DRUMMER CAFE

So ... we talked about programmed rhythmic music, electronic rhythms etc.   Why not investigate the flip side of that coin.   Music that is loop/electronically based, or in a genre that is typically defined by its electronic creation, but has live drums.   Not just when they are playing live, but in the creation of the music.

I was listening to band called Snowpony (drummer Max Corradi) when I thought of this.   They are essentially electropop.   The live drumming often has a very programmed feel.  Not in that its static, but in the composition.

The same goes for two other groups, though even moreso Id say.   Laika (drummer Lou Ciccotelli) and Pram (drummer Matt Eaton).   Whose angularity is very remiscent of acts like Aphex Twin, but balance that with vocals and atmospherics that are more akin to arty pop music.

Laika drummer Ciccotelli also has another project called Eardrum with drummer/percussionist Richard Olatunde Baker as well.   This can actually be considered straight up electronica for electronica fans.  Though most of thier work is centered around live percussion performance, not just samples.




[size=-2]*The title is not to imply that electronic music needs redeeming or that adding live instruments inherently adds to the music.   Its just a bit of fun to pair it with the other similarly named thread.[/size]

I wouldn't class Portishead as 'electronica'. The line up is the standard, guitar, bass and drums. Yes there are some loops and a DJ scratching (uurgh...like nearly every band these days!), but nothing in the vain of 563's description.
In fact I can't think of any current bands. Probably because the essence of 'electronica' is the programmed or sampled beat. Therefore, drums are the first thing to go.
In the 80's I played on quite a few records that were all programmed apart from drums and rhythm guitar.
In fact...thinking about it....a lot of Trevor Horns productions had a similar make up (Grace Jones, Seal etc..)

I actually would count Portishead among the redeemers

They are very much an act that performs what is essentially electronic music, one of the defining bands of "trip-hop".  

And Id hesitate to diminish the importance of the DJ in thier lineup as he is essentially the guy that writes the music.    In fact, he even went so far (once they had made enough to do so) as to write music, have it recorded and pressed to vinyl so he could use music of his own creation instead of other peoples.

I certainly wouldnt call them "standard, guitar, bass and drums".   Those instruments, and other common ones, are the primary sound sources, but its all sampled and programmed.

UNKLE's Psyence Fiction (1997) used electronic drumkits that were played in a very organic style. Brilliant, underrated album.

Don't know if you've heard of them, but Sound Tribe Sector Nine is a band I would say fits this category. Live drums, dance beats, breakbeats, and a little jazz influence thrown in... I'm not a huge fan, but I'll put them in on occasion.
Also check out The New Deal (very electronic sounding drummer, he doesn't even have any toms... if I remember correctly) or the OM Trio.

You can download many live shows of all three of these bands at the Live Music Archive
http://www.archive.org/audio/etreelisting-browse.php?collection=etree

love Rich's new solo stuff.  big fan.  

Oh, OK. You said electronic drum kits in your original post. BTW, I'm not sure why using real drums would result in the album taking 3 years to make.