ACID The TB303 is the Acid's maximum inspiration source. This "movement" evoluted from House music, and its characteristics are minimal sounds of aggressive and corrosive nature, connected with the "Smiley" (a yellow circle with a painted smile). At the moment, Damon Wild and Hardfloor are the most famous names of the post-Acid movement.

ACID-JAZZ Acid-House's evolution has suffered some of the 70's funk influence, as well as from Free-Jazz. Acid-Jazz was the name given to this "transformation".

AMBIENT (Amb) Atmospheric music movement, landscapes of sound and synthetic ambients. This movement was created by Brian Eno.

AMBIENT-DUB (Amb/Dub) Cross between ambient and jamaican music (reggae). Envolving music full of echoes and Dub effects.

ARTCORE The most experimental and ambiental feature of Jungle. The top names of this "stream" are LTJ Bukem and Omni Trio.

AVANTGARD (Avgd.) Musical approach to the fore with some relations with experimentalism. Applied to some musical cultures (e.g. : Rock, Electronic and Metal). Unorthodox or little conventional compositions characterize the vanguard of creating music through any instrument or object. The Residents are one of the most important bands inserted in this movement.

BLEEP Low frequence fast electronic sound that named the musical scene from Leeds and Sheffield initiated with LFO.

BRAIN-MACHINE Machine built with rotative light devices which project psychadelic images. Invented bt Brian Gysin, this movement is connected with Ambient and Trance.

BREAKBEAT Basic rhythm from Hip-Hop which, due to its acceleration, originated Jungle.

CABARET Romantic/depressive mood related with Latin music (e.g. : Tango) and Waltz. Nowadays, this sound is also related with Pop, even Rock music. Nick Cave, And Also The Trees and the portuguese band Boris Ex-Machina are sheer examples of this sound-type.

CHILL-OUT Transition from Trance to a more Ambient "condition". Atom Heart and Mixmaster Morris started this movement.

CLASSIC (Class.) Compositions elaborated with sounds related with classical music (e.g. : violins, pianos, choirs...).

CROSSOVER A crossing of several musical styles. Designation used to describe the music from bands such as Young Gods, Swamp Terrorists and portuguese band Bizarra Locomotiva, who, in this area, cross Rock/Metal with electronic music in an effective way.

CYBERPUNK (Cyber.) Sci-fi (Science-fiction) literature inspired in present time society's informatization. Originally created by William Gibson on his "Neuromante" book. Denominations such as "Hacker" or "Informatic-pirate" are purely derivative from the cyberpunk culture, having music as a complement. Musically, the canadian band Skinny Puppy were undoubtedly its creators.

DARK Obscure and shadowy sonorities, thus creating cold and depressive moods. The word "dark" is often related to the Gothic movement, as well as Folk, Wave and Ambient electronic music.

DEATH For many, a sub-style from Metal. To others, a morbid, noisy and sometimes melancholic and spiritual designation.

DEEP-HOUSE The softer and soulful side of House-music.

DIGICORE Crossover's american version, with the particularity of vocals being treated digitally.

DRUM 'N BASS Synthesised bass and beat-box. The groundbase of Jungle music.

DUB Born in Jamaica, Dub uses the basics of reggae, creating a whole set of electronic sound effects, such as echoes.

E.B.M. (Electronic Body Music) Monochordic and cold rhythms, however, very energetic. Fully inspired by Krafwerk's futurism.

ELECTRO (Elec.) Prime designation for electronic music relating several musical cultures and sub-cultures from electronic-instruments generated music. Examples can be found as; electro-industrial, electro-techno, electro-goth, electro-metal...

ETNO Resembling World-music, the ethnic music comes as a result of a people's culture, music and tradition. The ethnic instruments are often used by contemporary groups to create a different sound ranging several music styles. The didgeridoos (an Australian indigenes' instrument) is a much used instrument in the crossing between Electronic and Etno, as are African drums and many others.

ETNO-TECHNO Fusion between ethnic music and electronic elements.

EXPERIMENTAL (Exp.) New sound frontiers created through many varied musical instruments and non-conventional rhythms and sequences. Applied to several musical styles, such as Rock, Techno, Jungle, Pop...

FILM Designation used to classify a musical play as a soundtrack.

FUNKY (Funk) Musical style detached from Soul music through its crossing with Blues and Jazz.

GABBA Matching Techno's Thrash Metal. Movement originated by the "Thunderdome" compilations.

GARAGE Crossing between Disco and Deep-House.

GOA-TRANCE Exotic variation from Techno, the Goa-Trance searches its inspiration in the city by the same name (Goa-India). Psychadelic journeys to the world of Trance music.

GOTHIC (Goth.) Being the Sisters of Mercy the main source of inspiration (and later, Fields of the Nephilim), the Gothic searches that same and full inspiration in the most grey and obscure tones of nightlife. Guitars with delay effects and gutural vocalizations are the main characteristics of this movement. In the present days, the Gothic has suffered some modifications with the inclusion of electronics by German bands like Das Ich and Goethes Erben, the so called Electro-Goth or Industrial-Goth. Still, a more Pop vein can be found in the Australian band Ikon, for example.

HARDBEAT Denomination invented by music journalists (critics) to describe Swamp Terrorists' first release. A cross between Techno and Metal. Similarities with Crossover and Digicore.

HARDCORE (Core) Techno's most fast and loud side. This word is also often used for Punk and Metal.

HARDHOUSE Contusive rhythms, generally minimalistic. Fusion between House and Techno.

HIP-HOP Urban culture that originated Rap, grafitti and breakdance related movement. Also related to House and Techno.

HOUSE Born in Chicago in the mid-80's, House-music derives from the american black music culture, with influences from Disco, Funk and european Techno from bands like Kraftwerk.

INDUSTRIAL (Ind.) Movement started by bands like Throbbing Gristle, SPK and Test Department. The Industrial was born in the late 70's, characterized by noises, metalic rhythms, gluing urban and machinery sounds. The evolution of Industrial music has later led to the sampler's creation, thus evoluting considerably to new and various languages in electronic music.

JUNGLE A consequence of breakbeat acceleration with the mixing of Soul, Ambient and even Raggamuffin rhythms.

MEDIEVAL Medieval-age inspired sonorities. Strongly associated to dark and religious chants and rituals. Obscure sound moods, melancholic but divine. Closely related to medieval images.

METAL Powerful metal-guitar distorted riffs and rhythm section and gutural vocals. Several types of Metal can be found; Death, Brutal, Thrash, Black, Power, Techno and Industrial Metal.

NEO-CLASSIC (Neo-class.) An expression used to describe the new wave of classicism, elaborated through samplers and acoustic instruments. In The Nursery and Dead Can Dance started this movement. Nowadays, Michael Nyman, The Balanesco Quartet and Wim Mertens are major references, recurring only to acoustic instruments to create their neo-classic pieces.

NOISE Noisy sounds' manipulation done by instruments, industrial machines, samplers and urban sounds.

PROGRESSIVE Qualification that can be applied to House as much as Techno. Progressive development from the music.

RAGGAMUFFIN "Marriage" between jamaican Reggae and Rap.

RAP Form of expression from the american neighbourhoods' black cultures. Messages against political institutions and their discriminative society. Lyrics. Almost spoken word, under minimalistic beat/rhythm-box drum sounds. Simple sound construction. It means Rhythm And Poetry.

RITUAL Composition method allied to the new Punk/Industrial sound generated from bands such as Death In June and Current 93, which later became Dark/Folk. The use of guitar chords in several tunes is very similar. Also related with political questions, according to some people.

SOFT / EASY LISTENING As the name puts it, it means soft, enjoyable to listen to, ear-friendly.

SONIC Associated with names like Glenn Branca and Sonic Youth. The Sonic movement had its high-peak when the Rock-explosion from Seattle based bands occurred and the Sub-Pop recording label appeared. Experimentalism distortion, raging guitars and the use of acoustic sound as appeasement.

SOUL Black american born musical style, formed by women choirs and brass sections (trumpets, saxophone, horns...).

TECHNO (Tech.) Musical style born in Detroit in 1988, resulting from a cross between Chicago's House and New York's Electro, as well as european Techno-pop. Strong and danceable rhythms.

TECHNO-POP Commercial Pop, synthesisers based, melodies and "catchy" tunes.

TRANCE Germany born Techno's deviant. Fast rhythms and major evolutions of Acid characteristics, including landscapes, also associated with Ambient, Acid, Goa, Hardcore, Etno...

TRIBAL Characterized by the use of tribal percussions as a complement to House rythms. Kult of Krameria are, at the present time, the most important "pinpoint" of this movement in Portugal.

TRIP-HOP The end result of several influences and musical styles in a full-sound, rhythm and melody apotheosis. Trip-Hop and Drum 'n Bass are actually classified as the end of the millenium musical revolution. It shares afinities with Jazz, Hip-Hop, Dub and even Rock.