let's juxtapose
a:
vs b:
these two stances on the issue are, to me, pretty clearly different. i have ABSOLUTELY NO DISRESPECT!!!!!!! for modern drum and bass audiences because what they're doing probably makes complete and utter sense to them. it might not show respect to the music's history, but it doesn't take a genius to see why people who get into a style of music later on in its evolution would be less familiar with its history.
i feel that as long as you believe things like 'the music [you] appreciate has no place there', it will never have a place there, no matter how hard you try; in aiming for that audience with a perception like that in tow, you're more likely to turn out bog-standard 2-step that doesn't really communicate anything but cynicism.
a:
Naphta Wrote:(1) Promote a split from 'drum n bass', which is doomed to shitness for ever more.
The evidence of this doom? The majority of the former leaders and true explorers have become 'embedded' in the d+b industry, and are now comitted to issuing dumbed-down lame-assed excuses for pieces of music in the apparent belief that they represent 'progress' for this scene. Clearly bollocks when you pause to consider what this scene was doing many years ago, but as the d+b scenetroopers are fond of reminding us: how can you argue with what the kids want? Y'know, ten million 'Dilly' fans can't be wrong, no?
They're all saying it - check any interviews: the d+b industry wants in on the charts, wants in on advertising etc. etc. etc. TeeBee talks about how the important thing is to make as much money as possible, while Fabio sees hip hop/rnb's commercialisation as THE route to follow. And all the while, Goldie brings his talent to bear on representing the latest in Burtons Menswear...
Thus, there is NO turning back. Drum n Bass as we know it will NEVER EVER be reinspired to turn the clock back, or to take risks again. It's cash now, all the way - first and foremost for those that control the genre. And as we know, that means dumbed-down LCD muzak for kids doing their first amphemtamines.
Thus, a split is called for. Let them keep their Happy Hardcore 2003. The music we appreciate has no place there, and vice versa.
(2) Promote what we do as a distinct entity. WE know what unites us - more so even than opposition to the shitness of d+b - we are heads with a love for music and with open ears and minds. Not only can we handle change/variety in music - we relish it! Bring it ON! We WANT to be surprised, we WANT to be pushed that bit further. AND that for me is more about a ATTITUDE to this music, than about how many beats there are in the bar, or about whether subs are better than midrange or whateverthefuck... I cna handle 2-step beats, vocals, nasty noises, Amens, comedy shit next to deadly serious - anyfuckingthing!!! ... once I know that the script is gonna be flipped, that change is the only constant, that the attitude is like-minded...
Blue Wrote:Agreed.
so lets define this alternative genre by how?
my thoughts..........
1. ALBUM
2. PLAYING OUT AND GETTING BOOKINGS TOGETHER.
3. IN MAGAZINE INTERVIEWS.
4. MESSAGE BOARDS
5. JOINT ADVERTISING
vs b:
scart ridge Wrote:i don't think a split has to happen, but i think it's natural as long as those 'dissidents' who hope to make the music better through their contributions position themselves as ideological opponents of the status quo. why does everything have to be mutually exclusive? the 'two sides' are fighting for the same audience, but if one piece of music is appreciated by the audience, and if one piece of music seems to be 'misunderstood' by the audience, why is that the audience's fault?
if you're trying to get a message across to a person and they don't get it, it could be because they're dumb and lack comprehension skills, OR it could be that they lack a point of reference for what you're talking about, so it just sounds like gibberish to them. in conversation, you can explain what you're talking about by relating it back to things that the person would know; if you think this concept can't translate to music, why?
selfishly, this year in drum and bass i'd ideally like to see - i understand i have no right to place expectations on other producers, i'm just being hypothetical - music that appeals to a mainstream current drum and bass audience on their terms while still having a lot of detail in the execution, and introducing many new ideas into the music's lexicon just in one track. i feel that this is the most likely way that the music will become healthier; producers could potentially demonstrate to other producers and the audience alike that there are more 'working' possibilities than are currently being exploited, which would open the door to more possibilities as they acquire more points of reference for what the music can be, without eschewing success. where's the middle ground between 'complete artistic integrity' and, er......'turkish sound'???????
these two stances on the issue are, to me, pretty clearly different. i have ABSOLUTELY NO DISRESPECT!!!!!!! for modern drum and bass audiences because what they're doing probably makes complete and utter sense to them. it might not show respect to the music's history, but it doesn't take a genius to see why people who get into a style of music later on in its evolution would be less familiar with its history.
i feel that as long as you believe things like 'the music [you] appreciate has no place there', it will never have a place there, no matter how hard you try; in aiming for that audience with a perception like that in tow, you're more likely to turn out bog-standard 2-step that doesn't really communicate anything but cynicism.