if you listen to techno records, I don't know that there is actual swing on their drums. Sitting here listening to audion's (matthew dear's) remix of Jesse Rose, the high hats are completely straight. But I do concede the point that it sounds swung. And actually listening to martin buttrich's full clip that sounds quite swung to me. So: i'm pretty much wrong haha.
"halfstep, ultra-syncopated techno"
I could fancy me some of that. I've been trying to make sort of borderline/dubstep tunes myslef but i'm not sure how successful i;ve been so far but I think there's definitely a number of people who are gonna make some very big tunes in these areas. and it should be very interesting.
Jacob
this is my point upthread. the 'swing' that is present in any music comes from interplay between different rhythms.
The main (maybe even only) difference, rhythmically speaking, between minimal techno and dubstep is the general beat foundation, which stems from the need to make records that djs can use.
In techno this foundation is roughly 125 bpm and pretty much always 4 kicks, 2 snares and 4 hihats.
In dubstep this foundation is much more loose, and aside from being roughly 140 bpm. there is a very wide range of different 'foundtation' patterns, but typically centered around 1 kick and 1 snare per bar.
So obviously with dubstep there is a lot more room for other rhythms, and also the potential for variation of the main 4/4 elements that form the backbone of the rhythm.
It is for this reason, I believe, that half step rhythms are considered to have more 'swing'.
Obviously all the constraints are not rules per se, they have simply evolved from the fact that producers want their records to be useful tools to other djs, and also these boundaries are generally quite effective at promoting creative rhythm programming, as having certain constraints already laid out means you can focus your energy more effectively.
I predict, however, that there will not be a major crossover between dubstep and minimal, that they will in fact remain 2 distinct musical identities. Obviously there will be cross pollination, but I think any total almagation between the 2 is unlikely. The main reason for this is that producers need to make tunes that fit together, dubstep and techno are basically like lego and mecchano. i.e. not compatible.
Another reason, apart from rhythmical and mechanical, which people may have previously touched on, is the intentions of the music. In that techno is music whose main motive is creating a state of trance through furious repetition. Whereas I think that dubstep has intentions that are escapist on a certain level, but are rooted a lot more in ordinary life. To use a rather crass anology, if they were drugs, techno would be ecstacy and dubstep would be weed.
To Jacob, if you want to hear ultra syncopated techno, check out the work of Steevio (and his label
www.mindtours.co.uk). He basically makes techno without following any of the normal rules that producers choose to obey. i.e. he makes 125 ish bpm electronic dance music and puts his kicks, hats and snares where he likes. Really good music.
