I wouldn't call either of those trip-hop.

explain

Boards of Canada is generally considered to be illbient if you want to get technical. It's basically ambient music, but they use effects that makes their music sound aged and warped. At times they have a bit of a hip-hop beat going, but this is very rare they are usually more just an ambient band. Gorillaz have very little in the way of electronic elements in their songs. They are more alternative kind of like Blur (of course, Damon Albarn) at times and always hip-hop. They never move into trip-hop territory.

The way you describle Boards of Canada seems accurate, and a good way to explain how they are not trip-hop. I've never heard the term illbient applied to them though. Not saying it's not accurate, I don't really know what illbient is to tell you the truth. From my experience people usually refer to Boards of Canada as IDM...which is broad in itself. They're definitely part ambient, but overall I think their vibe is too lively and interesting to be considered strictly ambient. And I suppose that's where 'illbient' comes in. Kind of like how when I first heard stuff like Prefuse 73 (IDM combined with hip-hop) I called it trip-hop. It wasn't just IDM, and it was too IDM to just be called hip-hop. So I can see it...illbient. Ambient that's cool, fun, dope etc. :D

Well... to be honest, I have no idea what it means either, that's why I just mentioned it first. I took it to mean the same thing as you, sort of dope fun ambient music that moves beyond being simple background music but doesn't really fit too well into any other genre I can think of. I don't like simply applying IDM, or EDM, to bands because they are both such broad genres, like you mentioned. I had no clue what to call them genre wise. I definitely think Prefuse 73 is much more hip hop based than BOC though.

On a side note, anyone like Sixtoo? I would definitely consider it trip hop, and if you like the rap/hip hop side note I would highly recommend it. It's also pretty dark and experimental, interesting to listen to. Psyche Intangible is a brilliant album.

anybody hear RJD2's latest EP? i listened to it on the way to work this morning. not very remarkable i'm afraid. but at least he's moving back towards instrumental stuff - i couldn't bear to listen to him singing in Third Hand :)

latest discoveries include:
Wax Tailor
Blue Sky Black Death
Crustation
Earthling
Halou
Meaty Ogre

some of it is more instrumental hip hop than trip hop, but sometimes it's hard to draw a line...

I'm a fan...447 plays in my last.fm profile. :cool: I prefer his production work but his early rap albums are fun too.

Sadly, I haven't heard anything but Psyche Intangible and Chewing on Glass & Other Miracle Cures, which has some ****ing amazing beats. He was actually my introduction to Ninja Tunes when I discovered he was on I Thought I Was Over That by Lali Puna. Now the label is my primary resource for instrumental trip hop, I think the label as a whole does it better than any other. Just in case I ever get around to it, any other albums you'd recommend by Sixtoo? I believe I've heard good things about Jackals and Vipers in Envy of Man, but that's the only other one I can think of.

And speaking of Ninja Tunes, Blockhead released The Music Scene today, check it out.

OH yeah? I didn't think Blockhead's new one was out for another week or two. Thanks for the heads-up!

As for Sixtoo, Jackals... is good, but Duration is better. I'd suggest that one next. Chewing on Glass is indeed amazing.

Morcheeba's "Who Can you Trust" album is also a classic in this genre.

But to add to the discussion on what is considered trip-hop, hip-hop or downtempo and so on; I've noticed that these days, new music genre's are popping up left and right. It's actually kind of funny, a slight change in tempo could mean a track is a different genre! haha. I think for something to considered trip hop it has to have an element of hip hop in it. That doesn't mean just hip hop style drums. It could be a break (sample) or even the style of production or that is borrowed from hip hop along with elements of electronic music.

The discussion could go on for days, but at the end of the day, bands need room to try something different without it being considered a different genre from their previous work (i.e. portishead and massive attack). I just think there are too many genres to keep track of IMHO.