Re: (idm) d'n'b

From Et Pharmacistic Paradoxia
Sent Fri, Apr 10th 1998, 20:34

On Fri, 10 Apr 1998, James Skilton wrote:

> At 21:59 05/04/98 -0400, Philip Sherburne wrote:

1) to work with the form (eg squarepusher, jega, rdj, etc.),
> >using its formal elements but always as an expansion of the form; and 

I think of this as basically being programmed jazz.  Not that it isn't
doing things never before done with jazz (for instance, extremely flanged
perfect 96th-note-triplets ascending in perfect linear pitch or volume
ain't exactly Max Roach or Buddy Rich)

2) to
> >work within the form, as does dancefloor-oriented d'n'b.  eg, the producers
> >that "non-initiates" won't necessarily know. this second method works
> >within strict formal rules almost as a kind of theme-and-variation
> >exercise.  hence the production of such similar music.  originality isn't
> >the point, in such an exercise--the asymptotal drive toward the "perfect
> >track" is, instead.

I wonder if the #2 kind of d-n-b will have a life kind of like the
Breakbeat trend: it will eventually collapse on itself if it ever stops
from occasionally bringing in some of the innovations of the (1) artists. 
There is a lot of elbow room to the dancefloor-oriented d-n-b, but (at
least to me) it still seems formulaeic overall and will always need the
occasional experimental injection.  Another thing about d-n-b that reminds
me of breakbeat is that I remember that breakbeat was considered a little
too crazy for the dancefloor in its' own time, but slowly got assimilated
into clubs after getting lobotomized of its' jazzier/syncopated elements. 
The supposed "drum-n-bass" I have heard in clubs is much more repetitive
and is so at smaller intervals of notational bars, such that is actually
sounds like the faster experimental breakbeat of 92-93 (Kaotic Chemistry
or 4 Hero for instance) 

> into words by Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force - "Looking for the
> Perfect Beat"

I just found this Tommy Boy 12" for 50 cents last week, btw.  

I'm late on this thread, too......

Solenoid

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