Schranz is a sub-genre of techno with European roots, and has become very popular in some parts of the United States. However, sometimes Schranz is mistaken for the very similar sub-genre of Detroit techno. The careful listener will quickly hear the major differences between Schranz and its regional counterpart.
History
Although the musical style had been developing for some time, the term "Schranz" was coined in 1994 by a DJ named Chris Liebing. The term remained uncommon until the sub-genre became popular in 2001.
Features
Schranz is characterized by closely compressed looping along with snare drum and hi-hat hits. There is typically not much melodic structure, as the music tends to rely on percussive back beats and minimal intertwining of melodic quotes and samples.
Etymology
The meaning of the word "Schranz" is unclear, but there are clues to why it is used to describe upbeat and hard techno music of German roots. In Dutch, "schranzen" is a term used to describe audible chewing. Some listeners believe that the pronunciation of the word itself is meant to aurally represent the sounds of Schranz music.
Speed
Schranz music is often presented at a very fast tempo (or speed). Normally, Schranz music is anywhere from 150 to 180 beats per minute. Some artists choose to present the music at a slower tempo, at around 130 beats per minute.
Notable Artists
Popular artists within the Schranz genre include Chris Liebing, DJ Amok, Mario Ranieri, Linda Pearl and DJ Rush.
