(idm) Re: No U Turn

From Arthur B. Purvis
Sent Fri, Dec 26th 1997, 05:05

> > Well, I haven't heard all of it, but I've heard quite a bit (Torque + some
> > random 12"s) and all of it's been pretty terrible.  The same style
> > distorted, badly produced bass sound, the same 2-step badly produced
> 
> "Badly produced"!  Spare me ... Compared to, say Download, most everything
> discussed on this list is "badly produced" ...

This is true.  It's all straightforward plug in the synths to the tape
etc.  But then why does No-U-Turn sound so terrible?  Autechre/Aphex don't
sound terrible.

> ROTFL!!!
> 
> Panacea, the guy who FUCKING SAMPLES NO-U-TURN RECORDS SHAMELESSLY?  Hey, I
> love his stuff too, but let's get real here!  Go back a couple of days and read
> my review of the Position Chrome 19 CD please!  Wherein a live jam between
> Panacea and a few others on Chrome leaves the No-U-Turn samples in intact!

I have often wondered who samples whom here.  I have noticed that the
Nico/Fierce track "Input" is essentially the same track as Panacea's
"Stormbringer."  But to my (totally unbased) knowledge, Chrome01 came out
long before No-U-Turn existed, given that the Techno Animal singles that
came POST-Stormbringer have been out for a long ass time and are long out
of print.
It would seem to me then, that you've got it backwards, but I could have
this totally wrong (and thus have never used this argument before now).

> As for Downpour, well, I have the David Kristian/Downpour split CD on Dropbeat
> and I'd file Downpour under "Art Wank Drum N' Bass", sorry dude but I'd rather
> listen to "Torque" any day of the week.  So I have a soft spot for "badly
> produced" Hoover bass.  Bite me.

I though you were perfectly civil in your first post, as was I in my
reply.  No need to get so testy.
I'm curious what you think of Third Eye Foundation if Downpour is
"art-wank dnb."  (I also wonder what speed the CD is recorded at, because
I enjoy my 12" at either, but it sounds a lot more fucked up at 45,
speaking of recent threads...)  Because TEF is significantly wankier
in the sense that I think you're using it, ie pretension wank rather
than Greatful Dead wank, than Downpour (and better, but that's besides
the point).

> > exist in the minds of the "hip") while hype (The Wire, the IDM list, the
> > Voice, Simon Reynolds, DJs, art students, etc) gets "the hip."  They're
> > both right about 10% of the time.  Maybe MTV is a little better.
> >    Both ignore anything that doesn't fit their image or their
> > marketing agenda until 5 years later when it's been dumbed down or
> > "artified," [...]
> 
> Wait, you listed "The IDM list" in the hype/"the hip" list?  So you're telling
> me that, as a member of the IDM list, I'm ignoring anything that doesn't fit
> my image or my marketing agenda?  I OWN PANACEA, NO-U-TURN *AND* DOWNPOUR CD'S
> HELLLLLLO.  (Disclaimer: I read "The Wire" and the IDM list.  I could give two
> shits about Village Voice, Simon Reynolds, what DJs like or "art students".)

No, I never said that at all.  I meant the IDM list metonymically
speaking, as a whole - I'm sure you've noticed that certain trends/threads
seem to sweep the IDM list (ever time an Aphex/Autechre/Mu-Ziq/etc record
comes out, Luke Slater, Panasonic - even better, Musik Aus Strom).  I
further meant the IDM list as a part of the whole "hype" thing, because in
and of itself the IDM list is pretty useful.
Here's a good example of what I mean: indie rockers.  Indie rockers will
praise (the now terrible) June of 44 forever.  They will never give two
shits about Fushitsusha b/c they don't have the hype.  They will never
give two shits about Pearl Jam because they were on MTV.  Your average
Aphex/Autechre listener is the same way - no Chemical Brothers, Prodigy,
or No-U-Turn.  Maybe a Plug record, or Mu-Ziq, if he/she's feeling brave.
Maybe.  And certainly no rock or "art-wank."  Your average Fushitsusha/Jim
O'Rourke fan won't care about any of them, because they aren't "high art."
And your average MTV watcher won't even know about any of the above.

You are obviously not (and neither is most of the list; after all they
took the time to find out and subscribe, right?) your average
Aphex/Autechre listener.  But I hope you see my point.

Another good example:  The Wire would never be caught dead writing an
article on a band called "Skinny Puppy."  Listen to the track Download on
Last Rights - lots of CD Skipping, noise, etc.  4 years later or so - The
Wire discovers Oval (after their hype at the hands of Tortoise, however)
totally ignoring Skinny Puppy.  They will always, because it isn't "arty"
enough.

And, as I think about it, your average IDM listener seems to be taken up
with a need to look down on all things "rock" as boring.  That's fucking
retarded.  Sure, 99% of rock is utter shite.  So is 99% of techno.  You
just have to LOOK, and by failing to look

> Besides, someone from Princeton talking about pretentiousness?  It is to laugh.

Umm, fuck you, asshole.  You don't actually have to suffer through the
bullshit; I deal with it on a daily basis, and you have no idea what
you're talking about.  I can't believe anyone would be so low as to
criticize my fucking university.

---
the humble abbott arthur purvis set his hand hereto