IDM Mailing Archive

From: "Kent Williams" <cadsi.com!kent@elvis.cadsi.com> "Re: IDM Progrock etc" (Oct 17, 11:41am) The impulse behind Ambient/IDM whatever is similar in some respects to that evidenced in Progressive Rock, to wit: extended musical explorations outside the constraints of the standard Pop Song. When it worked, ProgRock could be an engrossing listening experience. Records to which I'd encourage listening (if not purchasing) might be Yes' "Close to the Edge" and "Relayer", Wishbone Ash "Pilgramage", early Pink Floyd, Gentle Giant, and King Crimson. Records to run screaming from: Steve Hillage's mid-70's solo records, late Pink Floyd, and anything by Kansas. What sank Prog Rock was pretension and endless guitar wanking. But there's not a huge difference between Prog Rock's pseudo-mystical lyrical preoccupation, and pseudo-mystical trappings in Ambient techno. And endless synth wanking is a lot like endless guitar wanking, but without the technical facility. Certain luminaries (or doddering old fools, depending on your POV) of ProgRock like Steve Hillage and Robert Fripp have popped up in Ambient music. And, as others have mentioned, the Grateful Dead were into ambient ten years before Richard D. James took to solid food. What soured me on the silly symphonies of Prog Rock was listening to real symphonic works. I still think that the work of Ravel, Debussy, Satie and Poulenc contain more musical intention and achievement than all but the very best of Ambient. And listen to Mahler. Yow! That guy put more into a symphony than the whole lot of ambient artists. The attraction of Ambient to young college educated sorts is the same as that of Prog Rock 20 years ago: Music that took itself seriously, paid attention to texture, and yet was at least on the edge of Pop Culture. And there's the whole question of attaching your persona to the music to which you listen: since you're a serious, thinking person, you don't want to sully your ears with the music for the hoi polloi. Ambient music now is a refuge for those who watched 'alternative' rock go mainstream. When I think back to the early 70's when I was a pimple faced alienated geek too young to vote, the music that filled the bill of 'alternative' was progressive jazz; stuff like Larry Coryell, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Chick Corea, Weather Report, etc. That stuff started out fresh and exciting and turned into pointless wanking over time as well. I guess the point is, as always, trust your ears. -- Kent Williams -- kent@gilligan.cadsi.com Look in the mail header for all sorts of vital information about me. I hope I bought the right relish... zzzzzzzzz...

With all the talk of ProgRock going on around here, I can't resist plugging my favorite progressive ambient dub reggae techno rock band... Ozric Tentacles! Not only did they spawn an amazing techno group (Eat Static) but their rock stuff is so amazing and diverse that to call it "rock" actually does it a huge disservice. All I can say is you MUST hear "Strangeitude" and "Jurassic Shift" (both available in the US on IRS). Czech 'em out! And if you get a chance to see them live, do so... (Now playing: Ozric Tentacles "Jurassic Shift") -- Jon Drukman jsd@cyborganic.com