IDM Mailing Archive

quoted 11 lines Squarepusher just "clicked" for me today; It really takes

>> Squarepusher just "clicked" for me today; It really takes >> a while to get used to Jenkinson, because his sound is just so ahead of its >> time... but once his musical concepts begin to unravel themselves, and you >> start seeing where he is coming from, there is no going back. > > Astute. All ye of little faith take heed of this: remember the >reaction to Tango 'n' Vectif on its arrival? For most people, utter >confusion was the order of the day. And now? A classic, for sure. If >the same does not happen to Mr Pusher, once people begin to understand >just exactly what the hell he's up to (and I dare say many never >will), then I'll eat my slipmat - and that's a promise.

I've been trying to stay on the sidelines through all this, but the above mutual handjob is blowing this Squarepusher thing over the top. His constantly shifting layers of sound and rhythm is a rehash of "In C" era Terry Riley, the dirtiness I'd say came from Th' Faith Healers or an Earache band, the jungle comes from, you know...the live aesthetic comes from a Fostex Porta01, etc. ad boream, I know. But this isn't just me playing spot the influence, but me hearing nothing but influence. Sure, he's the first on the scene to combine all this stuff in this genre and though anyone can use deconstruction as a weapon, all I'm hearing is musical collage with no substance, just the techniques that have come to light recently in the ever churning electronic music production/composition universe. Music got separated from faith with the downfall of Gregorian chant in the 13th century, and I don't think it's necessary to reinstate it because someone out there figured out glue. There's a quote somewhere that goes something like "new technology can appear to be magic to those who don't know how it works." Aphex and Mu-ziq operated within that with their little-kid melodies over ring-modulated rhythms (actually Aphex fell into it, and Paradinas started in it but got wise and made Makesaracket and Spatula Freak). I'm not reading any messages by confused people who don't get it because Squarepusher's so far over their heads, as if they've never heard Atom Heart's latest, but commentary by peeps who don't need a Next Big Thing in their lives. Honestly, I think people want Squarepusher to be good and innovative more than he is actually making a timeless work. eric onnow: Slayer "Haunting the Chapel" (Metal Blade)

quoted 2 lines like "new technology can appear to be magic to those who don't know how it

>like "new technology can appear to be magic to those who don't know how it >works."

Duuuuhh.... me typing on computer... wow, words appear on magic glowing box... duuuh...

quoted 1 line Aphex and Mu-ziq operated within that with their little-kid melodies

>Aphex and Mu-ziq operated within that with their little-kid melodies

Yah, I know what you mean. It seems like every time I shove a synth in front of the face of any nearby two year old, Xtal is inevitably tapped out in its entirety within five minutes... sheesh...

quoted 3 lines I'm not

>I'm not >reading any messages by confused people who don't get it because >Squarepusher's so far over their heads

No, no. Not *over* their heads, more to the side, I think...

quoted 2 lines but commentary by peeps who don't need a Next Big Thing in

>but commentary by peeps who don't need a Next Big Thing in >their lives.

Next Big What? All I said was "gosh darn I really dig this guy's music, I think it is really good quality stuff that I truly enjoy listening to, by an artist who is quite talented" in a slightly more roundabout, interesting way. Last time I checked, I didn't own, nor did I plan to buy any Squarepusher T Shirts, beach towels, shaving cream, or breakfast cereals. Why is everyone subjecting this music to such intense and unusual scrutiny and criticism? Last time I checked, Mr. Jenkinson wasn't planning to run for political office.

sugatis wrote: sc> Why is everyone subjecting this music to sc> such intense and unusual scrutiny and criticism? Last time I sc> checked, Mr. Jenkinson wasn't planning to run for political sc> office. Isn't he? Sheeesh, I thought he was Roy Jenkins' son ... Anyways, my SP lp arrives tomorrow! Can't wait seeing as how I play the ep's from noon til noon. I still don't believe it. Where did this guy come from? Why didn't anybody cotton on earlier? Questions ... Helen On Now: Locust - live 'i feel cold inside because of the things you say' pfffeeewww ... (needed a break)

Eric, EH>I've been trying to stay on the sidelines through all this, but the above EH>mutual handjob is blowing this Squarepusher thing over the top. For every person who posts one of these handjobs, there's also someone who refuses to credit people with enough intelligence to actually understand that people might actually LIKE these records, and not for this so-called hype. Who cares if you think such and such a record is a deconstruction, a homage, a whatever, it's all in your head, it comes from a negative attitude. You can't say what the artist's motivation is by listening to a record like this. That's the beauty of instrumental music. I say Squarepusher's LP is brilliant. I'm not licking anyones arse. EH>Aphex and Mu-ziq operated within that with their little-kid melodies EH>over ring-modulated rhythms (actually Aphex fell into it, and Paradinas EH>started in it but got wise and made Makesaracket and Spatula Freak). Meaningless, totally meaningless. Where are you coming from here? Cheers, SjaY. *Fido* 2:250/151 *E-Mail* Geotrax@jukjoint.warp.co.uk ... 'Deepville' - 808 State ___ * UniQWK v4.1 * The Windows Mail Reader

On Fri, 14 Jun 1996, GEOTRAX wrote:

quoted 10 lines Eric,

> > Eric, > > EH>I've been trying to stay on the sidelines through all this, but the above > EH>mutual handjob is blowing this Squarepusher thing over the top. > > For every person who posts one of these handjobs, there's also someone > who refuses to credit people with enough intelligence to actually > understand that people might actually LIKE these records, and not for > this so-called hype.

Here here. And some of us (like me) who've been buying records for 30 years and do have some taste and historical context, and who like it. I'm not going to get all soppy or hyperbolic over SP, but the fact is it was in constant rotation for days and I enjoyed every moment.

quoted 3 lines I say Squarepusher's LP is brilliant. I'm not licking anyones arse.

> > I say Squarepusher's LP is brilliant. I'm not licking anyones arse. >

Thank god for that!

quoted 6 lines EH>Aphex and Mu-ziq operated within that with their little-kid melodies

> EH>Aphex and Mu-ziq operated within that with their little-kid melodies > EH>over ring-modulated rhythms (actually Aphex fell into it, and Paradinas > EH>started in it but got wise and made Makesaracket and Spatula Freak). > > Meaningless, totally meaningless. Where are you coming from here? >

That should be obvious ;-) --------------------------------------------------------------------- "I read Keyboard, but it's like staring at a book with pictures of simple looking but expensive machines." -- Michael Lazarev Check the home page http://soli.inav.net/~kent/ NEW CD Electronic Music Project http://soli.inav.net/~kent/emp.html Kent Williams kent@inav.net CADSI 2651 Crosspark Road Coralville IA 52241 (319) 338 6053 (home) (319) 626 6700 x 219 (work) (319) 626 3489 (fax)