One thing to keep in mind on the "live v. memorex" equation in the
performance of electronic music is that tape has been used in live settings
since it was introduced. Many of the first electronic pieces were for live
instrumentation and prerecorded or "realized" tapes. From Stockhausen to
Feldman and Reilly, the use of tapes has provided for some amazing music to
be performed in situations where it otherwise wouldn't be possible.
The point is the _interaction_ between the live parts and the prerecorded
parts. This interaction was the main attraction to early electronic music,
but to my mind, is not being done so well by most dance acts I have seen.
Most do not add much in the way of fleshing out nuances that separate a
live/dat performance from their recordings. If nothing else, the attempt at
live (or semi-live) pa's has just added that really bad "it's live" sound to
the same music that is on the records.
Music that is played just from dat might as well be played just from vinyl
or 1/4" tape. If that is what the performer will be doing (i.e., hitting
play and bouncing around) they should be billed as a dj. After all, Goa Gil
does his sets off of multiple dat players, but he's booked as a dj not a
live act...
Personally, I prefer seeing shows of sequenced rhythms as opposed to dat,
because a quick hand can change the sequences as they run and play other
material over the top. Personally, I think Pete Namlook and Klaus Schulze
are two of the best at this mixture of sequencing and live keyboard work.
But, heh, when you need a dat, you need a dat...
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Just a thought,
David
onnow:"Magic Tracks compiled by Juan Atkins : Magic Tracks Deep Detroit v.2"