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I think Pete and I came to roughly the same conclusions about Mike's performance. There were some fantastic moments, but overall it seemed unfocused and random. I got the distinct impression that he hasn't really got the hang of doing his thing live yet. It felt more like eavesdropping on him in the studio: bits of rhythms and melody would spurt out suddenly, sometimes evolving into his characteristically beautiful cacophonies, often just petering out or stopping suddenly. I don't know to what extent he was hampered by technical difficulties, but he was visibly frustrated. Obviously, he was quite unhappy with the sound system, but it sounded adequate to me. I'm quite reluctant myself to comment on his personality or character. My brief hullo was met pretty icily, as I gather was Pete's, but I couldn't say if such treatment should be attributed to an overgrown ego or overwhelming shyness or some odd combination. The squabble outside the boat seemed rather tactless and petty, but again I don't know the details and I'm reserving any kind of judgement. Watching him crawl into the back of an overcrowded, dilapidated station wagon was both hilarious and poignant: it reminded me that fortune doesn't always accompany fame (although it sounds like it will for him soon). He struck me as the type for whom sudden attention and success could be quite stressful and unbalancing. I hope he can keep his head together; it's in absolutely the right place. Anyway, I don't care how big his head swells as long as he keeps making those fabulous records! As Pete said, the boat ride around the bay was spectacular and easily worth the price of admission alone. Sailing under the Golden Gate bridge in the cool night air to Reload's sweetest refrains was an epiphany I'll never forget. It was also great fun to finally associate some faces with the names I see on IDM every day. The record shops in Berkeley are deadly, though, with Rasputin's offering a unexpectedly large selection at great prices. (Didn't find a single thing there the last time I was in S.F.)

On Mon, 24 Apr 1995, Mr. Paisley Apples wrote:

quoted 4 lines I think Pete and I came to roughly the same conclusions about

> I think Pete and I came to roughly the same conclusions about > Mike's performance. There were some fantastic moments, but overall it > seemed unfocused and random. I got the distinct impression that he hasn't > really got the hang of doing his thing live yet.

Well, I've never been in his presence for a live peformance but I have seen a tape of one and the whole thing seemed very smooth - no stress, no sound problems, just muziq and his machines seemingly having a good time. I know theres are others on here who've seen him live and could also comment, Greggy? :: Alan M. Parry :: fluid@hyperreal.com :: <finger me for PGP key> :: http://hyperreal.com/~fluid

I for one saw the Master of Mu about a year ago at the Astoria, opening up (but going on after) Seefeel, Autechre, and Locust. It seemed like a very focused performance, and I was impressed enough to scour the stores for _Tango -N- Vectif_. There was a small problem, though, and I confess, I feel a bit to blame. I was standing right in front of Mike's setup, before he started, and I saw a cable come loose. I'm not sure why I didn't tell him, maybe 'cuz he looked a little annoyed and frustrated already as it was. Anyway, during the performance, he suddenly realized what was wrong, put the cable back in, and glared at everyone standing in front of it. Oops. --------- John Bush.

On Mon, 24 Apr 1995, Alan M. Parry wrote:

quoted 13 lines On Mon, 24 Apr 1995, Mr. Paisley Apples wrote:

> On Mon, 24 Apr 1995, Mr. Paisley Apples wrote: > > > I think Pete and I came to roughly the same conclusions about > > Mike's performance. There were some fantastic moments, but overall it > > seemed unfocused and random. I got the distinct impression that he hasn't > > really got the hang of doing his thing live yet. > > Well, I've never been in his presence for a live peformance but I have > seen a tape of one and the whole thing seemed very smooth - no stress, no > sound problems, just muziq and his machines seemingly having a good time. > I know theres are others on here who've seen him live and could also > comment, Greggy? > :: Alan M. Parry

Err. a bit late but well... I've read all the mu-ziq stuff (itching with envy) and my overwhelming feeling is well 'Just what did you expect?' :::: Ashdown's poignant comments about the ignorant crowd... Same in the Uk, same the world over. Sad, but gives you an inner (selfish) glow :) The neanderthal crew in the Orbit didn't 'get' it either. :::: Poor live performance...? Well what did you expect from a low budget moving boat affair? :) Dis the promoter not Mike. The performance I saw at the Orbit was breathtaking for it's rawness. Liver than live. Easily the best thing I've seen on stage. Yes, beats crashed and he missed bits and mistimed bits, but these were few and far between and were outshone by the music as a whole. I'd be very surprised if anybody could play music that complex perfectly, in realtime, without dedicating a lifetime to practise. :::: Paradinas is big headed/egotistical/a cunt/whatever... So what. Just listen. He looked like a complete nerdy dweeb to me but I don't give a shit, i don't have to talk to him or look at his photo, I listen to his sounds. And as for complaining, good on 'im. We Brits have a reputation for NOT conmplaining. Stick it too the Yanks Mike! (only (kindof) joking :) The reason he made such a visible scene is more than likely, because he felt he'd let you (the crowd) down. You don't think he must be acutely aware of every mistake he makes (and the notes you take?) Been a bit busy today. Is this 6 or 7? :) greg The Official WARP Web Site 3 0 3 http://www.ncl.ac.uk/~n264671/wap-indx.html