a new album?
I've been searching for any info on the track Hands from Rounds, and there's very little on that specific track. The way its described in this video is perfect.
i saw a post once that said something like
all edm is intelligence dance music, its always a smart idea to go get up and dance and have fun
I feel like Experimental Dance Music might be more appropriate, but it complicates the EDM acronym lol
XDM would work
Perfect. Thank you so much!
These guides on IDM and Ambient are quite nice but, Oliver, I really hope someday you do a guide on musique concrete, or at least on generalities of Electroacoustic music (or Noise!, why not?); we need to get to the core of it.
Do you listen to the Cocteau twins? Cool video btw
An FSOL / Amorphous Androgynous guide would be ace to watch!
Everytime i listen to BOC i get a scary-nostalgia-dangerous feeling
A must have idm album to have is reload "a collection of short stories" from 1993 way ahead of its time!