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 Box Sets Vinyl
Vinyl box sets offer bass enthusiasts comprehensive collections of legendary performances and rare recordings, combining superior sound quality with exclusive memorabilia.
The History of Shoegaze
A sound built from at least four earlier traditions, named as an insult, and granted barely half a decade in the spotlight before quietly outliving everything that displaced it.
The History of Chillout
It started as a room, not a genre. Here's how chillout grew from rave chill-out rooms into a sound of its own, via Ibiza and beyond.
The History of Marching Band
From soldiers keeping step to Script Ohio and modern drum corps, here's how marching band grew into the layered tradition it is today.
The History of Gospel Music
Gospel music was assembled slowly, out of pain, faith and borrowed musical language, over roughly a century. Here is that assembly, traced properly.
The History of Dream Pop
From 4AD's early 1980s experiments to Beach House's 2010s breakthrough, the history of dream pop is one of quiet persistence and gradual reinvention.
The History of Bedroom Pop
The DIY impulse has been there since the cassette era. The internet made it a genre. Here's the full history.
The History of New Techno
New techno did not appear from nowhere. Here is the line running from three Detroit friends with a synthesizer to today's fragmented, thriving scene.
The History of Soca
One musician, one decade, one clear intention — and five decades of evolution since. Here's how soca went from a 1970s studio experiment to Carnival's defining sound.
The Best Pop Music Artists to Know
Pop doesn't have one canon. Here's a tour through the artists who each reshaped the mainstream sound for their own era, from Elvis to BTS.
The History of Psychedelic Rock
From reversed tape loops to modern neo-psychedelia — the real story of how psychedelic rock happened, and where it went next.
Everything You Need to Know About Yamaha Music
One company, almost every corner of the music world. Here's how Yamaha Music actually fits together, guitars included.
A Beginner's Guide to Hip Hop Music
Hip-hop is both a music genre and a cultural movement born in the Bronx fifty years ago. A guide to the four elements, the evolution from block parties to global phenomenon, and why hip-hop still matt...
The History of Art Pop
Tracing this story means starting outside music entirely, with a 1950s art movement that never intended to change how records got made.
The Complete Guide to 1990 Grunge Music
1990 grunge music represents the pivotal year when Seattle's underground sound began attracting international attention whilst maintaining complete artistic authenticity, capturing the genre at its mo...
The Complete Guide to Killing In The Name Christmas Number 1
The 2009 campaign to make Rage Against the Machine's 'Killing in the Name' the UK Christmas number 1 became a landmark moment in fan activism and online coordination.
The Complete Guide to Northern Soul
Northern Soul emerged from Northern England's dance floors, becoming a cultural phenomenon defined by passionate enthusiasm for obscure American soul records and devoted subcultural identity.
The History of Garage Music
One word, three timelines — how garage rock, garage house and UK garage each began, and how they eventually crossed paths.
The Complete Guide to Christmas Number 1 List
The UK Christmas number 1 tradition represents a century of festive musical culture. Discover what songs have topped the charts and what the annual race reveals about British taste.
A Beginner's Guide to Folk Music
Not one sound but a way music moves through a community. Here's what genuinely makes folk music folk, and a quick sweep through its history.
The History of Ambient Music
Not invented on one date by one artist — here's how several separate traditions converged into ambient music, and where it branched from there.
The History of Krautrock
Krautrock grew from a specific cultural moment — a generation of West German artists determined to create music that was neither a copy of the past nor an imitation of Anglo-American rock. Here is the...
The History of Surf Rock
Surf rock had its commercial moment between 1962 and 1964 before the British Invasion changed everything. But the reverb-guitar sound it created has never gone away.
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.