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Is anyone bothered by this?

I haven't really searched the forums to see if this was discussed before, but does anyone feel bothered by the fact that in EDM (pretty much regardless of genre) most records are meant to be played occasionally and then tossed aside for good after two or three months and the big hits are under no circumstances okay to be played after seven or eight months have passed since the release. It's just funny to me how say some Trentemoller records, that so many dj's and listeners creamed over three or so years ago, are now appearing on sale in Discogs in double-digit amounts. Right now, there are 18 copies of Nam Nam EP, which came out only in 2006, up for grabs.

Everything is just so focused on what is trendy and hyped up at the moment. And even the producers who have the skill and talent evolve their sound in direct relation to what the well-respected dj's are pushing forward at the moment. It is difficult to think of any names have had one signature sound and developed and tweaked it in no relation and regard of what everyone else is into at the moment. And the majority of producers consider this when they are in the studio: why commit all of youself into these tracks when, no matter how well the reception will be, this material will to be forgotten in a few years. Digital Witchcraft, for example, haven't released anything in almost three years, and those who still do remember them are probably like "haha, sum great stuff back in the day, wonder what happened to them." In other spheres of music, even electronic ones like experimental and IDM, it is absolutely normal to put out an album or even EP and then disappear for two or three years, then come back and release 5 superb tracks and then disappear again.

Perhaps EDM would consist of more memorable and individual producers if it was less DJ's and more live PA's. Because making a record that will be played by DJ's, artist feels abligated to work within a very limiting framework so that all the tracks will easily to flow with whatever other records that are popular are, open and close with at least 30 seconds of flat 4x4 beat, and so on.

There will always be a place in my heart for EDM, as it serves its own unque purpose and elements that other genres are short on, but the way this system works is just fucking ridiculous.

I must agree. but looking back on it djs have always done this. the difference being that the musical trends of the past were much better (imo)

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Originally posted by RapidFire I must agree. but looking back on it djs have always done this.

Pretty much.

It's just that now it's a thousand times easier to access livesets and tracklists, so people are realizing it more.

I also think that people are generally starting to treat music as more disposable simply because it's so easy and quick to find and buy now.

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Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles It's just that now it's a thousand times easier to access livesets and tracklists, so people are realizing it more.

Yeah, that does make sense.

blame the internet.

a big track gets worn out within a few weeks when its readily available to anyone who wants it.

With the easy access of resources out there now days, it's the users own stupidity to use only recent tracks.

Fuck genres (to an extent), and fuck time periods.

This is exactly why I like to sort my music by years, really is nice to look back at some dated tracks and see that they could do just as good (or maybe better) today.

It does bother me, although it's nothing new. Unless a record was a huge hit it becomes very hard to find a copy of it after 10 years or so.

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Originally posted by kadomony a big track gets worn out within a few weeks when its readily available to anyone who wants it.

And there is that other problem - overall EDM is just not interesting, or at least to me. I usually get tired of even well done tracks after five listens. I like the type of music where you discover and notice something new with each listen. Even with stuff that gets spins from Digweed, Hernan, and other well-respected dj's; it's neither forward thinking, nor fun to me. It must partially goes back to the limiting framework that producers have to construct their tracks within, that I have already talked about.

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Originally posted by ibizzzaaa I usually get tired of even well done tracks after five listens.

That's probably because the vast majority of EDM isn't very complex, so there's not really much to "discover" by listening to it again and again.

It kind of sounds like you're just getting tired of dance music in general.

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Originally posted by ibizzzaaa I like the type of music where you discover and notice something new with each listen.

Prog rock/Post rock is your friend

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Originally posted by ibizzzaaa I like the type of music where you discover and notice something new with each listen.

You know that Autechre released the new album this year?

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Originally posted by sljiva You know that Autechre released the new album this year?

I got it the first day it came out.

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Originally posted by ibizzzaaa I got it the first day it came out.

Then I don't see where's the problem. I'm still discovering and noticing something new with each new listen
Plus, get Radio Scarecrow, Soundtrack To A Vacant Life, Ringer EP and you're set for this year

quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles It kind of sounds like you're just getting tired of dance music in general.

Yeah, that's what it sounds like.

What you describe is just a part of the disposable music culture - it is neither good nor bad. EDM isn't supposed to be complex or sophisticated, it's supposed to be functional. If you want something you can listen to over and over again and always discover something new, then maybe you should consider exploring other forms of music.

quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles That's probably because the vast majority of EDM isn't very complex, so there's not really much to "discover" by listening to it again and again.

But music doesn't necessarily have to be complex. For example, Boards Of Canada, I mean you have to admit their material isn't very difficult to get into, but yet it is pleasant and fun to listen to. I would like to see more dance music aesthetically closer to what Boards of Canada do - top quality, moderately simple, yet never any concrete, obligatory structure that literally strangles most of EDM for me. Most Border Community releases have achieved that aesthetic quite well, as well as material on Holden's Balance and At The Controls.

I guess a lot of times EDM just takes itself too seriously and tries to be either too "deep" or too melodic, turning most of the time into being just too predictable, thus pretentious.

Post punk groups of early 80's were on a pretty low level as far as their abilities with playing instruments went, yet they didn't hide it and therefore their sound was always energetic and fun to listen to. It's not always about complexity.

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Originally posted by sljiva Then I don't see where's the problem. I'm still discovering and noticing something new with each new listen Plus, get Radio Scarecrow, Soundtrack To A Vacant Life, Ringer EP and you're set for this year

I know, I know, I'm still only about halfway through with getting myself familiar with back-catalogs of aphex twin, autechre and squarepusher, plus there are a lot of other names that I need to check out, but just read my previous post.

Then I think you're listening to wrong music. Seems like you want to hear certain characteristic of, let's say, IDM in your trendy tech/mnml/whatever music. Why not just listen to IDM instead? There are a lot of artists who are making complex, but beautiful music and (here's that phrase again) you just have to discover it for yourself.

Start with Skam (home of Bola and early BoC), Ninja Tune (Amon Tobin), Warp (Prefuse 73), Rephlex (The Tuss, Dopplereffekt), Planet Mu (�-Ziq), Proem, The Flashbulb... they all released the albums last year.

If you want some more, just say

get into psy-trance

And just one thing: if you want "mellow" music silimar to BoC, I'd say stay away from Squarepusher and Autechre (except for Amber and Incunabula). Try Plaid instead

quote:

Originally posted by sljiva Then I think you're listening to wrong music. Seems like you want to hear certain characteristic of, let's say, IDM in your trendy tech/mnml/whatever music. Why not just listen to IDM instead? There are a lot of artists who are making complex, but beautiful music and (here's that phrase again) you just have to discover it for yourself. Start with Skam (home of Bola and early BoC), Ninja Tune (Amon Tobin), Warp (Prefuse 73), Rephlex (The Tuss, Dopplereffekt), Planet Mu (�-Ziq), Proem, The Flashbulb... they all released the albums last year. If you want some more, just say

Thanks a lot for recommendations, I already have general idea of how they sound and I understand where you are going with this, but I would still like to see more music that you can dance to and which carries some aesthetics of idm, as I already said, early Border Community releases are example of this; music on those releases carries this lightweight, energetic spirit that you don't get enough of in IDM.

By the way, I'm pretty well familiar with the madness side of squarepusher and autechre, and I'm totally okay with it. I just need to be in the mood for it.

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Originally posted by PezCore get into psy-trance

Yeah, it can be good in small doses. Like stuff on joof.

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Originally posted by IpLaYWiTLiGhTs Prog rock/Post rock is your friend

This.



Some good albums that an EDM/IDM/Electronica fan may like:


for 70s prog-rock, German Kraut-rock was an experimental sub-genre which was very electronic and minimalistic with proto-ambient atmospheres and stuff. Kraftwerk were part of it, so if you want something more adventurous this is for you.

Neu! - "75"

Can - "Future Days"

Harmonia - "De Luxe"

Cluster - "Zuckerzeit"

Tangerine Dream - "Stratosfear"

plus the classig big British prog-rock names, early Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Van Der Graaf Generator, Camel etc.


For modern post-rock music (including neo-shoegaze stuff) these:


M83 - "Before The Dawn Heals Us" (Both the previous one "Dead Cities, Red Seas and Lost Ghosts" as well as the new one "Saturdays = Youth" are equally amazing, although in slightly different styles. What can i say, i often listen to this epic masterpiece since the day it came out).

Hammock - "Kenotic" (Lush shoe-gaze post-rock with lots of atmospheric effects and synths. plus "Raising Your Voice...Trying To Stop An Echo" is excellent. New one "Maybe They Will Sing For Us Tomorrow" looks excellent and i'm really salivating with anticipation! If you like Ulrich Schnauss, you'll probably like M83 and Hammock)


Sigur Ros - "Takk" (epic, orchestral post-rock masterpiece. Lots of quitar effects, cellos, synths etc.)


Blueneck - "Scars of The Midwest" (melancholic neo-classical ambient masterpiece. For the more peaceful moments).


Arms and Sleepers - "Black Paris 86" (new electronic down-tempo album, by these guys. Lyrical electronic music with attitude and emotion, not just another downtempo album)


Port-Royal - "Afraid To Dance" (still listening to it from the day it came out. Imagine Autechre of the "Amber" period jamming with Mogwai and Godspeed You Black Emperor! It is THAT good)

El Ten Eleven - "El Ten Eleven" (take a sweet quitar melody, loop-it, build another sweet loop on top, add a beautiful melodic-line, add a few electronics, increase the tension , explode into a lush crescendo, loop another quitar etc. The best of true "minimalism". Or how post-rock can become minimalistic. Or how "minimalistic" can be "maximalistic" at the same time).


This Will Destroy You - "This Will Destroy You" (you like ambient? So, take a listen on how a conventional rock band with lots of quitar-effects but no synths can play ambient music...excellent second album by these guys)

The World On Higher Downs - "Land Patterns" (repeatetive minimalistic electronic soundscapes with a post-rock attitude. Great album)

Lights Out Asia - "Tanks and Recognizers" (both "Garmonia" and this one are excellent. Amazing album, beautiful electronics blend with some amazing quitars and lead-synths.)


Maybeshewill - "Not For Want Of Trying" (agressive quitar passages alternate with mournfull quitar passages, industial noises and broken radio monologues give their way to sweet romantic piano and glockenspiel, or white noise contrasting with beautiful melodies. This album just came out and it is worth it. For the more adventurous...).


The Evpatoria Report - "Golevka" (stellar post-rock. The epic quitars, the cosmic reverberated violins, the satellite transmissions, the crescendos...probably the best album i own until present day. Now they are soon coming with a second album...)


There are many more but start with these...if you don't already know them.

PETRAN, thanks a lot for these! I've listened to some Can before - definitely solid! Speaking of post-rock, it's hard for me to imagine something better than Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Thee Silver Mt. Zion. I've heard M83 before, it was a bit too cutesy for me. But I will check out the rest. Once again, thank you!

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