(idm) jazz supply

From kurt
Sent Sat, Sep 4th 1999, 20:27

>Are there are some aspects of electronic music that will have staying power
>long after we've passed away? I want to think so, and if so, I'll bet the
>kids will be listening to Autechre or something damn close when they take
>music classes. Or at least they should.

Because it's "serious" music--like what gets taught in "classes"? Well, the=
 idea of Autechre in music classes reminds me of that act's evolution  into=
 a classic "art band". ie they take some "low" form music (electronic dance=
 music) and muck it up with prime-numbered time signitures, and astringent=
 sonorities reminiscent of "avant-garde" music, of "modernism".=20

Are they in fact modernists? I don't know. I think they're making pop music=
 whose flavor is "neo-modern". Will they make it to the history books? Only=
 if the book considers pop music within its scope. Their low art/high art=
 combo thing seems like something better appreciated in the visual art world=
 which provided early support for people like the Velvet Underground,=
 Phillip Glass, Glenn Branca.=20

In short, if Autechre want to be in the history books, they should get a=
 gallery, do "sound installation", and start selling their 12" singles in=
 editions of 10.

OT: Speaking of Phillip Glass, I met this guy once who'd been to Glass=
 concerts in the 60's. He was pointing out that, back then, when Glass'=
 ensemble was all electric organs plus amplified reeds, a Glass concert=
 would be stoned/tripping people laying on the floor while the music played=
 at blasting loud rock levels. I mention it, I suppose, because it seems=
 that that period of Glass' work probably has more to do with what people=
 are interested here in IDM land than the formulaic orchestral work Glass=
 has been churning out since the late-seventies...


> Maybe the stuff we
>listen to *should* be rooted in time... Why does Good music have to be
>timeless in order to earn the "Good" title?

The excitement of an emerging genre lends interest to some music that won't=
 ever sound so good ever again... Doesn't make the moment less exciting, or=
 the music sound less good at the time, so we go with it. Hell, the whole=
 genre will make a comeback once its good and dead. On the other hand, the=
 tides of fashion routinely obscure great stuff. a lot of music  functions=
 *better* once its moment has passed.

My friend Brian Dewan was playing me some incredible organ piece written in=
 the 1950's by an obscure Montreal-based composer, whose style was might=
 have been considered mildly bracing sometime around 1920 (kinda Les=
 Six/Jehan Alain-ish). Gray-pastel colored melodies, extended tonality.=
 Obviously, its the sort of stuff that would have recieved zero attention in=
 the '50's, as its style was patently conservative in its day. Now it's=
 forty or so years later, and who fucking cares if it's not some post-Webern=
 12-tone music?=20


>Mostly you get these suburban PBS yuppies with large jazz
>collections

Yeah, your right, it's all a sham. But before we heave it all down the=
 tubes, can we just hear "Daybreak Express" by the Ellington orchestra one=
 last time?=20

Ta ta, I'm off to Prada.


kisses

Kurt