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From:
Jan Hanford
To:
Date:
Wed, 2 Apr 1997 12:11:37 +0000
Subject:
(idm) idm has no clothes
Msg-Id:
<199704021204.MAA00367@synergy.transbay.net>
Mbox:
idm.9704.gz
quoted 7 lines So I went to the Warp web site to have a listen to the Jimi Tenor>>So I went to the Warp web site to have a listen to the Jimi Tenor >>album via RealAudio. I came away with the following conclusion: >>out of 11 maketh not an IDM recording, no matter what label it's >>on.Why he gets any play on this list at all is totally beyond me. > >*shrug* >the idm definition has been laughable since it's creation. for me >>>
This is very interesting since I was discussing this with my boyfriend recently. What is idm and why has the idm list deteriorated into this mess? My answer: there is no longer a thing called "idm". It accurately described a style of music, a la Warp, a few years ago, but it's over. There is so much variety in styles now, from Old Aphex Twin, to New Aphex Twin, to B12, to Jimi Tenor, to Orbital, that all anyone can do is fight all the time. It's not a discussion anymore. The common language that made idm a topic is gone and it's turned into one nasty flame war after another, often trying to define what it is they are fighting about. I used to be able to rely on this list for excellent music recommendations in a genre of music I enjoy more than any other. This is no longer the case. Trying to pick out the bits of information about what used to be called "idm" amongst this list's many egotists' rantings is becoming very difficult. Thankfully, many web sites are now offering sound samples so I can visit and listen to something before I accidentally buy a piece of crap. I have avoided potential mistakes (thank you, Warp!) and found several gems this way (thank you, Warp!) and it's a great technological tool. Far more reliable than someone recommending an awful recording in order to appear "kewl." BTW, your pants are too big and your ass is showing. Oops, sorry, you meant to look that way... As for people thinking they are "kewl" because they listen to an artist who is "underground" and then scream "traitor" as soon as said artist sells more than 1000 cd's or is shown on MTV (like they shouldn't be able to pay the rent? TBD deserves better). I hope you don't think this is something new! I am probably one of the older members (in age and membership) of this list and have to tell you that people have *always* considered themselves superior to other people because of the music they listened to. And now, 30 years later, those records have been mastered to cd and are now an $8.99 "nice price" at Tower. I can only laugh at all this posturing because I know from experience that it means absolutely nothing and will change as often as people change their socks and underwear (preferably, but not always, every day). Perhaps if the "idm list" weren't called idm, people wouldn't have the expectations they do and the dire need to constantly prove eachother wrong. What I haven't figured out yet is: what is the prize for being "right"? Here's a kleenex, use it. And to all the nice, talented, friendly, intelligent idm'ers I've met via private mail: thank you. Please keep in touch. Thanks for listening... Jan * * * Jan Hanford - jan@shelby.com Shelby Group Ltd. - Internet Software Developers C o r p o r a t e - http://www.shelby.com/ P e r s o n a l - http://www.tile.net/jan/