IDM Mailing Archive

1994-03-07 04:05Andrew BennettHere's a slightly dated review of Amorphous Androgynous'ss album. Someone stick this in th

From:: Andrew Bennett <abennett@phoenix.aps.muohio.edu>
To:: idm <idm@techno.Stanford.EDU>
Date:: Sun, 6 Mar 1994 23:05:24 -0500 (EST)
Subject:: Rev: AA

Here's a slightly dated review of Amorphous Androgynous'ss album. Someone stick this in the archives or something. :) Option - Jan/Feb 94 #54 page 90 Amorhpous Androgynous: Tales of Ephidrina With a name like Amorphous Androgynous and an album entitled Tales of Ephidrina, the music itself seems almost extraneous. Almost, but not quite - there are quite a few interesting soundscapes to back up the image. Prefaced by a long, ambient intro that hearkens back to those primordial days when water was everywhere and bugs were really big, "Liquid Insects" eventually gives way to a frenzied Paleozoic hoedown. "Mountain Goats" transpires amid a gentle wash of vocals where something that sounds like genuine acoustic guitar eventually flits onto the scene, hovering in mid-air while keyboards burble and drone and percussive noises crash quietly. Set in a throbbing backdrop punctuated by wavering flutes and snippets of whale song, "Pod Room" is not about invading body snatchers from outer space, but rather a plea to reserve a space on the planet for groups of our cetacean friends and family (Astralwerks, 114 W. 26th St., NYC, 10001) -- Sandy Masuo *yawn* Now I remember why I don't like Option's reviews. Thesaraus use seems to be HIGH. Andrew -- Andrew Bennett abennett@phoenix.aps.muohio.edu "You're from Texas? That's beautiful."

1994-03-07 16:31Mark TurnerAndrew Bennett: > > Here's a slightly dated review of Amorphous Androgynous'ss album. Some

From:: Mark Turner <mturner@netcom.com>
To:: <idm@techno.Stanford.EDU>
Date:: Mon, 7 Mar 1994 08:31:38 -0800 (PST)
Subject:: Re: Rev: AA
Reply to:: Rev: AA

Andrew Bennett:

quoted 27 lines Here's a slightly dated review of Amorphous Androgynous'ss album. Someone

> > Here's a slightly dated review of Amorphous Androgynous'ss album. Someone > stick this in the archives or something. :) > > Option - Jan/Feb 94 #54 page 90 > > Amorhpous Androgynous: Tales of Ephidrina > > With a name like Amorphous Androgynous and an album entitled Tales of > Ephidrina, the music itself seems almost extraneous. Almost, but not > quite - there are quite a few interesting soundscapes to back up the > image. Prefaced by a long, ambient intro that hearkens back to those > primordial days when water was everywhere and bugs were really big, > "Liquid Insects" eventually gives way to a frenzied Paleozoic hoedown. > "Mountain Goats" transpires amid a gentle wash of vocals where something > that sounds like genuine acoustic guitar eventually flits onto the > scene, hovering in mid-air while keyboards burble and drone and > percussive noises crash quietly. Set in a throbbing backdrop punctuated > by wavering flutes and snippets of whale song, "Pod Room" is not about > invading body snatchers from outer space, but rather a plea to reserve a > space on the planet for groups of our cetacean friends and family > (Astralwerks, 114 W. 26th St., NYC, 10001) -- Sandy Masuo > > > *yawn* Now I remember why I don't like Option's reviews. Thesaraus use > seems to be HIGH. >

I agree that this review leaves something to be desired. But my problem is not with Option as a whole, but with Sandy Masuo, who wrote this review. If you look at the bylines in the latest issue, you will most likely agree with me that Masuo is the worst of Option's critics. All of his reviews are TOTALLY subjective, and lack any sort of reference points for people familiar with the genre of music he's talking about. It's almost like he slaps on a record, jots down some impressions while he's listening to it, and then he's DONE, and on the next record... I think this does a grave disservice to those of us who have to PAY for our music, and want a more objective perspective. Just MHO. -- Mark Turner mturner@netcom.com

1994-03-07 17:41Harvey ThornburgMark Turner wrote: > > Andrew Bennett: > > *yawn* Now I remember why I don't like Option's

From:: Harvey Thornburg <hthornbu@osiris.ac.hmc.edu>
To:: Mark Turner <mturner@netcom.com>
Cc:: <idm@techno.Stanford.EDU>
Date:: Mon, 7 Mar 1994 09:41:00 -0800 (PST)
Subject:: Re: Rev: AA
Reply to:: Re: Rev: AA

Mark Turner wrote:

quoted 2 lines Andrew Bennett:

> > Andrew Bennett:

quoted 15 lines *yawn* Now I remember why I don't like Option's reviews. Thesaraus use

> > *yawn* Now I remember why I don't like Option's reviews. Thesaraus use > > seems to be HIGH. > > > > I agree that this review leaves something to be desired. But my problem > is not with Option as a whole, but with Sandy Masuo, who wrote this > review. If you look at the bylines in the latest issue, you will most > likely agree with me that Masuo is the worst of Option's critics. All > of his reviews are TOTALLY subjective, and lack any sort of reference > points for people familiar with the genre of music he's talking about. > It's almost like he slaps on a record, jots down some impressions while > he's listening to it, and then he's DONE, and on the next record... > I think this does a grave disservice to those of us who have to PAY > for our music, and want a more objective perspective. Just MHO. >

Yet even the worst of Option's reviewers, in all their pretentiousness, can beat out the best of Alternative Press. Almost all of the time I see an AP IDM review, they make some vague references to how <artist's name here> makes such wonderful use of 70's Germanic electronics, and oh, isn't this just a wonderful adaptation of Klaus Schulze... ad nauseum. They have no conception of the individuality of IDM artists, and thus seem to be of little help in picking records. I'd much rather hear some stream-of-consciousness rambling about how a piece of music makes the reviewer feel - at least this brings things to a personal level with respect to the artist. Oh well... I stopped reading AP about 8 months ago - now I just go to the record store, and look at their nifty "upcoming releases" charts, which are now becoming less and less complete and more confused... and peruse Option for the reviews. Perhaps they (AP) have improved? (I'm an optimist today...) ------------------------------------------------|------------------------------ "categories strain, crack, and sometimes break | Harvey D. Thornburg step out of the space provided" -NWW | hthornbu@osiris.ac.hmc.edu ------------------------------------------------|----------------------------

Rev: AA