cool thread on aphex

a 7 pager from teh slutz

 

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-electronic-music-production/505579-who-new-apex-twin.html

 

 

 

"I checked most of the music on this thread and IMO, the large majority it is hopelessly unoriginal. It merely shows how much of a new music influence Aphex has been in that there is so much emulation of hist late 90's sound happening 13 years later. Tipper, nice but boring. Planet Mu, Venetian, Kettle, etc., been there done that. Now I'm not saying this to worship Aphex, quite the opposite.

 

I think he lost the plot after ~15 years of really excellent music making. How do I measure that?

 

2 metrics,

Innovation and Cultural Relevance.

 

Electronic music has lost it's social relevance because technology worship is on the decline. Culture is becoming more and more aware that genetically modified foods, mosquitos as vaccine delivery systems, live x-ray scanning and other such techno-fascist ideas are distopian and not the way forward. Aphex's computer music was all about the technological wonderland, the infinite possibilities of technology harnessed by "the one".

 

To keep it in perspective, electronic music became popular during the Internet revolution, when technology *was* impacting everyone's lives for the better and the economy wasn't forcing people to think rationally.

 

Aphex's innate spirit and ability as a composer are fantastic, but the wheel of time keeps moving, and Times They are A-Changin'

 

Kids, which are the ones with leisure time to create what we call movements, are busy trying to find jobs and figure out how not to **** things up like their parents did {or 'didn't'}. For the smarter {trend setters} in this generation technology has become a nemesis of sorts. Sure, it's amazing, fantastic even, but it's like a drug, accelerating the culture to become more and more of what it really is. And with the techno-shades off we're the reality is that technology, anymore than religion, can't save us from the hard work of living. Humans impact on earth through technology needs resolution and computer music hasn't so far brought culturally useful messages that help the kids chart a reasonable path forward. With decreasing relevance and increasing saturation, (everybody can make IDM'ish tunes with a laptop and plugins), this form of music is losing it's social currency.

 

IMO, neo-folk singers and 80's revisionist bands are more likely to be relevant in a depressed post-technology economy.

 

No, I'm thinking Roller Derby has more relevance than Aphex at the moment. But of course, an Aphex Roller Derby would be the most fun.

 

Yes, so the Innovation metric?

 

Serious innovation in music can usually be detected by the resistance of the culture to it. If the culture isn't getting it now, then such music is possibly the dominant trend in 10 years.

 

So, who is innovating? As Monolake (Robert Henke?) said. (roughly paraphrased) "The last ten years were about making music and the next 10 will be about performing it".

 

I agree. I think the right question is, who is pushing the performance envelope? Who is innovating the way music is made, performed and consumed?

 

In my small section of the universe I think the majority of performance innovation is happening with the live modular / live electronics crowd. A sort of post-circuit bending renaissance with better ideas, better execution and not so much geekery. Which suits me because I've been playing a custom modular live since 2004 and it's been incredibly rewarding. There's sort of a proto-shamanistic space that live modular playing can put the performer and I think we're going to see more "performance modulars" being designed, built and used. The muffwiggler forum is the hotbed of this activity and I know some of those wigglers are going live. Also, I see improvised noise as an foundational approach, but something to be grown out of. The chaotic aspects are more in tune with the state of the world and resolution of chaotic states is the way forward towards a rational future."

I agree with mosta dat

 

My longterm prediction: electronic music loses its sense of novelty. Sonic texture will still be viewed as an important aspect of musical expression, but it will get harder & harder to create an entire act/genre around a "sound" without backing it up with actual songcrafting or genuine attempts at emotional expression

there will be no "new aphex twin"... rdj is one of a kind, also, he was born at the right moment, at the right place and had the right life to be who is he now

  On 11/22/2012 at 2:08 AM, logakght said:

there will be no "new aphex twin"... rdj is one of a kind, also, he was born at the right moment, at the right place and had the right life to be who is he now

Yeah that too

No one will ever be as good at doing the Aphex Twin thing as Aphex Twin, just like no one will ever be as good at being the Beatles as the Beatles were, & no one will even be as good at *crap musician* as *that crap musician*

 

Plenty of other people will catch on & have influence in ways similar to he/they did, but with different sounds & for different reasons & probably a lot of the people sitting around saying THERE'S BEEN NO GOOD MUSIC SINCE 1969/1994/2001 will continue to say that because their inner child died long ago

  On 11/22/2012 at 2:14 AM, Cryptowen said:

  On 11/22/2012 at 2:08 AM, logakght said:

there will be no "new aphex twin"... rdj is one of a kind, also, he was born at the right moment, at the right place and had the right life to be who is he now

Yeah that too

No one will ever be as good at doing the Aphex Twin thing as Aphex Twin, just like no one will ever be as good at being the Beatles as the Beatles were, & no one will even be as good at *crap musician* as *that crap musician*

 

Plenty of other people will catch on & have influence in ways similar to he/they did, but with different sounds & for different reasons & probably a lot of the people sitting around saying THERE'S BEEN NO GOOD MUSIC SINCE 1969/1994/2001 will continue to say that because their inner child died long ago

 

spot on.

What a bunch of stupid bullshit.

  On 11/22/2012 at 3:17 AM, AdieuErsatzEnnui said:

What a bunch of stupid bullshit.

Was just about to say that whole thing was one of the most pompous, retarded things I've ever read. Glad I'm not alone.

"What a bunch of stupid bullshit."

 

"Was just about to say that whole thing was one of the most pompous, retarded things I've ever read. Glad I'm not alone."

 

indeed

both of your contributions are well thought out and studious to say the least!

i really hate chin stroking scenesters who give every reason under the sun for liking something or disliking something for any reason OTHER THAN how the music SOUNDS! you trendy shallow fucks!!!

 

 

ive given a listen to a lot of music from people on the elec forum of gearslutz and its all awful

Edited November 22, 2012 by marf

  On 11/22/2012 at 1:58 AM, Cryptowen said:

but it will get harder & harder to create an entire act/genre around a "sound" without backing it up with actual songcrafting or genuine attempts at emotional expression

 

good point, but unlike what he says Aphex's real innovation is his simplicity. He uses pretty standard synth sounds and effects to make beautiful songs. This anyone can make laptop IDM argument has been going on since laptops became available

Edited November 22, 2012 by marf

  On 11/22/2012 at 4:38 AM, usagi said:

  On 11/22/2012 at 3:31 AM, KyonPalm said:

  On 11/22/2012 at 3:17 AM, AdieuErsatzEnnui said:

What a bunch of stupid bullshit.

Was just about to say that whole thing was one of the most pompous, retarded things I've ever read. Glad I'm not alone.

 

thirded. I read the first few sentences and had an immediate "fuck off" reaction.

 

1. to say that so much new music today is hopelessly unoriginal and an AFX emulation is ignorant as fuck

2. to say that AFX has lost the plot because of cultural relevance? fucking lol, as if that was ever a concern

3. shove those neo-folk singers and 80s revisionist bands up your ass.

Fourth...ed. lol. this is just a giant pile of bullshit. what the hell is this guy even rambling about? anytime i hear someone say "there is no innovations being made in music right now" i just think "shut the fuck up."

TL;DR dude spent a bunch of money on a modular and is now one of the cool kids. You're just jealous because you're not.

 

Srsly tho, dude sounds quite the pompous twat but there's truth to what he's saying about the increasing relevance of performance/events over recordings. The rest, file under Circular.

I just went back and reread that part and realized that was where he paraphrased Robert Henke, whose prolonged relevance is mostly because of Ableton. So, go figure, modular boy doesn't really have anything to say.

  On 11/22/2012 at 3:33 AM, yikes said:

"What a bunch of stupid bullshit."

 

"Was just about to say that whole thing was one of the most pompous, retarded things I've ever read. Glad I'm not alone."

 

indeed

both of your contributions are well thought out and studious to say the least!

 

I was going to write a well thought out post about technology and harmony with humanity, but then I read through the thread and a guy mentioned DrukQs being his weakest release so I said, "Fuck it, this doesn't deserve my time and effort". I thought I'd rather have a pet of the feline variety on those lone nights of endless computations and finger mashing It is disastrous to effect one's own thoughts on a transient subject matter. Decisive as it may be. Doodles on sun flowers seem to be exquisite only on moments of surrogate reflections. Even oddly tied bows don't fit quite well with mashed potatoes.

  Quote

I think he lost the plot after ~15 years of really excellent music making. How do I measure that?

 

2 metrics,

Innovation and Cultural Relevance.

 

Alright, fuck off.

 

Do you like the music? Does it make you feel good? Because nobody should give a fuck about cultural relevance. I know this could be taken the wrong way, but leave worrying about "cultural relevance" and "innovation" to the big labels where it's more about revenue. I listen to the music I listen to and make the music I make because it makes me feel good. What utter cock even cares about music's "cultural relevance". Like's already been alluded to in this thread, that poster's just dumb, really. This is one of those situations where people cross the line by doing things because of the feeling it gives them, they totally go blind of common sense.

Edited November 22, 2012 by Ando

Lol at the bit about technology worship. First the bullshit about the techno-fascism ( ) then

  Quote

 

Aphex's computer music was all about the technological wonderland, the infinite possibilities of technology harnessed by "the one".

 

I see, so how are for example SAWII and the piano pieces in Druqks all about the technological wonderland? Or does he mean they were "about the technological wonderland" because they were done.. with technology.

 

Also this maybe true for USA, "electronic music became popular during the Internet revolution", but electronic music was very popular in the 80s and early 90s in Europe. So, I don't really see the connection with electronic music and internet.

 

Also the words "cultural relevance", "social relevance", "innovation", "social currency", "trend-setters", "proto-shamanistic space",...

For how many years have Rock, Punk, Prog, Disco, Metal, etc been declared dead by guys like that? Cultural phenomenons with inherent value live on and on, it's as simple as that.

 

  Quote

suits me because I've been playing a custom modular live since 2004

 

This is where his pretentious bullshit rant started to make sense, it's clear that the whole thing is about self justification.

  On 11/22/2012 at 8:39 AM, psn said:

  Quote

suits me because I've been playing a custom modular live since 2004

 

This is where his pretentious bullshit rant started to make sense, it's clear that the whole thing is about self justification.

I don't like this dude..

  On 11/22/2012 at 8:39 AM, psn said:

 

  Quote

suits me because I've been playing a custom modular live since 2004

 

This is where his pretentious bullshit rant started to make sense, it's clear that the whole thing is about self justification.

 

Gearslutz is rubbish. their motto should be:

 

If you don't have $10K worth of outboard gear you have no business making music.

fucking hippies

  Quote

Electronic music has lost it's social relevance

LOL. because none of the "pop music" that the general public and kids today listen to is electronic music. NOOO, no influense at all from the electronic scene at all amirite?

 

I must be hearing things.

Zedd produced a biebs song and Skrillex made a song for a Disney movie

I agree that electronic music has lost its original purpouse.

Any kind of music, or musician, who has fame while he/she is alive serves some kind of ritual is in the social context in which he/she and his/her fellows live. Raves where kind of a ritual. If the ritual are no more, is the music worth anymore? Prolly at the time of raves, there were lots of musicians working for the ritual and for their fellows, but nowadays what remains? Just the music of the ones which where both serving the ritual and putting efforts in composition and musicianship. I bet the same has happened with Bach, say. We don't go to church anymore like we used to do in the 17th century, but we still enjoy a good fugue by Bach. Who remembers about all of the bunch of other musicians who wrote music alongside with him? Just historians. We don't have to share the ritual with Bach to enjoy the music, same thing with Aphex.

On topic, it may be of interest to see this David Byrne's TED conference "How architecture helped music evolve"

 

So what will be the music of the future? We have to wait for the next place or the next ritual that needs a music. That situation will bring the new Aphex.

Edited November 22, 2012 by pierlu

  On 11/22/2012 at 10:19 AM, pierlu said:

I agree that electronic music has lost its original purpouse.

Any kind of music, or musician, who has fame while he/she is alive serves some kind of ritual is in the social context in which he/she and his/her fellows live. Raves where kind of a ritual. If the ritual are no more, is the music worth anymore?

 

There was electronic music before raves and non-rave electronic music when the raves were happening, for example ambient music. I don't see that there was any "original purpose" or social context in electronic music in general. It's just music made with electronic hardware in and for a wide variety different contexts. So, talking more specifcially about Aphex then maybe some of the Aphex's music was made for raves, at least in the very early stage, but what is the original purpose or context for SAW I & II for example? (I can only think lying on your sofa head full of acid.. )

 

In any case the distinction between electronic and non-electronic music has been blurring since at least the 70s (disco, prog rock, p-funk, etc) because even the supposed non-electronic acts have started using hardware that were previously used for electronic music only and electronic music composers have started using acoustic instruments, especially through sampling. So the distinction between electronic and non-electronic music is pretty artificial to me. To attach some kind of philosophy to a particular set of tools is even more artificial.