On 28 Aug 96, Gonzi Merchan (Fresh), lifted to new heights of
brilliance, penned:
quoted 7 lines Whoa. I'll have my VCR ready. I've never seen an Aphex video before.> Whoa. I'll have my VCR ready. I've never seen an Aphex video before.
> This kind of leaves me with mixed feelings though. I feel like a
> snake under a rock thats about to have the rock blown apart by
> dynamite. Who knows what reprecussions this will have? Will there be
> a generation of 15 year old Autechre fans forming new cliches at
> high schools? Will they sell Aphex shirts at the mall? Will Orbital
> sell out ampitheaters in the US?
Hey y'alls,
<fear-inspired bile mode on>
You said it so loud and so clear! THIS is what I fear. I've been
reading the debate over keeping music underground and I've been
meaning to respond but haven't found (taken) the time to respond
until now.
I fear for the future. While I hear that more exposure will allow
some of our favourite musicians to perhpas eat better, I know, KNOW
that if corporate commandos comes after 'our' music (yes it is our
music, dammit) that we shall have to sit back and watch with
increasing horror as everything we (I) hold dear is bastardized,
commercialized and raped.
Please understand. To me, this music, this techno/idm/ambient/etc is
pure beauty. It is the most important thing in this world to me. I
cannot/won't explain what I mean, but I'm sure I'm not alone when I
say that it's not just about a catchy melody and a funky beat. It's
about that which is good. It's about love, beauty, higher states of
being and pain. It is not about selling lunch boxes and t-shirts
and...and...fuck.
Words fail me.
It's just that I feel that SOMETHING has to mean SOMETHING, if you
know what I mean. This music MEANS something to me. This music IS me.
I can't think of a proper analogy.
Imagine how you, as the pope would feel if one day christianity
became the next big 'thing' for corporate entities, you know? What if
all of a sudden, you've got shitty little kids running around town
sporting t-shirts of jesus smokin' phat joints (wait...that sounds
cool, actually) saying "Christians Rule". What if every radio station
in the world started playing "Jesus Loves Me" 10 times a day for
several months. Bible trading cards, communion take-out restaurants
and revelations video games.
When I'm not at work, I spend a lot of time alone, not because I
don't know any people, but because I cannot stand to be around most
of the people I know. People who swallow what has been fed them.
People who make sure they have the latest Mariah Carey and Michael
Bolton cds...because they are told to. People who believe Alanis
Morrisette is 'alternative' music. I find that often, people who
really dig their techno (catch-all term) are better people. Of
course, 'better' is a subjective term, but I am talking about my
perspective, aren't I?
Here it is: I love the underground status that our (yes, by god, it
IS ours) music enjoys. But know you this - it's not merely because I
don't want to share it. I don't merely wish to set an arbitrary
quota on how many people are permitted to listen. I only wish to
preserve the love and respect for the music. I don't think that can
be done in a post MTV techno world.
Yes, yes...I know that it all comes down to the music, but I cannot
help but think massive commercial interest will result in some sort
of...taint...?
Having said all this, I'm not sure I believe that our entire scene
can be taken commercial. It's too vibrant, too diverse, too smart,
too good. Maybe it will only be 'us' who sit up and take notice to
what's happening on MTV - everyone else will change the channel,
wondering where the hell Presidents of the United States got to.... I hope.
If there were just one person to whom I could say "please...please
don't take my music..."...
<fear-inspired bile mode off>
onnow: 444 - Autechre. 'nuff said...
Peace out,
The Dragon Reborn
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"You have to burn in order to shine."
- Coil
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