Intelligent Shit Music

From Intelligent Shit Music

Intelligent Shit Music, or ISM, is the genre of music which this wiki is dedicated to, that originated on the ateaseweb.com message board.

History

The term ISM is a reference to the common name of the genre that the label Warp Records promotes, 'Intelligent Dance Music' or 'IDM', and was coined by Mutual Slump. It is somewhat misleading in that it suggests all ISM must bear a resemblance to IDM, whereas this is not the case at all.

Ash is generally credited with being the first to make ISM, and indeed has kept a mysterious aura surrounding its origins, what inspired him to begin making it, and suchlike. It is believed he began making ISM circa 2002. The Moose Thong EP by TrevAsh, released in July or August 2003, is generally held to be the catalyst for the explosion of Intelligent Shit Music. This inspired Hoodlum to begin making ISM, and in time others followed - 2004 saw many new artists and people take up ISM, and this continued into 2005.

As of 2006, ISM continues to be made, although for some who saw it as a fad, and the naysayers, the hype has died down. However, ISM is not a fad. Nor is it a way of life. It is just a genre of music.

No website about ISM as a genre has been set up before, although there have been attempts. Schlock is notable for having said that an ISM site would be created, although that never happened.

Definition

Making ISM

Anyone with a computer with the correct software can make it - a microphone isn't even strictly necessary (although it can be greatly beneficial).

In general, artists have used programs such as Windows Sound Recorder and Audacity to record their music, and edit it.