Post-Genre Discussion:
All of the ongoing talk about genres on the list has prompted me to post my
thoughts about the issue. I must note, however, that Terre Thaemlitz's new
'G.R.R.L.' (Comatonse/Caipirinha) release is the true inspiration behind it
all. Terre, whom I've only discovered in the past couple weeks, takes genre
noodling/composing to the next post-modern level. First the packaging is
brilliant. A white cover with the title, G.R.R.L., in big black bold
letters and below, a diagram showing sillohuettes of a pink man and a blue
woman, both colours converging in the centre with a purple man/woman?
(Before continuing I will note the well-known fact that Terre is a
transvestite and has been for years. Much of the conceptual thinking of his
cd's clearly coincides with his lifestyle.)
The songs on G.R.R.L. are literally charted into tongue-in-cheek genre
monikers like: Abstract Drum & Bass; '80s Chicago; and my favourite,
Improvisational Lounge! Some are even applied with two genre descriptors.
The impression I get, and this is somewhat influenced by Terre's excellent
liner notes--a very funny mix of serious theory and philosophy--(Examples:
"G.R.R.L. embraces Space Jam as a powerful deconstruction of the cultural
fabrication of desire, as exemplified by its lackluster appeal despite
shameless over-financing and over-promotion" and "G.R.R.L. assures the
audience that each track is produced with 110% cyncerity") is that Terre
maligns genres but sees their purpose in the marketplace. Our society is so
bloody used to the three second sound-bite that instead of just listening to
a record we listen to it beforehand through media-influenced notions of what
to expect. And when the sound isn't conforming to those expectations it is
often dismissed as poor.
I for one do not adhere to this ideology (If I did, why would I have bought
the G.R.R.L. album). Unfortunately many people still do. It really sucks
that a lot of electronic music is 'this genre' or 'that genre' and not
merely music. Whatever the truth of the situation, I believe that Terre is
the shit. Having recently had the chance to hear his 'Couture Cosmetique'
album (if you like your ambient closer to the subliminal, check this album
out), and read its very well-reasoned and conceived liner-notes I really
hope that more idm-style producers, or musicians in general are as deep and
serious about their music. I know of a few myself: DJ Spooky, Panasonic,
Autechre, and Nonplace Urban Field/Bernd Friedmann. Well those are my
thoughts; feel free to comment/flame/drink/smoke/classify/opinionate/smile
: )
Digression of Sorts:
I also listen to music which clearly contains less introspection than the
above, but really when it comes down to it, this stuff is mostly filler.
Mini-Review:
Picked up Richie Hawtin's Concept:96 (M_nus/Plus 8) yesterday and having
listened to it 5 times through already wish I hadn't passed up on those
Concept 12"s I saw all lonely in the bins last year. The 808 and what
little else used shouldn't be able to create the cd's breadth of sound.
Expert tweaking?? Who cares! Now I feverishly await the arrival of the new
Plastikman album (name?). I say with confidence that Concept:96 is a
must-buy for any Plastikman fan, minimal-techno devotee, or liker of fine
music! BTW, if you are holding off because you own the 12"s: don't. The
shop-owner informs me that she thinks the cd is a totally different, and
welcome, experience to the vinyl releases (of which she owns all twelve).
++Genre-based recommendation included at no-cost to the reader++
@nd..(..)..."purveyor of plentiful parentheses"
np: music in my head
######=============^=============######
Andrew Minett, resident pusher of FREAKONESEES
Floating out of London, ON on 94.7 FM
Every Wed. from 2 to 6:30 a.m.
tune in on the web @
http://www.usc.uwo.ca/chrw/main/chrw.ram
"It's just like a right strange dimension."
-Richard D. James