This is something i've been on a kick about for a while... IDM shows IMO, are
generally very dull (this from someone who goes to a lot of hiphop concerts).
It is usually someone staring blankly into a laptop (which crashes every so
often), and totally ignoring the audience. This, i believe, is a tragic
mistake because half the point of performing is interacting with your
audience.
The worst IDM show i've been to was Autechre. They blantantly, and
intentionally disregard the presence of an audience for whatever reason. No
visuals are present, and the music is reduced to a totally undanceable, and
often painful form. It is boring and insulting. Anyone who can claim they are
exciting obviously doesnt get out much.
The best IDM show i've been to was Mouse on Mars. Why? Because they cared a
lot about the audience! They talked to us, brought in live instruments for us
to watch, had a funky drummer, and kept everything danceable and stimulating.
The whole time they made eye contact, chatted to the crowd, and changed up
the music based on the crowd's reaction. I got more than my money's worth.
So what is the solution to the dull IDM laptoppers? IDM artists should
undestand that to play a show they should know something about performing
first. Finding an instrument (older IDM was fun because of analog synth
tweaking) or someone who can play one is not difficult. They should try
talking to the crowd, making it danceable, bouncing around! IDM artists must
do anything but stare into a screen and ignore the audience. I'm sure the
fans would greatly appreciate the effort.
In a message dated 4/18/02 1:30:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time, adm226@nyu.edu
writes:
quoted 37 lines Well, I've been feeling pretty jaded about this stuf lately. Most of> Well, I've been feeling pretty jaded about this stuf lately. Most of
> the time, in my experience, there is someone behind a laptop doing god-
> knows-what or messing around with faders or eq on their mixer. That
> stuff is not fun to watch. However, I don't have much of a problem
> with this if its in a kind of dance oriented atmosphere.
>
> A lof of the time I find that the performer doesn't drop enough of a
> hook or beat for dancing to happen. Either that or its just sort of
> ambient stuff. In the case of ambient stuff, I can deal with it
> sometimes if I have a comfortable place to sit down and its especially
> nice if there are some decent visual projections. However, experience
> has taught me that I get really tired of those kind of things if I
> can't sit down. Maybe its because I'm flat-footed and my feet get sore
> easily or maybe its because I'd much rather listen to that kind of
> stuff on headphones in the comfort of my room rather than standing
> often without breathing space.
>
> But then there is the upside of live IDM. Acts like Matmos and Mouse
> on Mars that bring in live instruments to mix with their laptops. For
> me, this is the kind of thing I'd like to see more of. There just
> always seems to be more energy in these shows. Laptops just have a
> very alienating nature. The person HAS to stare directly into their
> screen. It's as if they are permanently distracted from the audience
> they are performing for. With a guitar or keyboard, most of the time
> people don't have to keep their eyes on what their hands are doing, but
> I've never seen someone using a laptop like this. And its not even the
> case that people playing traditional instruments are always or ever
> engaging the audience with their face or otherwise, but its still a lot
> different from the laptop performer who might as well be alone in a
> room with their laptops.
>
> Which is another thing: interplay. Another thing acts like Matmos and
> MoM have going for them. And the sense of spontanaity. Alright...
> sorry if that rant wasn't to cohesive, but I hope some of these
> thoughts might lead to further exploration in your article.
>
> -Aaron