symphonic rawk
Is it possible to have a Glenn Branca today? In the early-80's there was still fluidity between the edges-of-pop scene & the academic avant-garde. Branca, who was in a couple of different no wave bands started making guitar compositions that pushed into the academic "new music" scene. on recordings it loses some of it envelope pushing because it ends up sounding like reich or glass, you know repetitive minimalism from the late-sixties/early-seventies. Live i think it had much more purpose because it was LOUD. the whole point being the overtones and all and the shear volume of it. I mean, you don't get 100 guitar players together bashing away to make minimalist music but only to make something big. LOUD in an outside way that is typically only possible in a small venue inside way.
I digress... but is do people make this move anymore? From underground pop to insider 'new music' circles? Glass and Reich both played rock venues/shows in the sixties. Branca moved over, John Cale was an avant-garde composition person, etc. etc. But now I don't see this fluid shift happening. For one, the underground is now so big, it's not a small group of people pushing the envelope for a small bunch of fans, but it's a high stakes game. Arcade Fire, or even worse Radiohead, aren't going to be even listened to, w/ good reason, by 'new music' folks if they tried to push-it. that type of stuff would be steve howe solo records-ish, not really progressive in anyway (that's not a dig at prog, but a statement'o'fact.) secondly, new music is bigger too. Bang on a can etc are more entrenched and get props & mainstream classicism coverage. Koch records and all. Bigger for both breeds more factionalism twixt the two. the harsher you define your lines the more you're going to be heard. harsh lines = harder borders to cross.
but you say: whattabout dj spooky? i say SHUT UP! he talks but he can't walk. he sees but he can't breathe.
but you say: mike patton <3 john zorn; john zorn <3 mike patton. i say getting warmer, but really? really?
but you say: FORCEFIELD. i say, you have a point i will concede and that says something.
that's the real branca crossover we're left with today. on the real edge of both real art and real music and real experience. POINT!
I digress... but is do people make this move anymore? From underground pop to insider 'new music' circles? Glass and Reich both played rock venues/shows in the sixties. Branca moved over, John Cale was an avant-garde composition person, etc. etc. But now I don't see this fluid shift happening. For one, the underground is now so big, it's not a small group of people pushing the envelope for a small bunch of fans, but it's a high stakes game. Arcade Fire, or even worse Radiohead, aren't going to be even listened to, w/ good reason, by 'new music' folks if they tried to push-it. that type of stuff would be steve howe solo records-ish, not really progressive in anyway (that's not a dig at prog, but a statement'o'fact.) secondly, new music is bigger too. Bang on a can etc are more entrenched and get props & mainstream classicism coverage. Koch records and all. Bigger for both breeds more factionalism twixt the two. the harsher you define your lines the more you're going to be heard. harsh lines = harder borders to cross.
but you say: whattabout dj spooky? i say SHUT UP! he talks but he can't walk. he sees but he can't breathe.
but you say: mike patton <3 john zorn; john zorn <3 mike patton. i say getting warmer, but really? really?
but you say: FORCEFIELD. i say, you have a point i will concede and that says something.
that's the real branca crossover we're left with today. on the real edge of both real art and real music and real experience. POINT!
posted by furtanic at 3:59 PM
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