IDM Mailing Archive

Got a bunch of mail. Lots of server space offered, HTML aid, general well-wishings, thanks a good deal folks. So I've been thinking it out, and also looking at past efforts (ala trainspotter.hyperreal.org) to find out exactly how to go about this. I've come to the conclusion that one person has to handle the actual formatting (that will be me) but the information has to come from everywhere. So I think discographies are going to be the backbone of the site and that's where I'm going to start. I'm not providing sites for labels, or anything else at this point. Just a really, really long list of IDM discographies and a really, really long list of links. I want this to be a good quick reference site for starters and a comprehensive collection of data, but I want to leave web design and in depth specifics to others, which is what the point of having a really, really long list of links is. I'm also thinking reviews are a really good idea, and anybody who wants to contribute is welcome (especially past reviews on the IDM list). So I'm requesting this I guess: a) People who want to just throw any discographies they know or can link to b) People who want to just list all sorts of artists/labels who eventually need discographies c) People who want to contribute reviews of specific releases or websites Any amount of info is welcome, but I'm starting this with artist discogs, label discogs, and links, with reviews as a rider. Once I get a lot of that sorted out, maybe I'll build on it. Also, a definition of what's going in the database has to be worked out. I'll get it better soon, but generally if a record can be roughly classified as being on the Warp/Rephlex axis, the Basic Channel/Chain Reaction/Brinkmann/et al. axis, or the rest of home listening IDM axis, it's good. Influences are fine too. House/trance/gabber/etc. not at welcome, but you knew that. I'm also thinking of posting to the list really long grocery lists of artists and labels I could think of that are IDM, and people can just toss out names that I forgot. So warning you in advance to dodge those messages if you're not into that stuff. So thanks to people who've already written and everybody who wants to pitch some information into the ring. Matt

quoted 14 lines Also, a definition of what's going in the database has to be

> >Also, a definition of what's going in the database has to be >worked out. I'll get it better soon, but generally if a record >can be roughly classified as being on the Warp/Rephlex >axis, the Basic Channel/Chain Reaction/Brinkmann/et al. >axis, or the rest of home listening IDM axis, it's good. >Influences are fine too. House/trance/gabber/etc. not >at welcome, but you knew that. > >I'm also thinking of posting to the list really long grocery >lists of artists and labels I could think of that are IDM, >and people can just toss out names that I forgot. >So warning you in advance to dodge those messages >if you're not into that stuff.

We were gonna do this but it got to be too daunting of a task what with me not even finished with VMM v2.0 yet! A good open source discography could turn into a mess really quickly if its not done correctly! It has to be 'idiot proofed' or it will quickly fill up with junk. A good example of this is www.gemm.com , if you type in a particular artist, such as 'Aphex Twin', youll notice some that the slightest misspellings or lack of research by the user before adding redundant data makes for lots of confusing entries. Add to that the fact that there are confusing relationships between an artist's various aliases, collaborations, bands, and it gets worse (Even the teeny Carpet Bomb crew has about TEN names for permutations of collabs for about 4 or 5 guys!). A dedicated admin with tons of free time would have to sift through ALL the data and be prepared to correct any and all errors the users made. The discography benchmark I always refer to is Lazlo's discography machine. Ernie has THE clearest way of classifying a release, with its re-releases/reprints and corresponding catalog numbers all along the way. In fact, a good discography system should be able to easily and clearly fit a 'group' like The Orb (http://www.theorb.com/archives/discogs/). If your data scheme can accomodate the works of artists this prolific then youve really got something going. Add to that the fact that youd basically have to steal data (cue Datathief music!) from ad.techno.org and Lazlo, Lance & others in order to prime the database. Even CDnow (muze) has at least the basic shell of what could be a good beginning of a discog. I salute your efforts, and offer any help I can but I think these concepts are partially what put off the trainspotters at Hyperreal. Its fairly easy to start a simple discog, but do we need another simple discog? Im not sure how elaborate yall want it but its going to steal the life away from at least a few people! good luck! ernie Ernesto Ikerd, (817) 763-4795 Company Graphics, Dept 17, MZ-1156 Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems Fort Worth, Texas

In a message dated 10/15/1999 11:40:18 AM EDT, IkerdEA@lmtas.lmco.com writes:

quoted 1 line Even CDnow (muze) has at least the basic shell of what could be a good

>Even CDnow (muze) has at least the basic shell of what could be a good

beginning of

quoted 1 line a discog.

> a discog.

SeedyNow doesn't use Muze. they have some shady freebie deal with the AM#@$!G. mr. e. now on: wolfhounds: attitude (midnight music)

quoted 2 lines SeedyNow doesn't use Muze. they have some shady freebie deal with the

>SeedyNow doesn't use Muze. they have some shady freebie deal with the >AM#@$!G.

Hmm, I think you are correct; I could have *sworn* they credit Muze somewhere on their page.. oh well, thanks for the clarification ernie Ernesto Ikerd, (817) 763-4795 Company Graphics, Dept 17, MZ-1156 Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems Fort Worth, Texas