Lane Visitor

Re: consumers not thinking music is worth much, I think about this a lot. I think there are a lot complexities that add up to this feeling of music being worth less, but it's all kind of one thing too, and all falls under the internet/social media/saturation umbrella: -One part of it is technology / social and shared media culture which sparked initially by Napster/mp3 culture and now has born an entire industry (streaming) that dominates this element. Aside from vinyl enthusiasts and hardcore music folks like us at watmm, there's just really no incentive to go out of the way to deal with cds, records or tapes. And why would anyone want to figure out how to acquire electronics that play these strange old formats? People only have bandwidth for laptops and phones (their "me" devices and are already fully invested in them for almost everything life has to offer. -Another part of it is the personal bubble/channel/feed that everyone now has which makes listening less about the artist or the music or concept or story and more about the person listening and their vibes/mood/mindset. I'm at place xyz with scenario 123 and feeling ___ mood, therefore I click playlist abc. Discovery of new sounds and the experience of physical media is so far from where we are now. Another part is the meme-ification, and sound bite aspect. Every sensation, phenomenon, trend, idea ... is even more fleeting than the past, and must be reduced to a quick snapshot. Everyone is suddenly a busy Wallstreet broker with only time for a quick headline on the way to their next board meeting to file away. Does anyone actually remember that somewhat cool artists they discovered from the new playlist while waiting at the Apple Store while also texting their buddy? I realize this is a pessimistic take on music media/technology/culture in 2022 but I do believe that there are many benefits of the current state. Do they outweigh the costs? Depends on my mood when I answer lol. I also do believe that one day things will be different and we won't be using our devices for consuming art and media as much. At least I hope.

Yes I'm sure. I was referring to his musical progressions, I know he still made drilling noisy experimental and techno pre y2k, esp minimal stuff with mostly drums and bass and some samples. But when it comes to tracks he put out that had musical progressions, (which doesn't include Elephant lol), they were usually classical-inspired in nature at least imo (or at least derivative via the epic/euphoric trance or symphonic/ progressive electronica that was big at the time. Everything from RDJ album to HAB to AB1, AB3, ICBYD, Come to Daddy EP, and of course both SAW lps, all had good amounts of standout tracks with the kind of stuff I'm referring to. He even mentioned in an interview at the time how much he liked strings too, not that that implies much but ya know.

Haha yup, honestly anything with some aggressiveness or rdj classic emotive / playful melodies would be awesome. On the flip side, some minimal ambience would satisfy me just as much lol

Yeah MFM remake would be so appreciated these days... Just some oldschool rdj tunes / classic melodies redone in a new light and slick and snappy sounding. Wonder if we crowdsource this to encourage him ?? ?

I think part what is making Syro so perfect sounding is the super lush reverb especially on those already very lush pads, which just sort of swallows everything into like this hypnotic cocoon. This element I think sort of contains the dynamics and makes everything sit in this glowy floating space. The compression style used is very buttery and chocolatey and pillowy which just adds to that. Esp when you hear some of those old school drum machines crushed hard and super dry juxtaposed against all the wetness of the other tracks. It's super thick chunky goodness. He set out to make an ear pleasing, chill groovy album and he succeeded! It would be a fun treat to hear some abrasiveness or more rawness in an upcoming release of course ?

What dawned on me today re Drukqs is that up until and including this album, Richard's musical progressions seemed to be based around classical and orchestral. Even when it didnt include actual strings, plucks, or voices, still the arpegiators or polysynths followed classical sounding riffs, often trancey too, sometimes even deceptively simple colorful melodies... Analord and forward, it seems more experimental, atonal, fusion, funk, jazzy and so forth. Less musical simplicity / beauty / emotion, and more complexity, texture, and nuance. This isn't really a judgement, his music post 2001 is still brilliant as it is, I guess I never thought of this too much how Drukqs feels like it was the turning point until now. And I for sure miss that aspect. Also, isn't that kind of the state of electronica / acid / idm / techno? Much of it from the mid 2000s.and forward was less of this simple melodic thing and more intricate musically or understated or "retro" whatever that may mean.

Wow this is really fascinating and I don't doubt that analysis here at all, when I think about those 2 lps and how unique they are. And yup, HAB jumped right into UK jungle territory. So did Richard move to London around 95ish?

This is well said and couldn't agree more!

What is it about SAW 85-92 that feels like some untouchable magical thing where no artist would ever be able to draw from or recreate, maybe even Richard himself? Like this light heartedness, chillness and peacefulness floating around in the tunes. Part of me when I hear it is almost like man this is wholly unique and a holy grail. And the other part is like this is just really good ambient techno. But then when I'm like hmm what other "ambient techno" is out there like this? Nothing Ive found is in the same vein or even close. Closest stuff maybe Global Communication / Reload / Pritchard / some Orbital.

I miss new tunes too, but the way I see it, it's like a natural correction period from a major AFX bull run that was Syro / SC Dump / Collapse / Live Releases / Cheetah / Orphaned / Acoustic etc. If you're spending like 10 straight years every day in the studio and releasing like a machine, a good 3-5 year break is probably necessary for regaining inspiration, ideas, purpose etc. Otherwise, you may just shit out recycled iterations of past works over and over. Richard seems the kind that would keep making music into his later years like others here have said. Bowie, Sakamoto and other prolific songwriters / composers / artists have kept creating and releasing into their late age. Of course everyone's different but no reason to think Richard won't be doing the same given his obsession with the machines (you've got so many machines richaaaaaard!) ? That kind of passion doesn't usually just fade.

Has anyone read any Robin Cook? He wrote a lot of cheesy medical thrillers back in the 90s and 00s, and I kind of love them so far. The movies made based on them are even better, so Lifetime Television caliber lol.

Leftover Angel Hair Picatta and some bread and pesto butter from our date night tonight at the Italian spot down the street. So good after blazing up and a few glasses of wine. ?

New merch speculation based on facts we have

Big Trouble In Little China!

Could there really be something coming?

Do you guys think Biden or any coalition forces will take any action?

Love bodyline... Their instant images LP is still a favorite.

What do you all think Richard thinks of his Polygon work? To me, it's so distinct from the rest of his stuff... And one I return too insanely often as it just never gets old. There's something spiritual for me with it I think. Of course most acid and hypnotic electronic music does this, but there's something extra hypnotic that draws me in. The tapey / dat saturation on the 808s, menacing pads, alien 303s, watery blips, icy hats. So alien and cold, but so warm and comforting. Fuck I could go on lol.

Hoof it!!!

Hey peeps, I don't typically post my projects in this thread (mostly just drop my originally composed Donovan Hikaru work in Vaporwave thread), but thought some of you might dig this dark ambient / IDM ish EP I just put out via No Problema - tape label out of Chile. A side shoot alias within my Donovan Hikaru project, original composition, and a very personal difficult release for me (made back in 2015 inspired by growing up with hypochondria and helping take care of aunt and grandparents and eventually lots of family drama and anxiety that occured around the time my grandma had strokes around the time she passed). Maybe the darkest thing I've done or even will have done, not sure. Needed to channel it somehow haha. By no means high production sound design level, just a diy bedroom release to get out of my head. Love to hear your thoughts! Thanks. Cheers, LV / DH

Not gonna lie, youve just me realize I've had a slight subconscious crush on her every time I watch a press briefing lol So weird! Always wondered why I've been transfixed even though the Biden briefings are boring af

That's like saying don't look at the person behind you! Haha

No way guys, this is so shitty and sad. Poor dude ? He really seemed like a genuine and interesting person. Man it just feels like 2020 will never end sometimes.

When did this exchange happen??

You NEW guys RELEASE are SPECULATION getting BASED me ON excited FACTS about WE this HAVE