(idm) Re: Songs to make you weep

From Piotr Dubiel
Sent Fri, Apr 24th 1998, 06:14

Hmm. This thread just seems to invite off-topicness. There is a lot of
music that moves me, some it close to tears, but most IDM is on a diffrenet
emotional tip. Most of the electronic tracks that I find beautiful are
beautiful in a soothing/awe-inspiring sort of way than a "I'm gonna sob
now" sort of way. For example, I find the last track of the Merzbow "Space
Metalizer" CD one of the most beautiful tracks I've heard in a while (truly
beautiful noise), but I don't know how many people would weep over that
one... ;^)

So, trying to keep as close to IDM as I can, here are some tracks with some
potential:

Track 3, Disc 1 of Selected Ambient Works II. Gets me every time.

Luke Slater, "Love".

Tangerine Dream, "Tiergarten". OK, I like this track. I am a sucker for
samples of children playing in parks. Maybe because it takes me back to
being a kid. That's why I love Phaedra as well, since there is a part when
you can faintly hear the sounds of kids playing. Makes me think of
sunlight, and being 7 years old again, sitting in a sandbox, surrounded by
pigeons, trees and other kids and not giving a shit about anything except
sitting in the sandbox and making cool castles out of sand. Ug. I'm getting
too sentimental here... ;) I also love Zeit -- what a beautiful record, but
maybe a bit too heavy for what you're looking for.

Squarepusher, "Tundra". I'm sure i'm only the 80th person to mention this=
 one.

Klaus Schulze, "Blackdance". A tragic science fiction space opera. Listened
to it while reading Williamson's _The Humaoids_ and the sequel, so I can't
lose the connection beteewn the two. If a movie were made of the two books,
this would be the soundtrack -- such a beautifully sad recording,
especially the opening track, "Way of Changes" -- has been known to turn me
into a blubbering foo'.

Mike Oldfield, "Ommadawn" and "Hergest Ridge". Ah. Maybe it's the
associations with the books I read while listening to *these*. Or my
pastoral back-to-childhood trip I seem to be on.

Dead Can Dance, "The Host of Seraphim". If this doesn't move you, you are a
rock.

Pete Namlook's "Air" has some good passages.

Godspeed You Black Emperor! Their album f# a# <infinity> will be out soon
on Kranky so that y'all can check it out and not just us lucky 500
Montrealers who managed to snag the vinyl. Has some great passages with
wonderful violin-over-Morricone-ish-soundscapes on it.

Tortoise, "Along the Banks of Rivers".

But one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard is on a
folk album by John Cunningham entitled "Fair Warning". A Scots air played
on violin (unaccompanied) called "Archibald McDonald of Keppoch" makes my
eyes bleary every time I hear it, as well as his (and others') renditions
of some of Turlough O'Carolan's work (Planxty Drew/Planxty Wilkinson,
Planxty Burke as done by Clannad when they weren't crappy). After I hear
this record, all other music sounds soulless for a few days. :) While I'm
on a folk kick, "Fotheringay" and "Crazy Man Michael" by the Sandy Denny
incarnation of Fairport Convention. Oh man... I am way off topic here. :)

OK OK, what else. Oh yeah, some IDM: There's a track on the Richard Coleman
EP on Schematic (last on side 1 or 2... don't have the vinyl with me).
Incidentally, CAN ANYONE GIVE ME A TRACKLIST?

And a compilation on Cold Meat Industries called "The Karmanik Collection"
has a Morthond track on it that also makes me slobber all over myself. Nine
minutes of melancoly eastern bliss.

Umm... Guess that's what I can think of off the top of my head.


....piotr

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