IDM Mailing Archive

Man, I thought idm was the kind of music it's listeners were not categorising... Well, you asked for it: gmv500 <gmv500@earthlink.net> wrote:

quoted 2 lines I.D.M

> I.D.M > - has NO vocals (by this I mean lyrics throughout the track, Banco de

Gaia has

quoted 1 line vocals, but those are samples, not vocals like Bono)

> vocals, but those are samples, not vocals like Bono)

Bye bye RDJ ("Milkman"), bye bye all intelligent music that will be made in the future _with_ vocals.

quoted 1 line - is made entirely thru means of electronics, none of that rock geetar

> - is made entirely thru means of electronics, none of that rock geetar

shit. (That

quoted 1 line means see you laterUnderworld/NIN/Chem Bros. Leave IDM; go suck Mtv dick)

> means see you laterUnderworld/NIN/Chem Bros. Leave IDM; go suck Mtv dick)

Bye bye RDJ ("Didgeridoo"), bye bye all intelligent music that will be made in the future _with_ acoustic instruments.

quoted 1 line - a track can be of any length (from some Pete Namlook 60mins of synthi

> - a track can be of any length (from some Pete Namlook 60mins of synthi

noodling

quoted 1 line to some 30 second Black Dog fill)

> to some 30 second Black Dog fill)

ok

quoted 1 line - CAN be danced to (I consider headboppers to be dancing), but the focus

> - CAN be danced to (I consider headboppers to be dancing), but the focus

of the

quoted 1 line music is on sounds more than booty shakeability.

> music is on sounds more than booty shakeability.

ok

quoted 1 line - makes you think, not b/c it's got some political message, but b/c its

> - makes you think, not b/c it's got some political message, but b/c its

dependence

quoted 1 line on repetition (loops) causes your mind to drift into deep thought

> on repetition (loops) causes your mind to drift into deep thought

Bye bye RDJ again. I thought IDM was mainly NON-repetitive music, which made it intelligent because there was more work to it than just making one measure and repeating it one thousand times.

quoted 1 line - most often it IS better performed from your home stereo than live

> - most often it IS better performed from your home stereo than live

....which might (or will) change.

quoted 1 line - is NOT rock (which is exactly why I joined this list)

> - is NOT rock (which is exactly why I joined this list)

....or we'd call it IRM...

quoted 1 line - is HIGHLY addictive

> - is HIGHLY addictive

That depends on you, not the music.

quoted 1 line In preparation for your next course (IDM200) you will be required to

> In preparation for your next course (IDM200) you will be required to

listen to:

quoted 2 lines (...)

> (...) > - anything by RDJ

who I have now proven to be not idm, according to your definition. IMO the difference between idm and all other dance music, is the fact that idm is not intended to be a commercial succes (see my earlier posting), but is a new form of art. The makers are trying to experiment with the new possibilities of technology and music. I have a strong feeling that you (gmv500) listen to idm because it's 'hot' and not (yet) discovered by the masses. These are my last words on what is idm. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ M a t h i a s V e r r a e s ET.Phone.Home@ThePentagon.com 'Le corbeau, honteux et confus, jura, mais un peu tard, qu'on ne l'y prendrait plus.' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On Tue, 11 Mar 1997, Kent Williams wrote:

quoted 17 lines On Tue, 11 Mar 1997, Mathias Verraes wrote:

> On Tue, 11 Mar 1997, Mathias Verraes wrote: > > IMO the difference between idm and all other dance music, is the fact that > > idm is not intended to be a commercial succes (see my earlier posting), but > > is a new form of art. The makers are trying to experiment with the new > > possibilities of technology and music. > > Commercial is a pretty elastic term. Anyone who puts out records hopes to > make money on the deal. But there is a vaste difference between big > corporate record labels and independents. Independents can afford > to take risks because their up front costs are usually very small > compared to what a corporate label will put into a mega-release. > > IDM is about connecting a like-minded audience with the music makers without > so many layers of corporate cruft. It is still a commercial enterprise. > It just works on a whole different level. Fact is, those who know will seek it > out, and those who don't can buy whatever sony or wea is selling today. >

To continue this thread of discussion, I agree partially with both of the above authors. However, the main point I think they are missing is that IDM has nothing to do with sales, commercialism, sell-outs, or indie releases. It has to do with the individual. I think Mr. Verraes got very close to the issue at heart with as near a concrete definition as possible, that IDM "is a new form of art." It is technology wedded to music, but it is much more. Whether or not it sells is besides the point. The focus of art (in my mind) is to move the audience to a new appreciation of forms (or non-forms). Art is not something which requires agreement or a following, but is internalized and individual. True, many movements which develop a mass audience stagnate and lose sight of the original intent, and instead become materialistic and consumpionist. This is much of what is wrong with modern popular music today. My definition of IDM is exactly that -- mine. Holding to that pattern, others definitions of IDM are theirs. The beauty of the system is that no one definition is correct, true, or applicable. Instead all (or any) are correct to the individual. I know that may infuriate many who feel they are the end-all of IDM censorship, but it is part of the nature of art and this discussion list. I apologize for extending this point longer than was probably necessary, so I'll conclude with at least one useful part --- Can anyone tell me where to find a complete Speedy J discography? And as well, how was the "Ginger" EP? Thanks ahead of time. Courteously yours, J