I don't think the orb suffer the same backlash as the aphex twin because
the orb haven't released almost any new material in a couple years. i'm
sure they'll get their turn on the roasting block when their new album
comes out.
There are lots of bands that I consider to be innovative, but in some cases
i think that's just because they are the only band like that that I have
personally heard. They may be just a typical member of a whole genre of
music but I think they're 'experimental' because i've never hear anybody
else play that kind of music before.
Every artist usually playes a wide variety of kinds of music. I don't think
there is any artist who seems innovative all the time. I'll put down a
few bands that I like and why I think they're innovative. Maybe I'm wrong,
maybe this is nothing new, if so tell me, I want to start collecting the
other bands they sound like. Also, keep in mind that these artists have
produced a lot of music in a lot of styles, I'm just describing why I like
them. Standard disclaimers apply.
Orbital, they are the most precise musicians i have ever heard, every sound
has a specific location in space, and yet they manage to sound very organic,
like the way a robot can have very natural motion I suppose.
The Orb, very fluid, lots of water and nature sounds. Bits of their songs
seem to be telling stories and for me they always recall images of road
trips and space travel.
The Aphex Twin, loud and abrasive. He creates something that should be
obnoxious and then lets you see the beauty in it. Many of the noises are
abrasive, but in the context of the song they seem perfectly natural.
These are all that I can think of now. When i get back to my room I'll look
at the top of a stack of cd's and say, oh, I should have mentioned foo.
[fletcher]