Experimental music is produced for the sole purpose of exploring music without rules or formulas. During the 20th century, leading composers such as John Cage, Keith Rowe, Steve Reich, and Terry Riley experimented with rhythm, harmony, tuning, and distortion, using electronic tools such as the Theremin and the Moog synthesizer. These forms of esoteric expressionism, coupled with unconventional instruments, produced a world of new music, opening the door to styles such as noise, minimalism, field recordings, musique concrete, and Krautrock. In the past few decades technology has become more accessible and affordable, breeding a new legion of computer geeks, surrealists, and innovators such as Scanner, Matmos, Muslim Gauze, Mouse on Mars, and Sonic Youth.

Notable Artists: Karlheinz Stockhausen, Mouse on Mars, John Cage