No genre has been more ripped off, watered down, and straight-up bastardized than techno.
To the lay person, say, a classic rock aficionado or maybe a jazz head, the mere mention of this Detroit-bred electronic music genre (and really, less a stable conventional "genre" and more an unwieldy collection of variants, everything from minimal to psytrance) invokes the thought of greasy Guidos slithering up and down Washington Avenue, fists-pumping like soldiers drunkenly marching in a parade of shame.
But what the skeptics may not realize is that e-music isn't all Jersey Shore, LMFAO, and Ultra Music Festival.
In fact, a quick survey of techno -- and its warmer, gayer antecedent, house -- reveals a rich history of compositional innovation and technological advancement that reaches much further than the uhntz-uhntz-ing masses could ever have you believe.
That inquiry into the heart and roots of electronic dance music are at the core of No Name at the Electric Pickle, a new monthly party celebrating "house, techno and beyond" that draws its moniker from an Acid Horse track titled "No Name, No Slogan."
Described by her co-DJs as the party's "den mother," Lorraine Sangre started No Name to fill a void. Put bluntly, Sangre was "looking for a scene that appreciates true house and techno origins, and recognizes how that influences contemporary electronic music."
A self-described "longtime party-goer" who made the transition to party-thrower while living in New York, Sangre is throwing this monthly to "have a place where friends from other cities can play other than during Winter Music Conference and Basel." And of course, to "have a party where [she] can play whatever she wants."
To help cultivate a more formalistic and historically-grounded e-music scene, Sangre has enlisted the help of producer, promoter, and Schematic Records head, Romulo Del Castillo, as well as former Poplife DJ Juan Tapia.
Sangre assures the trio will be digging deep in their selections. She also guarantees the party will feature music not typically heard at most of Miami's -- and particularly South Beach's -- myriad electronic music parties.
When asked to further clarify the party's platform, Del Castillo offers some clarification, saying, "It's all 'techno' in the end. It's like the world 'rock' for some people or 'hip-hop.'
"We play rare and experimental dance music, though it may be very appealing like a pop song."
No Name #1 with DJs Lorraine Sangre, Juan Tapia, and Romulo Del Castillo. Thursday, January 26. Electric Pickle, 2826 N. Miami Ave., Miami. The party starts at 10 p.m. and there's no cover. Call