lumpenprol
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Posts posted by lumpenprol
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Can't wait until they bring back Lara Flynn Boyle as the love interest again
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no it's a good post, I think you're on point re: their rather laughable "we hate exposure and the media but by the way we have whole album's worth of unreleased material, are never going to give you the boxed set we teased multiple times, or the film projects, or the acoustic MHTRTC, or anything else really. In fact we're as uptight as a mosquito's asshole...but we LOVE the attention! Peace from Hexsun". I've gotten over my anger about this but it does make them laughable in my eyes. Some of their last interviews (for TH) made this really blatantly obvious and ridiculous (can't bother finding the quotes).
I also used to have dreams about BoC, they were always very vivid and hyper-real. It was actually quite odd, as I've never dreamed about any other act that I can recall. It sounds a bit fanboyish but there it is; it surprised me too.
I have my own pet theory, which is that Mike used to be the prime mover in the band - as evidenced by the brilliant drums on their earlier work - but fried his noodle on drugs (you can see this progression through their band photos) partway through the process of Geogaddi, and from then on it's been more of a Marcus project - more emphasis on production, but less originality. Mike is seemingly back to earth but I think the genius has left. I don't have much of anything to substantiate this, and it'd take a long time to gather together all the bits and pieces that led me to this (admittedly conjectural) theory. But anyway that's my guess.
Btw I think the same dynamic applies to Orbital and to a much lesser degree Ae. In both cases I think there was a special dynamic between the partners that kind of got lost a bit due to the drug use of one of the members. In Orbital's case it was obvious that although Paul Hartnoll was probably the more musically gifted, Phil added some special dynamic that disappeared when he monged his brain out on drugs somewhere around the time of Middle of Nowhere. With Ae I don't think it's been quite as evident, but I think Sean does quite a bit of drugs and there was a point around Quaristice where he started looking pretty monged out in a lot of photos, certainly different from his previous laser intensity. He's still managed to keep up his love of making music which is great, but their stuff has been more terrestrial, more loose and jammy, and more hit-and-miss since then, though I still love it and they are my favorite act. What can you say, drugs giveth and they taketh away. And you never know which dose is going to be "one too many" until it's already happened and you're picking up the pieces on the other side. In the end it's usually the more stable but less inspired of the two - Paul Hartnoll, Rob Brown, Marcus Sandison - who ends up having more influence over the group. This has been repeated time and again, see Pink Floyd etc.
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I think the Fleure - Irlite intro is one of the best of any of their albums. Fleure is underappreciated and Irlite is brilliant.
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the bridge/breakdown part of Minipops is so ripped off from Orbital's "You Lot"
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Anyway, the reason why I'm writing this is because something Friendly Stranger said made me realize something: I really like "Tomorrow's Harvest", but I'm not nearly as obsessed with the band anymore. They're still one of my top bands--don't get me wrong--but it feels like this release has allowed me to move on a bit and stop wondering, for example, "What's up with BOC?!", which was a daily question for me for a long while.
same, but for me the reason is the album, track titles, and interviews from the time all seem to broadcast "the world is doomed, we're tired, and fuck you." That cured me of my fandom like a splash of cold water in the face. I think it's actually their most boring album, message-wise - it beats you over the head with the doom scenario
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tch is still the oddball no matter which way you slice it. if we flip flopped the 2 releases, tch would be getting ripped even more so now than it did when it was released.
no way. Not even sure why you'd say that, you think "the wait" is the primary reason people are ripping TH?
TCH was a bit of a surprise in that it seemed more polished and commercial than previous releases, also a bit more bombastic with Dayvan Cowboy (although arguably 1969 had been similarly bombastic). I also found it to be less chock-full of fresh ideas than previous releases, but over time I really grew to appreciate the mellowness of it, and level of detail. Satellite Anthem Icarus, OSTRE, etc. To me it's the perfect "car album" and though I sold my car several years ago I spun it for years before that without getting tired of it.
Whatever you may think of TH, it's not a "generous" album. Tracks are cut off quickly without being allowed to evolve much, or become hypnotic (with a few exceptions). It feels, to me at least, drawn out and thin - it starts with a bunch of intros in a row, ends with several outro tracks, but there's very little "meat" between these thick pieces of bread. That's not necessarily a deal breaker as their short tracks have sometimes been their best - Sherbet Head ended up being my favorite track off of TCH - but there are no short tracks of similar caliber here. I think those who enjoy the album will argue that's an artistic choice befitting the sparse, wasteland feel of the album, but I think in this case less is just less. I also find one of the few intended "epic" tracks - Jacquard Causeway - to be pretty annoying.
Also I find it interesting that it seems their "secret weapon" synth seems to have broken or something. They had a bunch of earlier tracks where the synth alone could send chills down my spine, eg. Oirectine, but now to me their synths sound pretty unremarkable. Not sure the reason for the switch but it was noticeable to me.
Different strokes of course, but at least give those of us who don't like it the courtesy of assuming we're mature enough to not let "the wait" influence us that much. I don't think it factors into my thinking, there was also a good-sized wait for TCH.
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I came here to be a spoilsport and say that I find T.H. hasn't aged well at all.
The longer the break I take from it, the less I think of it the next time round. I've never really "enjoyed" the album in the first place, but I gave it a chance to grow on me, which it did, for a little bit. I guess it was mostly the BoC-Withdrawal speaking, I really wanted it to be good, but I think at this point it's safe to say that IMO it is their weakest release by far. It's also really the only album by them that from start to finish sounds like the kind of music that was made because someone wanted to make it, not because someone HAD to make it., if you know what I mean.
And they have mentioned in interviews how they were going through "darker times" around the time Geogaddi was produced, which is a state of mind that I think either purposely and/or involuntarily found its way into the music they created then. Maybe T.H. is the result of them literary having "not much to say" at the moment. Could also be the reason for their total abscence in the years before. Which is fine really, it's a legitimate development, they're people, not the mystical figures some fans want them to be.
Of course I'd never have said that before hearing T.H. as I am way too curious a person for that type of thing, but having properly digested T.H., I'd even go so far and say I kind of wish they didn't release that album in the first place. I can't imagine them being satisfied with the way it sounds. Then again, I reckon they're the type of artists who are never 100% satisfied with what they created, which is honorable. But some part of them must have told them, this isn't on the same level as some shit we did years ago. So I hope they wait until they're actually inspired until the next release, even if it takes them 20 years. And cut down all the marketing shenanigans and fan service. Just make the type of music you want to make. Maybe I'm completely off with my estimation and they are high-fiving each other about Tomorrow's Harvest every morning, but somehow I don't see that being the case. I mean, listen to Happy Cycling (MHTRT Version), that shit was raw and inspired, not polished and hollow.
Okay watmm I'm out again for a bit. See you in some weeks probably!
Absolutely agree with this.
Some of the tracks on this album are so forced it's just sad. And a few of them sound like they are just plucked from older work that hasn't been released (which they admitted to doing).
As far as every release this by far my least favorite. Their multitude of amazing stuff just suffocates TH, and therefore I am not upset that I do not enjoy it. Too much to look back upon and smile about.
same. It's weird how you can seemingly feel the "forced" in a musical effort, and yet when someone who disagrees with you asks you to justify the impression, it can be difficult to do so. You either feel it or you don't...maybe it's projecting but I often feel I can gauge the "sincerity" or "passion" of an artist when they were creating their work...TH sounds like an intellectual exercise,has moments of seeming "fan service" (epic gestures), and is short on emotion and surprises. I'd go so far as to say it is morbid and dry enough that it went a long way to killing my interest in BoC, it just really feels like a headstone - "nothing more to see here, move along..."
in any case, I haven't come back to TH since the first couple of weeks I listened to it. I think that was a fair shake. Campfire Headphase was also arguably overproduced, but it still had enough meat and amazing production and density that I kept coming back to it. I think whether by design or accident, BoC just squeezed all the life out of TH.
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-Where is the feeling of being bourne along on a vast and rapid sea of hallucinogenic electonics through the dark British countryside?
leave Matt Damon out of this
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Syro does have some out-standing moments. Apart from the superb first track, there is the truly excellent produk 29 [101] which builds very nicely indeed with a majestic, melodic chord sequence that is exactly what Aphex Twin does best. Another very good piece is PAPAT4 [155][pineal mix] with Paul McCartney pads in evidence and some nice ethereal synth work in the background.
So that’s 3 tracks you really like but want the chapter ended, hmm your a bit of a confused fellow are you not?
Thy-re not pads either, pads are more sustained.
And for me, that’s it basically. The rest is mostly devoid of any real melody, lots of random bleeps and noises,Things sound random when you can’t spot the patterns .
SOSW was much simpler, so you spot the patterns much easier.
My dad often says the music I Iisten to is random noise.
I find you have to invest more time in albums like Drukqs or Syro but its ultimately more rewarding imo .
clever programming and yet cold and emotionless.Couldn’t be further from the truth, its choc full of emotion, my guess is you feel so unfulfilled with your life as an english teacher that your not receptive enough to get it, quit teaching now!
Sell that house of yours, tell the missus or whoever to do one, buy loads of weed with the money, get a rented flat and you will fall in love with Syro, I promise!
However, if you prefer his early 1990s output, you may listen to Syro and wonder where all the melodies went.Im a big fan of SOSW and can see WAY more melodies in SYRO.
Personally, I liked the stripped back beauty between 1992 and 1996 (minus the Drum & Bass stuff). It was music where simpler drum patterns were complimented by beautiful and haunting melodies. With Syro, the need to cram as much sound into every single moment makes for little more than a sprawling mess. I lost count of the times when I thought: There's a lot going on but it's doing nothing for me.Just load it into Traktor (it's dj software for computer) loop 4 bars at a time for a minute or so and then move the loop forward and repeat.
By that point, Aphex Twin had become a brandThe day he released his first record he became a brand.
He could have released an album of modulated feedback and people would have bought into it if marketed correctly with just the right controversial video.Whats wrong with modulated feedback?
The kids today, call that bloody music!
Which people? how many of them? What kind of controversial video would make that work?
Id like to see that.
This kind of thing is best left to a minimalist like Harold Budd -move on!
Ha ok, yeah note to every artist in the world , don’t make any music on a piano, leave it to old Harold.
My friend just told me how he broke down in tears to that last track, he is having a hard time right now…actually he just got kicked out of his rented accommodation, no joke!
A composer who can invest emotion in practically every note. Richard D James is a fantastic programmer but his piano work is forgettable.Composer/programmer, people compose on computers these days sir.
Playing it live (with a real grand piano swinging back and forth like a pendulum) doesn’t turn it into a work of genius. Aphex fans will disagree again, I’m sure.I loved that , inspired, and I thought it sounded and looked unfriggin believable and I like harold B.
I think we should swing you from the Barbican roof and make you listen to Syro all day while shining all those lasers in your eyes!
+get aphex to control you with max patch
For Aphex Twin with his reputation and rabid fan base, it must be difficult to please everyone. It's the old conundrum. Do I give them the early style stuff or the later periods of work? As an artist, I admire his ability to avoid falling into that trap - he simply creates whatever he wants, which is exactly what any artist should do. As a composer, the work exists for you first, everyone else comes later.agreed.
Hell, what do I know? I'm an English teacher - not a musician.Well you just told us a whole load of stuff you thought you knew, so now you saying you don’t know anything coz your a teacher?
or is that just a trick to make us think your very humble? but actually your not?
Yeah but english teachers are well clever, everyone knows that, so don’t belittle yourself so easily old bean.
Sup Richard! :D
richard needs to learn the difference between your and you're
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That's not a review. That's a very long piece about anything but the album. Blimps, other albums, fanboys and three tracks you like. You based your judgement on the way you didn't like the music, but you actually forgot to review the music. OK, except for the closer. That's the only part where I got the sense you actually tried to listen to the music and tried to make sense of it, regardless of your personal taste. Wow, I'd almost think you'd know how to review an album. Too bad you forgot to listen to the rest of the stuff you didn't like.
Here's a tip: there's a difference between not liking music but respecting it, and just not have any respect for the music whatsoever. If you can't respect the music you're trying to review, you shouldn't review it. Next time, try to respect the music, even if you don't like it.
bingo
That's not a review. That's a very long piece about anything but the album. Blimps, other albums, fanboys and three tracks you like. You based your judgement on the way you didn't like the music, but you actually forgot to review the music. OK, except for the closer. That's the only part where I got the sense you actually tried to listen to the music and tried to make sense of it, regardless of your personal taste. Wow, I'd almost think you'd know how to review an album. Too bad you forgot to listen to the rest of the stuff you didn't like.
Here's a tip: there's a difference between not liking music but respecting it, and just not have any respect for the music whatsoever. If you can't respect the music you're trying to review, you shouldn't review it. Next time, try to respect the music, even if you don't like it.
bingo
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certainly agree with the first part, hangable auto bulb was completely stunning, groundbreaking, and "wtf?!?!?!" when it was released. To my knowledge nobody had tried that approach before, he basically defined a whole new subgenre that squarepusher and others then went on to explore and flesh out. May sound a bit passe now, but that's only because of the rampant copying that happened later. Whether Syro is bad or good, it's certainly not as groundbreaking as the HABs.
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from reddit's r/letstalkmusic, generally a big ol circlewank, but this is pretty good imo:
I think people who are off-put by the "accessibility" (that's of course relative to the ears of jaded avent-garde electronic fans), or rather "lack of innovation" are ignoring the subtle innovation Syro offers. These tracks are somehow impossibly intricate (for the most part) yet have room to show off each individual component, like a luxury wrist watch slightly taken apart to show each cog and spring moving in place. Of course, that doesn't mean these tracks are static. They subtly shift in tonal color and undulate, meaning they often don't sound like the same track two or three minutes in (a hallmark of good techno music, repetition that changes organically into something else).
Hi Pritchard D Jams... lol
But still, It may well be Him
Defending his craft, just like at the start of analord @ the planet mu forums
he really shouldn't get on the forums, people toss around pejoratives much worse than "quite good". Could cave his head in and make him delete SAW3 out of sheer disgust with humanity, lol
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doesn't make it acceptable...clipping bugs the hell out of me...the "loudness war" sucks
luckily this one is not as badly brickwalled as some...
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in my opinion, the most vocal TH detractors are twats. attention seeking, cynical twats.
Hi'
yep, present and accounted for, lol
funny because I love Oirectine but very little of TH, go figure. I know exactly what you mean about not wanting to discuss personal music, for me the best BoC is extremely personal to a degree I don't experience often with other artists, for example, I have only listened to 5-9-78 a few times because I don't want to spoil the effect it has on me. Which is something I've never done for any other piece of music.
But TH is still a wannabe-epic mess.
anyhow, back to aphex
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petering out before they're over. I wonder how many people noticed this before boc brought it up in an interview?
A bit late addressing this point, but I had a sneaking suspicion I'd read people saying this before they mentioned it in the interviews.
Going back, I see Lumpenprol devoted this thread to that very topic
Which he posted June 3rd
Interview where they first mentioned delibreately tapering songs off was June 6th
dang, thanks for doing the digging on my behalf. Yeah, I've been one of the bigger haters of the album, I guess. Opinion hasn't changed, it's a limp noodle imo
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Hardly listened to it after the first week.
yep
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that's a painful, elaborate, but probably also very effective deterrent against mugging...
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double post
re: the sexism/racism thing, some times it almost serves to enhance the archetypal nature of the story, at others it can be a distraction, but I usually can get over it in the same way I can often bypass the Christian allegories in Lewis. At other times it can be really off-putting, just depends on how intrusive it is. But then, I'm a privileged white male, so...
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Mary Shelley is the only one I can think of. Not sure if she was all opiated out or not but she hung with peeps that rolled that way. And I love Frankenstein. Need to reread that one as well. Yeah check out A Field In England, really loved it even more the second time around.
I guess I felt like the attitude Maskull has toward women just felt like a part of the character and didn't make me think Lindsay was a sexist himself.
In his other books that I have read the protagonists are female, strong willed and intelligent. From what I can remember.
Good call on Shelley, yeah Frankenstein is a great read, from what I recall. She's not in the company of psychedelic/visionary/mad scifi authors (like Lovecraft or Lindsay), but she is philosophical, which certainly gives them all common ground.
I just found Voyage to Arcturus free online, only a few mouseclicks away! Going to spend the day re-reading it, yay. Will get baked too, hopefully that'll enhance the experience and not just make me sleepy. Can't imagine a better Sunday.
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just watched a field in england for the second time and I feel like it could be a catalyst for period sci-fi/fantasy/old school horror adaptations.
I need to read all of those zaphod. I have an M R James anthology that I need to get to.
I am going to reread Arcturus again soon Lumpster, we should have another chat about it.
thanks for the list again! I still haven't seen "a field in England" yet, hope to at some point.
re: Arcturus, one thing that always struck me was the casual sexism - he's always screwing some alien then killing her - but somehow in the context of a psychedelic vision quest that involves stripping away the veil of lies of the world, it didn't bother me too much. Which makes me wonder, there have been some decent female sci fi writers, but can you think of any female whacked-out-on-opiates-visionaries? Back in the day you had things like the Oracle at Delphi, but I can't think of any more recent examples. That kind of role seems more the province of men, in the current era.
this was mine:
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holy crap, you guys are actually talking about David Lindsay. Many many years ago on watmm I remember only Atop and I jerking over "Voyage to Arcturus". Haven't read it in years though, but it was one of my favorites as a young teen. I have an ancient printing of it as well, with some terrible cover art. Amazing book.
Atop and I had a pm chat about favorite sci fi books years ago, he gave me a whole list of his favorites and there were a few on it I hadn't read. Wish I still had that list. Can't really add anything to the discussion.
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Ghettoville is the bleached out and black tinted conclusion of the Actress image.
Where the demands of writing caught the artist slumped and reclined, devoid of any soul, acutely aware of the simulated prism that required breakout.
Four albums in and the notes and compositions no longer contain decipherable language.
The scripts now carry tears, the world has returned to a flattened state, and out through that window, the birds look back into the cage they once inhabited.
Spitting flames behind a white wall of silence.
The machines have turned to stone, data reads like an obituary to its user.
A fix is no longer a release, it's a brittle curse. Zero satisfaction, no teeth, pseudo artists running rampant, but the path continues.
R.I.P Music 2014.
Actress
loool
he's so pretentious it's kind of bewildering
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see a shrink if possible, consider trying a med or two...good luck...if you've tried exercise, eating right, talking to friends and family, and it hasn't worked, then sometimes the best option is getting on medication. Side effects can suck - I gained weight that I never got rid of subsequently - but it can be better than the alternative.
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someone's been watching too much fight club
Richard D James SoundCloud - A Gift To The Fans
in Aphex Twin
Posted
are these downloadable from soundcloud or...?