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From:
Ron Jeremy
To:
,
Date:
Wed, 13 Sep 2000 19:11:47 PDT
Subject:
Re: [idm] I *heart* laptop crap
Msg-Id:
<F3186beUzmRf6Ci6nx80000bef4@hotmail.com>
Mbox:
idm.0009.gz
quoted 8 lines From: Kent williams <kent@avalon.net>>From: Kent williams <kent@avalon.net> > >All right it's that time of the month, I'm going to be a bitch. > >Electronic music challenges the performer in ways that traditional > >performance does not. Since the music is created outside of real time > >(sometimes WAY outside of real time -- like when I tweak the same 1 >bar >loop for two hours), it is a challenge to really make it a >performance.
If the "performer" is using a laptop their workload has probably been simplyfied a great deal. It's not like they are playing really fast drums or traditional instruments...they are in many cases just clicking a mouse. As far as performance...it is often nonexistant. Watching someone click a mouse is not a performance.
quoted 2 lines Just pushing 'play' on a laptop doesn't constitute a live performance,>Just pushing 'play' on a laptop doesn't constitute a live performance, >granted.
Of course, and I'm sure most of us have seen many shows where that is all the artists does.
quoted 3 lines But it sounds like what people are asking for is the kind of spectacle>But it sounds like what people are asking for is the kind of spectacle > >created by rock bands. If you want that, maybe Nelson will attempt a > >comeback and make you happy.
Now we know where your pre-idm tastes...eeew. You guys can keep attacking rock or rock pardigm. etc, There has been a long tradition of live music before rock. Such as classical. I certainly wouldn't want to go to a theatrical play and instead of seeing actors on stage, they just push a remote control and you see a pre-recorded image. Like every actor in the play had their own tv screen dedicated to their character. Conceptually that might be entertaining to see once, but not routinely.
quoted 2 lines But is there is something inherently valid about prancing around>But is there is something inherently valid about prancing around >like a drunken weasel playing a 3 note bassline?
It would be more interesting seeing the artist pour concrete and shaping on the floor than clicking a mere button every once in a while.
quoted 7 lines It is possible to be very spontaneous with a laptop. Vladislav Delay's>It is possible to be very spontaneous with a laptop. Vladislav Delay's >set was done with Reaktor, and it is very much live. Kit Clayton live >is very live. Stewart Walker live is very live. >Rich Devine (when I saw him) was playing digital audio straight out of >cubase, but he was tweaking it live with effects and an access virus. >I thought it was way cool because it was cool music. People dug it. >But if someone wants to come in and push play, judge it on it's merits.
The setting & sound could or drunken fools could add to it
quoted 2 lines If they were up all night the night before lashing a new track >together,>If they were up all night the night before lashing a new track >together, >and no one except the artist has heard it before, isn't that >something?
New tunes are worth hearing.
quoted 1 line And if you're not a musician, how do you know what they're actually >doing?>And if you're not a musician, how do you know what they're actually >doing?
You don't have to be a musician to be knowledgeable about how to make music. When you have a few friends that make tunes and read articles in music zine...it's not to hard.
quoted 8 lines Let me tell you a story -- about a year ago, I played live -- I had 3 or>Let me tell you a story -- about a year ago, I played live -- I had 3 or >4 tracks that were really live -- i was playing a keyboard, and programming >a drum machine in live mode. But I also had tracks to cover setting up >for a new song on CD, and some tracks on an Akai S20 sampler that were >just 'push play' tracks. But I did have a lot of funky looking gear on >stage. After I played people said they liked the set, but a lot >of people seemed to be impressed with the gear. They didn't know what I >did with it, if anything.
Fascinating story...you've changed my mind. Click away on your little mouse, i'll never doubt anyone ever again. If someone comes on stage with a just a stapler and a microphone...I'll be excited
quoted 4 lines Gear for gear for it's own sake is about as creative as the front >window>Gear for gear for it's own sake is about as creative as the front >window >of a music store. I was getting props basically for my ability >to hump >stuff up the back stairs and plug it in, as much for the music >I actually >played.
I suppose store fronts are more interesting than clicking a mouse. What are electronic artists so oppose to something visual?
quoted 1 line Which is to say that the showbiz stuff is bullshit.>Which is to say that the showbiz stuff is bullshit.
So is paying to watch some push a button every few minutes.
quoted 2 lines Aphex Twin got a lot of mileage out of smelly teddy bear suits. I've>Aphex Twin got a lot of mileage out of smelly teddy bear suits. I've > >thought of hiring a clown to make balloon animals during my sets.
Might be a good idea.
quoted 3 lines Given my ridiculous stage name, maybe I should get a chair from the>Given my ridiculous stage name, maybe I should get a chair from the > >Goodwill and smash it up on stage. The point, I guess, no matter WHAT > >you do it's at least as valid as playing records.
You obviously have not seen any really good djs. Typically, I hear more sounds and variation when I see a good dj. Some artist's use the same sounds in all of their tunes. So I guess that's another reason to choose a dj or a mouse expert.
quoted 1 line And everyone knows it's the DJs that get all the booty.>And everyone knows it's the DJs that get all the booty.
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