IDM Mailing Archive

On Wed, 6 Nov 1996, andreu osika wrote:

quoted 6 lines so what kind of music are you into.......

> so what kind of music are you into....... > > ........i tell them its called "intelligent dance music" > > they all start laughing at that, and i start to wounder - >

Never say "intelligent dance music", just say "electronic music, you know, the kind they never play on the radio or in clubs." Or, "for me to like it, a LOT of transistors need to be involved." Or, "I like to listen to trippy electronic music." Or, "I can't describe what I listen to, but if you come over to my house I'll play some for you." I love DJ'ing at home for people who've never heard er, IDM. I turned my mother into a huge Orbital fan. She's a composer (a real composer, i.e. sit down with big sheets of staff paper and a pencil), and while she likes the dancier stuff, "The Box" completely knocked her out. People who like indie-rock, especially the more adventerous stuff like Tortoise and Stereolab, are good candidates for hard minimal stuff, like Rob Hood and Jeff Mills. --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Stop thinking, and end your problems" -- Tao Te Ching Home Page, featuring Reagan on Black Velvet, the EMP Compilation CD, samples of my music, etc http://soli.inav.net/~kent/ Kent Williams kent@inav.net CADSI 2651 Crosspark Road Coralville IA 52241 (319) 338 6053 (home) (319) 626 6700 x 219 (work) (319) 626 3489 (fax)

On Wed, 6 Nov 1996, Kent Williams wrote:

quoted 5 lines Never say "intelligent dance music", just say "electronic music, you know,

> Never say "intelligent dance music", just say "electronic music, you know, > the kind they never play on the radio or in clubs." Or, "for me to like it, > a LOT of transistors need to be involved." Or, "I like to listen to trippy > electronic music." Or, "I can't describe what I listen to, but if you come > over to my house I'll play some for you."

the one i always like to use is "i listen to the weird electronic stuff that nobody else listens to." my favourite reaction (from my roommate, actually--a huge greatful dead, hillbilly rock fan, so pity me):"ya mean with kEE-bo-urds and stuff?" he was fascinated by the autechre i was playing the other day (anvil vapre ep). micah stupak aka euroboy, life'sedge, tenderspot of the daphne, moebius, ick. mjsst87+@pitt.edu or euroboy@mail.prolog.net i sat back/and looking forward/my shoes were high/and i had scars/i'd bolted through a closing door/i would never find myself feeling bored

At 12:16 AM 11/6/96 -0500, you wrote:

quoted 9 lines so what kind of music are you into.......

>so what kind of music are you into....... > >........i tell them its called "intelligent dance music" > >they all start laughing at that, and i start to wounder - > > are they close minded, or does this kind of nomenclature > create a discredible perception/bias for the unexperienced > masses of idm.

While I don't think credibility via nomenclature should be a paramount concern - certainly as more artists achieve higher profiles there'll be a marketing boy/girl wonder at some level to take care of that issue, so that everyone can understand - it does seem that "intelligent" is problematic in that when a line is drawn that defines "intelligent," by default an "other" is created and what is that - "moronic" etc? Sure you see the point. How about "innovative?" - it seems that, as much as anything is a goal of much of the musics discussed on idm, but again hard to define. Plus, the obvious that all music here isn't necessarily "dance" music. An interesting question, and a good topic for conversation but hopefully not at the expense of talking about the music itself. Take care, Lawrence

quoted 16 lines so what kind of music are you into.......

>> so what kind of music are you into....... >> >> .........i tell them its called "intelligent dance music" >> >> they all start laughing at that, and i start to wounder - >> >> are they close minded, or does this kind of nomenclature >> create a discredible perception/bias for the unexperienced >> masses of idm. >> >> .........random thoughts as i sat and drank in a club with friends and >> strangers this past saturday. >> >> ambient with a kick, synth with soul, techno on pot..hey what do you >> think...? >techno on pot? idm? me thinks this is an oxymoron;P

come on think about it... idm is the oxymoron...theres nothing cerebral about the physical activity of dancing... but then i'm a square peg

quoted 10 lines now. you have to categorize and pigeon hole music, otherwise you can't really

>now. you have to categorize and pigeon hole music, otherwise you can't really >hold any intelligent conversation (which is overrated anyway) about music at >all. and if you don't know any CAT info how will shop ppl know what the >hell you >mean? idm is a lot easier than saying something like," i like thought >provoking, >ethereal,sometimes emotional, sometimes analytical,sometimes simple, >sometimes a >plethora of melding sounds that overlap one another and complement one another >in a way that doesn't drown anything out..."

the point is to create a name which more accurately describes our music (to the masses), AND also for that name to generate (advertise) a postive image. for alot of people these two words: intelligent/dance, when juxtaposed together, create a ridiculous notion.... thus they dont take it (our music) seriously....destroying any kind of attempt to investigate... (im not saying we should change the name, im simply being hypothetical)

quoted 9 lines but,did they see your point when you said that the concept of "Popular" music

> > but,did they see your point when you said that the concept of "Popular" music >is equally as amusing to those who have no taste for it? Funny how when >we talk >or read about popular culture, things like techno and intelligent dance music >get honorable mention/play alongside intros to new technologies, architecture, >cuisine, film, fashion, and philosophies. Funny how our pop culture >innovators >give more credit to subcultures for inspiration than pop music.

pop music is for the most part pedestrian,,its nature isnt to be innovative.. its ambitiously uncreative... its entertainment for the masses innovation only exists in subcultures and always will because of pop culture, subcultures exists, because of subcultures..innovation exists

quoted 1 line think it should be called Puddle music;) (do you get it?)

>think it should be called Puddle music;) (do you get it?)

explain...

quoted 2 lines ok men, you can put your shovels away now;D

> >ok men, you can put your shovels away now;D

the shovels are still out and digging deeper...

quoted 4 lines Cathryn Sunday

> >Cathryn Sunday >sundayc@math.csuohio.edu >*Ich weiB, daB ich nichts weiB.*

afo&hificircus industries vs. the harpoons of logic.1998.

quoted 9 lines so what kind of music are you into.......

>>so what kind of music are you into....... >> >>........i tell them its called "intelligent dance music" >> >>they all start laughing at that, and i start to wounder - >> >> are they close minded, or does this kind of nomenclature >> create a discredible perception/bias for the unexperienced >> masses of idm.

Thanks for this post. It made me laugh heartily....it reminds me of my own conversation. What kind of music do you listen to? Er...well, um. Fucked up techno...no, no wait. YOu won't know what that means..um it's like hip hop beats with electronic...nah...Fuck it. I just listen to muzak. (Intimidated female with face contorting rapidly due to lack of understanding) Oh.... I like all kinds of music too. David