I was listening to Antipop's Ghostlawns the other day.
It's a very wordheavy song, not in a ragga toaster way but in a robotic spit 2 words a second way.
Even the bacbone of the song is cold and industrial The drums rattle on like an old amiga printer and the lead is like a car alarm. Still, the track bubbles and shakes.
It hit me. These guys are like the up to date cousins of the soulsonic force (planet rock). I've heard a quote from a black musician/producer/rapper - I forget - that said; kraftwerk were so serious and stiff that they became funky in their own right. (paraphrased)
Nowhere else have I heard this combination of metallic, digital sounding beats and a removed stance towards lyrics that worked out like this. (especially in hip hop)
Im wondering; does anyone else see a connection between classics and contemporary songs in any genre that seem to use the same logic, feeling and approach to come up with songs that are at the same time familiar (perhaps retro) and completely new.
 
gent, Belgium
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Electronic Music discussion: descendants of the funk
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Written October 21 2009
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Good question... I see connections but doubt I could name any examples specifically. My theory is, new artists listen to their favorite classics, and may consciously or unconsciously use them as a models for their own music. E.G I have loved The Crystal Method, and any bigbeat track I make will probably have some similar song elements, because its what I 'learned' listening to them.
Jeez yeah nothing really comes to mind. The only time I really really get that "vintage" / throwback feeling when listening to EM is when I'm listening to some moby. Songs like natural blues, honey, and god moving over the face of the water remind me of the 50's for some reason.
I have begun to notice a direct correlation between the composition of some EM and classical music. Sometimes just teh way sounds are layered brings that orchestral feeling especially with stuff by emers w/ classical backgrounds (I'm looking at you utofbu). BTW where the fuck are you Utofbu? It's been months. I've been listening to this track: Wiley - "Hummer Activity" on Race Against Time that's so straight, but so funky.
The latest Hecker „Acid in the style of david tudor" is quite into this direction but with a different approach. it's mostly a buchla modular, that was driven by an old Comdyna analog computer link
Although the methods are really old fashioned and do more resemble an more 60 experimanetal feeling. the post editing and montage transfer this into a contemporary psycho acoustic study. super collider. not the app, the band. cold yet soulful and funky, vogel and liddel did some of their best work on those albums imo
link as great as the music is, i can' tlisten to more super collider tracks because of the vocals
I cant' listen to Antipop because of the vocals.. and the beats sometimes.
For the funk. It's all about he obvious. Dam Funk The AFX of funk IMO. Straight up, no tricks .. good music. I only ever ended up liking that track "Laundry"
They were fun to see live tho. The roundness of Bean's ass is still a topic of some frequency around my home.. even though we saw them over 8 years ago. yes. 8. And in other genres?
Do you like something contemporary, that gets you back to a favourite artist from the past (perhaps unconsciously) ? It could be a really good jazz tune, that gives you the same feeling of listening to Coltrane. Or a kickass band, thats doesnt sound like, but definitely reminds you of The Pixies? I like that song "Testament" by Flylo.
i get this all the time.
listen to pivot "make me love you" then listen to millions now living will die by tortoise. its totally them! even some of the edits are very similar. but its still good music really good live drumming if you like that. alot of my own music is very retro sounding (ive been told). but thats from using old gear more than any intended outcomes. going to see anti pop in leeds, last time they really rocked it. good band - and nice use of reason! and cz101 presets bb01 said: "And in other genres?" Well sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. For instance I am a Pearl Jam fan but after Vedder started trying to sound like Neil Young I wanted to kick him in the balls. Probably one of my all time favorites although it wasn't exactly a "retro" sound is still Nirvana Unplugged in NY. When they do "oh me" and "jesus don't want me for a sunbeam" and "the man who sold the world" it's just something different and special. Kraftwerk became funky due to sequencer upgrade
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