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...

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