quoted 2 lines One of the many feelings I was left with was
>One of the many feelings I was left with was
>how little real thought and analysis has been expended on techno.
I think this is a good thing. Techno evolves so quickly (possibly the
first truly modern music due to the incredible distribution channels that
blanket the globe) that to say anything about techno today is a waste of
breath, considering that it will be totally different tomorrow. I mean,
I'm having a hard time even imagining what you MEAN by the term "techno."
There's just too much ground covered with one word...
quoted 3 lines Good reviews should communicate effectively to someone who has
> Good reviews should communicate effectively to someone who has
>never heard a given piece of music a little bit of the flavor of the
>work.
I doubt very much whether this is even possible with techno. How would you
describe Underground Resistance to someone who had never heard it? "Uh,
it's got a big 4/4 beat... yeah... and some electronic noises that sound
like a garbage can run through a metal grinder, only backwards, and with
echo." What the hell is that going to mean to someone who's never heard
UR? Might as well just say "it fucking rocks, man!!" and hope that your
enthusiasm is infectious enough to make another record sale.
quoted 3 lines It helps if you can avoid comparisons to things that your
>It helps if you can avoid comparisons to things that your
>"average" listener hasn't heard, although comparisons can be very
>useful.
See, I think comparisons are ESSENTIAL. Since, as I said above, you can't
really "get" the track through an abstract verbal discussion, some sort of
reference to something you already know helps much more than anything else.
If I say, "this track has a structure reminiscent of Orbital's typical
output" then you pretty much know exactly what I'm talking about right off.
If you don't, it isn't going to help if I say, "it has a repetitive
evolving structure."
quoted 2 lines On the other hand, Jon Drukman's reviews consistently make
>On the other hand, Jon Drukman's reviews consistently make
>my tonsils ache
maybe you'd better have them taken out... that would neatly eliminate the
whole problem :)
quoted 4 lines because of the vague hyperbole and approbation he puts
> because of the vague hyperbole and approbation he puts
>in his reviews (no offense, Jon, I do like many of them, it's just
>that I can't figure out what the rambling ringtailed hell you're
>getting at sometimes).
vague hyperbole!? VAGUE!? I think my hyperbole is extremely specific!
anyway, i would be happy to clarify any odd turns of phrase if there's
something in particular you didn't get... (what, me defensive?)
quoted 7 lines It also seems odd to me that despite techno's many obvious
> It also seems odd to me that despite techno's many obvious
>parallels to punk (the do-it-yourself ethic, the millions of small
>labels predicated more on getting music out to people than selling
>lots of copies, the huge culture of zines, the support given to
>travelling DJs and techno artists), there is one obvious key element
>of punk that never gets much play in techno: that of the
>political.
in my mind it's because this generation is sick and tired of politics.
what have the protest songs done for us so far? not bloody much! i think
many techno kids have seen the dead end of politics (at least US politics)
and said "fuck it, bang your head, warp your brain... might as well enjoy
it while it's here..." i see a huge amount of hedonism, or at least total
apathy, in the techno scene. politics ain't for us.
quoted 2 lines And even when these ideas do get discussed, they very
>And even when these ideas do get discussed, they very
>rarely manifest themselves in the music.
it's damned hard to make a techno "protest song" without being incredibly
obvious about it. you've either got vocals, which is a pretty big no no
for "pure" techno, or you've got vocal samples, which get old real fast.
so what's the point in trying?
quoted 3 lines Does the constant subliminal link between IDM and drugs (the
>Does the constant subliminal link between IDM and drugs (the
>assumption that IDM is somehow improved by the consumption of
>psychotropics) bug anybody besides me?
considering the vast number of IDM-makers who are total potheads, i think
it's silly to be bugged by it. this is made by people on drugs, for people
on drugs. techno to me is an inherenty non-involved music.
--
Name: Jon
Email: jsd@cyborganic.com
Web:
http://cyborganic.com/~jsd