What kind of music is played at raves?
A type of electronic dance music commonly called techno is the short answer. Techno is often used as a catch-all term; in actuality a wide variety of music is played at raves. Part II (Techno Music) of this FAQ contains more detailed descriptions and comparisons of techno & related musical styles. Someone entirely unfamiliar with techno can be told that the music played at raves is essentially a derivative of disco, incorp orating many other influences, from Kraftwerk to hip-hop and reggae. In 1987-88, when raves began, techno was still a fairly new word being used to describe the Kraftwerk and Parliament/Funkadelic-influenced music produced by a handful of African Americans in Detroit’s club circuit. The style was warmer and more soulful t han most techno we hear today, but colder and more electronic than the rhythm & blues sounds that were popular in the mainstream at the time. While early techno was probably in some DJs’ playlists, the music of raves in 1987-88, according to dance m
