Category Archives: Archaeology

You Would Have Thought Or Bringin’ It?

That the subject was depleted by now?

Helas, I’m still wondering, thinking and trying to understand how this is this possible? How and by what means did Aphex produce this: Selected Ambient Works 85-92.

– What do you mean?
– Literally I do not understand how or by what means “Xtal + Tha” could ever have been produced at the time. On what hardware? It is the same thing with æ. And if you listen closely , the similarities are unsettling. And that is the seed to drum’n’bass and breaks? It is not Model 500… but how was this feat achieved?

Is is in fact Alien?

Just now. I heard something that I never heard before. In a track that I’ve listened to many, many, many times… literally uncountable times. I think the transcription is: “Bringin’ it” and variations.

Honestly? I’ve never realized that until now and I bought it when it was released… that’s disturbing. Autechre ‎– Anti EP

Apart from the superiority? I loved then and I love it now. Technological pressure. It’s brutal enforcement and there’s no way out. Ever. “Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated!”.

It was like that then (25 odd years ago) and it still is. Musically? It is so futuristic and I’m not getting younger. I don’t like that at all! The more I listen to music and the older I get?

The references, it gets.. impossible. Excel? Right, sure. Is there even any point? Is it worth even trying? It is so technical and funky. It is superior and love/HATE it. It is my life and it is so quintessential UK. They are the worst of the lot. And it never stops.

In the end, if you happen to listen then you know/realize that it will not ever get better. Ever… and that will upset you. Are you still trying to create something (making music) after the fact?

I have nothing but the utmost respect and I wish that I had that determination. I have and am still supporting the effort though! I’m blessed, my friends.

I have said it before many a times… from Scandinavia, Sweden, Finland, Åland, through Scotland via England, Denmark, France, Balkan (twice) and the rest of Europe (almost).

On top off it all I need to change the title of this text as well… damn you!

Disturbingly Good

This is work in progress… I’m dazed and confused by Shitkid.

It just seems wrong. Why in the name of the Lord would you ever make a cover of My Favorite Thing? The short and simple answer? You would not ever do that.

On top of it all I’ve been and I still am a haunted man, haunted by the music of the 68:s (it’s not a typo, not 60’s music, but the music of the 68:s); “Nous sommes les soixante-huits?!” – that would be my parents self-proclaimed credo!

A statement, something which there will never be any; contesting/argument or reasoning applied to, ever. An absolute truth if you will.

For the record and the very last time; if you listen to the Stones or Hendrix you do not under any circumstance listen to the Beatles. Ever. Why? Because that is the definition of a contradiction… and it goes on and on.

Pink Floyd will automatically cancel other time specific groups/songs etc. In as many words: I’m going to be haunted for an eternity by one specific year and month. Mai soixante-huit (May 68) and I wasn’t even born at that time.

I need to get the references right. “- Please be gentle with me. I’m not as tuff as I seem.”. Give me a minute will you.

Cut to the chase anytime soon? Right…, the “This is it” EP is excellent! Minimal and with a raw, ruthless and a honesty that is unusual these days. It’s simply not possible to resist the vocals and the un-shameful sampling of earlier works.

If you happen to know anything or have listened to any contemporary music made the last decades or so. I mean Minneapolis, AFX or is it æ in the same song? That’s a wild thing right there. And I love it!

…a very brightly shining star is born. Let’s name her: Shitkid (the name in itself deserves a text. But, I’m just going to let it be.). Excellent.

I Once Actually Believed…

That the breaks were dead and gone. They were unhappy times.

I looked hard and everywhere and of course I did find them (with help, if no one is playing it will become impossible), silly me doubting something eternal!

I did get help recovering them/me. I actually thought they were lost. But, I will never doubt again! Ever.

Tru Steppa


Tru steppa, hard steppa? This is as close as you will get to my definition.

The source is a bit more complicated who-is-who and whatnot production wise according to me. As it was originally stated: La coïncidence n’existe pas.. There are too many similarities and tracks-within-tracks. It is an investigation that will have to wait til’ retirement.

The tracks produced in the golden age? They cannot be defeated, it’s just… “Your Sound”. How many times? Countless, what can I say apart from this single fact: they’re breaks and that’s it, that is the essence of breakbeats.

That’s it! Again.

102

 

I – LA CIGALE ET LA FOURMI
La Cigale, ayant chanté
Tout l’été,
Se trouva fort dépourvue
Quand la bise fut venue:
Pas un seul petit morceau
De mouche ou de vernisseau.
Elle alla crier famine
Chez la Fourmi sa voisine,
La priant de lui prêter
Quelque grain pour subsister
Jusqu’à la saison nouvelle.
« Je vous paierai, lui dit-elle,
Avant l’oût, foi d’animal,
Intérêt et principal. »
La Fourmi n’est pas prêteuse:
C’est là son moindre defaut.
« Que faisiez-vous au temps chaud?
Dit-elle à cette emprunteuse.
– Nuit et jour à tout venant
Je chantais, ne vous déplais.
– Vous chantiez? j’en suis fort aise:
Eh bien! dansez maintenant. »

La Fontaine, Fables, Librairie Hachette et Cie, Paris 1917.

This book used to belong to my father and it is about 102 years old come this 29th November. It was originally printed and published in 1917 – my grandmother was born in 1911 – bless her soul! The first World War was raging at the time and two decades later the second one was well and truly in the making.

I do believe that it is in fact one of the oldest artifacts that I have in my possession, however, there is one that is older. It may be merely by a year, but the oil painting hanging on my living room wall is in fact from 1916 (and it used to belong to my grandparents and was hanging on their living room wall.).

Does the title signify anything in particular? I’m confident that it does. My father was an avid fan of La Fontaine – Why? It has all to do with language, the written ones and in particular that of French. There are quite a few unanswered questions, I simply didn’t get the time to ask them all.

I know that he respected Strindberg as much as he loathed Hemingway, but I’m don’t know exactly why he did the latter (I could make an educated guess, but I’m refraining from doing so. And, furthermore I must admit that I haven’t read a single of his works; Hemingway’s that is.).

So, it is far from a co-incidence that this particular book was in his collection as were many others.

Condorcet (1743-1794) Un intellectuell en politique, E.Badinter & R.Badinter, Fayard 1988