Actaully this is not directly linked, but its very
much on the topic of emotion in IDM music. It is a
problem i find with a lot of 'IDM' artists. Take BoC,
for example, non-threatening noodle. Warm noodling,
granted, but that it is touted as particularly
emotional seems innapropriate to me. For me it is a
glorified easy listening, not provocative, emotionally
or intellectually in any way. Im fine with easy
listening, i have some myself (BoC included). But its
just i think there is something being missed when
music that is singularly one-dimensional in an
emotional sense is presented as being particularly
provocative, evocative etc.
I think something is lost the tighter or more
reductive to (like certain conceptual art pieces) a
mildly interesting passing thought (clicks and pops).
The space and ambiguity created by the
uncontrolability of guitar/feedback, for example, is
just removed, making the music emotionally sterile.
Artists like Aphex or Monolake who use homemade synths
(AFX) and found and captured sounds (both of them do),
put back some of the unpredictability and elemental
that is just not present in music that has been
created singularly in the sterile environment of the
laptop.
The recent Biosphere reissue, i think, is an example
of electronic music that really gets it right.
partially because it is never about being electronic.
Geir Jennsens (might have spelt his name wrong) Music
is full of space, contrast and always an ambiguity.
the emotion is not dictated to you with a flowery
synth wash, which can be unsettling at first, but
leads to a greater trip to deeper headspaces. Its
unsettling nature means it forces you into going
places where other music wouldnrt normally take you.
Just thought id contribute my 2 cents worth to the
discussion, which i think is an interesting one and id
like to know what other people think.
- thomas
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