On Sat, 31 Jan 1998, Irene McC wrote:
quoted 7 lines Guitars are "instruments" as opposed to the rest of the techno genre> Guitars are "instruments" as opposed to the rest of the techno genre
> which is digital - hence, not always an easy marriage.
>
> However, listen to Death in Vegas, Red Snapper, Underworld, Primal
> Scream for some examples where they've managed to make it work
> (IMO, and this is NOT worth flaming about ....)
>
OK So I hate Death in Vegas, Underworld and Primal Scream. Might I
suggest better counterexamples -- Bowery Electric, Labradford, Seefeel,
and My Bloody Valentine.
I started out playing cello, and moved to guitar. The big problem
with guitar is that developing any facility on it tends to mold your
muscles towards cliches. While I have a lot of respect for good
guitarists, a lot of what they do is what lies naturally "under the hand."
I have way more interest in people working with guitars who use it in
the service of creating new sounds, or in furthering a piece of music without
calling attention to itself. A lot of what passes for guitar virtuosity
reminds me of trained monkeys dancing -- it has a rote, unspontaneous
feel to it.
One of my favorite records these days actually is "The Sleepwalk Guitars
of Dan and Dale" (on Diplomat Records "A product of Synthetic Plastics
Company") which I got at Goodwill for .50 cents. Because while being
extremely cheesy they use slides and bends in a very melodic way.
Their version of "Willow Weep For Me" is amazing. And there's plenty
of groovy vinyl clicks and hash for texture.
And while I veer entirely off topic -- I also picked up the entire
King James Bible on vinyl -- 55 LPs in 3 boxes in immaculate condition
with braille labels. I always found reading the Bible tedious in the
extreme, but having it read to you, through a pitch shift delay and phase
shifter is very soothing...