IDM - Intelligent Dance Music

Electronic music focuses on dance-inducing beats and mixes that will get people infected with dance fever. Clubs and discos are the best places to unleash this type of music. With creative experimentation, music artists discover music that tends to reflect their individuality much more than to please the dancing crowd. Intelligent dance music or IDM is probably one of the most controversial musical genres to ever hit the dance floor. Although often misunderstood, this genre of electronic music is broad enough to cater to anyone, anywhere.

The term "Intelligent Dance Music" was coined when this genre came to the United States. This genre has been around since the early 1990s when British electronic musicians explored different forms of electronic dance music. Influenced by Ambient music from Japan which was created earlier, this type of music was compiled and released by several recording labels. The most famous, perhaps, is the successful release of "Artificial Intelligence" by Warp Records. This record is probably where the term "Intelligent Dance Music" was based from.

Most genres would have a specific musical characteristic to identify it from others. IDM, however, has a range so broad that it would be quite difficult to pinpoint its exact sound traits. The general principle in creating this music is to have total control of each element based on individual preferences. It is more of an expression of one's own individuality, and because it is highly influenced by ambient music, this genre leans more on a relaxing at-home or headphones type of dance music. This is the type of music you would want to listen to after a night of wild dancing.

In 1993, an electronic mailing list called "Intelligent Dance Music List" was launched to the internet. This was meant to encourage further discussion of the IDM genre. The creator, Allan Parry, wanted to make people more familiar and more open to interpret this type of music. This mailing list immediately gained participation from different musical artists such as Autechre, LFO, The Orb, as well as Björk.

The controversy surrounding the Intelligent Dance Music genre is induced by the term "intelligent". Some people believe that it is a conceited way of classifying this certain type of music as something more superior than other genres. This thought prompted some musical artists and producers to wonder if the creators of IDM is trying to imply that all other types of music is stupid. There has been no direct hatred against the music itself, only against the term used to describe the music. The UK artists strongly points out that the name was only created and used in the United States. However, there are people who do not mind calling this genre "Intelligent". They find it hilarious and not intimidating at all. Although the term is still raising eyebrows, this music is actually worth listening to, whether you are on the dance floor or sitting alone on your couch. IDM is a relaxing, post-rave genre that not only moves the body, but also moves the mind and soul.