I like to tell people that reggae artists (more specifically dub artists) created electronic music. I don’t know if it’s entirely true, but there is some evidence to suggest this.
Well, electronic music in the broad sense is at least thirty-five years older than Sleng Teng. I doubt, say, Schaeffer and Xennakis were very clued in to what was happening in Jamaica.
But it's absolute true that you reggae and dub had a profound impact on dance music music in all its forms from the 90's onwards, both culturally and in the production methods and sound. I'm not sure I've ever heard any of the original Detroit artists reference Jamaican music as an influence, but the entire European side (which then moved back North America) is steeped in Jamaican influence, both directly and via the UK.
> I'm not sure I've ever heard any of the original Detroit artists reference Jamaican music as an influence
Agreed, I've never read anything from Atkins and his progeny regarding Jamaica at all, frankly.
For those interested, though, the cross-pollination of "dub techno" that happened later is quite wonderful (and makes for great programming music). Moritz von Oswald brought reggae to Germany in the 90's and a dubbed out and cold brand of techno flourished from it. I recommend artists like Moritz's own Basic Channel[1] and the newer Echospace[2]
yeah, British punk is heavily influenced by Jamaican music because of this, while similar American music doesn't have that influence at all until much later. Bad Brains being the only real exception I can think of.
