IDM Mailing Archive

On Sat, 1 Jul 1995, Paul Seymour wrote:

quoted 12 lines A number of months ago I was all enthused because I was going to this

> A number of months ago I was all enthused because I was going to this > LA "rave" that was to be filmed for a James Cameron film. Aphex Twin was > on the flyer. I thought, "WOW! I never thought I would get to see him > again in the States!" I was worried when I got there because I couldn't > see any of his gear. I was horribly disappointed when all he did was spin > records. > > He did play a track that he obviously created, and it was incredible, > but it wasn't much of a consolation for not being able to see him actually > play! I have never heard that track again, I have no idea where to find > it, and probably never will find it. Oh well... Bjork should be good > though. She posesses a charm like no other!

Oh gosh, gee whiz...you went to see a Techno Boffin such as RDJ and you were "horribly disappointed when all he did was spin records"?!? Let's see...my watch says it's 1995...what the FUCK would make you expect a live show out of Mr. Aphex, anyway? Hmmm...I can't even remember the last time I saw someone play "live". Even rock dinosaurs like U2 are gonna have racks of sequencers & samplers churning away backstage to deliver that "just like the album" sound that idiots like you expect...buy a vowel, get a clue, if you're REALLY into electronic music, such as that created by Mr. James, then wanting to hear it performed "live" is not a reasonable expectation. He may use a sequencer, he may use a DAT, he may just decide to spin records he thinks are cool; it doesn't really matter. Would you have been entertained if you hadn't been expecting to see Aphex Twin live? Expecting Richard D. James to perform "live" is like going to see Eric Crapton & being disappointed that he didn't use a sequencer & sampler to play all his guitar solos. Take a word of advice from someone who's been going to musical performances for over half their life - expectations should always be left at home - they're a sure ticket to disappointment. Chill Che

sean "Lover of Music and all things inherently good."

quoted 17 lines On Sat, 1 Jul 1995, Paul Seymour wrote:

> On Sat, 1 Jul 1995, Paul Seymour wrote: > > were "horribly disappointed when all he did was spin records"?!? Let's > see...my watch says it's 1995...what the FUCK would make you expect a live > show out of Mr. Aphex, anyway? Hmmm...I can't even remember the last time > I saw someone play "live". Even rock dinosaurs like U2 are gonna have > racks of sequencers & samplers churning away backstage to deliver that > "just like the album" sound that idiots like you expect...buy a vowel, get > a clue, if you're REALLY into electronic music, such as that created by > Mr. James, then wanting to hear it performed "live" is not a reasonable > expectation. He may use a sequencer, he may use a DAT, he may just decide > to spin records he thinks are cool; it doesn't really matter. Would you > have been entertained if you hadn't been expecting to see Aphex Twin live? > > Expecting Richard D. James to perform "live" is like going to see Eric > Crapton & being disappointed that he didn't use a sequencer & sampler to > play all his guitar solos.

when i first became interested in mr. rdj, about the time SAWI came out maybe a little after, i remember hearing and reading about his reworking and reinterpreting of pieces for his live shows, if this was true i would love to see him even if most of it is sequenced & sampled.

quoted 5 lines Take a word of advice from someone who's been going to musical

> > Take a word of advice from someone who's been going to musical > performances for over half their life - expectations should always be > left at home - they're a sure ticket to disappointment. >

tell me about it, after seeing Thrill Kill Kult (totally un-idm related, sorry) twice before i went once again after 3 years of not seeing them and simply was expecting a typical TKK show compared to past experiences with them live and ended up witnessing the biggest pile of bung on stage the likes i had not seen since my early teen years when i watched glam rock boys Poison open for Ratt. :P just one mans opinion. sorry for the length of those statements, todays my first wakenbake in ages. ;}

quoted 3 lines Chill

> Chill > Che >

On Sun, 2 Jul 1995, Che wrote:

quoted 26 lines Oh gosh, gee whiz...you went to see a Techno Boffin such as RDJ and you

> > > Oh gosh, gee whiz...you went to see a Techno Boffin such as RDJ and you > were "horribly disappointed when all he did was spin records"?!? Let's > see...my watch says it's 1995...what the FUCK would make you expect a live > show out of Mr. Aphex, anyway? Hmmm...I can't even remember the last time > I saw someone play "live". Even rock dinosaurs like U2 are gonna have > racks of sequencers & samplers churning away backstage to deliver that > "just like the album" sound that idiots like you expect...buy a vowel, get > a clue, if you're REALLY into electronic music, such as that created by > Mr. James, then wanting to hear it performed "live" is not a reasonable > expectation. He may use a sequencer, he may use a DAT, he may just decide > to spin records he thinks are cool; it doesn't really matter. Would you > have been entertained if you hadn't been expecting to see Aphex Twin live? > > Expecting Richard D. James to perform "live" is like going to see Eric > Crapton & being disappointed that he didn't use a sequencer & sampler to > play all his guitar solos. > > Take a word of advice from someone who's been going to musical > performances for over half their life - expectations should always be > left at home - they're a sure ticket to disappointment. > > Chill > Che >

I don't think "chill" is the appropriate thing to do at this point, nor do I think your reply was called for. Many electronic artists are taking advantage of performing in public (eg U-ziq, Orbital) to mess around with their recorded material and test out the public's immediate reaction to new material. So perhaps expecting RDJ to perform his own material might be expecting a lot, but it is becoming more acceptable and expected that electronic artists find a way to present their material in a "live" environment. The Orb have completed several tours, and Orbital have even headlined at Glastonbury (meaning they have been seen to be the biggest crowd-puller). I think Paul's interest lay in seeing how RDJ would interpret his stuff in a "live" setting, rather than wanting him to perform his tracks note for note. Also a live setting is enjoyable for the spectator - mostly the music is cranked up higher than volumes one would listen to it at home, and there is always the pleasure of seeing other people enjoying themselves as well. The fact that a lot of the stuff is pre-recorded should not stop an intelligent artist from presenting it in a new light. Rob.

quoted 4 lines I ordered a ticket today for the Bjork/Aphex show in Hollywood. I was

> I ordered a ticket today for the Bjork/Aphex show in Hollywood. I was > planning to go both nights, but when I saw the print ad for the first time, > I changed my mind. It said Bjork and special guest: DJ (!?!) Aphex Twin. > I have a feeling he is not going to be playing.

Well, given that he swore off touring last year after Ravestock(tm), in a way it's not surprising. I'm more annoyed that the preliminary info provided to us by the local promoter simply stated "Bjork/Aphex Twin". If he's DJ'ing I wonder why he doesn't go by "Richard James (Aphex Twin)" so as to easily differentiate between him playing and him DJ'ing.

quoted 6 lines A number of months ago I was all enthused because I was going to this

> A number of months ago I was all enthused because I was going to this > LA "rave" that was to be filmed for a James Cameron film. Aphex Twin was > on the flyer. I thought, "WOW! I never thought I would get to see him > again in the States!" I was worried when I got there because I couldn't > see any of his gear. I was horribly disappointed when all he did was spin > records.

Well, if you had been on the SoCal-Raves@UCSD.EDU list at the time, you would have known ahead of time *grin*. On the other hand, he did DJ a pretty amazing set if you could set aside your disappointment at him not playing his own material ...

quoted 4 lines He did play a track that he obviously created, and it was incredible,

> He did play a track that he obviously created, and it was incredible, > but it wasn't much of a consolation for not being able to see him actually > play! I have never heard that track again, I have no idea where to find > it, and probably never will find it. Oh well...

Actually, according to Joe Babylon, that was a Kinaesthesia white label he played, not his own stuff. I don't know if RePHLeX actually ever put that out, however. (Joe?) Hard as nails, though.

quoted 1 line Bjork should be good though. She possesses a charm like no other!

> Bjork should be good though. She possesses a charm like no other!

Blork. Well, here we differ ... ("If I wanted vocals, I'd ... ") Maybe I'm the only person who doesn't find her or her recent seemingly-bandwagon-jumping Techno-esque forays something to get all that excited about? (Admittedly I have only heard a few tracks from the last 2 albums, all of which were vocal stuff. No remixes) - Greg

In your message dated Sunday 2, July 1995 you wrote :

quoted 41 lines On Sat, 1 Jul 1995, Paul Seymour wrote:

> > > On Sat, 1 Jul 1995, Paul Seymour wrote: > > > A number of months ago I was all enthused because I was going to this > > LA "rave" that was to be filmed for a James Cameron film. Aphex Twin was > > on the flyer. I thought, "WOW! I never thought I would get to see him > > again in the States!" I was worried when I got there because I couldn't > > see any of his gear. I was horribly disappointed when all he did was spin > > records. > > > > He did play a track that he obviously created, and it was incredible, > > but it wasn't much of a consolation for not being able to see him actually > > play! I have never heard that track again, I have no idea where to find > > it, and probably never will find it. Oh well... Bjork should be good > > though. She posesses a charm like no other! > > Oh gosh, gee whiz...you went to see a Techno Boffin such as RDJ and you > were "horribly disappointed when all he did was spin records"?!? Let's > see...my watch says it's 1995...what the FUCK would make you expect a live > show out of Mr. Aphex, anyway? Hmmm...I can't even remember the last time > I saw someone play "live". Even rock dinosaurs like U2 are gonna have > racks of sequencers & samplers churning away backstage to deliver that > "just like the album" sound that idiots like you expect...buy a vowel, get > a clue, if you're REALLY into electronic music, such as that created by > Mr. James, then wanting to hear it performed "live" is not a reasonable > expectation. He may use a sequencer, he may use a DAT, he may just decide > to spin records he thinks are cool; it doesn't really matter. Would you > have been entertained if you hadn't been expecting to see Aphex Twin live? > > Expecting Richard D. James to perform "live" is like going to see Eric > Crapton & being disappointed that he didn't use a sequencer & sampler to > play all his guitar solos. > > Take a word of advice from someone who's been going to musical > performances for over half their life - expectations should always be > left at home - they're a sure ticket to disappointment. > > Chill > Che >

I'm sorry, but I have to strongly disagree with this. The point of going to see live techno is that you hear stuff written by the performer, which could only be performed by him/her. Anyone can spin records by other people, but live techno is unique, and frequently turns out quite different from the recorded versions. Also, live performances often feature unreleased tracks or unreleased versions of tracks. It's completely unreasonable to criticise live performances because not every single musical part is played by hand. The complexity and depth of today's music leads to a new kind of performance of the work. Live electronic music is obviously impossible to 'play' live in the way conventional music is, and the artists use sequencers as the instruments by jamming the structure and dropping the loops in and out while tweaking stuff on the synths and mixer. Look how the likes of Orbital and Prodigy have risen to become some of the most highly regarded live bands of any sort (in Britain, anyway). The live techno experience is quite different from just hearing a DJ play, and the atmosphere is totally different, because people pay more attention to what they are listening to when they know that the composer is present. Admittedly, playing 'live' in this way doesn't require a high level of musical talent/ability, but if you want to see trained musicians then go to a classical concert! Anyway, I know that I'd be disappointed if I turned up hoping to see a live set which never happened, especially from someone so excellent as afx. -- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Tom Churchill EMail tom@chrchfam.demon.co.uk | | | Techno, electronic and ambient DJ, musician and sound sculptor | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

At 1:44 PM 7/2/95, Sean Micheals wrote:

quoted 8 lines sean

>sean >"Lover of Music and all things inherently good." > > >> On Sat, 1 Jul 1995, Paul Seymour wrote: >> Expecting Richard D. James to perform "live" is like going to see Eric >> Crapton & being disappointed that he didn't use a sequencer & sampler to >> play all his guitar solos.

Well i can say from experience that when i saw him play 'live' almost two years ago he was very much live. I don't think he played any of his tracks, except maybe something from Joyrex j9 ii, i didn't recognize one 'song' and in fact there weren't really any 'songs' per se. He just schizophrenically switched between 'ambient' and that-which-i-can't-discribe. Imagine if you had a contact mic put on a gurgling stomach and there was a piledriver going off in the background. This was a serious 'live' performance, and i watched him seemingly program the drum tracks on the fly, etc etc..impressive.

quoted 6 lines tell me about it, after seeing Thrill Kill Kult (totally un-idm related,

>tell me about it, after seeing Thrill Kill Kult (totally un-idm related, >sorry) twice before i went once again after 3 years of not seeing them >and simply was expecting a typical TKK show compared to past experiences >with them live and ended up witnessing the biggest pile of bung on stage >the likes i had not seen since my early teen years when i watched glam >rock boys Poison open for Ratt. :P

whoa, there's one from my youth!

quoted 4 lines just one mans opinion.

>just one mans opinion. > >sorry for the length of those statements, todays my first wakenbake in >ages. ;}

good morning!

quoted 4 lines Chill

> >> Chill >> Che >>

!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

quoted 1 line brad finlay>>>>>>ectographics.design>>>>>>>>ecto

>>>>>>>>>brad finlay>>>>>>ectographics.design>>>>>>>>ecto@magnet.ca>>>>>>>>>

------->>"We must rediscover the pleasure of giving. What beautiful potlaches the affluent society will see...when the exuberance of the younger generation discovers the pure gift" -Raoul Vanegeim !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

I am sorry, I like the Prodigy *very* much but they do use a DAT tape when they play live, not all the keyboards they have onstage... My friend saw it when he was on the stage... greets, Allert Allert Aalders - Big Time Concepts - allert@knoware.nl - allert@riv.nl why not check http://www.riv.nl/yuliana - a Bio Boostin' Music server shape on IRC - mostly on #digistad

quoted 5 lines I am sorry, I like the Prodigy *very* much but they do use a DAT tape when

> I am sorry, I like the Prodigy *very* much but they do use a DAT tape when > they play live, not all the keyboards they have onstage... My friend saw it > when he was on the stage... > greets, > Allert

Allert... who cares what is backed up on DAT? think about it, in techno music (most realms) it is hard to play all sounds live. there are things to consider - loading times on disk since every song itself is complex with all the variety of sounds, multi setups, etc that must be saved. i dont agree with artists who play off DAT and mime (pretend they are playing by banging on the turned off synthetsizers) to the pre-recorded music. there is a difference. artists who back up their material on DAT are being smart not lame. granted they are playing full time. have a good one, Ken Hankins - JOY ----------------------- Synthetic Fruit Records 80 AUM Records -----------------------