Hi music lovers!
Lately it seems like I’ve treated this space almost like I might be on air in studio. I’ll mix it up a bit eventually. But for now it just sort of feels right. My tastes are eclectic, but one of a couple common threads I inevitably insist on pulling is electronic musics. Electronica, broadly speaking, was still very much in its pioneer phase when I was very young. I would have likely heard bits and pieces of early synths as background music on some sci-fi show or whatever, but would have been oblivious to the composers and musicians responsible. I just knew it fascinated me somehow. Later I would find LPs and CDs. These days I rely on digital downloads that I can fit countless hours of music on a thumb drive.
Electronica is hardly new either. The stuff you hear at a rave now is not much different than what would have existed a scant two decades ago. Perhaps it’s more commodified now. Inevitably there are YouTube channels, Instagram accounts, and merch to push a brand. There is of course contemporary music that is not mere product. Think about it. The struggle of art versus commerce is older than any of us is. But regardless of whether the electronic music you hear is more for commercial consumption or artful musings, it has its pioneers, and they should not be forgotten. So tonight, here is a brief tribute to one of electronica’s pioneers. She is hardly alone:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vZGeHBfxU0
Think of it as night music if you are so disposed. I do. Whether or not one finds some sort of deep intellectual meaning to it is up to you. I just know when something feels right when I hear it. That’s it. For real. I do have a deep appreciation for the history of anything I listen to. We’ve all pretty much sussed that out by now, I suppose.
In the meantime, I’ll post as I can. I am in the midst of a busy week. The bar is open. So is the jukebox for those who need to escape my virtual studio. For those fascinated, stick around. I won’t disappoint.
Cheers!
Now this would have been a legit club hit in 1977, and Kraftwerk were not only innovators very popular innovators for a while. If you check out the beats, you can hear an early influence on hip-hop (think Afrika Bambaataa for starters!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMVokT5e0zs
“The bar is open” — yes it is. For today’s drink, I continue honoring the Democratic candidates by pouring a drink to Tom Steyer, who just qualified for the October debate, the Billionaire’s Margarita.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUdkcWAxS5s
Probably the closest I’ll get to being a billionaire. We are the 1%!
4.5
Before “Music for Airports”, there was “Discreet Music” which introduced the concept of ambient music to pop culture. This is a lovely piece. The rest of the album is Eno reprogramming Pacelbel’s “Canon” – also intriguing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOpRj927vRc
This appears to be back up again. I am hoping that this afternoon was just a fluke. I know that the news cycle is crazy right now. I hope you all are doing what you can to take care of yourselves and each other. If you ever need to decompress, this space is always here.
Book I am reading for pleasure (when time permits):
Modulations: A History of Electronic Music: Throbbing Words on Sound. It is edited by Peter Shapiro and published in 2000. Was lucky to find a cheap copy. Anyway, looks like it will probably require me to update my perspective on electronic music’s history. That’s a good thing!
There was a tagging issue causing the Painting Cafe to stay up too long.
Okay. No worries. Had me mildly confused for a moment.
Any chess players out there?