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.. unprogressive? ..
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| Quadlow |
I posted this on detroitclubscene and figured this might not be a bad stop to post is as well. now im probably going to get flamed for posting some like this on this board but ohh well .. at least the flaming with him fun to witness. also i know its more of a music discusion but im not posting this to all of tranceaddict, figured i would keep it local so read up and let me know your thoughts.
This is something that has been on my mind for a while and figured it would make good conversation. So here is the question that I pose to you ..
What makes music progressive?
If you say you spin progressive house or progressive trance what makes your music so progressive? Or is it just a name to label a certain sound? Ask yourself that question whether you consider yourself a fan or punter of "progressive" tunes. The reason I'm asking this is because I see nights advertised as progressive or cds that say they are progressive when they actually sound the same they did three/four/five years ago. If you go to beatport and search progressive house or trance ... it sounds same it did when they first started calling it progressive. Yes it might have a few new sounds here and there, maybe some super edgy electro sounding synths but that is about it.
Now the next question ..
What is your definition of progressive?
Are we talking about a certain "sound" that tracks have. If that is the case then I can understand calling it progressive. It does have a certain sound that is unique which seams to de-emphasized drums and rhythms. Now if we are talking about truly being "progressive" in a musical sense are far as trying new things, using different sounds and production techniques to create emotion or developing a new sound then I feel progressive is a very bad word to use. It seems to me that "progressive" seems to have become stagnant .. something it was created to prevent.
There are tons of producers/djs that are in my minds creating what is truly modern day progressive (neu-prog), yet we have artist and fans of progressive still listening/spinning to a genre that has become everything but the word that is used to label it. If your a fan of that "sound" or enjoy spinning it then thats cool, just think about what you believe is truly progressive music or your ideas behind it, and educated yourself with other sounds before your so quick to believe. although if you concider progressive to just be a word used to desribe the slowely changing style in which sounds evolve and change slowely thoughout the course of the soung then thats another thing.
We get so used to calling certain things names and become so content that we fail to really look at the bigger picture. I have my opinions which may or may not be right, now lets here yours. |
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| DJ RJT |
Questions like this are why I love you Mathias... :p
Can we PLEASE not talk about music for like... I don't know, half an hour!
:haha:
But in all seriousness, that's a great question. When I first started out, the idea of "progressive" music in EDM related more to the flow of a set than the productions themselves. A "progressive" set was one that simply "progressed" somewhere, and that was that.
Over the years though, the idea of what exactly "progressive" is has become somewhat muddled to me, and in many senses, I'm just as much to blame as anyone. I throw the word around like it's meaningless, and because of that attitude (which I think a great many deal share), the idea of real "progressive" music that is forward thinking has been somewhat lost for me.
I really think this quote captures it all:
| quote: | | It seems to me that "progressive" seems to have become stagnant .. something it was created to prevent. |
I think it's because the word "progressive" has been tacked onto everything from Markus Schulz' "McProg" to the newish kind of quote "neotrance" (God I can't believe I just used that word :(), that now people want to have a clear definition of just what "progressive" is. The problem is that "progressive" should defy any kind of concrete definition. It should simply be that music which displays forward thought and innovation, something I think is perhaps really lacking in the scene right now.
Excellent thread Mathias,  |
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| lücid |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ RJT
Can we PLEASE not talk about music for like... I don't know, half an hour! |
i was going to post that same exact thing when i saw this thread, but then i was like "nah, i wasn't even there!"...
i still lol every time i imagine it though. :stongue:
to me, i've always thought of "progressive" in a very literal and physical way. basically, a term to describe the song structure, rather than the genre of music. a progressive tune to me would be one that starts off with a few basic elements or melodies, and then slowly progresses by adding more elements and layers as the track goes on.
by that definition though, i suppose almost any track can be considered "progressive"... but to me it's been a way to distinguish between the harder and softer sides of trance and house music.
meh, i really hate generalizing music though. attaching one little word to a song to describe it usually just ends up being so meaningless... especially when it seems there are new and trendy sub-genres being invented every day. |
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| Benjamin B |
I would consider the term progressive to apply to the structure of the song, moreso than the underlying philosophy behind the musical genre as it 'progresses' forward (i.e. defining progressive as the 'new sound').
What are your opinions on these tracks (are they progressive?why or why not)
Wisternoff - Cold Drink, Hot Girl
16 Bit Lolitas - Sedna + Destiny
Paolo Mojo - 1983
Blake's Dane Cook track |
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| Blake_Jarrell |
i think the answer is in the eye of the beholder. most producers dont go into writing a track saying "im going to write an electro tinged progressive house track" etc. its usually the djs and chin stroking types that label the tracks genres.
i also think myra is correct about the structuring of the song idea. when i think progressive, i think elaborate arrangements or ones that build and break down. |
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| Aristronica |
yeah usually DJs and producers just have a certain taste that's being classified by people like us from one genre to the other but the truth is to them it doesn't matter and they just play and produce the music they love.
totally agree with blake on this one. |
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| lücid |
| quote: | Originally posted by Benjamin B
16 Bit Lolitas - Destiny
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progressive madness! |
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| Blake_Jarrell |
Wisternoff - Cold Drink, Hot Girl
-80s vibed electro prog house
16 Bit Lolitas - Sedna
-epic progressive house
16 Bit Lolitas - Destiny
-big room progressive
Paolo Mojo - 1983
-havent heard the original but i would say the eric prydz mix is defo in the same category as sedna
Blake's Dane Cook track
-strewn together crap |
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| DJ RJT |
| quote: | Originally posted by Blake_Jarrell
Blake's Dane Cook track
-strewn together crap |
:haha:
Hardly... I've only heard the real version of it once or twice, but I'd say it's perhaps in the epic progressive house category...
And I do agree with the majority here saying that "progressive" relates now more to structure than anything, I guess my initial response was just with respect to the general idea of "progressive" music that's been around for ages...
Rare when a thread on TA actually makes me think as much as this one has... Again, great topic. |
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| Blake_Jarrell |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ RJT
Rare when a thread on TA actually makes me think as much as this one has... Again, great topic. |
i know, next its going to be hobbes vs altruism or something lol |
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| UWM |
| quote: | Originally posted by Blake_Jarrell
Paolo Mojo - 1983
-havent heard the original but i would say the eric prydz mix is defo in the same category as sedna
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Original is faar superior to the Prydz mix, IMO. I'd most closely categorize it with where you put Cold Drink, Hot Girl - but a bit funkier. Definitely has that '80s' feel to it (quite fitting considering the title is 1983.)
When I have a bit more time I'll come up with a lengthy response to the topic. But agreed with the others, nice to actually see a thread that initiates discussion instead of 'OMG TIJS!!1'
:p |
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| DJ RJT |
| quote: | Originally posted by Blake_Jarrell
i know, next its going to be hobbes vs altruism or something lol |
Or perhaps whether or not true altruism can even exist!
Though I suppose we'll leave that for another day... But thanks for bringing me back to one of my favorite lectures of this past semester... :p |
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