Disco thrash! Speedgoth! Janglepop!

I was describing to David of ShontFop the hilarity of Cornel Windlin’s poster, as seen in Eye, for a band whose musical style is “ambient metal dub.” Now, what the hell does that mean?

David suggested that the kids from LettError, Erik van Blokland and Just van Rossum, could come up with a program that pseudorandomly mixed and matched buzzwords and affixes and lexemes from pop music. My pal Bernard and I had noticed the combinatorial possibilities ourselves a couple of years ago. Some of the words we had in mind are...

• -adelic
• -core
• acid
• ambient
• bleep
• dance
• death
• disco
• dub
• electro
• extended
• feedback
• folk
• fox
• fresh
• garage
• goth
• grrrl
• house
• industrial
• jangle-
• jazz
• maxi
• mega
• metal
• MIDI
• new
• nude
• old school
• -pop
• rap
• roots
• sound
• speed
• surf
• synth
• techno
• thrash
• threat
• twang
• wave

Some are prefixes, some suffixes, others freestanding words. So some combinations are:

1. ambient metal dub
2. fresh fox techno
3. deathdisco
4. acid garage sound
5. new roots electropop
6. funkadelic house surfcore

Get the picture?

I asked Erik to come up with a little Macintosh (Macintosh only) shareware program that would combine the terms according to accepted fuzzy-logic rules. While ambient fresh speedfolk metal popcore is a legal construct, it’s too long. It’s deathcore, not coredeath, though that is what could happen to you if you actually listened to deathcore.

In only a few days, Erik had sent me the following list (but no program-- maybe that would be to much of a good thing). Happy hunting. Pedants are invited to spot the illegal constructs, and further combinatorix are welcome.

1. electro-DEF-druggy-ROOTS-jangle-rock-wavetechno
2. synth-SOUND-rock-thrash
3. fresh-chicago-dance
4. SURF/dance/fox
5. industrial-dance-nude-electro-ACID
6. goth-DUB-mega
7. threat-trash-hysteria
8. goth-METAL-ambient-MAXI-industrial-extended
9. TRASHcafe
10. bleep/feedback/GRRRL-hysteria
11. AMBIENT-brit-MIDI-ACID
12. SOUND-sound
13. GARAGE-roots-adelic
14. GARAGE/SUPER/HOUSE/sound rumoured to be splitting up
15. twang-dub-london-sound-core
16. trash-jazz-GOTH-pop
17. threatAMBIENTstreetmetalMIDIgrrrlwavetechno-problems
18. dancedruggyrap
19. grrrlfreshmetal
20. druggy-folk announced dead
21. housemaxinew yorkold schoolMAXIfolkwavetechnosound
22. THREAT-GLAM-NUDE-adelic
23. dance announced dead
24. rap-glamcafe
25. jazzMIDIbritRAP-problems
26. ambient-house-sound
27. metal-®ap-JAZZ-b®it-SOUND
28. FEEDBACK/pholk/BEAT/druggy/HOUSE/wavetechno announced dead
29. GOTHfoxGARAGELIVERPOOLfolksuperGOTHrock
30. ambient-surf
31. streetliverpoolBEATSOUNDsuperwavetechno announced dead
32. maxiNEWBLEEPROOTSHOUSE
33. AMSTERDAM-core
34. LONDON-fox-druggy-trash-STREET-trash
35. fox-dub-folk-ambient-MIDI-METAL-GRRRL
36. TRASH-threat
37. wavetechno/GOTH-core
38. FOLK/DUB/liverpool/SPEED/jangle/TRASH/house
39. death-extended-house-sound-folk-METAL-acid-rap-problems
40. beat-ambient-synth-synth-SUPER-generation
41. SPEED/new yorkold school/HOUSE/BRIT/sound rumoured to be splitting up
42. electrodanceDISCODEFAMSTERDAMspeed
43. roots-industrial-rock-thrash-pop
44. ROCKjangledubDANCE
45. discothreatLIVERPOOLthrashglam
46. electro-goth
47. STREETjanglewavetechnohouse
48. bleep/amsterdam
49. amsterdam-rap-GOTH-hooose
50. new yorkold school-bleep-FRESH-jazz-GLAMcafe
51. DANCE/THREAT
52. glam/london-problems
53. mega-wavetechno-rap
54. GLAMgrrrl-hysteria
55. MIDI-MIDI-dance
56. SURF-AMSTERDAM-WAVETECHNO-jazz
57. maxxi-AMBIENT
58. liverpool-GOTH
59. new yorkold school
60. druggy-nude-GLAM-GRRRL-threat-adelic
61. beat-goth-trash-hysteria
62. disco/twang
63. jazzdiscodiscoDANCEnew
64. speedROOTSjazzliverpool
65. WAVETECHNO-synth-ACID-new-ELECTRO
66. DANCE-house-problems
67. acid-adelic
68. TRASH-synth-sound-CHICAGO-rap
69. rootscafe
70. beat-ambient-roots-GLAM-pop
71. ELECTROsynthGRRRL
72. DISCOrootsGLAMsurffolkgoth
73. acid-goth
74. rap announced dead
75. ROOTS-generation
76. ambient-AMBIENT-EXTENDED-wavetechno-amsterdam-DRUGGY-ROCK-problems
77. FOX-goth-BLEEP-ROOTS-new yorkold school-HOUSE
78. DISCO-SUPER-STREET-rap-glam-sound-pop
79. trashnudetwang
80. feedback-STREET-NUDE-extended-®ap-house
81. NEW YORKOLD SCHOOLJANGLEdisconew yorkold schoolnew-pop
82. disco-brit-extended-AMSTERDAM-garage-liverpool-dance
83. EXTENDED/LIVERPOOL/bleep/th®eat/g®®®l
84. defELECTROambientdeathGRRRLmaxxisoundthreat-pop
85. nude-super-fresh-fox-speed
86. ROCKmegasynthTWANGTHREATmaxi
87. twang-DANCE-STREET-maxi-druggy-goth
88. ELECTRO-jazz
89. industrial-bleep-LONDON
90. glam/SYNTH/amsterdam/surf/street-problems
91. JAZZ-core
92. synth-INDUSTRIAL-disco-DRUGGY
93. jazzwavetechnogothrock
94. THREAT/WAVETECHNO
95. TRASHLONDONNEW YORKOLD SCHOOLWAVETECHNORAP
96. extended-MIDI-house
97. GLAM/jangle/FOLK
98. dancesurfNEWthrash
99. disco-generation
100. glamdiscosoundtrash
101. THREAT-core
102. folk-druggy-death-threat-glam-DISCO
103. grrrlGARAGEBEATSYNTHspeedMETALrootsGLAM
104. chicago-metalspeed
105. metal/MEGA/CHICAGO/rock/sound
106. METAL-MIDI-london-TRASH-def-THRASH-wavetechno
107. FOXMIDI
108. FRESH-DUB-sound-industrial-garage-AMBIENT-generation
109. ACIDnew
110. CHICAGO-pop
111. NEW YORKOLD SCHOOL/ambient/ROCK/acid/TRASH
112. THRASH
113. rumoured to be splitting up
114. jazz/fresh/sound
115. extendedmaxifox
116. rock-GLAM-STREET-ROCK-DANCE-house-core
117. nudeDUBFOXmegarockglam-problems
118. EXTENDEDsoundSTREETgothAMBIENT
119. supersuperMIDImaxigothlondonHOUSEDANCE-generation
120. GLAMcafe
121. DUB-MIDI-def-dub-NEW-SOUND-GRRRL-DANCE
122. elect®o/bleep/GARAGE/metal-adelic
123. announced dead
124. synth/rock/roots/jangle/BEATcafe
125. FRESH-hysteria
126. SURFSYNTHJANGLEdefwavetechnodef-hysteria
127. GARAGE-METAL-AMSTERDAM-jazz-glam-ACID
128. deathambient
129. jangle-acid-electro-dance-thrash
130. roots-new-twang announced dead
131. bleepdruggyBLEEPMAXI
132. AMSTERDAMtrashmegaglamrockSTREEThouseGLAM
133. beat-glam-rap-threat-adelic
134. jazz-JANGLE-BLEEP-threat-ROOTS-hysteria
135. feedback-mega-SURF
136. bleep/rap
137. MIDI-jangle-trash-new yorkold school-amsterdam-MIDI-generation
138. trash/ELECTRO/AMBIENT/speed announced dead
139. AMSTERDAM/THRASH
140. industrial/twang/ROOTS/acid
141. metal/FEEDBACK/sound/GOTH/acid
142. MAXIextendedchicagonew yorkold zchoolelectrothrazh
143. DANCE-sound-adelic
144. SUPER-fresh-EXTENDED-ACID
145. foxEXTENDEDLONDONlondonelectroFOLKcafe
146. threat/DRUGGY/EXTENDED/death/house
147. rock-GOTH
148. FOLK-DANCE
149. ACID/THRASH
150. sound/thrash/rap-core
151. NUDE-druggy-roots-THREAT-ROOTS-WAVETECHNO
152. rap-hysteria
153. RAPgoth-pop
154. feedback/GRRRL/ga®age/DUB/extended-pop
155. DEATHsurfchicagoINDUSTRIALdruggyglamTRASH-hysteria
156. grrrl-goth
157. garage/feedback/brit
158. DUBdubthreatsuperFEEDBACKMAXIthrash
159. THREAT/MIDI/super
160. threat-beat-rap-generation
161. CHICAGOhousemetalFOXcafe
162. def-nude-ELECTRO-RAP-grrrl
163. chicago-fresh-ambient-london-bleep-GRRRL-problems
164. DRUGGY/SOUND
165. rock-WAVETECHNO
166. thrash/dub/new/trash
167. glamJANGLEbritdanceWAVETECHNO
168. glam-goth
169. LONDONsynthdoobdrooggySURFsynthcafe
170. twang/fresh/trash/SPEED/death/sound/GRRRL
171. acid-adelic
172. london/BRIT/liverpool/LIVERPOOL/GRRRL/wavetechno
173. BRIT/feedback/SYNTH/goth/DEATH/amsterdam-adelic
174. wavetechno-folk-roots
175. grrrl/MIDI/dub/CHICAGO/house-generation
176. ambient-garage-jazz-FEEDBACK-MAXI-rap
177. rock-extended-fresh-twang
178. wavetechnoroots
179. goth/BLEEP/DEATH/goth/folk/sound
180. ROOTS-mega-wavetechno-acid-hysteria
181. dubAMBIENTINDUSTRIALhousetwangFOLKSOUNDACID
182. NEW YORKOLD SCHOOL/MAXI/ambient/WAVETECHNO
183. jangle-LIVERPOOL-roots-goth
184. AMSTERDAM/mega/NEW YORKOLD SCHOOL/®ap
185. brit-DEF-GRRRL-sound
186. glamGARAGEDEATHMIDIphresh-pop
187. METAL-rap-rock-wavetechno
188. TWANG-AMBIENT-LONDON-jazz-sound-core
189. threatrock
190. janglenew yorkold school-problems
191. ROCKwavetechno announced dead
192. ROOTS/MEGA-adelic
193. NEW/DANCE/ROCK
194. SOUNDROOTS
195. glam/DEATH/brit/chicago/thrazh
196. dub-glam-WAVETECHNO
197. BLEEP-GARAGE
198. GARAGE-synth
199. wavetechnotrash
200. roots-industrial-rap-death
201. beatjazzsuperELECTRObeatBRIT-problems
202. SURF/FOX/RAP/GLAM-core
203. extended-indoostrial-SOUND-doob-mega
204. rumoured to be splitting up
205. BEAT-sound-maxi-electro
206. amsterdamnewNEW YORKOLD SCHOOLWAVETECHNOdubRAP-problems
207. twangSURFrockspeed
208. twang-bleep-ambient-rap
209. DRUGGY/london/maxicafe
210. LONDONgothmaxirootsgoth
211. fresh/jangle/beat
212. thrash-SPEED-death-deph
213. glam/liverpool/folk/BLEEP/house/thrash
214. amsterdam-rap-threat-WAVETECHNO-thrash rumoured to be splitting up
215. FRESH-speed-new yorkold school-JAZZ-core
216. chicago-jangle-BLEEP-fox-roots-acid
217. wavetechno/ROOTS/street/SUPER rumoured to be splitting up
218. thrash/ELECTRO/ROOTS/death/GOTH/threat/trash
219. TRASH-problems
220. rootswavetechno
221. STREET-twang-ELECTRO-ACID-house-generation
222. BRIT-goth-speed-dance-wavetechno rumoured to be splitting up
223. thrashmegaGARAGE-hysteria
224. beatAMSTERDAMnew yorkold schoolextendedMAXI
225. industrial/MEGA/threat
226. glam-goth
227. MIDI/HOUSE/disco/disco/ACID/WAVETECHNO
228. nude-ROCK-roots-glam-DEF
229. jazzhouseCHICAGOBRIT
230. TRASH-grrrl
231. AMSTERDAM-brit-STREET-ACID
232. grrrl-feedback-threat-DANCE-sound-sound-adelic
233. surf/feedback/NEW/new/MEGA
234. MEGAfox
235. def-maxi-wavetechno-fresh-threat-WAVETECHNO-adelic
236. folkjazzEXTENDEDthrashDRUGGYroots
237. electroSPEEDextended
238. feedbacknewINDUSTRIALspeedBLEEPDANCEacid
239. DANCESOUND
240. SPEED/METAL/garage/INDUSTRIAL/INDUSTRIAL/fresh/rapcafe
241. ambient-house-LONDON-ROOTS-trash
242. grrrl-glam rumoured to be splitting up
243. GOTH/glam/brit/surf rumoured to be splitting up
244. trash-NUDE-new-FRESH
245. twang/extended/DRUGGY/druggy/dub
246. trash rumoured to be splitting up
247. MAXI-problems
248. extended rumoured to be splitting up
249. metal-DISCO-folk-electro-GLAM-acid-GLAM-problems
250. glam-FRESH-LIVERPOOL-acid-ROCK
251. threat-hysteria
252. surfgothliverpoolSPEEDSPEEDjangle
253. AMBIENT-amsterdam-bleep-trash-rock-generation
254. SUPER-trash-dub-rootscafe
255. jazz/JAZZ/sound/DANCE/new
256. mega-house-JANGLE-metal-ELECTRO-london-house-rap
257. sound-mega-liverpool-NUDE-ROCK-goth
258. soundfreshtrash
259. HOUSE-generation
260. SYNTH-dance-rootz-problems
261. grrrl-STREET-LONDON-goth-GRRRL
262. threatgrrrlgrrrlcafe
263. RAP/speed/trash/house rumoured to be splitting up
264. jazz-thrash-TRASH-FOX-NEW-rock rumoured to be splitting up
265. jangle-rock-FOLK-house-FEEDBACK
266. death-jangle-chicago-disco-chicago-disco rumoured to be splitting up
267. JAZZDISCOdiscoFOLKFRESHrockgrrrl
268. AMBIENT-thrash-london
269. FOX/goth/ROOTS/mega/brit
270. su®f/THREAT/death/twang/GLAM
271. LONDON/ACID/house/brit/synth
272. new yorkold school-druggy-problems
273. house-core
274. trash-LIVERPOOL-jazz-rap-maxi-GOTH-rapcafe
275. brit-folk-thrash-street-goth
276. JANGLE-brit-RAP-house
277. DANCE-GRRRL-sound-nude
278. JANGLE/FOX/extended/druggy
279. beatdiscodiscospeeddubnude-core
280. superEXTENDEDROOTSthreatsoundcafe
281. jangle-garage-RAP-goth
282. SYNTH/FRESH/super
283. death-chicago-electro-HOUSE-GRRRL-ACID-thrash-roots-problems
284. jazzwavetechnoextendedcafe
285. garage-disco-surf-GRRRL
286. soundacid
287. acid/street/house/goth/SURF/sound/dance
288. jazz-housegrrrl
289. GRRRLroots-core
290. METAL/DISCO/BRIT/grrrl/trash
291. HOUSE-BEAT-STREET-disco-bleep
292. SPEED/goth/DEF/thrash
293. twang-RAP-DANCE
294. trash-HOUSE-death-STREET-trash
295. NUDE/chicago/GLAM/metal/garage/LONDON/sound
296. jangle-garage-electro
297. glam-goth
298. GOTH-super-DANCE-NEW-ROCK
299. bleepTHREATdancedefdancerock
300. MIDIjangleELECTROSTREETMIDIamsterdamacidsound
301. MEGA-ambient-ROCK-house-chicago-amsterdam
302. ROOTS/SPEED/maxi/electro
303. roots/GARAGE/roots/MIDI/rap/roots-generation
304. super-GLAM-beat-GOTH-london-sound-thrash-adelic
305. surfFOXJAZZnudedruggysynthrockDANCE rumoured to be splitting up
306. thrashMETALfolkgaragebleepsound
307. rockliverpoolMETALgrrrlgrrrl
308. surf-FOLK-disco-NEW-def-threat-wavetechno
309. rootsglam
310. thrashSURFWAVETECHNODEFNUDESOUND
311. thrash/jangle/AMSTERDAM/jazz/death/dan©e rumoured to be splitting up
312. HOUSEcafe
313. mega-london-synth-dance-ROCK-hysteria
314. BEAT-NUDE-DEF-industrial-glam-pop
315. AMBIENT-goth-brit-generation
316. danceDANCE
317. MIDI/street/dance/GLAM-generation
318. liverpool-BLEEP-thrash-thrash-death-ROOTS-grrrl
319. disco/acid/fresh
320. folk/FOX/electro/garage/street/TRASH/threat
321. metal-DEF-GARAGE-generation
322. FOLK/speed/trash/THRASH
323. rock-generation
324. streetwavetechno
325. speed-TRASH-HOUSE
326. acidfeedbackglam-core
327. BRITsurfSYNTHmetalacid
328. GRRRLROCKbeatrapnew yorkold schooldancegoth
329. TWANGambientfoxrap
330. THRASHgoth-problems
331. JAZZacidroots
332. rock-def-ELECTRO-dance-rap
333. EXTENDED/DANCE/super/goth/GLAM-generation
334. DRUGGY-wavetechno-glamcafe
335. SPEED-jazz-amsterdam-RAP-house-grrrlcafe
336. britgoth-hysteria
337. synth-THREAT-sound
338. nudeSOUNDfeedbackbrit-pop
339. MAXI-rock-THREAT-trash-INDUSTRIAL-wavetechno-grrrl-adelic
340. pholk-ELECTRO-THREAT
341. wavetechno
342. super-chicago-STREET-folk-rap
343. speedelectroNUDEGLAMfoxfreshrock-core
344. goth/amsterdam/jazz/chicago/GOTH/EXTENDEDcafe
345. CHICAGOMEGALIVERPOOLwavetechnoacid-hysteria
346. rockindustrialtwangbleepFRESHrootsTHREAT-hysteria
347. dance/wavetechno/ROOTS/THREAT
348. NUDEnewELECTROHOUSENEWBLEEPthrashdance announced dead
349. MIDImegaaciddance-adelic
350. SOUND/new yorkold school/trash/folk/trash
351. HOUSEMIDIACID
352. threat-thrash-trash
353. MIDI-brit-sound-pop
354. new-new yorkold s©hool-twang-sound-wavete©hno-dis©o-problems
355. street-BEAT-NUDE-metal
356. ROCK-glam
357. disco-brit-SURF-twang-TWANG-FOX-goth
358. maxi-BRIT-wavetechno-pop
359. MEGA-house-bleep-ROCK-chicago-disco
360. TWANG-METAL-t®ash
361. garage/dub/nude/TWANG/WAVETECHNO/acid/sound
362. NEW YORKOLD SCHOOL/GLAM/thrazh
363. BLEEP-feedback-problems
364. house-glam-house-adelic
365. speed-speed-jazz-synth-twang-DUB-problems
366. wavetechnoGOTHindustrialWAVETECHNObrit
367. goth-INDUSTRIAL-MIDI-wavetechno-maxi-BLEEP-threat-rap
368. MEGA/rap/def/metal/goth/house
369. MIDI-liverpool-def-wavetechno-MIDI rumoured to be splitting up
370. ACIDHOUSE-problems
371. DANCE-THRASH
372. ACIDchicagoTHREATwavetechno-pop
373. GRRRL-druggy-GLAM-garage-GRRRL-core
374. trash/DANCE-adelic
375. brit-RAP-generation
376. britsoundnew
377. chicago-thrash-wavetechno
378. liverpool/trash/dance/SYNTH/extended/wavetechno
379. BEAT-DEF-def-feedback-grrrl-MIDI
380. GRRRL-glam
381. GARAGE-new-industrial-surf-def-glam
382. fresh/electro/JANGLE/liverpool/new/glam
383. ACID/GLAM
384. surf-super-extended-bleep
385. new yorkold schoolliverpooljazzsoundTHRASH
386. garage-EXTENDED-JANGLE-goth-glam-rap-adelic
387. fresh-fox-disco-street-soundcafe
388. garage-ACID-glam-problems
389. rootsNEW YORKOLD SCHOOLgrrrlDANCE
390. thrash-electro
391. deathnewspeedTHREATCHICAGOdanceacid-generation
392. BRIT/FOX/threat/BEAT/MIDI/wavetechno/RAP

Oh, and it gets better: A September 1998 print ad for Brave New Waves, the CBC weirdo-pop-music show that hasn’t been of remotest interest since former hostess Brent Bambury came out of the closet, then left the show, then re-entered the closet to host Midday on the TV network, listed the following construct:

spazz-rock-post-quirk-elektro-acoustic-geek-heavy-western-exoti-pop-zydecore-orch-hop-fungle-drum-without-bass-now-wave-pre-punk-bossa-nova-rock-concrete-avant-queercore-whatever