Re: (idm) Britpop in IDM Clothing

From Matthew D. Smith
Sent Thu, Nov 20th 1997, 15:32

Hary Walsh wrote:
> 
> >>>>> "Chris" == Chris Fahey <xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx> writes:
> 
>     Chris> such... I recently heard their album "Ladies and Gentlemen
>     Chris> we are Floating in Space" (which by the way has dope
>     Chris> package design) and boy was I duped. This stuff is straight
>     Chris> up Oasis wannabe crapola (IMHO, of course) and has little
>     Chris> to no IDM appeal. Just a warning: Beware Britpop in IDM
>     Chris> clothing.
> 
> I suggest you get a copy of 'Laser Guided Melodies' to demonstrate
> your ignorance on this matter.
> 
> Spacemen 3, Spiritualised and any of the other Sonic Boom stuff has
> always been very experimental.  I agree that their latest album is a
> bit of a dissapointment though.
> 

Ja, sure Spiritualised & Spaceman 3 et al have been very experimental at
times and yes I can say I have really smaaked some of their musiek. 

But by the same token and to re-inforce what Chris was saying about
Britpop in IDM clothing. I believe there are a lot of very substandard
wannabe shoegazer pop heroes out there who are capitalizing big time on
the "rave" culture imagery. 
Now to debate whether IDM is a subset or superset or is alien to the
ravoid genre is for another discussion. 
What I know is that many Indie & Rockist format bands in South Africa
use the lycra/spandex, shiny sunglasses, happy smileys, E-head,
digitalized and high-bitrate image to make themselves appealing to an
audience (although mostly philistine in nature) which are losing faith
in the traditional rock 'n roll thing. Most of the bands I know
personally are very technophobic at heart but will obviously lost market
share or listenership if they cannot keep up with the look and feel of
today. Also, alot of rockist musicians I know have been reluctantly
dragged into the "rave" scene because it where the new cool set hangs
out.

What does this really have to do with IDM?
It just becomes a bit confusing because you like to expect some kind of
cohesion between the packaging and the contents. We all know and can
almost expect to recognize the artwork for an Autechre or an RDJ or a
Plastikman release. 
Maybe we shouldn't have such a close affinity to the visual artwork -
but I guess we do. 
How many times have you not bought a really good CD because the cover
artwork didn't catch your eye in the shop?

Maybe this is just incoherant babble or this goddam Lariam shit I'm
taking to prevent Malaria is starting to mess with my mind man.

Peace my chinas... 
                  ...from Port Harcourt, Nigeria!!!

Matthew == Kontrolman

<IDM content=locale_specific country=.za>
I will be back in South Africa on Sunday night - if there are any SA
IDM'ers out there who want to catch some local live electronica, I will
be performing (with mr bro' Kliktrak) somewhere in Johannesburg before
the end of December. Mail me or watch http://www.eguana.co.za/redfriday
for further details.
Also, if there are any kif events happening next week in Jo'burg please
give me call...
</IDM>
-- 
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Matthew D. Smith              
xxxxx@xxxx-xxxxxxxx.xxxxxxxx.xxx.xxx         
IT Engineer                             
Schlumberger GeoQuest                    
Chief Ogbonda layout
Rumukurushi
Port Harcourt Nigeria                     
                                               -- Mayibuye iAfrika 
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