IDM Mailing Archive

1996-06-25 09:47rephlexre: Who overrated it? Only one of the ten >tracks comes close to what I expected If it was

From:: rephlex <rephlex@popmail.dircon.co.uk>
To:: <idm@hyperreal.com>
Date:: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 10:47:50 +0100
Subject:: (idm) Re: idm V1 #568

re: Who overrated it? Only one of the ten

quoted 1 line tracks comes close to what I expected

>tracks comes close to what I expected

If it was what you were expecting then it wouldn't be cutting edge techno music would it? Once again you haven't listened to the record properly. You can't review it properly for another week at least, I don't think. Sorry guys but it needs much

quoted 1 line more than making tracks with burps to make this idm'er smile. Er, what

>more than making tracks with burps to make this idm'er smile. Er, what

about the other ones? You do better, send me a demo, and I'll release it straight away. When will everyone realise that they can't argue with RDJ - you should really coun't your blessings that you are alive at the moment to witness the legend first hand. If you think that I over-rate him as the most important figure in contemporary techno music, then go and buy some happy hardcore or something. This album is humourous - I'm so sorry if you don't like to smile. Let's just

quoted 3 lines hope Richards 'rework' on the new Caustic Window LP will make it sound like

>hope Richards 'rework' on the new Caustic Window LP will make it sound like >his early stuff. >

Get out of the past pal, the world is always changing. Try and identify with the side of the music that IS like his old stuff, i.e the soul, the fact that it's still by Richard.

quoted 1 line PS: At least the cover made me laugh for awhile

>PS: At least the cover made me laugh for awhile

Quite right it should, they spent a lot of time making it bright and rubbishy! Don't bother mailing me back with some fiery reply - just post your favourite records of the last month, excluding the Rx stable, and I think I'll see where you're coming from.

1996-06-25 18:33Mark KolmarNot addressed to me, but I'll answer > You do better, send me a demo, and I'll release it

From:: Mark Kolmar <mkolmar@ccs.nslsilus.org>
To:: IDM List <idm@hyperreal.com>
Date:: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 13:33:32 -0500 (CDT)
Subject:: Re: (idm) Re: idm V1 #568
Reply to:: (idm) Re: idm V1 #568

Not addressed to me, but I'll answer

quoted 1 line You do better, send me a demo, and I'll release it straight away.

> You do better, send me a demo, and I'll release it straight away.

For all I know, maybe I have, and maybe you should... comments, kudos and constructive criticism appreciated.

quoted 2 lines favourite records of the last month, excluding the Rx stable, and I think

> favourite records of the last month, excluding the Rx stable, and I think > I'll see where you're coming from.

Miles Davis, _Bitches Brew_, _Agharta_, _Pangaea_ Mark Stewart, _Control Data_ Download, _The Eyes of Stanley Pain_ Merzbow, _Pulse Demon_ Alec Empire, _The Destroyer_ Audio Active, _Happy Happer_ Wu-Tang Clan: Method Man, Raekwon, Genius/Gza, Ol' Dirty Bastard Meat Beat Manifesto, _Subliminal Sandwich_ etc. --Mark

1996-06-25 21:29Miles EganOn Tue, 25 Jun 1996, Mark Kolmar wrote: > Alec Empire, _The Destroyer_ What does this soun

From:: Miles Egan <cullen@rahul.net>
To:: IDM List <idm@hyperreal.com>
Date:: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 14:29:32 -0700 (PDT)
Subject:: (idm) Re: Empire's Destroyer
Reply to:: Re: (idm) Re: idm V1 #568

On Tue, 25 Jun 1996, Mark Kolmar wrote:

quoted 1 line Alec Empire, _The Destroyer_

> Alec Empire, _The Destroyer_

What does this sound like anyway? It would have gone home with me on Sunday if it weren't for the picture of Alec on the back screaming into a microphone and looking a bit too much little a John Rotten wannabe.

1996-06-26 08:21Helen Adriaensrdcu> Once again you haven't listened to the record properly. rdcu> You can't review it pr

From:: Helen Adriaens <helen@syncnet.xs4all.nl>
To:: <Idm@hyperreal.com>
Date:: 26 Jun 96 10:21:01 +0200
Subject:: (idm) Re: idm V1 #568
Reply to:: (idm) Re: idm V1 #568

rdcu> Once again you haven't listened to the record properly. rdcu> You can't review it properly for another week at least, I haven't even heard it yet so no review from me. rdcu> I don't think. You don't? Forgive me, but I think you do. rdcu> hardcore or something. This album is humourous - I'm so rdcu> sorry if you don't like to smile. RdJ has me in pleats at times, just like the Palace Brothers and Sebadoh. It's so overdone, I can only grin, and grin again. Maybe you want to try some more smiling as well ... it's good for you. rdcu> Get out of the past pal, the world is always changing. Yes, words of wisdom are spoken. One up for Grant. rdcu> Try and identify with the side of the music that IS like his old rdcu> stuff, i.e the soul, the fact that it's still by Richard. Couldn't be happier - RDJ works better than Prozac. rdcu> just post your favourite records of the last month, excluding the rdcu> Rx stable, and I think I'll see where you're coming from. .... a near impossible task as I never do without Rx But okay, for amusement only, in no particular order. Tortoise:Millions Now Living Will Never Die Tortoise:Djed - Bruise Blood mix by U.N.K.L.E. Him:Egg Clear:it's all becoming ... Reload:A Collection of Short Stories Freeform:Prowl Autechre:Tri Repetae Locust:Weathered Well Locust:Truth is Made of Arguments The Verve:A Storm in Heaven Public Enemy:It takes a nation of millions Django Reinhardt:Djangology Meat Beat Manifesto:Subliminal Sandwich Further Self Evident Truths 3 Luke Vibert in all his shapes and colours Swirlies:they spent their youthful days in the glittering world of the salons Apollo 2:the divine compilation Matthew Herbert, Source Direct, Disjecta, Seefeel, Bio Muse, GC, Link, etc. not as difficult as I thought ... Helen

1996-06-25 16:48Adam J Weitzmanrephlex wrote: > > >Only one of the ten > >tracks comes close to what I expected > > If it

From:: Adam J Weitzman <weitzman@individual.com>
To:: rephlex <rephlex@popmail.dircon.co.uk>
Cc:: <idm@hyperreal.com>
Date:: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 12:48:07 -0400
Subject:: (idm) on the Mike & Rich review

rephlex wrote:

quoted 7 lines Only one of the ten

> > >Only one of the ten > >tracks comes close to what I expected > > If it was what you were expecting then it wouldn't be cutting edge techno > music would it? Once again you haven't listened to the record properly. You > can't review it properly for another week at least, I don't think.

While I grant that one should listen to something a couple of times before one reviews something, you should prepare yourself for the case that someone just might not like this release. It is exactly this kind of attitude that make people resentful when they buy Squarepusher and it doesn't make them orgasm when they listen to it. That happens once in a blue moon, and as good as your releases are, it doesn't happen with every Rephlex release. If you hadn't helped hype Sqpr so much on this list, then maybe people wouldn't listen to it expecting the greatest music they've ever heard and come away disappointed when it's not. (This is what we in the software business refer to as "expectations management." :-) Now, while you didn't hype Mike & Rich nearly as much (because a lot of us are Mike & Rich sycophants anyways and you didn't really have to), the above attitude is in a similar style to that hype, in that you pound into us the idea that, if for some reason I don't think it's the greatest release on the planet, that I must not have "listened to the record properly," challenging the very idea that someone might not think it is the perfect music in every way, and suggesting that since I listen to things other than Rephlex (or even in other genres, heaven forbid), I must not know how to appreciate a Rephlex release. This is pure bologna, and I think most people here would agree with me on that. You insist on snapping at the IDM hands that feed you at the mere implication that some release on your label is not the greatest recorded musical work to reach human ears, and I don't know why. We all respect what you do (which is why we bug you for new releases all the time) and we know that even if we don't like one particular release or another, that it doesn't reflect on the entire recorded output of the label. We know you love the music you release, that's why you do it, and I respect your right to espouse that love any way you see fit. But don't discount other opinions, either.

quoted 1 line You do better, send me a demo, and I'll release it straight away.

> You do better, send me a demo, and I'll release it straight away.

Don't reject someone's opinion just because they don't know how to work a sequencer. It is not the case that only musicians know how to critique music.

quoted 1 line When will everyone realise that they can't argue with RDJ

> When will everyone realise that they can't argue with RDJ

You mean that you can't admit that not 100% of everything he does is mind-alteringly brilliant? Sure, most of it is (that's why we all like him so much and were anxiously awaiting this release), but not so much that I can't pick out a track here or there and state that I just don't think it's very good.

quoted 2 lines you should really count your blessings that you are alive at the moment to

> you should really count your blessings that you are alive at the moment to > witness the legend first hand.

I think most of us do. That's not the issue here. All of my favorite musicians have occasional substandard releases, and that includes RDJ. I don't hold it against them, because you can't be perfect all the time. I just appreciate that they're trying.

quoted 2 lines If you think that I over-rate him as the most important figure in

> If you think that I over-rate him as the most important figure in > contemporary techno music, then go and buy some happy hardcore or something.

He may be. That doesn't make this particular release any better or worse than what it is, though, does it?

quoted 3 lines Don't bother mailing me back with some fiery reply - just post your

> Don't bother mailing me back with some fiery reply - just post your > favourite records of the last month, excluding the Rx stable, and I think > I'll see where you're coming from.

I'm not going to let you off that easy, Grant. You can ignore whatever you want, but to suggest that your comments are beyond criticism is patently absurd. Since you asked, though, in no particular order (except the top 2): Meat Beat Manifesto - Subliminal Sandwich Orbital - "The Box" Dandy Jack - Dandy Jack And The Cosmic Trousers Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen - "Theme From Mission: Impossible" (remixes) Bjork - "Hyperballad" (remixes) Metallica - Load Jedi Knights - New School Science Lassigue Bendthaus - "Overflow" Tortoise - Millions Now Living Will Never Die Pete Namlook/Tetsu Inoue - 2350 Broadway 3 OnNow: Renegade Soundwave - "Women Respond To Bass" -- Adam J Weitzman ----- Individual, Inc. ----- weitzman@individual.com "I love the music of the 20th century!" - Bruce Willis, "12 Monkeys"

(idm) on the Mike & Rich review