I had an agitated discussion (argument) with my russian friend Anatole on
friday night. He's deep into classical music, plays a few instruments
himself, and I am sure is musically talented. Our argument was about QUALITY
of music, and we tried to keep tastes out of the discussion (hard).
Anyway, him not being on this list I don't really want to talk about his
arguments versus mine, that wouldn't be fair. I can, however talk about what
we agreed on and that settled everything :)
On the listener's side of things, a piece of music is a collection of
accoustic patterns generating feelings. On the musician's side of things, a
piece of music is a collection of accoustic patterns transcribing feelings.
[Our conversation stopped at this point]
I don't mean any offense, I know that's generalizing a lot and that
definition might sound too scientific and actually degrading, but isn't it
the goal of any musician to express his/her feelings, and if at the same
time he/she can generate similar feelings in you, all is good?
Of course, the same patterns will generate very different feelings and
emotions in different groups of people. Sometimes they will generate the
same feelings and some element of the same group will try to repress them
(remember rock'n roll patterns being called Devil's music by the Wasp). But
people will adapt to some patterns, accept them and associate them with
their own emotions. They will also grow tired of some patterns, after
abusing them. And that's when musical TASTES come in action, your tastes
consisting of the patterns that work on you.
I judge the quality of a piece of music by the way the musician uses and
mixes patterns to generate feelings in the audience (thinking of it now, the
8th Dimension title "Mixed Emotions" is right on). However my judgement
won't be accurate if I do not respond to some of the patterns, because I
will be missing some information for my judgement. So, in a way, I just
proved to myself that I cannot judge the quality of a music without
considering my tastes first. Is that true? I would love to hear other
people's comments. I cannot even judge the quality of a music based on its
complexity, since some minimalism might just be there to put more weight on
a pattern or another...
A good example for me of perfectly arranged patterns is Fila Brazillia's
"One Z and 2 L's" on Pork Records. The way the bass lines sooths me deep
inside, the way the african (or maybe brazilian, it's hard to tell) vocals
relax me while generating some feeling of curiosity, and the way the break
beat (almost jungle) percussions come in action to excite and disorient me:
all this makes it a track of excellent quality for me. And I found out that
some people react to it exactly the same way as I do, I'll quote another
member of the list, he will name himself if he wishes (netiquette): "I was
driving home from a friends house really pissed off. I was driving like a
madman, steamin, until... the second to last song on the first side dropped.
Oh my god, the shit just hit me like a wall. My mind was cleared instantly,
I felt euphoric bobbin my head, singing along. I even closed my eyes for a
second to groove deeper (not the best idea when driving a car). The chord
changes are so sweet, and the African singing was the cherry on top. And
then it jungalizes! That has to be the most production I've heard since
maybe Shadow or W. C. Anyways, words tend to ruin the inexplicable, but
thank you. But you must tell me what it is!".
Well, now you know :) and I'll let you sign your little review of Fila
Brazillia's track.
Did I make an ass out of myself yet? did I just write about something that
is so evident, simple and basic that nobody needs to write it or even say
it? If I'm wrong, tell me now because this is the way I think about music
when I spin, I do some case-sensitive pattern sequencing :P *yuck* I swear
I'm not a geek! :P
This thread kicks some major ass may I add...
dj bambi - chicago
nib@frame.com
312-918-9087 for bookings/events info and anonymous
insults or love messages (it's a voice-mail)...
[Forever Souled @ the Shelter every friday nite]
[Mix-tapes @ gramaphone (chicago), solejunkies (chicago), badmood (orlando)]