Re: [microsound] eno: wired or tired or perceptive?

[Garry Kling <kling007@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

on 27/10/2001 03:34 PM, Michal Seta at mis@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> On 10/27/01 2:54 PM, Kamal Joory @ geiom@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
>>> "I don't think
>>> (computer-reliant producers)
>>> are aware of what particularly
>>> stilted music they make. You
>>> can't do anything interesting
>>> with cutting-edge technology
>>> except not make it
>>> cutting-edge."
>>> - Brian Eno, the electronic and
>>> ambient music pioneer, on
>>> why today's computer-crafted
>>> tunes are lame.
>> 
>> 
>> Hmm
>> 
>> quite pretentious
>> 
>> does it strike a chord ?
> 
> is it really?
> I tend to agree with that statement.  And I don't consider myself
> pretentious.  In fact, I do music with computers and often I think the same
> exact thing about my own work.  I only hope that my next work will be
> better!
>

Well put. If his statement hurts your feelings, maybe you should decide on
which side of the fence your work is - novelty or artistry.

This question is as old as instruments, every period has its innovators,
dabblers, and crappy artists {and trainspotting fan boys ;) } that can't
tell the difference. I agree with the sentiment, but it leaves out the fact
that a lot of new stuff comes from this search for the "cutting edge" and by
playing out all the possibilities it presents.
 
As much as I respect and dig Brian Eno, I have to say this quote represents
such a pedestrian observation that it could have come from anyone. I'm not
criticizing him - I'm sure he thinks it's obvious too. And I don't think
it's pretentious, just a little bit incisive.

Do I think we should keep trying to make "new art" by pushing our resources?
Of course. Should we relinquish artistic taste and what our ears tell us in
favor of the new technology fetishism? No. Should we avoid "the cutting
edge" technology? Only your attitude and ability can make your music good,
regardless of your tool. But new tools create new opportunities, and that's
where the creative minds come in to make something fresh that doesn't rely
on novelty to make a statement. So no, we should try to use it, if we have
the judgement to tell the difference.

^Garry 


--
/*
 * Garry Kling
 * MAT UC Santa Barbara
 * kling007@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
 *
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