I'd say the opposite of IDM is any of these new LA/NYC bands who buy brand
new virtual analog synths, midi controllers, sampling drum pads, Macbooks,
and boutique guitar pedals,
then load up presets and play all wonky faux-"tribal" style, sonic abortions
in seek of some of that Animal Collective/Black Dice shine.
IDM has always been about man mastering his machines, taking them further
than they were supposed to go, and has acknowledged the history of
electronic music pioneers... I feel like acid/dnb/rave/house get a lot of
respect from IDM artists. Oakie and Scooter might be embarassing but I
think they're part of the same family... This new happy-hippie "noise"
thing going down in America is the opposite. Seems more and more to me like
a bunch of ex-guitarists looking for shortcuts, reveling in the novelty of
sad Guitar Center keyboards, buying gear and playing shows with it in the
same week....