Longing for the day ...

Brian Eno's spot on ... sort of

Found Hypebot's extract from an interview with Brian Eno, in which he outlines a "Recipe For New Music Business Success". He makes is sound very simple when he talks up the virtues of monetising the aspects of music that are more difficult to copy.

So you turn your compositions into recordings and turn the recordings into packages of artwork that cannot be duplicated digitally ... makes sense. Except that you're no longer a musician, and the music is just being used to sell something else ... it's no longer the point of your efforts ... you're effectively just writing jingles for someone else's product.

And I'm particularly interested in the short-sightedness of Eno suggesting that this recipe allows "visual artists, designers, animators and film-makers" to make a living. I'd have thought a guy like Eno would have the vision to see that all of these are just Nielsen's Law away from suffering the same fate as digitally didstributed music ...

I also accept some of the commenters' point of view that the kind of thing Eno describes is waaaay easier for an act that already has a following than it is for an act that trying to build a following ...

This is almost as transparent as the logic that suggests that acts need to generate their income from "scarce" commodities in an abundant value ecology - well, duh!!

I'll say it again: "Idol" is not about music ...

I*'m not sure why people bother writing this crap any more, since it's pretty much self-evident, but the New York Times has, once again published a destruction of the American Idol final result. Predictably, this article complains that the winner was clearly not the best singer, that the song that will be the first single is dross and that this is consistent with the history of Idol. I'll dignify it only because it's so long since I wrote anything and this got up my nose.

American Idol, Australian Idol, UK Idol, Swaziland Idol ... whatever ... is about TELEVISION. It's about providing a gripping, human contest featuring an activity we can all identify with. It's about character and humanity ... music is just the backdrop. The winner, as in modern politics, is the contestant who can garner more support than the others. That's why non-threatening, likable characters go as far as they do: because they give no-one a reason to vote for the other guy ...

One day the media will get over the need to deconstruct this show as an exercise in music and let it be what it is. Ditto the winners, most of who make a splash and then go away.

I'm far more interested in the finalists, many of whom have interesting voices, interesting styles and interesting characters. they may not have the career highlights, but they've made much better music, IMHO ...

Go, Danger Mouse ...

Just found the great news via Techdirt (via Dubber): Danger Mouse is releasing his new album without any music on it. Of course, this was done before by Green Day, but DM has put a whole new spin on it.

First, the Album is about more than music. It's also about the collection of photos inspired by the music that come with the booklet. This is a true leap forward from an artist and shows what Trent Resnor has always known and what I have just realised is the key to my PhD thesis: the music is not important - it's only used to sell something else.

Second, this release method is a big fuck-you to EMI, who want to stop him from releasing the album. If DM can't release the music, he can release a container for music and let people fill the container with whatever music they wish. Very clever. Not sure how it will wash if push comes to legal shove, but it's a great idea. Incidentally, the music can be streamed from NPR.

Let me know where I can download a version ... please.

New Music I've discovered

For my birthday a short while ago I was given a copy of Preston Reed's Handwritten Notes. It's an interesting album with some really cool stuff, but ... sigh ... I just find it hard to get into this solo acoustic guitar music. I feel the same way about Kaki King, who I saw live at the Brisbane Powerhouse a while ago - she had some electronics and some digital gadgetry to play with as well ... and she sang. Their stuff is interesting and very technical - really great playing - but it doesn't grab my soul and make me go "wow!"

One guy who does, though, is Andy McKee. His playing is similarly technical, innovative and so on - but he infuses great melodies and harmonic hooks with his technique. His Art of Motion album is my favourite in this style. It combines great, innovative technique with a real melodic flair and intense performances. Love it (though Andy's not nearly as good-looking as Kaki or, if you like that sort of thing, Preston)!

And before you Preston Reed and Kaki King fans get all sarcastic at me - of course I wish I could play like these guys. I probably wouldn't do it very often, but I wish I could ...

New toys

In order to make these new recordings, I have invested in a new electric guitar. It's a Michael Kelly Valor Custom T (Amber), which is sweet as. I wanted something with twin humbuckers to complement my fat Strat (which is not a Strat) and this was the best bang for the bucks. Nice.

I also tried out Michael Kelly's Patriot Phoenix but wasn't fussed on the fretboard inlays, the fretboard feel or the overall tone - just not as nice as the Valor Custom. Nothing wrong with it ... just wasn't what I wanted. Besides, I like a trem, even if I'm crap at using them ...

So, now that I have chosen my new toy, I need to get it properly set up and get on with recording things. I have a book on the subject and will attempt the intonation myself this time - I have plenty of time but not much money ...

Fun, Fun, Fun ...

Re-Bending of the Genres

OK, well, after a long absence I have decided that the best way to rekindle my interest in music and music studies is to start doing musical things once more. For this reason I have re-entered the studio and resumed recording. I will probably settle for an EP on this occasion and see what happens.

I'm working on a demo of "When It's Over", which I'll post shortly. Think I'll then demo up "Vital signs" and "Be Free" and round the EP out with a remix of "Dirty" and an acoustic version of "Cry to Heaven". That should be eclectic enough for the brand ... :-)

It certainly gives me plenty to do and plenty to update the Podcast with. I'll also have a crack at some videos ...