DJ Set: Goodbye, Electro! Parts 1 & 2

All good things, they say, must come to an end. Over the last year I have watched Electro music in its death throes, on the tube and over the airways, and for a genre that owned the underground for much of this decade it has been a painful decline to watch.

Since the early aught’s, when Fisherspooner Emerged and Peaches Fucked the Pain Away, electro music has been the sound of Saturday nights—trashy, brass, in-your-face, and unapologetically urban. Electro was this generation’s punk, replacing the tired drone of electric guitars with speaker feedback and synthesizers. Most of us still don’t know how they make the sounds. For me, Electro has been the most exciting form of electronic music since the rave underground of the early 90’s. And now it’s time to say goodbye.

Like everything that is good and underground, Electro has been homogenized by the mainstream—gutted and made safe for mass consumption. Britney Spears has done Electro. Madonna has done electro. Alanis Morissette has painfully done electro. Even Miley Cyrus has done electro. Electro is on TV, selling you hamburgers, cars, and condoms. After an art form has been so completely dissected, replicated by people who don’t understand the form and don’t care to—only want to sound “edgy” and “cool”— there’s just nowhere left for that art form to go.

Our favorite club in Chicago, Berlin — a hub for the latest electro, has probably moved on by now. So, I’ll keep electro as a fond memory of Saturday nights in my 20’s. The music is pounding, the floor is jumping, everyone is packed in and sweating, x’d out of our minds and ready to throw down. That electronic sizzle has us all in its control, so we just keep dancing.

Here’s one more for the road! One more DJ HeckRight mix before we sign off and go find the next art form that hasn’t been co-opted yet. Electro, it’s been a great ride and I’m sad to see you go.

Goodbye, Electro! Part 1

  1. Don’t Mess with Orgasmatron by DJ Earworm
  2. Magic (Moustache Remix) by Melinda Jackson
  3. Ready to Go (Club Mix) by Republica
  4. With Every Heartbeat (Corenell Remix) by Robyn
  5. Forget (Electro Mix) by Mister C
  6. Don’t be Shy (Tom Neville Vocal Mix) by Spektrum
  7. Bring it on (Stanton Warriors Remix) by Goose
  8. Paris is Burning (Peaches Remix) by Ladyhawke
  9. Bounce (Felix Cartal Remix) by MSTRKRFT ft. N.O.R.E.
  10. Divine Gosa (BSBTRGDCLUB Remix) by Bonde do Role
  11. Weed Wine & Wankers (SLUTTT Bust in Ur Face Remix) by Miss Odd Kitten
  12. Club Action (Shanks Bootleg Mix) by Partyshank vs. Yo Majesty

Download by Clicking here

Goodbye, Electro! Part 2

  1. She’s My Man (Goose Remix Edit) by Scissor Sisters
  2. Beat Me Up (The Beetroots Remix) by Fox ‘n Wolf
  3. Signs (Armand Van Helden Remix) by Bloc Party
  4. Merrymaking at My Place (Deadmau5 Remix) by Calvin Harris
  5. Cocked Locked Ready to Rock (fukkk offf remix) by Monosurround
  6. Ironical Sexism (We are Terrorists Remix) by Revolte
  7. Arpeggio by Luck on Strike vs. Jackson & His Computer Band
  8. The Dull Flame of Desire (Modeselektor’s Rmx for Girls) by Bjork ft. Antony
  9. Ready for the Floor (Soulwax Dub) by Hot Chip
  10. Flamingo (Trentemoller Remix) by Tomboy

Download by Clicking here



Comment?

  1. A) Thanks for the mixes.
    B) While I basically agree with what you say in the post, since I do enjoy electro so much I don’t have as much of an issue with it being propagated in watered-down forms. I’d rather listen to radio influenced by electro than that of the past few years, i.e. soulless R&B and faux-grunge rock. But perhaps that’s just the rantings of an old man shaking his rake at passers-by from his lawn.
    C) I predict the next trend to be usurped will be twee harp-playing.

    by Kevin at 07/28/2009 #

  2. Kevin,

    I’ve gone back and forth about electro’s emergence in the mainstream. I agree with you that it’s a step up from soulless R&B and faux-grunge rock, but when I hear good, genuine electro now I can’t help but think of all the hamburger and car commercials, Britney Spears, and yes Alanis (have you heard Straightjacket?) I knew this day would come—the mainstream eventually swallows everything, I just can’t face it with Electro though. This music has meant to much to me, so that’s why I’m walking away from it. Though, I know, I’ll keep sneaking it into future mixes.

    by John at 08/08/2009 #

  3. Electro would always fall into the mainstream trap, like hip-hop and like indie, it was only a matter of time before the multi-nationals saw the investment. I still believe there are a lot of great artist still playing and producing true to the form and coming up with unique sounds reflect their cultural background and musical pedigree. I saw James zabiela’s set at Exit this year in Serbia other than being lip-smackingly-awesome, it’s good to see a dj that actually enjoys what their doing still.

    by Rodddy at 09/03/2009 #
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