Gear (was Re: (idm) Autechre)

From nevileb
Sent Mon, Jul 20th 1998, 19:55

>> Is there a good reason for their secrecy, or can I
>> assume that it's simply sonic-insecurity?
>
> I imagine for the same reason Basic Channel don't give out
> their gear list: there's already way too many people biting
> their sound already -- why make it any easier?  One of the
> reasons certain pieces of gear change hands for absurd
> amounts is because all too many people seem to think
> amassing the same gear as musicians they enjoy will
> allow them to make music that sounds like them.

I agree - it's silly to think that buying the same gear
as ae or Aphex will make you sound like them.  You may
be able to recreate sounds they've used, but the writing
is a different issue.

Having said that, my question remains - why the secrecy?

If, in the artistry of creating the tracks, the gear is
of *central* importance, I may have to re-assess my
feelings towards these artists.  How would I feel about
a phenomenal painter who refused to tell anyone about
the spectacular brush he uses?  My estimation of his
artistic skills would certainly get smaller.

Perhaps electronic music still has a long way to mature.
It seems to me that the equipment secrecy is nothing but
selfishness and insecurity.  It would be ridiculous for
Chick Corea to not tell anyone what synths he used on his
last album, or for him to not talk about his creative process
at all.  If the gear list is of such importance, we can
only assume that the artists themselves believe their
sound can be easily reproduced.  If that's the case, maybe
what they're doing isn't worthy of the respect we give it.

Of course, as somebody else already said, who cares?  We
know they're the original masters.

So what don't they want us to know?


bbn