EAI

Evolving from the non-idiomatic ethos of free improvisation outfits like *AMM*, Electroacoustic Improvisation (EAI) formalized in the late 1990s as a distinct electronic subgenre. It is defined by its quiet, minimalist, and often severe aesthetic, prioritizing texture over melody and rhythm. Practitioners employ instruments like tabletop guitar (*Keith Rowe*), no-input mixing board (*Toshimaru Nakamura*), and sine wave generators (*Sachiko M*), frequently processed through laptops to explore sound's physical properties in real time. The genre's development was consolidated by labels like #Erstwhile Records#, fostering an international, albeit niche, scene that continues to influence contemporary sound art.