Rockpedia

Compare

Two genres, side by side. The ratings are editorial judgements on a ten-point scale, not measurements. Where they come out level, the difference is in the prose underneath them.

First genre

Coldwave / minimal wave1981

Second genre

Post-punk1978

Head to headColdwave / minimal wave vs Post-punk
Coldwave / minimal wave: heaviness 2, melody 7, speed 4. Post-punk: heaviness 3, melody 6, speed 5.Heaviness2 / 3Melody7 / 6Speed4 / 5
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Coldwave is post-punk's continental synth wing, and it keeps the bass-forward arrangement while dropping the guitar.

Both are sung cleanly, but post-punk is a little faster: 110 to 150 bpm against 90 to 130. To hear the difference, play Trisomie 21 next to Joy Division. Coldwave / minimal wave grew out of post-punk, three years later.

Put together from each genre's vocals, tempo, song length, key acts and place in the tree.

In figures

Heaviness
Coldwave / minimal wave2
Post-punk3
+1
Speed
Coldwave / minimal wave4
Post-punk5
+1
Melody
Coldwave / minimal wave7
Post-punk6
−1

Coldwave / minimal wave

1981 · France / Belgium

Where it sits

Rock › Punk rock › Post-punk › Coldwave / minimal wave

In short

European post-punk on cheap drum machines: cold synths, distant vocals, the atmosphere of a grey housing block in winter.

How it sounds

  • A cheap drum machine - Roland TR-606, Korg - and a monophonic synthesizer.
  • Chorused guitar, used sparingly and for texture.
  • Distant vocals, often in French, over lo-fi production.

Key acts

  • Trisomie 21
  • Asylum Party
  • Martin Dupont

Start here

The pickTrisomie 21 - Le Repos des Enfants Heureux. Grey-tower-block melancholy in pure form.

Full page →

Post-punk

1978 · United Kingdom · 7 subgenres

Where it sits

Rock › Punk rock › Post-punk

In short

Punk asking what comes next: melodic bass up front, dry guitar, space and cold. Possibly the most fertile branch in all of rock.

How it sounds

  • The bass carries the melody; the guitar plays short, dry figures with chorus or flanger.
  • Dry-toned drums with plenty of space in the mix - you can hear the room.
  • Irregular structures, cold dynamics, abstract or political lyrics.

Key acts

  • Joy Division
  • Wire
  • Gang of Four
  • Public Image Ltd

Start here

The pickJoy Division - Unknown Pleasures. Martin Hannett's production is half the record.

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