Re: ambient & otherwise

[Paulpop@ssnet.com (Paul Poplawski, Phd)]

poppycock ... Fripp is a guitar player not the Dali Lama ... or if I am to
go on the assumption that we are all the DL, then (yawn), fine, Fripp is
the DL, and so am I ... I guess I am tiring of the ambient, techno-babble
about his relative worth as a human next to everyone else and how
serious-minded his "performances" are or are not.  The experience of him
recently was borrish and uninspired ... and yeah yeah ... there is little
to connect with and I found it offensive that he appeared to be judging
anyone who didn't arrive 30 minutes prior to the stated witching hour.
Spare me.

There is something a bit too self-congratulatory about all this ... play
the guitar


At 1:00 AM 2/4/98, Reginald Hunt wrote:
>Response to Miko Biffle:
>
>>>Unfortunately, the human animal can suffer from the tendency to follow
>>>sheep-like (or lemming-like). Ambient music has suffered from its 
>contingent
>>>of brain dead devotees, as has Fripp. Originally, ambient music was not
>>>intended as a hypnotic tranquilizer (which looping inherently lends 
>itself
>>>to). It was meant as music which operates equally on different levels of
>>>awareness simultaneously. Persons who assume that loopers are into 
>ambient
>>>music by default, are a type of bigot. But don't damn a style of music 
>for
>>>that.
>
>>Does this imply that 'bad' ambient music has actually impaired our 
>ability to
>>perceive Mr. Fripp? How nasty of the mediocrities.
>
>>I'm not sure how 'ambient' music was originally intended. Was there a 
>group
>>charter for the genre or something? Or are we now following sheep-like, 
>some
>>authority on the subject? I'd like to think that even the most unassuming
>person
>>who purchases *any* cheesy sounds to alter their environment, is somehow
>taking
>>a rather active measure to alter their experience somehow. Most 
>commendable!
>
>I'm not referring to good or bad anything. Even the herd-instinct has 
>value.
>But,
>like any other music form, heavy-metal, dance, whatever, ambient gets a 
>bad
>reputation
>from a certain segment of the audience and performers who cause it to
>stagnate. To get a feel
>for ambient's original goal, Eno is always a good source. Ther are some 
>web
>sites
>that feature useful quotes of his.
>
>>Bigot? Let they without sin cast the first stone! Those mindless drones 
>have
>>infected us all... Animals indeed!
>
>My use of the word "bigot" goes by its strict definition. It is not a sin,
>but is indeed
>a mindset (again by definition).
>
>>>Fripp has always been an acquired taste. His explorations extend beyond
>>>music per se. He has always questioned the audience-performer 
>relationship,
>>>and the effect of the music business on musicians. His actions at
>>>performances are reflective of all that and probably more. He's never 
>been
>>>about being a "hot" player. The many comments I've seen here and 
>elsewhere
>>>asking why he doesn't "rip it up", or about him leavng the stage and
>>>observing the audience, shows a lack of understanding about the artist.
>
>>To believe that I don't understand the artist because I have preferences
>>as to
>what I might experience at a performance seems a little PC to me.
>
>Again, by definition, if the preferences don't truly apply to the artist,
>e.g. Fripp bashing out
>"Lark's Tongues" at a Soundscapes performance (which I have seen emails
>about in
>other places), then it's a lack of understanding.
>
>>I've been able
>>to enjoy the vast differences in much of Fripps output. Fripp doesn't 
>have to
>>always rip, but if I shell out to go see him, I'm hoping I might get some
>>tiny
>>portion that which I know to also be alive somewhere in his soul as well.
>After
>>all the pendulum does swing both ways.
>
>Fripp himself freely admits that there is no guarantee in regards to his
>performances,
>that anyone who purchases a ticket probably knows this, and if they don't,
>oh well. I've
>read correspondance he had with some one who complained so bitterly about
>his responsibilities
>to audience expectation that he sent them a refund on the condition they
>never attend one
>of his shows again.
>Also, his soul definitely does come through his Soundscapes. It may not
>rock, but it comes through.
>
>>Did you study with Mr. Fripp or what?
>
>Nope.
>
>>I've found that as I've grown older, I sometimes have to cut to the 
>chase a
>>little quicker than I used to. If I lack understanding about Fripp as an
>artist
>>because I hope to see him in a comfortable, non-combative setting, which
>>might
>>allow for undistracted listening, then so be it. Let me be 'responsible'
>for my
>>own listening experience without dictating to me. Maybe I'm just an old
>>intolerant fart as well. Who am I to dictate?
>
>I don't think the idea is to remove the rules, only to change them. And,
>indeed,
>he his assigning more responsibility to the audience.
>
>>If lectures become a larger part of other artists performances, I may 
>begin
>>having a harder time enjoying them as well. Although I might actually 
>pursue
>>some artists due to their engaging communication style and content. I 
>believe
>>Fripp is starting to sound redundant to me at this point. Hopefully the
>pendulum
>>will swing again and I will enjoy many more years of delightful Fripp 
>output.
>
>Fripp will always be part teacher, I think.
>
>>I find it somewhat totalitarian though that Fripp expects certain
>>conformities
>>from his audience without somehow realizing that his audience might 
>expect
>some
>>regard for their needs as well. Especially having shelled out their 
>ducats.
>
>See Fripp for Fripp. Not what you need. You might get even more.
>
>Reg

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Paul Poplawski, Ph.D.
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