Re: (313) Kraftwerk - New York
On 16 Apr 2012, at 17:12, kent williams wrote: I think there's a general trend going on there. People do get sick of lugging bags of records all over the world, and all those guys are getting into their 40s and have to start worrying about their lumbar region. The state of some of the decks we've seen in clubs it's a wonder anyone can play on them to be honest, plus budget airlines and 100 12s don't really mix these days. m
Re: (313) Kraftwerk - New York
There are a ton of horror stories about touring with analog synths in the old days -- bringing two of everything and a synth tech just to have one machine working every night, or using space heaters on stage next to synths to keep them at a constant temperature so they stay in tune. Or Keith Emerson bringing along a 5 panel Moog Modular, which would of course have to be repatched and tweaked every night to get it in the neighborhood of the patch used in his songs. Ironically, the variability and unpredictability of analog is one of its prized attributes these days, and in the digital emulations, they go to the trouble of programming in 'analog variability.' I attended a group discussion with Tim Hecker a couple weeks ago and he said some interesting things about the performance aspect of modern electronic music, and he said he thought that playback only performances were just fine, if the quality of the music and presentation was sufficiently involving. I tend to agree with him. Having played in orchestras, and seen plenty of rock bands perform, I think that the idea of the live performance is way overrated. What happens a lot of the time is that a band is rehearsed to the point where they are mostly a rote playback machine, not appreciably more 'creative' than a computer sequencer. And the point at which I become dissatisfied with a band performance is when they 'jam it out' -- unless they're superlative improvisors, I'd much rather they stick to the script. I make an exception in judging performances whose foreground attribute is improvisation. That is an art unto itself. Paradoxically the best improvisational performances I've seen actually were the result of hundreds of hours of rehearsal, for the ensemble to reach the point where they could 'freely improvise' without things turning into a dog's breakfast. The rest -- the guitarist making faces, the singer cutting figures, the prancing around -- is just entertainment. What you're there for is a shared experience in an environment larger than your living room or your headphones. You have a right to expect an interesting and satisfying experience, not any particular standard of stagecraft, unless the stagecraft is the standard by which you judge a performance. In the particular case of Kraftwerk -- and this goes for techno in general -- the means of production happen so far out of real time that to ask them to 'play' their songs for you becomes an absurd request. It might be possible for them to 'learn' the productions as realized on tape, but it's silly to ask a human being to duplicate the precision of a digital sequencer. And I've been dissatisfied with the work of performers like Richie Hawtin who go to great lengths to put together a high-tech performance system they can 'play' because often the result isn't as interesting as it was to be at events where he 'just' played records. Your mileage may vary.
Re: (313) Kraftwerk - New York
On 16 Apr 2012, at 15:27, kent williams wrote: There are a ton of horror stories about touring with analog synths in the old days -- We have plenty with them ( horror stories) just in the studio, fucking things :) m
Re: (313) Kraftwerk - New York
Amen to that, I almost lost my pocket calculator (true story not just a pun) today before my big week of finals! I'd imagine that horrible feeling when someone runs off with your moog, or a tube or rare fuse breaks or something. I enjoyed their stage show, I guess that was my original point, for me it was more about the light show and their stage presence. So I totally agree with you Kent. At the end of the day it helps put everything in perspective about how far music technology has come. The NPR link that just went out talks about Kraftwerk as being behind synthesizers on stage, but I wonder if they are really just touch-screen computers. On that note, Claude Young played here last weekend on three CD decks. Vinyl purists may cringe but I thought it was pretty cool. On Mon, Apr 16, 2012 at 10:35 AM, Martin Dust mar...@dustscience.com wrote: On 16 Apr 2012, at 15:27, kent williams wrote: There are a ton of horror stories about touring with analog synths in the old days -- We have plenty with them ( horror stories) just in the studio, fucking things :) m
Re: (313) Kraftwerk - New York
I think there's a general trend going on there. People do get sick of lugging bags of records all over the world, and all those guys are getting into their 40s and have to start worrying about their lumbar region. Terrence Parker is using CD decks now too. I think that there's a few models (Pioneer?) which track well enough for a scratch DJ to feel comfortable. Plus, put the right decks on your equipment rider, and you entire tour kid is a pair of headphones and a couple of thumb drives! On Mon, Apr 16, 2012 at 10:39 AM, david smith bassline...@gmail.com wrote: On that note, Claude Young played here last weekend on three CD decks. Vinyl purists may cringe but I thought it was pretty cool.
Re: (313) Kraftwerk - New York
On Apr 16, 2012, at 6:15 AM PDT, David Smith bassline...@gmail.com wrote: VS an analog show: rewind the clock to 1981, just imagine what it would be like to hear them live. -- if there is such a thing. I heard they were indeed here in 1981, I'd like to think it wasn't just them playing a tape, dancing around -- but actually synthesizing new tones, live. Being an, ahem, list elder ... I saw them back in July of 1981: http://www.flickr.com/photos/79243992@N00/4010953276/ (Even have a copy of the gig on MP3. Unfortunately it's missing Autobahn and Mitternacht but otherwise it's complete. Pretty funny to hear Ralf say We just ... broke one of our American synthesizers ... they are used to German temperatures after Neon Lights - it was a pretty hot day that day.) They were basically bringing Kling Klang around on tour with them back then. No (visible) tapes. I'm not sure I'd call it synthesizing new tones, but it was most definitely live. - Greg
Re: (313) Kraftwerk - New York
On 16 Apr 2012, at 20:42, Greg Earle wrote: On Apr 16, 2012, at 6:15 AM PDT, David Smith bassline...@gmail.com wrote: VS an analog show: rewind the clock to 1981, just imagine what it would be like to hear them live. -- if there is such a thing. I heard they were indeed here in 1981, I'd like to think it wasn't just them playing a tape, dancing around -- but actually synthesizing new tones, live. Being an, ahem, list elder ... I saw them back in July of 1981: http://www.flickr.com/photos/79243992@N00/4010953276/ This was the 81 set up: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3659/3447163892_68958e1faf.jpg
Re: (313) Kraftwerk - New York
I believe Mr. Mills is also using CD decks now too. Looking forward to seeing him destroy them this Saturday in SF. -- Patrick Wacher Sent with Sparrow (http://www.sparrowmailapp.com/?sig) On Monday, April 16, 2012 at 8:39 AM, david smith wrote: Amen to that, I almost lost my pocket calculator (true story not just a pun) today before my big week of finals! I'd imagine that horrible feeling when someone runs off with your moog, or a tube or rare fuse breaks or something. I enjoyed their stage show, I guess that was my original point, for me it was more about the light show and their stage presence. So I totally agree with you Kent. At the end of the day it helps put everything in perspective about how far music technology has come. The NPR link that just went out talks about Kraftwerk as being behind synthesizers on stage, but I wonder if they are really just touch-screen computers. On that note, Claude Young played here last weekend on three CD decks. Vinyl purists may cringe but I thought it was pretty cool. On Mon, Apr 16, 2012 at 10:35 AM, Martin Dust mar...@dustscience.com (mailto:mar...@dustscience.com) wrote: On 16 Apr 2012, at 15:27, kent williams wrote: There are a ton of horror stories about touring with analog synths in the old days -- We have plenty with them ( horror stories) just in the studio, fucking things :) m
Re: (313) Kraftwerk - New York
I'm going Sunday evening for 'Techno Pop'. However, a few friends hit up last night's show and posted quite a few shots on In$tagram. Another quick twitter search for #kraftwerk produced a few links as well. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/arts/music/kraftwerk-retrospective-at-the-museum-of-modern-art-review.html?_r=2ref=arts http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/arts/music/kraftwerk-retrospective-museum-of-modern-art-embracing-the-retro-future.html?ref=arts benny blanco® blancodisco.com On Wed, Apr 11, 2012 at 7:45 AM, 1-11 1...@bethere.co.uk wrote: Anybody doing any of this lot? http://www.residentadvisor.net/news.aspx?id=15861 If so, any reviews would be appreciated, please. Thanks. __ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 7044 (20120411) __ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com
Re: (313) Kraftwerk - New York
Congrats on being one of the lucky few who were able to get tickets!!! -- Patrick Wacher On Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 5:06 AM, benny blanco® wrote: I'm going Sunday evening for 'Techno Pop'. However, a few friends hit up last night's show and posted quite a few shots on In$tagram. Another quick twitter search for #kraftwerk produced a few links as well. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/arts/music/kraftwerk-retrospective-at-the-museum-of-modern-art-review.html?_r=2ref=arts http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/arts/music/kraftwerk-retrospective-museum-of-modern-art-embracing-the-retro-future.html?ref=arts benny blanco® blancodisco.com (http://blancodisco.com) On Wed, Apr 11, 2012 at 7:45 AM, 1-11 1...@bethere.co.uk (mailto:1...@bethere.co.uk) wrote: Anybody doing any of this lot? http://www.residentadvisor.net/news.aspx?id=15861 If so, any reviews would be appreciated, please. Thanks. __ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 7044 (20120411) __ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com
Re: (313) Kraftwerk - New York
Curious, did anyone hear whether this is a standing or seated show? I couldn't tell from the photos. I'm going on Saturday night :-) Thanks, Lisa On 04/11/2012 08:06 AM, benny blanco® wrote: I'm going Sunday evening for 'Techno Pop'. However, a few friends hit up last night's show and posted quite a few shots on In$tagram. Another quick twitter search for #kraftwerk produced a few links as well. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/arts/music/kraftwerk-retrospective-at-the-museum-of-modern-art-review.html?_r=2ref=arts http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/arts/music/kraftwerk-retrospective-at-the-museum-of-modern-art-review.html?_r=2ref=arts http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/arts/music/kraftwerk-retrospective-museum-of-modern-art-embracing-the-retro-future.html?ref=arts benny blanco® blancodisco.com http://blancodisco.com On Wed, Apr 11, 2012 at 7:45 AM, 1-11 1...@bethere.co.uk mailto:1...@bethere.co.uk wrote: Anybody doing any of this lot? http://www.residentadvisor.net/news.aspx?id=15861 If so, any reviews would be appreciated, please. Thanks. __ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 7044 (20120411) __ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com
