IDM Mailing Archive

brap@sonic.net asked for reviews of the new WE picture disc. I don't know what responses are forthcoming as it's not out for a little bit yet... street date is 2/10/98 for stores though we are selling them direct through mail order as mentioned in a previous email of mine. There are 2000 available worldwide to be divided up to US stores, mail order, import to Europe and abroad. As mentioned in a previous email of mine ( sorry, I don't have it, I'm on the road ) they can be obtained direct through Asphodel. Until I get back from the road, just email me to reserve one and I will be sure to hold one for you. For those who have sent checks and money orders, yours is reserved and we won't cash your checks until the mail time comes around. The mail time should be the first week of January. Not looking to pick on the CTI fan who mentioned that *every* CTI release is great but I must say that I have about 30-40 CTI records and most of them are great....there are *certainly* some real cheesebombs out there, too. I used to hungrily buy all of the CTI I could snag and got some real dogs along the way. Another super dope label, of course, is Kudu. As with CTI, the majority of it is prime! But not all... On the Weather Report tip, "Sweetnighter" is most definitely reissued on CD, as with most (all?) WR back catalog. I've seen it all over the place. I even believe that this CD is a "Nice Price" series if I'm not mistaken. And with all of the end of year reminiscing and the IDM poll going down, has there been talk or was there a mention in the poll ( sorry, I forgot )of "greatest expectations for 1998"? always looking ahead... and for crying out loud, folks...did anyone mention Matmos? a landmark for '97.... again, pardon me if I have forgotten...

hmmm If there's anything I look forward in this genre, I look forward to hearing the next big IDM sound. I hate to say this, but the entire aphex-MAS-v/vm-skam sounds and styles have gotten on the stale side for me. Not that I don't like this kind of thing of course! deep down inside I love it, but lets get some new blood pumping through these veins. Maybe more emphasis in melodies? Maybe less emphasis on brash aggressiveness and distorted sounds in order to sound "experimental"? More acoustic sounds? Maybe less blind experimentation and layering and more thought? Not that all IDM bands are like this, but it sure seems that a lot of them slip perfectly into this catagory. Maybe this isn't what you were expecting for an "expectations" reply, but these are things I would like to see develop in this genre of music. either that or I'm just getting old. luke aka t.S.o.G.

My IDM expectations for 1998: I have to agree with the other listmember that said the SKAM/MaS sound is starting to wear thin. I suppose it's a shame that some of these microgenres have the shelf life of flowers, but at the same time that's what makes this music so fascinating - it's constantly mutating into something new. What I'd *like* to hear in 98 is IDM that gets more rhythmically complex, more melodic, more harmonically rich. Much of the current crop of stuff sounds like an amalgamation of jungle, electro, and generally bleepy stylings (hmmm, sounds a lot like Hangable Auto Bulb, come to think of it) - cut up noisy beats with very simple melodies and harmonies. I guess more could be done with orchestration/arrangements - "Flim" off of the recent 'Come to Daddy' is a good example of what can be done. As far as rhythm is concerned, I'd like to hear more stuff along the lines of Autechre's "Characi" off of the recent 'Cichlisuite' or their remix of "16147" by Impulse - stuff that doesn't fit within the confines of 4/4 (I mean four beats per measure, not FOTF) electro/jungle beats, perhaps even different time signatures and unusual quantizing (32nd notes, triplet 16ths, etc.). This is what would get me going in 98. GD