Comments on: IDM 2.0, how electronica is becoming social

By: Juha van 't Zelfde

Juha van 't Zelfde — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:28:53 +0000

I am not sure if the “dwindling CD” argument is that strong. Most of these musicians have never sold a lot of CDs, and although the numbers have declined, I do not believe this is a new argument. They have always performed live, at Sonar, Mutek, Sonic Acts and all the other festivals and music venues that have been supportive of these artists. The change I notice is of teaming up. Looking at it from an economic perspective and from my experience as curator, they could be worse off playing in ensembles because they will have to share fees and might become less interesting because of declining agility (it is easier to fly in one artist than four).
The “what is he doing there” argument is a recurring one, but is sometimes dismissed as romantic. Ollie Bown and Sam Britton make the most incredible music live on stage by means of extraordinary computer programs, but their stage presentation is not really exciting (unless you are friends with them, then you might enjoy Ollie’s beard being lit by an Apple). Watching Stockhausen manning his mixing desk isn’t the fanciest thing either, seeing most conductors and over-acting musicians at work neither. It could be a change of expectation, something we just have to accept. Or it could be something to work on, like the Raster-Noton gang seems to be doing. However, although I do acknowledge the dramatic quality of a musical performance, the lack of does not have to result in a less “‘authentic’ live experience”.
This post was not a statement, just an observation. Since we are on some path now, does anyone else have some thoughts on this?

By: Juha van 't Zelfde

Juha van 't Zelfde — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:11:08 +0000

Thanks both for commenting. It is nice to see people joining.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:31:44 +0000

I actually agree with both the sentiments above. I think it’s really awesome that more and more people are wanting to collaborate in live contexts, particularly given the fact that many electronic musicians these days hide behind a laptop (i.e. “technologically opaque forms of instrumentation”). This is really not fun for people watching.

Bob Moog had once said that it’s important that we don’t forget to play together - there’s something magical about creating music with others. Machines are simply the channel for something outside ourselves (I think he was tlaking about this with either Keith Emerson or Rick Wakeman).

Also, I think live music has always been ‘electrified’ - we’ve been feeling energetic about live music for thousands and thousands of years - we like rhythms:)

By: anon

anon — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:52:07 +0000

I’d disagree with most of this. Think of the logics of a dwindling CD market and the understanding that live performance is where musicians make money instead your point that electronic musicians have “engineered all forms of their respective musics”. Building a larger performative ensemble to creative a more ‘authentic’ live experience makes sense especially given the technologically opaque forms of instrumentation (’what is he doing there’) and the underwhelming view from the crowd of an isolated individual performing. None of this means that the isolated singular master-composer has really ceded any ground to true improvisational communication between various musicians.

Just a thought!