RIGHT......
Now I'm going to have a little MOAN, so all you who don't want to hear this
then hit the <DEL>.
I wasn't going to bring this up, because I didn't want a personal petty
argument to rage about something as menial as labels. However, enough people
have written in to make it clear that more than half of you are irritated
(to say the least) about the use of the word Ambient. If you'll just let me
get this out of my system....
AMBIENT...AMBIENT... AMBIENT...AMBIENT...AMBIENT...AMBIENT... AMBIENT...AMBIENT...AMBIENT...AMBIENT... AMBIENT...AMBIENT...AMBIENT...AMBIENT... AMBIENT...AMBIENT...AMBIENT...AMBIENT... AMBIENT...AMBIENT...AMBIENT...AMBIENT... AMBIENT...AMBIENT...AMBIENT...AMBIENT... AMBIENT...AMBIENT
There, now we could even manage a rational and balanced discussion (I hope).
There now follows a couple of examples, that are in no way personal complaints.
I respect there right to opinion, and I know that they speak for most of you.
-------
C J Silverio <ceej@netcom.com> wrote:
quoted 5 lines I'd have to agree. Most of the music called "ambient house" is>I'd have to agree. Most of the music called "ambient house" is
>more like house with ambient influences. This isn't to say some
>of it isn't great, because I love both of those Caroline Records
>"Excursions in Ambience" comps. (The first one a bit more than
>the second, despite all the Orb remixes on the 2nd.)
The honourable Jon Drukman <jdrukman%dlsun87@oracle.com> wrote:
quoted 4 lines Quite how they came to call this sort of music "ambient dub" baffles>Quite how they came to call this sort of music "ambient dub" baffles
>me. It's neither ambient nor particularly dubby. I'm not sure I have
>a better term for it, but maybe I could come up with something if they
>asked.
------- In Reply
"When we picked the title Ambient Dub it was to use "Dub"
in it's modern sense as indicating stretched out, spacy,
dreamy mixes, although we were well aware of the Jamaican Music that
also bore the name "Dub"..." - Beyond InfoPak2,3
------- Opinion
I) Ofcourse Ambient House means House with Ambient influences. I can't
see how it ever meant anything else. Surely house, and dance as a whole, can
do nothing to advance "Ambiance" proper. The fact is that whilst Ambiance
has been around since the neanderthal (as natural music), dance is still
mutating and Ambience is just an influence it picked up. I could remember the
quote from LX Patterson (Issue 2: OUTLOOK) who said EXACTLY that.
II)The same is true of the mutation of Dub. David Toop wrote a
lengthy piece published in Beyond's InfoPak. Dub is an INFLUENCE, not just
a music.
III) Personally I consider the concept of Ambient to include ANY and
ALL music and noise. Its a grand idea, backed up when FSOL delivered their
"..new ambient station FSOL" last year. The music was so varied. It was like
a brilliantly produced John Peel show (he's ambient).
IV) excerpt Chambers Dictionary:
"ambient:-n. that which encompasses, the air or sky -n.ambience
environment: surrounding influence: atmosphere: (also ambiance,) use or
disposition of such accessories in art."
So don't hit me with technicalities :) The last line especially
proves a grander concept of ambiance.
V) Is this an American thing? I can't help noticing that most (all?)
of the people who wrote to me, wrote from America.
VI) What about ambient techno, and other dance hybrids with ambient
influences? Do these offend too?
------- Conclusion
I) Ambience is an influence
II) Ambiance is a concept
-------
So all you wishing to further the discussion don't make it personal. I'm
just trying to weed out some prejudices.
Growl :)
Charles Wildig <u91clw@ecs.ox.ac.uk>
A mere improbability riding on a one-way ticket through time