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I think the problem with the Fax catalog is that there are just too many fair/so-so releases. I wouldn't say I despise any of the albums I heard; I can also say that I probably didn't give most of the stuff fair listen. I was more skimming through, listening to a song or two from some selected downloads. The ones to which I did give an honest chance weren't great if you ask me. Namlook's Air album is nothing to me but a so-so dark minimal ambient release. Same with the Silence album, although I did listen to Silence 3 after your guidance, and I like it better than the first. I swam through a lot of the Namlook collabs and only liked a few. From Within w/ Richie Hawtin is very good. I think the most valuable artist on Fax would have to be Tetsu Inoue. His releases are few but GOOD. Trying to wade through Namlook's release and find the great ones is an almost ridiculous task. And it's sad when even his most famous recordings can't touch the other (non-Fax) glorified ambient of the 90's (Global Comm., Biosphere, etc.). _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

I'm not so sure I agree here...Namlook is prolific beyond words. That alone is worthy of some respect. Air is almost 7 (8?) years old now and may not stand up well, though I wasn't that impressed the first time around. For my tastes, "Escape" is his best work. Collaborations with Mixmaster Morris (Dreamfish 1 and 2) and Gier Jennsen (Fires of Ork) are also top shelf. His "Dark Side of the Moog" series (another collaboration) is a classic, as well...#2 being the highlight for me. Tetsu Inoue is, by far, the most impressive artist on the Fax roster for my tastes. Slow and Low, Organic Cloud and Ambiant Otaku are classics. His work outside Fax is equally impressive, but a complete discography is too massive here. Perhaps Pete's stuff hasn't lasted as well as other artists on the label, but by sheer number of releases, he's earned a great deal of respect. It's also HIS label, too, so kudos for the act of creation. For a long time, though, nothing was as good as Fax for electronic ambient music. ---brian ------------------------ Brian W. Gause Senior Technical Writer SECTORBASE.com 568 Howard Street First Floor San Francisco, CA 94105 Direct: (415) 365-8203 Fax: (415) 365-8263 -----Original Message----- From: Armchair Charlie [mailto:dubnovibrator@hotmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2000 2:03 PM To: idm@hyperreal.org Cc: alucas@telerama.com Subject: [idm] FAX label / Lack of good new releases in idm/elm I think the problem with the Fax catalog is that there are just too many fair/so-so releases. I wouldn't say I despise any of the albums I heard; I can also say that I probably didn't give most of the stuff fair listen. I was more skimming through, listening to a song or two from some selected downloads. The ones to which I did give an honest chance weren't great if you ask me. Namlook's Air album is nothing to me but a so-so dark minimal ambient release. Same with the Silence album, although I did listen to Silence 3 after your guidance, and I like it better than the first. I swam through a lot of the Namlook collabs and only liked a few. From Within w/ Richie Hawtin is very good. I think the most valuable artist on Fax would have to be Tetsu Inoue. His releases are few but GOOD. Trying to wade through Namlook's release and find the great ones is an almost ridiculous task. And it's sad when even his most famous recordings can't touch the other (non-Fax) glorified ambient of the 90's (Global Comm., Biosphere, etc.). _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

quoted 2 lines I think the problem with the Fax catalog is that there are just too many

> I think the problem with the Fax catalog is that there are just too many > fair/so-so releases. I wouldn't say I despise any of the albums I heard;

I

quoted 1 line can also say that I probably didn't give most of the stuff fair listen.

> can also say that I probably didn't give most of the stuff fair listen.

Well, everything is subjective. I personally would say there are very few "so-so" releases. I would say that 90% of the releases are at least "good" so I don't view the quantity of releases as a problem at all. I say bring on more! It's all subjective. Don't you think you should give the releases a fair listen? I've found that often times the albums that are the best or that I like the most are the ones that I only truly appreciated after a lot of listens. It's often the music that appeals to you on the very first listen is the most shallow. The best music requires many repeated listens to fully appreciate. >Namlook's Air album is nothing to me but a so-so dark minimal

quoted 1 line ambient release.

> ambient release.

This is where we really are at polar opposites. I think the first two Air albums are two of the best ambient albums ever made.

quoted 3 lines Trying to wade

> Trying to wade > through Namlook's release and find the great ones is an almost ridiculous > task.

But isn't it fun to explore them? If everything was handed to you on a silver platter what fun would that be? And it's sad when even his most famous recordings can't touch the

quoted 2 lines other (non-Fax) glorified ambient of the 90's (Global Comm., Biosphere,

> other (non-Fax) glorified ambient of the 90's (Global Comm., Biosphere, > etc.).

Agaian I totally disagree. There are at least 20 Namlook albums which I would classify as "great". I can think of very few others who have released 20 "great" albums. I would say 85% of his work is good to very good to great. For some reason about 15% just don't click with me but I imagine those are probably the ones that you like..you think? ;-) --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

quoted 2 lines The best music requires many repeated listens to

>The best music requires many repeated listens to >fully appreciate.

Since this initial post, though it's only been a few days, I've gotten a better impression of Namlook. I listened to a few more of his releases (Jet Chamber series, Escape, The Fires of Ork), and I'd say he does have some very good albums. I personally wouldn't call any of his stuff (that I've heard) "great;" I don't through that word around very much.

quoted 2 lines I think the first two Air

>I think the first two Air >albums are two of the best ambient albums ever made.

I listened to them again...they were better the second time. Maybe in a year or so I'll feel the same way about them as you do.

quoted 1 line But isn't it fun to explore them [Namlook releases]?

>But isn't it fun to explore them [Namlook releases]?

I guess, but I haven't really been impressed by enough of them to really have a field day.

quoted 2 lines If everything was handed to you on a silver platter what fun would that

>If everything was handed to you on a silver platter what fun would that >be?

Well, it might be more inconvenient than it would be fun. I think in this case there's just too much material. I'd rather know what the best/most representative releases are and get them. And if I like them, I can go through the rest and find my personal teddy bear albums.

quoted 5 lines There are at least 20 Namlook albums which I

>There are at least 20 Namlook albums which I >would classify as "great". I can think of very few others who have released >20 "great" albums. I would say 85% of his work is good to very good to >great. For some reason about 15% just don't click with me but I imagine >those are probably the ones that you like..you think? ;-)

I would imagine so :) Anyway, I'm sure you understand Namlook/FAX a lot more than I do. But this is what I've thought about it so far... _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

Both S.H.A.D.O (Namlook / Higher Intelligence Agency) albums are great. Namlook and Bird managed to sound both FAXy and IDMy: distorted beats and charming analog melodies. Wonderful combination. Nick. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org