IDM Mailing Archive

1996-02-13 04:31.GMV500OK IDM'ers, I hear some of your arguments about this DJ thing. As I said in my last post a

From:: .GMV500 <videla@ucsu.Colorado.EDU>
To:: <idm@hyperreal.com>
Date:: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 21:31:23 -0700 (MST)
Subject:: (idm) DENVER is STILL AWFUL

OK IDM'ers, I hear some of your arguments about this DJ thing. As I said in my last post and as some of you have replied to me and maybe on this group, there are some fantastic DJ's out there, I can't deny that. Many DJ's have done a lot for the music and some are famous for their skills at keeping the crowd moving til 6am or whenever. Some have amazong skills at beat matching or scratching or whatever. but do me a favor, WAKE UP! Do you not see that DJing, while being an artform, can be mastered by virtually anybody. Neither I nor you will never master the likes of artists like Aphex, LFO. ORB, (fill in the blank). You and I will never be able to imitate these amazing minds that go behind, what I feel is, the greatest music in the world. I have some analogue pieces, but that doesn't mean I will ever be able to do what these amazing minds do. However, if I own the same records and had a few technical skills (scratching and beatmatching) do you not see that I can sound like the same guy that spun last night? The other thing that is wrong with putting these DJs on a pedestal is we lose sight of who is making the music. I went to a rave on New Years eve in LA. During the set of one DJ, the crowd next was going nuts to a Beaumont Hannant tune from Basic Data Manipulation. . . An excellent track, that the DJ was famous for playing. Everyone was talking about this guy as soon as his set was done. What about Beaumont Hannant himself. He probaably worked hours to compose this track (track #2 on basic data manipulation...).The DJ only spent a few dollars buying the record and two seconds to put the needle on the record. I do not see why some of you IDM'ers who claim to love IDM are not sickened when DJs are becomming more famous than the artists whose records they play. I mean, what the hell is KEOKI doing with three CDs out. I have never heard him spin, I will admit that. But he has more CDs out on the market than some of the artists we talk about on this group. Don't you see it as a form of exploitation. the Artists doing the work for the DJ's. It isn't the DJ who is making the people dance you idiots, it is the people who wrote and produced the track. Would it have made a difference if I put the needle on the Beaumont record rather than the other DJ. No, the crowd would not have noticed a thing! They loved Beaumont's music. I am sorry, but there is a big mistake in giving a DJ status and not giving credit to the ARTISTS. this is why I am bitter about DENVER not having AUtechre come to town, yet there is a rave every SAT. We owe the Artists a lot. Otherwise, you and I would not belong to this discussion group! Any more takers. GIL /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ NAME:Gil aka GMV500 E-MAIL: videla@colorado.edu WEB PAGE: yeah, right! check out my friends- http://ares.csd.net/~albumsup - http://www.uea.ac.uk/~u9506276 PHILOSOPHY: AMBIENT+BREAKDANCE= IDM FINAL WORDS: MORE BEER! \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\\/\/\/\\//\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

1996-02-13 05:14a lifeformSorry to keep this thread alive, but I wanted to reply to a couple of things. > Aphex, LFO

From:: a lifeform <guyjr@ulc49.residence.gatech.edu>
To:: <idm@hyperreal.com>
Date:: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 00:14:07 -0500 (EST)
Subject:: Re: (idm) DENVER is STILL AWFUL
Reply to:: (idm) DENVER is STILL AWFUL

Sorry to keep this thread alive, but I wanted to reply to a couple of things.

quoted 3 lines Aphex, LFO. ORB, (fill in the blank). You and I will never be able to

> Aphex, LFO. ORB, (fill in the blank). You and I will never be able to > imitate these amazing minds that go behind, what I feel is, the greatest > music in the world.

I certainly hope not. Anyone who is out to imitate someone else is by definition a conformist of some sort. Conformity is what ruined "alternative" music, by allowing umpteen million Seattle bands to become national celebs overnight.

quoted 3 lines do what these amazing minds do. However, if I own the same records and

> do what these amazing minds do. However, if I own the same records and > had a few technical skills (scratching and beatmatching) do you not see > that I can sound like the same guy that spun last night? The other thing

And who wants to listen to you sound like the "same guy"? Most DJs around here spin a certain style of music, be it electro, breakbeat, "rave anthem" tracks, jungle, hip-hop (LOTS of that in Atl! :), or what have you. The key to sounding like a hot as shit DJ is in two things (IMHO) --> 1. Music selection- You need to pick music that is in the same style, and sounds good when played together. 2. Beatmatching/Mixing- When you've got a good collection of music, mixing it together is both a technical challenge, and an artform. #1 is most definitely the most time consuming. The local "dj" shop has lots of people who come in and listen to records for a couple of hours before buying their weekly stock. You gotta buy good stuff, otherwise you're just throwing money (and time) away. #2 goes hand in hand with #1. Sure, most people, given enough time, can learn to beatmatch and mix. Hell, even I can do it from time to time. But I certainly don't have a consistent collection of music with which to mix a 3 or 4 hour set, at least, not one that would keep a crowd motivated at a rave. In fact, I'll bet that most people on IDM have collections that are well diversified, which is exactly what IDM is all about.

quoted 3 lines I do not see why some of you IDM'ers who claim to love IDM are not

> I do not see why some of you IDM'ers who claim to love IDM are not > sickened when DJs are becomming more famous than the artists whose > records they play. I mean, what the hell is KEOKI doing with three CDs

Actually, Keoki is now producing tracks. I've got his latest, "Caterpillar". It's not too bad (nowhere near as good as something like Access by Tim/Misjah), but at least he's moving into the creation arena.

quoted 2 lines out. I have never heard him spin, I will admit that. But he has more CDs

> out. I have never heard him spin, I will admit that. But he has more CDs > out on the market than some of the artists we talk about on this group.

So what? That is effectively the other role of a DJ... to get the music out to the masses.

quoted 3 lines Don't you see it as a form of exploitation. the Artists doing the work

> Don't you see it as a form of exploitation. the Artists doing the work > for the DJ's. It isn't the DJ who is making the people dance you idiots, > it is the people who wrote and produced the track.

In this particular case, it is both. If the artist did not write the track, there would be no music. But if the DJ were not there to put the needle on the record, would there be any more music? At any rate, just my $.02 OnNow: Dave Clarke, "Archive One". -- guyjr@ulc49.residence.gatech.edu a.k.a., Guy Elden Jr.

(idm) DENVER is STILL AWFUL