So what is the offiicial name of the genre?
 

What genre you ask? The one we love so dearly. Techno. At least, that was its name for a while (but not for like a decade now). Now you see the terms Electronic and Electronica. Which one is the title for the genre at large, ranging in such diversity from Underworld to Air and Music For Airports 1 to Mezzanine?

Re: So what is the offiicial name of the genre?
 

Dance

Re: So what is the offiicial name of the genre?
 

Yeah, i fear it's "Dance". At your run-of-the-mill record store/big box, at least in the US, you will find maybe a meter-long shelf-space with everything and anything with programmed beats labeled "Dance". Or worse, "VArious Artists".

I think in 1997-ish, the same stuff would have been grouped as "Electronica".

Agree, in 1992 or earlier, it was "Techno".

But WE know that there are so many sub-genres, and it's not fair to place Daft Punk next to Technotronic, Moby next to Aphex Twin, Squarepusher next to Burial, etc. But heys, who buys CDs anymore? :D

(i do, but sadly most of the artists i like need to be ordered/imported anyway, because Best Buy doesn't exactly stock Underworld's back catalog, for example).

Re: So what is the offiicial name of the genre?
 

Shiiiit...Dance? Air is not Dance! Boards of Canada is not Dance!

Okay, forget what the retail outlets call it. What do fans of the genre typically call it? That is what matters! :D Do we typically call it Electronic or Electronica?

Re: So what is the offiicial name of the genre?
 

Oh god, here we go . . .

I call it Skimzydopzeebopiblism. But I'm a rebel like that.

Re: So what is the offiicial name of the genre?
 

I use "electronic music" for the broad term, but try and avoid the broad term at all considering it usually makes people think "dance" in their heads anyway.

Re: So what is the offiicial name of the genre?
 

In iTunes, I have all of Underworld classified as "Electronica/Dance". I usually sync to my device based on genre.

Re: So what is the offiicial name of the genre?
 

The section in my favourite record store I'd find all of this and more in is labelled 'beats'.

When people ask me what sort of music I listen to, I usually reply with "electronica" or "beepy shit" - both are very broad terms, but eh!

Re: So what is the offiicial name of the genre?
 

I don't think Underworld were ever Techno - think it comes down to European/American definitions.

Over here Techno relates (and always has) to the sort of stuff Dave Clarke, Robert Hood, Jeff Mills, UR etc etc spin. Then there's all sort of sub genres like minimal techno, acid techno etc

Re: So what is the offiicial name of the genre?
 

I'm just going to continue calling it Electronica or Electronic. I use both terms.