Choosing the genre of Thievery Corporation may seem like a difficult task due to the wide variety of styles in their music. The duo, consisting of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton, records and mixes in their own studio, in Washington, D.C. However, they also collaborate with other instrumentalists and singers, which enriches the origins of their music furthermore. This article discusses the main characteristics of their recordings, suggesting a genre to describe their music.
While the arrangements of their debut album Sounds From The Thievery Hi Fi are instrumentally not so dense, the songs have a powerful groove. Entrancing beats and basslines make their music beat-driven. Occasional use of strings and subtle synths add an atmospheric quality to the songs, supporting and enhancing the hypnotic nature of the grooves furthermore.
The use of vocals is minimalistic and occasional. Electronic instruments and sound effects are preferred to acoustic sounds. Due to these distinctive features, Thievery Corporation genre is sometimes associated with trip hop, a sub-genre of electronic music.
However, their following albums are stylistically even more diverse. They mix elements of electronica, dub, acid jazz, reggae, Indian classical, Middle Eastern, Latin, lounge, hip hop, and funk. The beat is more complex. Latin polyrhythms are mixed with laid-back beats. The amount of live instrumentation has increased, featuring playful and melodic instrumental solos.
At the same time they still use electronic sounds and effects, retaining the ambient nature of the songs. Delicate use of vocals enhances the sensual mood furthermore. The duo also uses samples from other artists, like Herp Alpert, The Doors, Sarah McLachlan, and Astrud Gilberto, creating remixes of them. Some of their tracks feature samples from TV sounds and movie dialog.
This diversity of styles and sound sources is one of the main reasons why Thievery Corporation genre is most closely related to downtempo electronica. While being similar to trip hop, with its hypnotic feeling and beat-driven nature, downtempo encompasses a wider variety of styles and instruments. Thievery Corporation is also said to be one of the influential artists in this genre, who has introduced elements of Brazilian and Jamaican music into the style.
Although downtempo electronica is probably the most appropriate genre to describe the music of Thievery Corporation, their style is not so static and fixed. Each new album has proven to be somewhat different from the earlier recordings, bringing a new dimension to their sound. Their albums Radio Retaliation and Culture of Fear also carry a social message, reflecting the duo's interest in social activism. Therefore, not all of their music fits into the genre of downtempo electronica, and their style is a more dynamic feature, that slightly changes and varies throughout their recordings.
The author of this text is a musician. For free music and additional information, visit http://joonaskreenmusic.info/
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