From Alexander Reynolds Sent Sat, Oct 25th 1997, 22:03
From Alexander Reynolds Sent Sat, Oct 25th 1997, 22:03
> Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 14:09:22 +0000 > From: xxxxx.xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xx.xx > Subject: Re: (idm) Blech tape discussion - the final chapter > > On Thu, 23 Oct 1997 11:41:19 +0200 "Irene McC" <xxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx> > wrote: > > >And any idea as to why they are titled "blech"? It's the German word > meaning "tin" as in the metal used for manufacturing tin cans.< > > The Warp boys and girls (and tDR too - they've contributed their fair share > to the Blech 'look') are Sheffield people at heart, and Sheffield is the > Steel City after all. A Warp-connected mouth told me it was German for > 'steel', so maybe something's got mixed up in the translation. Something or somebody is certainly mixed up. The word "Blech" means "brass", not "steel", which is "Stahl". More colloquial, or slang meanings for "Blech" include: "nonsense", "rubbish", or "tripe", all of which are probably closer to the original intent of the artists, if they have the predictable brit sense of humour. Brass is an alloy made out of copper and zinc, while tin is a metallic element. This may be a reference to the collaboration of the two djs in the mix, instead of a colloquial translation; the implication may be strength (or some advantage in property) in collusion, the usual result of a commercially viable alloy. Which explanation is right would have to be confirmed or denied by Warp staff, but if they don't know what "Blech" means, either the word was chosen at random or it has no German basis and we're chasing a red herring! Aren't word games fun? ObIDM: I love the new Aphex Twin "Come to Daddy" release, especially tracks such as "CTD, LLF mix", "COSOM", and "IZ-US" -- after these tracks I have a strong nostalgic urge to play the more sad and dark ambient AFX works in my library. I love how he has turned a voice sample into a "scratchable" and ductile element. Just by changing the pitch and speed of the sample, he manipulates "come on" into a manic, childish whine. Lovely stuff. Shame that the best tracks are the shortest; if only he would make a SAWIII... Alex