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Re: [microsound] enzymes with which to digest food for thought

From: jean paul l'asthme <jplasthma@xxxxxxxxx> 

i do not think a computer is inherently a materialist
object... it is merely a tool,

Absolutely, but take a look at what Apple has been doing for the last couple of years. As the need for faster and faster machines starts to wane the industry has started to turn computers into disposable fashion objects. They don't exactly encourage the ability to upgrade, expand, improve your computer. They want you to buy a new version in a fancy new case and the old machine winds up in the dump heavy metals and all. Isn't the idea of "powerbook" artists the ultimate underground marketing campaign for Apple? All your music are belong to us?

if it is the cost of the laptop that is the issue,
well then the blame lies not on the consumers, but
the industry who distribute these things...

It's not the cost of the laptop that's an issue (it's not so different from a nice guitar, sax, drumset, etc.) but the concept of making the tools themselves the focus of your art. If microsound is music that necessarily must center around laptops, dsp software, and digital culture (internet, cellphones, cable) then it tastes to me like a particularly superficial artistic stance that will become tired and outdated as people become sick of cyber hype and digital rhetoric (aren't we already?).


my problem with microsound, is that i don't feel the
majority of microsound music is made to last beyond
the moment where the plugin with which it was composed
becomes outdated.  most of it really IS just the
product of the technology,

Strangely that was Kim's criticism of Autechre's latest Kyma wanking which led to the "tool is the message" theorizing. Personally I think the latter concept is what leads to the former problem, but I may be grossly misunderstanding what Kim meant.

microsounders, please make music
which gives to culture, and to humans, the same way
that humanitarian aid and compassion can help people,
music helps me, and surely, billions of other people
in a metaphysical manner.


Well despite all of the bitching, there is lots of great music!

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