In August of ’99, founding fathers Proswell and Polaris gave birth to what is now known as the IRC channel SlashSlash (#//). Managing promoter and maintainer, Mr. Merck records himself has steered this (Mirc) channel into a platform for the discussion of electronic music (usually about releases on Merck Records) but not limited to that. The question to // contributors was to find out their thoughts on electronic music in general (as many of them are artists themselves), what their ideas and concerns are with the direction it will/should head, and random thoughts.
As words spread out on the streets, a few artists soon began to congregate #// such as Syndrone, Aethra, and Tempsoundsolutions, soon followed by Merck, Severina, ibe, and xdrquinnx who brought in much of the current crowd of regular patrons by publicizing it on the IDM List.
There are many other artist’s who have made their presence known in #// including Brothomstates, Lackluster, MD, Thug, Colongib, VIM, Esem, Bauri, Pliant, Sense, Proem, Phonex, Ilkae, Acomputer and several others. Artists from Tpolm and the tracking scene (Simon (aka h0l) from Monotonik, too). And of course many of the artists that are now on Merck Records. It’s become very much of a trading post, artists sending their stuff around to receive criticism and publicity from like minds on a live and daily basis.
Several emails arrived at Igloo Mag headquaters generated from three simple questions ::
::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::
Start Transmission :: I like music when it becomes associated with things, people, ideas, objects, fond memories. Certain ideas are getting very boring. I am curious to see what new ideas emerge but i’m certain that electronic music will follow technology as it has been.
::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::
Start Transmission :: Intelligent dance music grasps me as something very nice. A good friend of mine describes good electronic music as the sound you can’t imagine and I think the evolution of that has been carried from the innovators of techno and house to the innovators of electronic listening music and now to the present day very well. It is absolutely a blast to make. That is
why I do it. I am making the sounds that satisfy what I hear in my head.
The second and third question well relate. I think the current state of “IDM” is pretty piss poor. The Autechre ripoffs aren’t going away because people are content with Autechre ripoffs. There are a thousand labels popping up that are more interested in getting women and looking cool in magazines than supporting the music careers of their friends and artists.
The amazing tools that are coming out are a mixed blessing. The industry of sound design is advancing so fast that people are able to make records and become famous just by exploiting the tricks of the new tools, instead of actually producing timeless, soulful music.
The future is to encourage these people to sit back and start to put their heart into more than just tricks and tools. It’s time to peer a little farther into the “D” of IDM, and realize that this music started and became big because of the tremendous soul, funk, and hard work of people like Derrick May, Carl Craig, Mark Bell, and Richard James. End Transmission ::
::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::
Igloo: How does intelligent electronic music grasp you?
Start Transmission :: Good electronic music can take me to a place that I used to be able to go to when I was a kid. When I’d watch a movie like The Goonies and get
all fuzzy and dreamy. I’m not saying electronic music is like watching The Goonies, but the same state of mind I guess.. where the listener can become absolutely and utterly immersed in the sounds and structure and be transported away from the banality of everyday existence.
Igloo: Where do you think it will head?
Tim: I have no idea. But I think it will gradually become more accepted by the mainstream. I am scared that recent synthesizers and soft synth programs are becoming quite automated, not because less skilled people are consequently
able to make tracks, but because they are taking some of the fun out of the process.. and don’t encourage people to build their own distinct sound or method.
Igloo: What do you like or dislike about this “style” of music?
Tim: I don’t like the elitist attitude that happens with electronic music sometimes. I don’t like the way electronic music promotes anonymous acts. I wish there where more women in electronic music.
I like that there are heaps of new homegrown labels appearing and there are lots of really amazing styles and talents happening worldwide. End Transmission ::
::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::
Igloo: How does intelligent electronic music grasp you?
Start Transmission :: I’m, um, proud of electronic listening music? Its impressive that a form of music so heavily relying on technology can come full circle and sound like natural forest eminations (a la Boards of Canada) or like crazy space hell beam transmissions (a la Coil).
Igloo: Where do you think it will head?
Nick: Hopefully it will get to a point of total equilbrium where
all forms of music are intragrated somehow. IDM needs to mate even more with indie rock. Aphex Twin meets Polvo would be perfect right about now.
Igloo: What do you like or dislike about this “style” of music?
Nick: That once someone pioneers an individual sound, a league of technical copycats emerge within weeks. Also the extreme reliance a lot of artists have on hyperprism DX plugins. End Transmission ::
::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::
Igloo: How does intelligent electronic music grasp you?
Start Transmission :: Grasp me? Can you repeat the question?
If you are talking about what really stands out; to me it has to be something with melody. I mean Aphex Twin’s Saw 85-92 I guess was one of the first really melodic electronic albums I got into. Then the Artificial Intelligence albums, Polygon Window.. Autechre’s Amber etc. Then as time went on, Bola came around, Boards of Canada, and more recently I’ve really been enjoying Aspen and Boulderdash. I’ve also always been a huge fan of moody dark ambient music (as might be apparent as you listen to my track on the Aurora Compilation with Merck) such as Lustmord, Aphex Twin’s SAW 2, Eno, Robert Rich, most of Coil’s ambient work etc. To me I look for stuff that I feel really captures emotion. I dig Autechre, but I’m not really into a lot of the Ae-influenced groups that are trying to emulate the complex rhythm stuff they are doing, but completely neglect to insert the subtle melodic parts that makes (made?) Autechre so good.
Igloo: Where do you think it will head?
John: Well, who am I to predict? I think some people will continue to head into the more melodic, lush, emotional route. But I also think with all the new software and computers being developed, more and more people are going to head into the fucked up digital randomness realm, with the sterile sounding production etc.; something I dont really enjoy.
Igloo: What do you like or dislike about this “style” of music?
John: I like the music, I dont like a lot about the scene. Obsessive record collectors paying $300 on eBay for some old Skam record that you could easily find in high quality mp3s. So you know that they just want to be able to say they have (insert rare 12″ here). I dont like the whole thing where people think they are cooler because they know about more obscure stuff than the next person, what’s up with that? If I find out about a new artist who has a great album, EP, or whatever.. I love to help share information. I think if people were’nt so obsessed with their scene status, the music would take main stage and it would be a lot more enjoyable for everyone. End Transmission ::
::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::
Igloo: How does intelligent electronic music grasp you?
Start Transmission :: Its really hard to say. Electronic music is less of a genre or a descriptor to me than a means to an end. Like IDM, electronic music is a vague term that could include any combination of influences from any sort of genre. Electronic music describes everything from IDM to primitive hip-hop to electro to dance to that shit they play on horrible low-budget local commercials. IDM in my eyes can be anything; many of the non-IDM stuff I listen to from other genres (metal/hardcore, hip-hop/rap, ska/jazz, etc) I consider just as intelligent – if not more! – than IDM.
Igloo: Where do you think it will head?
Ian: Thats the one interesting part; Contrary to what people say about “everything already having been made”, the possibilities are endless! Just as the digital world and the Information Revolution (that’s started ever since the dawn of the computers) is infinite, so is the huge idea we try and call electronic music. You can do anything electronically. It is possible and if not you can make it so. Moreover, this is a defining characterstic of its future: the infinite nature of it.
Igloo: What do you like or dislike about this “style” of music?
Ian: Well, in staying within my above definitions and so as to not invalidate them totally, theres not much I can say here.)
As for IDM, I really hate the pretentiousness so often associated with it. Elitism is something I dont like. If I could change one thing about this rapidly evolving and still fairly new genre, it would be to give it less of a pretentious label (the one that it has earned unfortunately) and more of a cooperative one. Without some sort of unity and cooperation, we cannot as a society expand musically. Though it is not all pretentious people, I wish there were less people out to defend ideas and more willing to spread them; to break new ground. End Transmission ::
::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::
Igloo: How does intelligent electronic music grasp you?
Start Transmission :: I hate the stupid term IDM. The majority of the music that I hear being
called IDM is not dance music at all. And a lot of it isn’t that intelligent either! So how about experimental groove music? Or better yet -just music! Imagine that.
Igloo: Where do you think it will head?
Ben: Music exists now. In this moment and no other. There is no past or future of music -just different versions of this moment.
Igloo: What do you like or dislike about this “style” of music?
Ben: I like to dance. When I go to a show/party I want to get down. Which is why when I play live I play dance music. And when I’m at home I make trip-out headphone music. Nothing is more boring to me than going to an electronic music event and standing around watching someone look
bored/confused/pissed off in front of their gear. I want to have fun; if the performers are not having fun than why should I? Why should I go out for something that I would enjoy more in the comfort and privacy of my own home with a cd and a pair of headphones? End Transmission ::
::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::
Igloo: How does intelligent electronic music grasp you?
Start Transmission :: Inelligent electronic music, or whatever you want to call it, is a strange entity; It’s such a diverse and esoteric genre (if i may call it that). The boundries are undefined and maybe for that reason alone I feel drawn to it. In my mind, the style has a pretty bright future. The scope of things is always widening, making place
for new artists. Being a new artist myself, there’s no room for a grim outlook. This is what I like, this is what I make.
I’d say the best thing about being a new artist in this style is the ability to be in contact with other artists (and label-types) with relative ease. #// is a great example of that, even if it is just a bunch of guys (and 2 girls) wasting time on Mirc. It’s a common interest, and I couldn’t think of a finer one. End Transmission ::
::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::
Igloo: How does intelligent electronic music grasp you?
Start Transmission :: A track by Sense inspired a dream one night where I was just the viewer, not in the dream at all other than to witness the events. It started with the most perfect serene picture of a wooded area with a
lake. There were storm clouds everywhere, and each time it would thunder, it became more rhythmic, until I realised it was the sound of bass. Then came the rain and it was the soft sound of glitched out snare taps and softened hi-hats. The wind made the faint sound of washed out strings softly blowing past.
That is how it grasps me.
Igloo: Where do you think it will head?
Kate: This is hard to answer. I have a number of theories on it really. Though I’d guestimate that the smaller labels will continue and multiply and in turn that will open the doors for the innumerable excellent bedroom producers to at least have their work heard. As far as the music itself goes, well that remains to be seen.
Igloo: What do you like or dislike about this “style” of music?
I most dislike that there are so many artists who have difficulty finding their own style and flavour, and so in turn, end up sounding much like everyone else. What I most like is that there are some producers out there that are trying with all they’ve got to create completely new sounds and structures and musical gestures –and that has reflections in other genres of music that seem to be quite prevalent in this genre. And another thing.. many of the producers I know, are more interested in the music having depth and density than limiting themselves based on rules. End Transmission ::
::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::
OK, want some other miscelaneous personal info? I like all types of music and art in general and I sense it all around me so I am quite happy. When I’m not making music, I could be playing video games, eating food, or giving commands to my computer.
Igloo: How does intelligent electronic music grasp you?
Start Transmission :: I’ve lived a pretty electronic life so far and electronic music just fits into that quite nicely. I can hear just as much beauty coming from a computer as I can from a saxaphone or a symphony orchestra.
Igloo: Where do you think it will head?
Matthew: For me, electronic music is about experimenting and human expression realized through interfacing with electronics. I think it will head wherever its creators want it to head. Mostly I think it will keep moving off of gear and onto computers, but besides that its all in the hands of the kids currrently plugging away at their instruments in their parents’ basements.
Igloo: What do you like or dislike about this “style” of music?
Matthew: I like the wide range of sounds it can create and thusly the wide range of emotions and ideas it can inspire. I dislike the current distribution models. I think that we are all online and we should put our heads together and figure out something neat and new but that can still reach those who arent online and arent into electronic music. Music should be
respected as art-form and not abused like a commodity. Making people who were raised on free music from radio and TV realize that is quite a challenge, though. I think the electronic musician is even more at risk for digital abuse since most of his/her listeners are likely online already. I love Napster and music sharing as much as the next net-junkie,
but I can’t see it doing much good for the futures of our young musicians.
::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::
Well.. as you can see, many of the people that frequent this channel have some very interesting points to shed to the world. One can only expect good things when a relatively small community like SlashSlash gets together in a chat room to discuss electronic music –be it their own projects or others; To trade their latest acquisition for something more obscure, or to complain that their significant other tells them that they spend too much time behind a computer screen. Nonetheless the results of this 24 hour music emporium is a
casual place to relax and spread your thoughts.
To join the SlashSlash mailing list, send an email to [email protected] with “Subscribe SlashSlash” in the body of the message.
The SlashSlash Channel can be accessed by using any NewNet server with Mirc installed on your operating system. End Transmission ::
Related posts ::
Shackleton :: Music for the Quiet Hour / The Drawbar Organ EPs (Woe To The Septic Heart!)
Steve Roach :: Quiet Music: The Original 3-Hour Collection (Projekt)
Room of Wires :: Making music in total isolation
ODAE :: (college) (Morning Hour)
ODAE :: If Things Had Memories, The Stories They’d Tell (Morning Hour)
