Re: [microsound] (ot) (Slightly) Politics + electronic Music

[Beni Borja <beni.borja@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Kyle,

Musical instruments of all natures are only that: instruments , means to
create music. The music itself  is what counts in my view. If the instrument
is made of wood or plastic, strummed or keyed , analog or digital, all this
is a questoin of taste and opportunity. Great music of all genres  is being
created on all sorts of instruments.

On the question of eletronic music and politics, I guess is a question of
subject matter more than anything else. I know of very little creators of
eletronic music concerned to communicate/ discuss social themes through
their works ( It's only my ignorance , or is it the case?? ) Also a great
deal of the eletronic music being created these days, does not fit the "song
"format , wich also makes more difficult to comunicate political/social
considerations.

I myself am starting to record a CD with songs that deal with senseless
consumerism, the need of a new future for the human society, and the fight
for new freedoms , it got plenty of eletronic stuff, but most of all , loads
of lyrics.

The french/spanish artist Manu Chao is one case of a guy that used
eletronica to create music with a definitely political activist atitude,
check him out.

Beni


----- Original Message -----
From: "kyle jones" <kyle@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <microsound@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, July 01, 2002 2:29 PM
Subject: [microsound] (ot) (Slightly) Politics + electronic Music


> Hi folks, I just got done listening to a discussion on political music on
my
> local community radio station.  Quite frankly I was extremely disappointed
> as to the contents of the discussion, namely that the only surprise was a
> mention of Stevie Wonder, and that the usual suspects, like Woody Guthrie,
> and Bob Dylan abounded (lyrical political music).  I have been arguing of
> late that the desktop musician is the closest thing to true democracy in
> music.  I posit that anyone with a small amount of money can create,
record,
> distribute and promote from the very same box for far cheaper than doing
> things in a non-digital way, with better results.  I know this claim
doesn't
> take into account the people who can't afford even used desktops,
> electricity or net connections, but still it is far closer than someone
with
> a guitar who is limited by playing ability and all of the equipment needed
> to make a "commercial" success (ie at least a couple of mics and recording
> equipment).  I know this is a mishmash of poorly presented thoughts, but I
> would like to hear your thoughts on this.  I think this topic has many
> facets, from warez, to freeware to the fact that digital files are
arguably
> better for the environment and more accessible to the common person.  I
find
> that the progressive political community has a kind of luddite approach to
> technology and digital music and I think a discussion like this could
> enlighten and give at least me, a case to take to my political peers.  I
> would also like some explicit examples of non-lyrical political electronic
> music, and political labels (I have heard a little about Rice and
Beans(?)).
> Oh and while conservative, or right wing politics are not my forte, I
would
> still be interested in examples of those as well and not exclude them from
> the discussion.
>
>
>
> Thank you for your time and thoughts,
>
> Kyle Jones
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> To unsubscribe, e-mail: microsound-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> For additional commands, e-mail: microsound-help@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> website: http://www.microsound.org
>