William Basinski - Disintegration Loops

And yeah, 10/10? No fucking way. Pitchfork loses any credibility they might have had with that.

  On 11/21/2012 at 8:44 PM, Ascdi said:

I always thought the Awep (and others) hoax theory was more to do with skepticism about the technical backstory (as in, the tape was really genuinely falling apart, but somehow still worked and sounded interesting as opposed to just broke or sounded hideous) than the historical backstory (which I agree, true or not, is tacky/in poor taste).

 

Part of the disintegration is the degeneration of the magnetic tape (from hundreds and hundreds of plays) and part is the actual tape loop (which is a tiny bit of tape secured to itself in a loop on a reel-to-reel) coming apart.

  On 11/21/2012 at 8:34 PM, Nebraska said:

personally, i know a guy who recorded himself snoring the same time kennedy was being assassinated

you should get him to release it, over 12 lps, they'd love it here, then again its just a guy you know

so could be a hard sell

I don't understand why everyone has to get so cheesed all the time about everything. The music is pretty good imo, if you find it boring... don't listen? Electronic music is full of hoaxes, fictional back stories, pseudonyms etc. and I don't really see the big deal. In fact I think it lends a kind of whimsy to things. Why does everything have to be so serious and important all the time? Boring.

I never really acknowledged the whole 9/11 aspect of the thing. It really just felt like a little suggestion as far as how to frame the pieces/a novel anecdote about impermanence that related to the music.

Is there anywhere that Basinski declared it to be something like the ultimate soundtrack to 9/11? or was that mostly emphasized by the media?

  On 11/21/2012 at 8:50 PM, Alcofribas said:

i also see your point about it seeming to "capitalize" on the 9/11 thing. but, here's the thing -- should artists refrain from tragic subjects because it might appear to be capitalizing on them? if an artist has something to say about 9/11, what is the proper or acceptable way to do so? and should an artist give a shit? no one seems to bat an eye when a writer, politician, historian, etc takes up the topic, so why are we so eager to hassle artists for having something to contribute?

Apparently culling together a bunch of popular figures and appropriating another song written under different pervading social conditions is one way of doing it without drawing the ire of the (ex)Pitchfork authenticity hounds...

But seriously... When I first heard the Disintegration Loops in the mid 2000's I had no clue about the 9/11 connection; I thought the front cover images were of some clock tower in central Europe or something. I only listened to Basinski's work because BoC had name-dropped him in an interview and I've enjoyed his work very much subsequently. I only learned of the 9/11 connection in the past few years.

lol they really ruined that song.

Also I like that Bono had sunglasses on right after taking his blindfold off. lol. Man is iced up at all times.

I don't think about the 9/11 aspect at all. I just think it's dull and way overhyped. Why do people get all butthurt and say "If you don't like it, don't listen" if you criticize something hyped as fuck like this.

How about "If you like it, don't talk about it, just listen." Because, really, that makes more sense.

I just don't get why the hype is important at all.

Not that I agree with either. I like talking about choons, that's why I'm on watmm.

I just like the music. I'm weird like that.

  On 11/21/2012 at 9:50 PM, DerWaschbar said:

I just don't get why the hype is important at all.

Because it inflates the importance of a release that is otherwise pretty easy to ignore, distracting attention from more interesting releases.

I think OPN and maybe Actress are a bit overhyped as well, although I love their music.

  On 11/21/2012 at 9:50 PM, sweepstakes said:

Not that I agree with either. I like talking about choons, that's why I'm on watmm.

Fair enough. I'm not meaning to be prick or anything.

  On 11/21/2012 at 9:53 PM, sweepstakes said:

  On 11/21/2012 at 9:50 PM, DerWaschbar said:

I just don't get why the hype is important at all.

Because it inflates the importance of a release that is otherwise pretty easy to ignore, distracting attention from more interesting releases.

 

I think OPN and maybe Actress are a bit overhyped as well, although I love their music.

I can see where you are coming from and I partly agree with you. But, I think it's just a natural mechanism and I guess I'm a bit glad for the hype, because I enjoyed the release and otherwise might not have found it.

  On 11/21/2012 at 5:37 PM, brisk said:

http://vimeo.com/53985670

 

 

LOL

This fuckin guy...

My favorite part is when he finishes rant, and then says "Now...Mark...I love ya, baby!". And then he almost cries. QQ moar.

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE???

  On 11/21/2012 at 9:59 PM, DerWaschbar said:

I guess I'm a bit glad for the hype, because I enjoyed the release and otherwise might not have found it.

That's always a good thing. I totally get that :)

I just think some of it is overboard. That 10/10 for example is absurd IMO.

  On 11/21/2012 at 9:49 PM, sweepstakes said:

I don't think about the 9/11 aspect at all. I just think it's dull and way overhyped. Why do people get all butthurt and say "If you don't like it, don't listen" if you criticize something hyped as fuck like this.

 

How about "If you like it, don't talk about it, just listen." Because, really, that makes more sense.

i have to disagree. the present discussion arose after a 15 minute video was posted in which the reviewer compared the disintegration loops to someone cynically capitalizing on a nuclear attack on israel. the onus is clearly on the rather radical and frothing critics to provide answers to the questions they pose. fans of the loops are not ramming 9/11 down any one's throat, not insisting on the limits and existential structure of what is acceptable as art, etc.

we have here a pack of critics attacking a reasonably priced box set from all fronts: it isn't art, it capitalizing on and exploits terrorism, it's an elaborate hoax, basinski is a liar, basinski uses cheesy production tools and techniques, and so on.

and what is most lolarious is that some of those critics relish slowed down loops of new kids on the block. so, no, i don't think there is an equivalence between supporters and detractors.

  On 11/21/2012 at 10:02 PM, thanks robert moses said:

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE???

Lol yeah. And when he starts talking about the cheesiness of the effects, as if shit that's more expensive always sounds better. I mostly agree with him but he's one of those types that obv spends way too much time plucking his hipster-gina.

*plucks gina*

Yeah, hah. 10/10 is extreme for sure, and they gave go plastic a 5.1.

didn't MHTRTC get that score?

I seriously just thought it was kind of boring. Pleasant enough but rather than reducing me to tears as it seemed was the intended effect, I just skipped through it and was like, "yeah, OK, I get it."

Maybe I'm the problem it's not you, Disintegration Loops, it's me.

  On 11/21/2012 at 10:09 PM, Alcofribas said:

didn't MHTRTC get that score?

Lol yeah! After they had already given it like a 7.6 a few years before! Fuckin clowns

Everyone should just listen to Akira Rabelais instead.

dude, that's completely fine and normal (if a little not so lush).

but wtf is up with people comparing it to a nuclear holocaust on the Jews and then watmmers being like "he has a point"

@ sweepsgay

  On 11/21/2012 at 10:13 PM, Alcofribas said:

(if a little not so lush)

come now, lush is lush. there is no scale.

  On 11/21/2012 at 10:13 PM, Alcofribas said:

dude, that's completely fine and normal (if a little not so lush).

 

but wtf is up with people comparing it to a nuclear holocaust on the Jews and then watmmers being like "he has a point"

 

@ sweepsgay

Oh yeah. That was quite hyperbolic as well. I just meant that the whole spiel does seem somewhat exploitative. And obviously for me it doesn't stand up without the backstory (one I'm uninterested in)

Something about this record (or maybe just Pitchfork) just brings out everyone's inner Maury.

  On 11/21/2012 at 10:13 PM, Alcofribas said:

 

but wtf is up with people comparing it to a nuclear holocaust on the Jews and then watmmers being like "he has a point"

 

No one did that. You really need to stop misrepresenting what the reviewer said in that video.