Downbeat is a generic term sometimes used to replace ambient-house and ambient-techno, considering that the amount and complexity of electronic listening music described under the "ambient" umbrella had made the terms practically useless by the mid-'90s. It often implies the use of moderate breakbeats instead of the steady four-four beats of most ambient-house or ambient-techno. (read more)

Downbeat is a generic term sometimes used to replace ambient-house and ambient-techno, considering that the amount and complexity of electronic listening music described under the "ambient" umbrella had made the terms practically useless by the mid-'90s. It often implies the use of moderate breakbeats instead of the steady four-four beats of most ambient-house or ambient-techno. The style also breaches territory claimed by trip-hop, ambient-techno, and electro-techno. In its widest possible definition, downbeat is any form of electronic music created for the living room instead of the dance floor.(collapse)