Re: Adrian Belew/intrusive technology

[Scott Hansen <scott-a-hansen@uiowa.edu>]

can someone explain to me why we're trashing
adrian's "desire" album? i had it on LP, copied
it to tape to listen/enjoy it (i never owned a
record player in my life). i always thought it
was a good album demonstrating what technology
was available at the time. i thought it certainly
sounded like adrian belew. had all his quirky playing
rhythmic sense etc. never thought it was "synth wanking"
i can't speak for the allan h "sand"album.
i think technology should be viewed as a tool.
i certainly like to play w/ reverb and delay, but
doubt that any of my stuff will sound like fripp/torn/
frisell/belew in how they use/manipulate those tools. it's like
using a hammer to build a house. you could decide to not
use a hammer, and could probably do it w/a  large rock, but
boy, it will probably take you longer, and might not be
the most accurate house built on the block, but i bet it will
still look "somewhat" like a house.
and didn't the belew "desire" album kill his rep w/ the guitar/
quirky pop world anyway? hey, he took a chance. probably marked the
death of experimental music on major labels.
s---
ps-when you get a new toy, isn't it fun to play with? same
w/ a tool-you get it to use it right?
pps-can you really wank on a synth? wasn't sure if it's possible?
i don't own one, nor could i play one, so i don't know.
last qualifier: classically trained in the sense of late 20th century
idea of fine (visual) arts (and boy what a mess that is)
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