From Oblique Hostility Sent Sat, Jan 31st 1998, 22:40
From Oblique Hostility Sent Sat, Jan 31st 1998, 22:40
On Sat, 31 Jan 1998, Irene McC wrote: > 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...