What is the new beat: the slow and dark sound of Belgium (1986-1990)
The new beat is electronic dance music born in Belgium in the mid-1980s: EBM and synth pop slowed up to about 100-115 BPM, heavy sequenced low, dry rhythm boxes, samples and recited voices. He lived his moment of glory between 1987 and 1989 in the Belgian clubs and was one of the bridges between the EBMthe acid house and the European techno of the 1990s.
404Error pincha new beat in vinyl inside its sets from EBM and old school techno since the '90s. If you organize a dark night, EBM or club classics of the' 80s, check dates on booking or listen to the list of EBM, new beat and old school techno in Mixcloud.
The new beat is one of the most curious episodes in the club's history: a genus that was born almost by accident, filled the tracks of Belgium for a couple of years and disappeared as quickly as it had arrived, leaving a direct bridge to the European techno of the 1990s.
Its sound is dark, slow and heavy: sequenced low that step hard, dry-paced boxes, cold synthesizers and recited voices or samples taken from films and ads. He owes almost everything to the EBM, but he also crossed into the acid house that came from Chicago and London.
Origins of the new beat
According to the most repeated story, the new beat began when a DJ from the Boccaccio club, near Ghent, punctured the maxi «Flesh» from A Split-Second (1986) to 33 revolutions instead of 45. The theme, which became something slower, more serious and more hypnotic, worked on the track, and the Belgian DJs began to do the same with vinyls from EBM and synth pop.
From there, the Belgian producers began to record directly for that tempo and that environment. Between 1987 and 1989 the new beat was the sound of the big clubs in Belgium, with labels dedicated almost exclusively and vinyls that got to the sales lists. The documentary The Sound of Belgium (2012) counts well that moment.
How the new beat sounds
| trait | New beat | EBM |
|---|---|---|
| Tempo | About 100-115 BPM | 115-130 BPM |
| Rhythm | Slow, heavy, almost dragged | Martial and faster |
| Voices | Recipes, movie samples and ads | Shouted or shouted, own letters |
| Influences | EBM, sync pop, acid house | Industrial, punk, sync pop |
| Time | 1986- 1990, in particular Belgium | Since the early 1980s, Belgium and Germany |
Vinyls to understand the new beat
- A Split- Second - «Flesh» (1986): the record of which, according to legend, it was all born by puncturing it at 33 revolutions.
- The Neon Judgment - «TV Treated» (1985): a Belgian classic between the EBM and the cold wave that sounded on all new beat tracks.
- Lords of Acid - «I Sit on Acid» (1988): the crossing of the new beat with the acid house.
- Confetti's - «The Sound of C» (1988): the most pop side of the new beat, which reached the lists.
- Tragic Error - «Tanzen!» (1988): another track success of the time.
Labels of the new beat
- Antler-Subway (Belgium): one of the labels power stations of the time.
- R & S Records (Ghent): published new beat before becoming one of the labels key to the European techno of the 90's.
From new beat to Belgian techno
By 1989 the commercial success filled the market of vinyls of new beat made in series and the scene is exhausted. But the infrastructure he had created, with clubs, DJs, studies and labels it continued to work: many of its producers went to the techno, the hardcore and the Belgian rave in the early 1990s, one of the most influential scenes in Europe at the time.
The new beat today
The new beat lives a second life between DJs who brush EBM, cold wave and dark techno: its slow tempo fits the EBM revival and with the sets that slow down to gain weight. It works very well as its own block on theme nights, in second rooms and at the beginning of a dark night, before climbing to the EBM and the techno. To understand the full context, read what the EBM is and how to program deep techno, hypnotic, breaks and EBM on a club night.
Frequently asked questions about the new beat
What's the new beat?
A Belgian dance genre of the late 80's: EBM and synth pop slowed to about 100-115 BPM, with heavy low, dry-rhythm boxes, samples and recited voices.
What's the difference between new beat and EBM?
The new beat is born from the EBM but goes slower and heavier, uses more samples and crossed with the acid house. The EBM is faster, more martial and has a clearer song structure.
How many BPM is the new beat going to?
Usually around 100-115 BPM, well below the EBM and the techno. It is part of its character: slow, severe and heavy.
You fit the new beat at a techno party?
Yes, as a block of its own on dark or thematic nights, in second rooms or at the beginning of the night, before going up to the EBM and the techno.
Where to listen sets of new beat in vinyl?
404Error pincha new beat, EBM and old school techno 100% in vinyl. You have the list of EBM and industrial in Mixcloud; for dates, booking.