Music History
Everything published on Viyolens under Music History — reviews, buying advice and how-tos written for players and producers in the UK.
The Complete Guide to List Of British Number One Singles
The UK number-one single represents cultural moments and popular taste across seven decades. Discover the iconic songs, chart records and evolution of British chart success.
The History of Exotica
The real story of how exotica developed, from postwar America's tiki boom through Baxter, Denny and Lyman, told in order.
Triangle Instrument Explained: Features, Types and Tips
It looks like a bent bit of metal on a string, but there's real craft behind the triangle. Here's the honest, no-nonsense rundown of how it works.
The History of Baroque Music
How a Florentine argument about clarity in singing grew, over a century and a half, into the Baroque period we know today.
The History of Drum and Bass
From warehouse raves to a Mercury Prize win, here's how drum and bass actually took shape, era by era.
The Complete Guide to Florence and the Machine
Florence and the Machine are an influential alternative band known for powerful vocals and orchestral arrangements. This guide covers their complete story and discography.
The History of Cumbia
Cumbia's story is one of constant movement — from a stretch of Colombian coastline into orchestras, record labels and, eventually, samplers and DJ culture.
The Complete Guide to Best Selling Music Albums
The best selling music albums represent remarkable commercial and artistic achievement, from Michael Jackson's Thriller to Pink Floyd's The Wall, defining decades of musical culture.
The History of Bhangra
No single artist or date started this one. Here's the honest arc, from Punjab's harvest fields to a genuine global hip-hop crossover.
The History of Psytrance
A stretch of Indian coastline, a generation of travelling DJs and a sound built out of necessity — here's how the psytrance story actually unfolded.
The Complete Guide to Boom Bap
Discover boom bap, the foundational hip-hop production style. Learn about sampling, classic producers and how this golden-era aesthetic continues influencing modern music.
The History of Indie Rock
How a scrappy DIY release strategy turned into one of the most influential musical identities of the last fifty years.
The History of Trip Hop
Trip hop's story runs from Bristol's clubs and sound systems through three landmark albums to a press label the artists themselves resisted.
The Complete Guide to Official Albums Chart Top 100
The Official Albums Chart Top 100 represents the UK's premier measure of album commercial success, tracking which records resonate most powerfully with British listeners through sales, downloads and s...
A Beginner's Guide to Hymns
The Ultimate Guide to Instruments Tambourine
From ancient frame drum to folk-rock icon: a complete look at what a tambourine is, how it's built, and where it still turns up today.
Hymns Subgenres, Explained
The History of Jungle Music
Jungle's history is the story of British rave, Jamaican sound-system culture and pirate radio colliding at once in the early 1990s.
The Complete Guide to Steel Pan Music Instrument
The steel pan music instrument emerged from post-war Trinidad as a genuine musical miracle—transforming discarded oil drums into melodic instruments that rival orchestras in complexity and beauty.
The History of Pop Punk
From the Ramones' first hooks to the streaming era, here's how pop punk actually developed across five decades of scenes, labels and landmark records.
The Complete Guide to Beatles First Number 1 Single
September 1963: 'From Me to You' became The Beatles' first UK number 1 single, marking the moment when four Liverpool musicians became a national phenomenon. Explore the song, its impact, and the begi...
The Complete Guide to Disco Music Light
Disco culture was as much about spectacular visual design as it was about the music. Lighting—from iconic disco balls to synchronised strobes—transformed the dancefloor into an immersive, otherworldly...
The Complete Guide to 1987 Christmas Number 1
The 1987 Christmas Number 1 dominated UK festive celebrations. Explore the winner, competition, and cultural impact of that memorable Christmas.
The History of Coldwave
From Marquis de Sade's Rennes basements to a 2020s reissue revival — the actual, verifiable timeline of how coldwave developed.
Music History is filed under
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Concertina
Compact bellows instrument with a bright, nimble voice, widely used in British, Irish and maritime folk music.
Country Music
Country music combines storytelling lyrics, melodic hooks and acoustic-led band arrangements.
1 topic
Florence and the Machine
Florence and the Machine-inspired instruments and production gear for expressive songwriting, layered sound and dynamic...
K Pop
Polished, performance-led pop with global influence, slick production and strong visual identity.
1 topic
Oboe Instrument
An oboe instrument suits players seeking focused tone, expressive control and a respected orchestral woodwind voice.
Post Malone
Post Malone-inspired gear for modern songwriting, recording and performance across pop, rap and melodic production style...
Roland Tr
Discover Roland TR rhythm machines for beat-making, step sequencing and classic electronic drum programming.
Triangle Instrument
Triangle instruments deliver bright, clear accents for orchestras, schools, ensembles and general percussion use.
