Is the Human League Considered Techno Music?
Contents
A look at the Human League and whether or not their music is considered techno.
What is Techno Music?
Techno music is a type of electronic dance music that is characterized by a fast tempo, repetitive beats, and synthesized melodies. It originated in Detroit, Michigan in the 1980s. Techno music is often used in clubs and festivals.
Defining Techno Music
Techno music is a genre of electronic dance music (EDM) that originated in Detroit, Michigan, in the United States during the mid-to-late 1980s. The first techno tracks were produced by Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson, who are often credited as the “founding fathers” of techno.
The Origins of Techno Music
Techno is a type of electronic dance music that originated in Detroit, Michigan, in the United States in the mid-to-late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno in reference to a specific genre of music was in 1988. Many styles of techno now exist, but they all share a similar basis in the repetitive 4/4 beat and use of synthesizers and drum machines.
The origins of techno music are often traced back to the work of pioneering producers such as Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson, who were all active in the Detroit music scene in the 1980s. These producers helped to develop and popularize a new style of music that was influenced by European electronic dance music, particularly that from Germany and Belgium, as well as by African-American funk and soul.
The term techno was first used in relation to this new style of music in 1988, when Atkins released his track “Techno City”. However, it was May’s track “Strings of Life” (1987), with its unforgettable melody and simple but effective bassline, that is widely considered to be the first true techno record. From these humble beginnings, techno went on to become one of the most popular genres of electronic dance music in the world.
What is the Human League?
The Human League is a British synth-pop band formed in 1977. Originally a minimal post-punk synthesizer-based group from Sheffield, UK, they later evolved into a successful commercial pop act. The band initially consisted of Philip Oakey, Joanne Catherall, Susanne Sulley, and Nigel Wright.
Defining the Human League
The Human League is a British synthpop band formed in 1977. Originally a minimal synth-pop group from Sheffield, UK, they became one of the most successful new wave acts of the early 1980s. The Human League achieved particular fame with their third album Dare in 1981, which contained four hit singles including “Don’t You Want Me”, a UK number one single for five weeks in December 1981-January 1982.
So what exactly is techno music? Techno is a type of electronic dance music that is often characterized by a four-on-the-floor beat, repetitive patterns, and synthesizers. The word “techno” was first used in the late 1980s to describe the type of music that was being made with synthesizers and drum machines.
The Origins of the Human League
The Human League is a British synth-pop band formed in 1977. Originally a minimal wave/electronic pop band, they later developed into a more commercial new wave outfit. In 1979, they scored their first big hit with the single “Being Boiled”. The band’s biggest hits came after working with producer Martin Rushent and relocating to Sheffield. With the addition of players Susanne Sulley and Joanne Catherall, the new lineup scored hits including “Don’t You Want Me”, “Mirror Man”, and “Tell Me When”. The Human League has had two top ten albums in the UK Albums Chart and eight singles in the UK Top 40 Singles Chart. They have won two Brit Awards and three NME Awards.
The band’s most recent studio album, Credo, was released in 2011.
Is the Human League Considered Techno Music?
The Human League is an English synth-pop band formed in 1977. Originally a minimal synth-pop outfit, they became one of the most successful New Wave acts of the early 1980s. The band were sparks of the synth-pop and new wave movements. In 2011, NME placed them at number 33 in their list of “The Greatest Electronic Bands of All Time”.
The Human League and Techno Music
The Human League is a British synth-pop band formed in 1977. The group achieved popularity in the early 1980s with their single “Don’t You Want Me,” which peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart in December 1981. The band’s success continued throughout the decade, culminating in their subsequent album Dare reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart in October 1981.
Since then, the band’s fortunes have waxed and waned; they have broken up and reformed several times, with Phil Oakey as the only constant member. The band have had 10 UK Top 10 singles, including four which reached number one; they have also had five US Top 40 singles, six of which reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 20. As of 2016, they are estimated to have sold more than 20 million records worldwide.
So, what genre does The Human League fall into? Techno? New Wave? Synth-pop? While the band has been variously described as all of these things, they are primarily considered a new wave band. New wave is a genre that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a reaction against punk rock. It was characterized by synthesizer-based music and often had electronic or experimental elements.
The Human League definitely falls into this category; their incorporation of synthesizers and experimentation with electronic sounds was ahead of its time and helped to pave the way for techno music. However, the band is not typically considered techno; rather, they are considered one of the pioneers of synth-pop, a subgenre of new wave that focuses on catchy melodies and hooks delivered by synthesizers instead of guitars.
The Human League and Electronic Dance Music
The Human League is a synth-pop and new wave band that was formed in 1977. The band achieved popularity in the early 1980s with their single, “Don’t You Want Me,” which peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart. The band is considered to be one of the pioneers of electronic dance music and has influence contemporary techno musicians.
