> What do u mean by "truly innovative". I think that > there is nothing in between something that is > innovative and something that is not. Innovative is > just making changes in anything established. So i > cant see why Carl Craig isn't innovative, u just have > to listen to "Innerzone orchestra Programmed". > > sam
Brian Eno has borrowed a very interested theory about cultural innovation from the academic world. He does not believe that innovation is a singular personal process, rather, it is a larger process of "cultural composting." In other words, there are no new musical ideas, but the more records that are made, the more these ideas pile up and cross breed with one another. Eventually those records become forgotten about, but the ideas they contained were broken down, and went on to become the building blocks for new records, which will be eventually forgotten about... The best way to explain this would be Detroit Techno. (big disclaimer, RELAX, I LOVE Detroit music, take a deep breath and step away from you computer before you flame me...) My favorite music in the world is Rhythim is Rhythim, I love those records more than anything else out there. Derrick May claims to be an innovator, but was he really? Derrick May did not really invent anything, he never used any chords that had never been used before, he never made any rhythms that did not previously exist, he never used any sounds that had not been used before... What he did do is take a bunch of ideas that already previously existed in different musical genres, and put them together in a way that was personal to him. Detroit Techno is nothing but electro, italo-disco, new wave, and funk thrown into a blender. Was Techno completely new? No, not at all, it was a continuation of the African American musical tradition, with elements of European electronic music blended in. What he did was incredibly difficult, he took a bunch of different ideas, from genres that most people would not think to put together, and weaved those existing threads into something that was uniquely his. Nobody is "truly innovative" they got their ideas from previously existing records, and put their own personal twist on something that was already there. Think about how much music was released between James Brown's best moments in the 60's, and Juan Atkins' work in the 80's-early 90's? How different are they, how much are they the same? Kraftwerk was 60 minimalism and James Brown, mixed with baroque melodies, and what was going on in the 70's German electronic scene...any musician who matters stole from their heros...is anything really new and innovative? Did Carl Craig not borrow from Derrick May, Hip Hop, and Miles Davis through his various guises? The point that I am trying to make is, that we really need to calm down about who is and is not innovative. New music does not just appear out of thin air, it grew out of the influences of the producers who made it. Nobody in larger cultures writes music that does not make a reference to somebody else. I love Detroit Techno, but like all genres, it grew out of the past, it does wear its influences on its sleeve. Take care, Mike Taylor -- Michael Taylor : [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.billionairesforbushorgore.com
