(Intelligent Dance Music) emerged in the early 1990s as an experimental offshoot of electronic music, characterized by complex rhythms, abstract textures, and a focus on listening rather than dancing. Blending elements of techno, ambient, glitch, and breakbeat, IDM artists like Aphex Twin, Autechre, and Squarepusher pushed sonic boundaries, crafting cerebral and emotive compositions that often feel futuristic, introspective, and intricately detailed.
