Downtempo

Less a precisely defined style than a mood, Downtempo embraces all things chilled-out, and can include mellow versions of Techno, Electro, Breakbeat, House and IDM. Downtempo tracks are characterized by relaxed rhythms, smoothed-out melodies and poetic vocals. The music is often warm, occasionally unsettling, and probably represents the most accessible branch of Electronica yet. The genre was widely influenced by the hip-hop instrumentals of Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez and the early sounds of Acid Jazz. Downtempo's elastic boundaries are demonstrated by the diverse artists who qualify for the label, from the hip-hop-influenced DJ Shadow, through the sleepy House musings of Miguel Migs, and on to the Acid Jazz flavors of United Future Organization.