Simon Reynolds
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padraig (u.s.)
a monkey that will go ape
you don't understand guitars
whereas I'd fall asleep after 30 seconds of mumbling drill or Migos
the difference is, I don't casually dismiss things like that
whereas I'd fall asleep after 30 seconds of mumbling drill or Migos
the difference is, I don't casually dismiss things like that
padraig (u.s.)
a monkey that will go ape
it would be like saying "jazz is some of most the dire music ever recorded". it's equally ignorant.
Simon silverdollarcircle
Well-known member
I'm not as absolutist as Luka, and I like loads of post punk stuff. But there is a distinct strain of militant asceticism in some early post punk - like gang of four or early PiL- that I struggle with. Its like a locked door and i can't find the key. Obvs not all post punk is like that but a lot of the early big players had that side to them and it seems quite distinctive of that era and scene to me
luka
Well-known member
im having fun Padriag. the clue, outside of my entire posting history and personna, is that i said im ideologically opposed to it, even the stuff i enjoy listening to. that is a deliberately comical statement. it's light hearted. it's supposed to be funny. try and lighten up. you don't dont have to wage jihad everyday!
Simon silverdollarcircle
Well-known member
We're back to the scent of spunk and the harsh tang of amyl now aren't we?
It's inescapable
padraig (u.s.)
a monkey that will go ape
see, there's a useful critique. it's not hard to do.
I feel that way about a lot of things - most canon electracoustic, a lot of free jazz - like I want to like it more than I actually like it.
I like the idea of it more than the actual execution of the idea
I think it's a pretty common reaction to music that is self-conscious highly conceptual, intellectual
postpunk is deliberate - that's the ethos - including when it's deliberately lo-fi or atonal or whatever. it comes across as tryhard sometimes.
what I really like about postpunk is the functional engagement of guitar bands with black popular music, and avant-garde strands, all at once
the best stuff I think organically incorporates that without having to try hard
like Wobble-era PIL, it is kinda art brut by people who know the term "art brut", but it knocks, it's functional rock music too. Lydon's voice is an acquired taste for sure but since heard Yoko Ono shrieking "why" however many years ago no amount of nasal warbling can put me off.
padraig (u.s.)
a monkey that will go ape
take yr own advice
Benny Bunter
Well-known member
Amazing era for music. 10 perfect albums just off the top of my head, though I could go on
Cut
Colossal Youth
Hex Endunction Hour
Metal Box
Dare
Remain in Light
Closer
Odyshape
Chairs Missing
The Scream
Probably Simon's best book too - amazingly well put together to cover such a diverse field. The only chapter i didnt really like was the one that was told in interviews (about new order iirc) it didn't really fit with the rest of the book. Still, its hard to imagine anyone doing a better job of writing a post punk history book.
Cut
Colossal Youth
Hex Endunction Hour
Metal Box
Dare
Remain in Light
Closer
Odyshape
Chairs Missing
The Scream
Probably Simon's best book too - amazingly well put together to cover such a diverse field. The only chapter i didnt really like was the one that was told in interviews (about new order iirc) it didn't really fit with the rest of the book. Still, its hard to imagine anyone doing a better job of writing a post punk history book.
luka
Well-known member
I am chill. I was just having a laugh
He's been getting a fair bit of this since he took on their darlings in the conceptroica essay. Cross the goldsmiths mob at your peril.
He's been getting a fair bit of this since he took on their darlings in the conceptroica essay. Cross the goldsmiths mob at your peril.
Corpsey
bandz ahoy
The bone of contention: that (in Energy Flash, I'm assuming), Simon wrote about the Detroit techno purists in the UK seeing the Belleville 3 as continuing a long legacy of black music from which they shouldn't deviate, but that the Belleville 3 were more akin to British blues purists, with Kraftwerk and European pop substituting for Muddy Waters et al.
The naysayers say that techno is a black american artform that was being dismissed here by Simon as a sort of slavish/overly respectful imitation of white european music.
I've not read EF in a long time but I seem to remember Simon being rather effusive about Mills, Craig et al, not dismissive. And describing at length the roots of techno in both european music and the p-funk/jazz being played by electrifying mojo etc.
Obviously Simon was writing polemically against the detroit-infatuated anti-hardcore/jungle mob so perhaps that explains the quote?
The naysayers say that techno is a black american artform that was being dismissed here by Simon as a sort of slavish/overly respectful imitation of white european music.
I've not read EF in a long time but I seem to remember Simon being rather effusive about Mills, Craig et al, not dismissive. And describing at length the roots of techno in both european music and the p-funk/jazz being played by electrifying mojo etc.
Obviously Simon was writing polemically against the detroit-infatuated anti-hardcore/jungle mob so perhaps that explains the quote?
