IDM Mailing Archive

Greg Eden writes:

quoted 1 line To summerise; an intelligent, subtle, addictive and innovative solo debut.

>To summerise; an intelligent, subtle, addictive and innovative solo debut.

Solo debut?! I think "Virtual State" is Richard Kirk's 7th solo album. - chris@minsk.docs.uu.se

On Tue, 15 Feb 1994, Christian Bartholdsson wrote:

quoted 5 lines Greg Eden writes:

> Greg Eden writes: > > >To summerise; an intelligent, subtle, addictive and innovative solo debut. > > Solo debut?! I think "Virtual State" is Richard Kirk's 7th solo album.

But how many has he released as "Richard H. Kirk" ? What are the other six?

Greg Eden said:

quoted 5 lines Solo debut?! I think "Virtual State" is Richard Kirk's 7th solo album.

> > Solo debut?! I think "Virtual State" is Richard Kirk's 7th solo album. > > But how many has he released as "Richard H. Kirk" ? > > What are the other six?

I know of 'Black Jesus Voice' (At least I think that's it's name!) What are the other five? john.. -- solo ContinuousEvolution with i.s.gibson: quanta/flex

Brian Hostetler sez:

quoted 9 lines In our previous episode, Greg Eden said:

> > In our previous episode, Greg Eden said: > > But how many has he released as "Richard H. Kirk" ? > > What are the other six? > > Didn't he release something with someone named 'Hope' on WaxTrax > during the WT revolution in the mid-late 80's? In retrospect, I wish > I had picked it up (gawd, back when most WT was just on vinyl). >

Yeah, with (I think) Peter Hope. The album cover had a couple disjointed mannequins sitting at a table. That's about all I remember about it, except that I thought it was rather bland and I got rid of it pretty quickly. That was a while ago though, I probably should have held on to it. -H- -- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Howard Berkey howard@netcom.com Lasciate ogne speranza, B'harne ch`intrate

On Thu, 17 Feb 1994, James M. Constantino wrote:

quoted 2 lines look in the Cabaret Voltaire bins. You should find quite a few. A couple off-

> look in the Cabaret Voltaire bins. You should find quite a few. A couple off- > hand are Disposable Half-Truths and Hoodoo Talk.

Caberet Voltaire is(/was?) not a solo affair. Most of the Caberet Voltaire stuff I've heard is full of crap vocals. greg 3 0 3

quoted 3 lines I couldn't disagree more. Kirk is near the top of the IDM heap

>I couldn't disagree more. Kirk is near the top of the IDM heap >and his work over the past few years has been very consistent. His >ambient work is good as well.

I agree in Miles disagreement. I wasn't a Kirk fan at all when I had my first taste and I'm all over his material like milk on a bowl of corn flakes. Teep

On Thu, 7 Sep 1995, Richard Barnett wrote:

quoted 2 lines hmmm... i picked up `digital lifeforms' on the basis of comments like this

> hmmm... i picked up `digital lifeforms' on the basis of comments like this > but it doesn't really do anything for me.

Digital Lifeforms takes time, and it doesn't really get rolling until track five or so. I didn't really hear it until I threw it on in the background while I was concentrating on something else. Distracting the analytical half of my mind seemed to give the disk the chance it needed to really make an impression. It's easily one of my favorite IDM albums now. The tones on the second half of the album are very pure/electronic and his rhythms are both loose and evolving. All of RHK's work is similar in this respect; nothing really jumps out on the first spin, but it's subtlety and complexity gradually reveal themselves over time. I STILL don't know exactly what it is about _The Conversation_, but there's SOMETHING very haunting about it.

quoted 3 lines similarly, the black dog productions album `bytes' will probably disappear

> similarly, the black dog productions album `bytes' will probably disappear > from my collection; it's too complex and fiddly, and none of the layers > seem to carry any distinctive tune.

I agree. I've listened to _Bytes_ over and over again, trying to figure out why people think it's so interesting. I still haven't. I love _Spanners_, though. _Throbbing Pouch_ takes a little time, too, and it's better overall than _At Atmos_.

quoted 3 lines Re: _Virtual State_ and _Number of Magic_

> Re: _Virtual State_ and _Number of Magic_ > would you say these are much better than `digital lifeforms'? if so, i'll > try to get them from the local 2nd-hand shop.

I wouldn't say they're better than Sandoz, but they're both beautiful records. If you see them used, pick them up!

quoted 4 lines `mama 6' -- journeyman (n tone) : very similar to the first woob album

> `mama 6' -- journeyman (n tone) : very similar to the first woob album > (not surprising considering that paul frankland [i think that's his > name] is common to both); vocal samples, drifting ambients, some beats; > tracks up to 20 minutes.

What's the deal with the second Woob album? Is it out yet? What about the new Autechre EP? Mod Lang claims it's not out yet.

Miles Egan wrote on Thu, 07 Sep 95 16:27:28 BST :

quoted 2 lines What's the deal with the second Woob album? Is it out yet? What

> What's the deal with the second Woob album? Is it out yet? What > about the new Autechre EP? Mod Lang claims it's not out yet.

Woob is must be imminent, The latest Mixmag carried the artwork for that and another new EM:T CD - "<something> people's gang" - they had a track on one of the comps. The new Autechre "Anvil Vapre" is due on WARP in the UK the 3rd Oct. If you mean the Gescom EP on Clear, then it is out already, as reviewed by the good Mr Pond. later, J ^ _ _ __ __ __ __ ____ __ __ the ( `'`' / /. \ |. ) |. ) ( ( /_ _| /. ) |. ) \_/\_/ (__\_| |__\ |_| |__) /_| \___| |__\

quoted 9 lines 'Virtual State' is one of the albums most rewarding of close listening that

> > 'Virtual State' is one of the albums most rewarding of close listening that > > I can think of offhand, bar none. > > Oh, and I recommend 'The Number of Magic,' Kirk's newish solo album, to the > > original poster. Has considerably more distortion than much of his recent > > work (clean production has been one of his trademarks lately), and continues > > in the drumkit-sample rhythm track style he's been working in. > >would you say these are much better than `digital lifeforms'? if so, i'll >try to get them from the local 2nd-hand shop.

IMO, _The Number of Magic_ is one of IDM's top highlights for the year. Of course, I have to admit to liking _Digital Lifeforms_ as well. But the former seems to have a bit more personality. The first two tracks hit you right off the bat -- both funky with a lighter edge than most other recent Kirk. He also throws in a lot of nice sounds, and of course, is a master at weaving them together. Track 3 is something I could hear being on either of the Sandoz projects as it's got that distinct Kirk groove. Another highlight of the album is the touch ethnic flavoring -- where so many artists these days are hitting you in the face with it, Kirk's subtle, well-manipulated sampling invokes a more ethereal feel (as tracks 5, 6 & 7 attest). Track 8 diverges a bit into jazzy territory and the disc finishes up with a mid-tempo funky chill. All in all, I think _TNoM_ is one of his more diverse works -- it is both up-beat and slow, melodic and experimental..but always grooving. _Virtual State_, to me, has more of an experimental feel. I haven't listened to it in a while, but from what I recall, it lacks the structure as some of his other later works. This is not to say that it isn't good though -- sounds are diverse and coming at you from many angles, which truly does make for "close" listening.