I'm not sure if
Josh's mention of me in his discussion of Bjork's "Pluto" is a veiled insult or not. For the record, I guess I sound (to someone who's generally not a dance fan) like I'm casually using heaps of labels because I'm some presumptuous "insider". But of course obviously I'm coming across music I can't identify all the time, or labels whose meanings elude me. The trick is simply not to be suspicious of labels. Although I find the motivations behind new terms for new styles fascinating, so many people seem to think that new "micro-micro-genres" are invented purely to confound them and their formerly ordered understanding of music. Who would have the time to do that?
Anyway, as for "Pluto", I'm not sure... It's got a bit of Belgian techno/gabba element to it - the high bpm, the repetitiveness of the beat and that riff - but it's a bit too musical and well-produced for gabba, although some recent stuff on PCP (German gabba label) comes close eg. Tilt and Pilldriver tracks. But Josh, I get the feeling you'd hate gabba. You'd probably identify more with the harder artists from the intelligent techno scene - Jega, some Mu-Ziq maybe. Or some minimal techno - Jeff Mills? Robert Hood? Old Plastikman?
It also sounds quite close to the hardest edge of post-acid house - Green Velvet, who I love, and Underworld's "Push Upstairs" and "Moaner". Both of which have the advantage of sung/spoken narratives to keep things a bit interesting for the uninitiated. Because ultimately with something like "Pluto" you have to ask yourself "would I like it if Bjork wasn't on it and it went on for twice as long?" Actually Josh I'm surprised that you like the music on "Pluto" on its own merits (rather than merely as an example of Bjork's irrepresible nature), as I seem to remember you complaining about the 4/4 house beat. If you elaborate maybe, I might be able to help you more.
