I agree with Peter, especially about the role of repetition in the Ae live
set that I saw in Columbus. (And from the sound of most of these threads, I
also agree with Mike Paradinas, but that's another discussion
altogether....) Even "Envane," released from some time ago, made the most of
heavy repetition albeit in a different context.
I think that anytime the listening aspect of music is reduced to "Well,
that's just...," followed by [insert process here], you are removing any
creative intent of the artist. This isn't math, nor is it a scientific
process. Whether or not Ae actually programmed those beats from start to
finish (which is doubtful, I mean, did anyone actually think that?) or
whether they used a patch to do it, of their own creation or someone else's,
has no real impact on the show in my opinion. Their intent was obviously:
they liked how it sounded, therefore they used it. I highly doubt any
serious musician would get on stage and perform "wankery" for an hour with
the intent of deceiving or ripping off the audience.
No one seems to criticize Pita for using patches created by his General
Magic associate, when the music is just as process-oriented but in the end
something meant to be listened to, not analyzed.... but as soon as
Autechre's name comes up, they are held up in the highest level of scrutiny
imaginable. I give them credit for continuing to be challenging and
engaging, and once again about 5 steps ahead of everyone else, while the
whole time their "fans" subject them to brutal criticism at every turn.
(This is not anything against Pita by any means, just relating that the
process is similar)
Because you boast of becoming "instant-Autechre" by using similar patches,
you are missing the point entirely. A flawless copy of a masterwork does not
make it equal in any way other than technique alone....
quoted 96 lines From: Peter Schrock <pachinko74@mac.com>
>From: Peter Schrock <pachinko74@mac.com>
>To: anyone and everyone and <idm@hyperreal.org>
>Subject: Re: [idm] From another list I'm on...
>Date: Mon, 21 May 2001 07:07:36 -0700
>
>I think it is funny that in other genre's of music people don't feel
>cheated
>when they hear new music from artist like Korn, limp biscuit, slipknot, and
>more older and reputable artist like dave matthews, helmet, sunny day real
>estate, tool, etc, based on how they write their songs. I mean, when is
>the last time you heard someone say, "yeah, I heard the new tool album and
>it sucks, I can do all that stuff they do."
>I don't know about you guys, but i am not interested in equipment used or
>how this sound is being created (at least, not when I rate albums), I am
>interested in how it actually sounds and how those sounds effect me or how
>they make me feel while listening to it. When I saw autechre, yeah, it
>got
>kind of repetitious, but it was simply amazing how beautiful that
>repetition
>played as a role in their music. Throbbing beats popunding my chest with
>such anxiety, yet under such immense control, that was beautiful.
>
>on 5/21/01 1:32 AM, Gilly at galaxey@sdccu.net wrote:
>
> > anonymous wrote:
> >
> > There is nothing wrong with making music for yourself. That's missing
>the
> > point.
> >
> > There is something wrong with charging me $15 + $7 in ticketbastard fees
>to
> > go watch two guys do a bunch of shit i sit here and do with my nord
>modular
> > anyway.
> >
> > Let me elaborate on this.
> >
> > This recent autechre tour has become the joke of the nord-modular list.
>For
> > those who don't know, the Nord Modular is one of many synthesizers
>available
> > on the market today. It also happens to be ae's primary synth, if not
>the
> > only thing they use on some of their tracks.
> >
> > One of the many capabilities of the modular, depending on the user's
> > experience and skill, is that one can actually write chaotic evolving
> > patches. Most of us know how to do it by now, and we all know Autechre
> > does.
> >
> > So this entire week the list has been filled with "autechre concert"
>patches
> > from people like me pissed that they paid money to go hear a demo of a
> > synthesizer...
> >
> > ...and some of them are *dead on*. perfect.
> >
> > which basically shows that autechre is pulling a big "fuck you" to their
> > fans. any of us who know how to use the nord can do this crap. it
>takes a
> > bit of practice learning the ramp controls and logic functions, but once
> > you've got it down you can be Instant-Autechre.
> >
> > This, to me, is not music. It's a patch on a synth. I can sit here at
>home
> > and listen to my own versions of it instead of paying $22 to stand in a
> > dark, hot crowded room and listen to Sean Booth act like he's actually
>doing
> > something innovative.
> >
> > This is "wankery" to me. It's boring. Those of you listening to it
> > thinking "man, that's crazy...they're switching from 3/4 to 9/15 and
> > back"...well, no, they aren't. it's a bunch of algorithms on a synth
>doing
> > it, and it wouldn't matter if there was someone in front of the synth or
> > not.
> >
> > So obviously, I wanted to know why Roxi liked it (do try to read all the
> > posts before replying next time ;), not "why she lacks the capability of
> > knowing any better" or however that was twisted. I think a lot of
>people
> > like this crap because it's Autechre, and Autechre is cool, so they're
> > supposed to like it. That's just lame. There are hundreds of bands out
> > there doing this kind of stuff, only better. Richie Devine writes his
>own
> > dsp code for his tracks, for chrissakes...Phoenecia melded miami booty
>bass
> > with idm...even some of Jake Mandell's stuff has a weird jazzy feel on
>top
> > of the clicks and pops...and, of course, even though RDJ made up all
>that
> > junk about making his own custom synths and software, he still did some
> > amazing stuff with supercollider and has always been a positive
>innovator in
> > the electronic music scene.
+------------------------------------+
m.mercer :: systm
audio-visual communicator
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/98/systm.html
mmercer@kent.edu :: vletrmx@hotmail.com
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at
http://explorer.msn.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org
For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org