I'm wearing gloves while I'm typing, so bear with the typos.
1) NIN hasn't released anything near what could be called Aphex-style
music. Someone is probably thinking of halo10, on which Aphex did some
remix work.
2) I do believe that there is a general trend (not an absolute, keep your
socks on) of whites listening to IDM created by whites. Is this racist?
I am cynical enough to think that is unconciously so, in effect, it is
'safe' to listen to this stuff.
3) While IDM is innovative, and borrows from many sources in fresh,
original ways, the fact is that these sources do not receive their due.
The situation is the same as with the prog rock era, circa mid- to
late-60s, with John Mayall, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Eric
Clapton, etc. borrowing from blues and R&B, without giving too much back
to the originators of the style. Now it is Peter Gabriel with world music
(at least he gives some credit). It is also the case with dub's recent
success.
4) Where are the women? I've seen one woman (hello, Helen) take
exceptional interest in what goes on here. Is there something about the
trainspotting, property-owning aspect of idm that is particularly inviting
to the men? Woo-hoo, a limited edition of someone whose name ends with
the letter 'x' (hey, maybe I should put out a limited edition) gotta buy,
buy, buy so I can brag, brag, brag.
5) This phenomenon isn't even relegated to race or gender. One lister
mentioned that it is now heterosexuals writing for everyone borrowing
heavily from music by gays. (Disco, club music, being transmuted
into the rave and house scene for everyone, etc.)
quoted 4 lines From: Danny Freer <freerdj@jmu.edu>
> From: Danny Freer <freerdj@jmu.edu>
> Subject: (idm) Thanks / in defense of Orbital / random Orb content
>
> So, In Sides got a pretty strong marketing push.. so what?
But the thing is, strong marketing pushes such as these influence lots of
people. And the goal of every market push is to move product, not put a
listener on to a new, original work. This is clearly the case with
Orbital.
This is not to that, with electric 'licks' and 'beats' that will hit the
masses, the MTV-Orbital conspiracy will devour us whole. <g> But, granted,
there are aspects, 'hooks' if you will, that are designed for mass
consumption via television, radio, etc. That I'm expected to be a
mindless, open piggybank annoys me.
quoted 5 lines This might be better for the ambient list, but I'll give it a shot here. I
> This might be better for the ambient list, but I'll give it a shot here. I
> was listening to the "a huge ever growing pulsating brain.." remix on Live
> 93 today. Right around 12:34-12:47 I'd swear I can hear a Fripp/Eno sample
> (or recreation) from one of the first few songs on The Essential Fripp&Eno.
> Someone has my copy of that so I can't check. Oh well.
If you're talking about the sample from 'Heavenly Music Corporation'
(can't quite remember the right title) from 'No Pussyfooting' (which may
or may not be on 'Essential..') that's probably right. Can't seem to get
into the second disc of live93, though. The first disc is just too good
and I play it again.
Now that I mention it, let it be clear that I do not listen to music 'for
the sake of unpopularity.' Orb is a hell of a lot more popular (and
better) than Orbital will ever be. Patterson also credits his samples.
Love,
Alex
Alexander ("Alex" will do nicely) Peter Reynolds
polygon@jhu.edu
http://jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu/~polygon
http://www.jhu.edu/~jhufilm
-
Senior User Consultant
Homewood Academic Computing, Johns Hopkins University, Homewood Campus
Baltimore, MD USA