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New rave

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New rave
Stylistic origins
Cultural originsMid-2000s (decade), United Kingdom
Typical instruments
Regional scenes
Other topics

New rave (also typeset as nu-rave, nu rave or neu rave)[1][2][3][4][5] is a genre of music described by The Guardian as "an in-yer-face, DIY disco riposte to the sensitive indie rock touted by bands like Bloc Party."[6] It is most commonly applied to a British-based music scene between 2005 and late 2008 of fast-paced electronica-influenced indie music that celebrated the late 1980s Madchester and rave scenes through the use of neon colours and using the term 'raving' to refer to going nightclubbing.

Use of term

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The British music magazine NME is largely responsible for popularising the term throughout 2006 and 2007, until claiming in mid-2008 reviews that "New Rave is over". The genre has connotations of being a "new" version of music heard at raves, as well as being a play on the term "new wave".[7]

Aesthetics

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The aesthetics of the new rave scene are similar to those of the original rave scene, being mostly centred on psychedelic visual effects. Glowsticks, neon and other lights are common, and followers of the scene often dress in extremely bright and fluorescent colored clothing.[6][8] New Rave has been defined more by the image and aesthetic of its bands and supporters, than by its music. Trash Fashion lead singer Jet Storm and Electro heroine Uffie have been described as the scene's very own pin ups.[9][10] Nevertheless, the use of electronic instruments, a musical fusion of rock and dance styles, and a particular anarchic, trashy energy are certainly key elements.[citation needed]

Origins

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Klaxons in concert in 2007

Klaxons,[6][11][12][13][14][15] Trash Fashion,[9] New Young Pony Club,[16] Hadouken!, Late of the Pier and Shitdisco[6] are generally accepted as the main exponents of the genre (although some of them disavow the term entirely).

The term was coined by Klaxons founder Jamie Reynolds. Klaxons later declared they were not new rave, describing it as a "joke that's got out of hand".[8][17][18] In reaction to the media overkill of the "genre", Klaxons banned the use of glowsticks at their gigs in April 2007, saying that "We kept getting asked to explain it. The whole idea of new rave was to take the piss out of the media by making them talk about something that didn't exist, just for our own amusement. And they'd say, I appreciate that, but can you tell me more about new rave?"[19] Los Angeles Times critic Margaret Wappler comments that the "minimalist dance-punk of LCD Soundsystem, the analog classicism of Simian Mobile Disco, the fanatical electro-thrash of Justice, the international amalgam of M.I.A., the agitated funk of !!! (Chk Chk Chk) and the art-schooled disco-sleaze of Cansei de Ser Sexy" contributed to the thriving 'new rave' dance scene, which led to a rediscovery of indie rockers, and a critical and intellectual revolution in dance music.[20]

Criticism

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The sound of the original rave style is barely (if at all) discernible (save some typical analog synth lines) in the majority of bands referred to as new rave. Bands such as The Sunshine Underground,[21] CSS (Cansei de Ser Sexy)[22][23][24][25] and Hot Chip[26] are often labeled as new rave due to their large following by fans of the genre. M.I.A. has been described as "a new raver before it was old."[27] Several have publicly declared they had nothing to do with the genre. Stylist Carri Mundane described it as funny, saying New Rave was "Vacant in retro. It’s just a marketing machine.... I guess it was a fun time but I’m more excited about what happens now. The next level - the next generation. There’s a mood of neo-spiritualism and futurism that excites me."[28]

The new rave scene can be viewed as a media construct, largely propounded by the NME and TRAX [fr], with other publications treating the subject as a joke.[13] The belief that many of the bands associated with new rave can more appropriately be associated with the genre of dance-punk has given credence to such suggestions, although differences between both genres are said to be minor and more down to aesthetics. Critic John Harris has stated in The Guardian newspaper that the genre is nothing more than a "piss-poor supposed 'youthquake'" that will soon go out of fashion in the same way as rave.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Ten nu-rave songs that still sound good in 2016". Time Out London. 22 June 2016.
  2. ^ "The nu-rave generation: where are they now?". Time Out London. 8 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Does nu-rave travel?". the Guardian. November 13, 2007.
  4. ^ "Seven Nu Rave Songs That Still Actually Bang". Clash Magazine. 22 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Was new rave a joke - or Britain's last great youth movement?". The Independent. February 29, 2016. Archived from the original on 2022-06-18.
  6. ^ a b c d Empire, Kitty (5 October 2006). "Rousing rave from the grave". The Observer. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  7. ^ NME. "Album Reviews: Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles - Album Reviews Archived 2013-05-20 at the Wayback Machine" [clarification needed]
  8. ^ a b The Guardian. February 3, 2007. "The Future's Bright... Archived 2009-03-19 at the Wayback Machine". Retrieved 31 March 2007.
  9. ^ a b Times Online. 12 November 2006. "Here We Glo Again Archived 2011-05-01 at the Wayback Machine". Retrieved 131 February 2009.
  10. ^ BigShinyThing. October 12, 2006. "God Help Us All: New Rave Archived 2009-04-17 at the Wayback Machine". Retrieved 11 February 2009.
  11. ^ BBC News. 3 January 2007. "Sound of 2007: Klaxons Archived 2009-04-26 at the Wayback Machine". Retrieved 31 March 2007.
  12. ^ The Observer. 28 January 2007. "New Rave is Dead; Long Live the Klaxons Archived 2007-12-19 at the Wayback Machine". Retrieved 31 March 2007.
  13. ^ a b c Harris, John. 13 October 2006. "New Rave? Old Rubbish Archived 2011-11-22 at the Wayback Machine". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 March 2007.
  14. ^ The Guardian. January 5, 2007. "2007's Original Soundtrack Archived 2007-10-15 at the Wayback Machine". Retrieved 12 April 2007.
  15. ^ Boston Globe. 6 April 2007. "Meet the NEW Rave. Same As the Old Rave? Archived 2009-06-27 at the Wayback Machine". Retrieved 12 April 2007.
  16. ^ Sunday Life. 4 February 2007. "Music: Having a Blast Archived 2007-04-02 at the Wayback Machine". Retrieved 12 April 2007.
  17. ^ Entertainment Wise. November 1, 2006. "Klaxons: We're Not New Rave Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine". Retrieved 31 March 2007.
  18. ^ Popworld interview. 13 April 2007. "Music News Archived 2008-10-19 at the Wayback Machine". Retrieved 14 April 2007.
  19. ^ "Klaxons: "Ban All Glowsticks!" - MTV UK". mtv.co.uk. Archived from the original on April 22, 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  20. ^ Wappler, Margaret (20 September 2007). "Turning the beat around again". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 8 April 2015.
  21. ^ "Sunshine Underground gig review". NME. Archived from the original on 2 October 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2007.
  22. ^ Records, Sub Pop. "CSS". Sub Pop Records.
  23. ^ "The Queer Legacy of Indie Oddballs CSS". INTO. 31 July 2018.
  24. ^ "CSS reveal truth behind band split". NME. July 11, 2008.
  25. ^ "Brazilian bands, No.1 - CSS | JOE.ie".
  26. ^ Smoughton, Rob (24 July 2007). "Times Online Hot Chip Review review". Times Online. London. Archived from the original on 30 May 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2007.
  27. ^ Collins, Hattie (2007-08-18). "Blog Rockin' Beats". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 4 June 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2008.
  28. ^ DotDev (14 December 2008). "Cassette Playa Interview - Sneaker Freaker". sneakerfreaker.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
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  • "Rave Dog" - a documentary about Trash Fashion and new rave on the Channel 4 (UK) programme FourDocs
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