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Electronic body music (EBM) is a genre of electronic music^[1] that combines elements of industrial music and synth-punk.^[2] It developed in the early 1980s in Germany and Belgium^[2] and came to prominence in Belgium at the end of the decade.^[1] EBM was generally considered a part of the European new wave and post-punk movement and the first style that blended synthesized sounds with an ecstatic style of dancing (e.g. pogo).^[3]

In the second half of the 1980s, a youth-cultural scene emerged from EBM^[4] whose followers describe themselves as EBM-heads or (in North America) as rivetheads.^[5] EBM is unrelated to Goth, although in some local scenes both subcultures may share the same music clubs and festivals^[6] (along with other alternative subcultures such as punk and psychobilly).

Original, or original-styled electronic body music is sometimes referred to as old-school EBM and should not be confused with aggrotech or dark electro.^[7]

Origin of the term

Pre-history

The term "body music" had been used in 1972 by Robert Christgau to describe the amplified beat and art rock component of hard rock bands such as Led Zeppelin, Mott the Hoople, Black Sabbath, and Slade: "Bands like Led Zep... make body music of an oddly cerebral cast, arousing aggression rather than sexuality."^[8] In this context, the term was not used to describe a certain type of electronic dance music.

First usage

The term electronic body music was coined by Ralf Hütter of the German electronic band Kraftwerk in 1978 to explain the more physical sound of their album The Man-Machine.^[9]

In 1980/1981, DAF from Germany used the term "Körpermusik" (body music) to describe their danceable electronic punk sound.^[10][11] The term was later used by Belgian band Front 242 in 1985 to describe the music of their EP of that year called No Comment.^[12][13]

Characteristics

	The Arch - Spang (Instrumental) The clip illustrates some characteristics of the genre, such as beats, sequences and sampling (′beating on metal′). Volt - Weak Men (Instrumental Version) A harsher variant of the genre, prevalent in Sweden (cf. Pouppée Fabrikk).
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From its inception, the style has been characterized by hard danceable electronic beats, clear undistorted or slightly electronically distorted vocals, shouts or growls with reverberation and echo effects, and repetitive bass sequencer lines. At the time the genre arose, important synthesizers were the Korg MS-20, Emulator II, Oberheim Matrix and Yamaha DX7.

Typical EBM rhythms are based on 4/4 beats, mainly with some minor syncopation to suggest a rock music rhythm structure.

Samples, e.g. metal rod, machine and alert sounds, are often used to create a "factory ambiance". Other samples include political speeches and excerpts from science fiction movies.

History

1981–1987

Emerging in the early 1980s, the genre draws heavily on the music of bands such as Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire, DAF, Die Krupps,^[14]Liaisons Dangereuses, Portion Control, and the danceable electropop of Kraftwerk. Archetypes of the genre are "Verschwende Deine Jugend" and "Der Mussolini" (DAF), "Wahre Arbeit, Wahrer Lohn" and "Für einen Augenblick" (Die Krupps), "Etre assis ou danser" and "El Macho y la Nena" (Liaisons Dangereuses), and "Body to Body" and "U-Men" (Front 242).

Front 242 characterized their approach as somewhere between Throbbing Gristle and Kraftwerk.^[13]Nitzer Ebb and Skinny Puppy, both influenced by DAF^[15] and Cabaret Voltaire, followed soon after. Groups from this era often applied socialist realist aesthetics, with ironic intent.^[16] Other prominent artists include Vomito Negro, Borghesia, The Neon Judgement,^[17]à;GRUMH...,^[18]A Split-Second,^[19] and The Invincible Spirit.^[20]

Sometimes, disco music is indicated as an influence on EBM,^[21] although Patrick Codenys of Front 242 called it "nonsense" and a "misapprehension" and stated that EBM had nothing to do with disco music.^[22][23] According to Codenys, EBM was "a reaction to the fact that people say »electronic music is just for faggots behind keyboards«... EBM takes exactly the opposite angle and says: »Listen, this can be as fast and physical as you guitar guys.«"^[24]

1988–1993

In the second half of the 1980s, the genre became popular in Canada (Front Line Assembly^[25]) and the U.S. (Ministry,^[26]Revolting Cocks,^[27]Schnitt Acht^[28]) as well as in Sweden (Inside Treatment, Pouppée Fabrikk, Cat Rapes Dog) and Japan (2nd Communication, DRP). North American bands started to use typical European EBM elements and combined them with the roughness of (hardcore) punk and thrash metal (cf. industrial metal). Nine Inch Nails continued the cross-pollination between EBM and rock music^[29] resulting in the album Pretty Hate Machine (1989).

Meanwhile, EBM became popular in the underground club scene, particularly in Europe. In this period the most important labels were the Belgian Play It Again Sam and Antler-Subway, the German Zoth Ommog, the North American Wax Trax! and the Swedish Energy Rekords. At the time, significant artists included And One,^[30]Armageddon Dildos,^[31]Bigod 20,^[32] Insekt,^[33] Scapa Flow,^[34] Orange Sector,^[35]Attrition,^[36] and Oil In The Eye.^[37]

Between the early and the mid-1990s, many EBM artists split up, or changed their musical style, borrowing more distorted "industrial" elements or elements of rock or metal. The album Tyranny For You by EBM pioneers Front 242 initiated the end of the EBM epoch of the 1980s. Nitzer Ebb, one of the most important artists, became an alternative rock band. Without the strength of its figureheads, the original electronic body music faded by the mid-1990s.

Revival

In the late 1990s and after the millennium, Belgian, Swedish and German groups such as Ionic Vision, Tyske Ludder, and Spetsnaz^[38] had reactivated the style. In the same time period, a number of artists from the European techno scene started including more elements of EBM in their sound. This tendency grew in parallel with the emerging electroclash scene and, as that scene started to decline, a number of artists associated with it, such as The Hacker, DJ Hell,^[39]Green Velvet, and Black Strobe,^[40] moved towards this techno/EBM crossover style. There has been increasing convergence between this scene and the old school EBM scene. Bands and artists have remixed each other. Most notably, Terence Fixmer joined with Nitzer Ebb's Douglas McCarthy to form Fixmer/McCarthy.^[41]

Derivatives and alternative terms

Electro-industrial

Electro-industrial is an outgrowth of the EBM and industrial music that developed in the mid-1980s. While EBM has a minimal structure and clean production, electro-industrial has a deep, complex and layered sound, incorporating elements of ambient industrial. The style was pioneered by Skinny Puppy, Front 242 and Front Line Assembly. In the early '90s, the style spawned the dark electro genre, and in the end of the decade a strongly techno- and hard-trance-inspired style called "hellektro" or "aggrotech".

Industrial dance

Industrial dance is a North American alternative term for electronic body music and electro-industrial music. Fans associated with this music scene call themselves rivetheads.

See also

• Post-industrial developments


• List of electronic music genres


• List of industrial music festivals

References

External links

• 
  "20 best: industrial & EBM." Fact magazine article.


• "Electronic body music on Avant-Avant"