Backwards to go forwards

quick question for you divide.

whats your opinion on "dancefloor" techno... do you think theres anyway for it to move forward and if so, which way? as i said earlier "listening" techno (which is what i would consider your stuff ie: not 100% dancefloor) is a lot more open for progression because it doesnt have the strict rules that dancefloor stuff sometimes needs...

just wondering on your thoughts...

also. where the bloody hell cann i get museum of skulls in digital format cause i'd love to play it out!!!

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Originally Posted by The Divide

I think the scenes missing new blood, go out these days and the dance floor is like a geriatric ward. Also these who act like their the next ‘avant-garde‘ innovator of techno don’t really seem to be doing anything really new for me anyways. They mean nothing to me when compared to people who really screw around with gear and software, do circuit bending or obscure multimedia audio visual type shows. Those are the unsung heroes of techno who with odd exception, are distanced from ‘techno music’ or stuff in the clubs anyways. So its not really just down to musical ability I think, its also technical ability. Look at how easy it is to use Ableton to mash up loops. Could be part of the problem on why there is a lot of plap around perhaps

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Yes but you gotta watch out because a lot of times those guys turn out to make music that is creative... but has no real soul.
Its just a smoke screen of tricks.
Music for poncy chinstrokers, that no one else will dig.

Like who?

Riche Hawtin?

hahaha

I guess you mean like 'shitmat'. Went to see that guy live out of interest, was crazy but had no soul. All tricks and no soul like you say. But that’s not really what I was getting at. Take this as an example…

You know Luke Slater’s rmx of Joey Beltrams record 'forklift'?

When Beltram made the original he made a sound which sounded kind of unique at the time by shaping a synth patch into a certain new sound.

Right then Luke Slater came along and did the rmx but with he wasnt screwing around with the synth, he was screwing around with that crazy filter gating and alll kinds of headwreakering mangling going off.

Ok fast forwards to now, both records are quality but sound outdated. Both at the time featured somekinda trick, technique which was unique at the time. This was combined with the expression of the artist, ie they made it rock. It was a merger of man and machine. So my point?

Were already seeing a wide range of amazing things appearing in the reaktor series, synths which play themselves. I think the next direction in techno won’t be people using machines to manipulate sound but creating and changing their own machines. Rewiring these machines, implementing them into their sound.

Think like AI nightmare technology thats programmed to be evil and sounds like a demented robot ninja on a crack cocaine snuggling pirate ship but killing off the pirates one by one with its pulse weapon of doom. Capturing that machine and working with it, as a partnership, sampling it and arranging into a tune

Even take the machine out and play it live!

But anyways my point is, as long as there’s new technology afloat there’s always going to be new ways of making crazy noises.

Infact Im VERY excited about something at the mo. Checkout the seventh generation of consoles, the developers have spent millions into building the graphics and modeling environment but are now faced by a huge and new challenge. How the **** do you put sound to something that’s physically modeled eg water for example.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3140617

Note there is no sound

This is why the budget for people doing the sounds has been increased from 2% to 5%. So what’s the relevance of this?? Well let me say this, I dont care about consoles and gaming because it’s too big a distraction anyways. But what we are going to see some pretty amazing things new new toys in the coming years. New ways of screwing with things. Techno mite even become interactive and become visual experience too.

Oh no I completely agree with you. The technology is the way forward for sure, and it's getting more and more exciting each week.

I just think that sometimes some people blow the "smoke screen" guys way out of proportion.. which boggles my mind, as the music is just wank.

Im not sure I follow, any examples of smoke screen guys who get hyped?

I was thinking down the lines of Inigo Kennedy, Monolake, really liking Si Begg's audio video mashup thing, I hear Luka likes his machines too. The people who get blown out of proportion for me are the likes of Hawtin, dont get me wrong I like Hawtin and respect what he does but I tend to see a lot of hype and not much substance surrounding a lot of the new stuff he does.

Also there are hundreds of thousands of people screwing things with things and never getting anywhere, but im sure that are not what a lot of these people are trying to do (circuit benders especially). Sometimes it’s about doing something for yourself and nobody else. Someone I also know spends a lot of time making weird pieces of music, its propper random. Hes got no intentions on signing it to anyone tho. Just sticks them out on the web. Now musically I mite not 'get it' but I sure can appreciate it and find inspirational in it as its a great deal more creative than some of the lazy shit that gets put out (incliding, dare I say, my own releases). If anything it teaches you something, right or wrong its better than music thats a total rehash and does nothing

Not arguing or anything, I think I have a diff angle on how I look at things or something

As much as I adore avante garde electronica.
We must also remember that dance music is a predominently tribal thing.
The trancelike state that gives you the high from music does require SOME repetition.
And we are talking about dance music.
So experimentalism is fantastic, but it can go too far, and just become noodle crap that no one will dance too.
Lets not forget, standing in front of a stupidly large stack of speakers, and going spastic.

Of course

there;s an obvious diff between using repetition and being repetitive ;)

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Originally Posted by xfive

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Originally Posted by The Divide

I think the scenes missing new blood, go out these days and the dance floor is like a geriatric ward. Also these who act like their the next ‘avant-garde‘ innovator of techno don’t really seem to be doing anything really new for me anyways. They mean nothing to me when compared to people who really screw around with gear and software, do circuit bending or obscure multimedia audio visual type shows. Those are the unsung heroes of techno who with odd exception, are distanced from ‘techno music’ or stuff in the clubs anyways. So its not really just down to musical ability I think, its also technical ability. Look at how easy it is to use Ableton to mash up loops. Could be part of the problem on why there is a lot of plap around perhaps

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Yes but you gotta watch out because a lot of times those guys turn out to make music that is creative... but has no real soul.
Its just a smoke screen of tricks.
Music for poncy chinstrokers, that no one else will dig.

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if i want soul i'll listen to otis redding.

some people like to be stimulated.

I think 'proper' technos closest relation is ancient tribal rhythms. 'Proper' techno has recreated this magic with modern technology what has opened up new possibilities. Re-examing ancient tribal rhythms in the purest form may uncover some new openings.

To take full advantage of the essence of the tribal rhythm the artist must be in a certain state of mind and have the intent and knowledge to pull this off in a soulful/spiritual way. A state of mind if you will. Its a bit mind over matter and seeing the music in your head and incorporate the feelings you wish to convey. You must be able to project your feelings into the machine/instrument and bend it to your will....ask any accomplished musician and he/she will say the same thing.

Some artists/DJs I know do this or have this ability. Most are more concerned with formula and trends in order to write/play music that will sell to the punters now in a more jukebox type of style....more like pop music rather than something more soulful.

But, hey, thats what the masses want - easy to swallow trendy music that doesnt ask too much of them. So thats what is driving the music scene rather than peopple who want something that takes them completely and asks them to participate in it rather than be bystanders watching it pass by like a sportscar.

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Originally Posted by rhythmtech

just wondering on your thoughts...

also. where the bloody hell cann i get museum of skulls in digital format cause i'd love to play it out!!!

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Its a good question, I was told there would be a digital release and by the looks of it there never was. Send me a pm with your email addy and I will sort something