odradek

Regarding the epigones: I don’t know if it’s been written, but I’ll write it myself, if I may: the names you’ve mentioned haven’t said anything interesting regarding the subject. They’ve been used, and they can be pleasant (I’ve already told you before that I have the records of one and the other, and I’ve loved some of them very much) and very refined. But they’re something else, a different world, an approach so distant that it has lost all connection with the original core. What does praising have to do with it? It should be quite clear, after so many times, that it’s not a matter of “fandom.” It’s about evaluating things as a whole, also within the historical context. So to some extent you’re right: it’s to "In C" that we need to turn to get to the heart of the matter. I don’t know, maybe you could write a little page, cultured and refined, in your own way. And explain to us why it deserves a 3. Going, if you want, to look for records released in the same year that you think deserve a 5. I can’t see it that way: when faced with a work capable of presenting a vision of such magnitude, I don’t feel like being an accountant, claiming to reduce everything to my personal tastes. I can try to do that with a thousand other records, not with "In C." I hope I haven’t been too elusive, and I’ll step away from the further digressions you bring up (we didn’t need music therapy(!?) and New Age) and I bid you farewell. Have a good evening.

No, look, I can’t do it. I can’t even imagine diving back into some long thread of posts, to summarize in two words (the repetition of the note and/or the cell) reducing to mere objects of wankery (these indeed) things a bit more complex. For me, this was an important record (that 5 is my personal rating, which adds to the default and responds to your game). A discovery, an adventure in listening. It was for many, because it was a “vulgarization” of a discourse that was very difficult for those used to considering acid guitars and long lysergic trips, or songs stuffed with psychedelia as the only form of “journey” with sound, always marked by the beat of the drums or at best by some synth arpeggio, which feels very spacey.

But what do Mertens and Nyman have to do with it? Here we are at the dawn of a new and evolving vision, an adventure that had no equivalent in Western music, in its "popular" version (not long ago a guitarist friend of mine, an ex "Fluxus", as old as me or older, with a rock background, was with me and while re-listening to the vinyl he said: "what a punch it was to listen to that record, as a kid") and we are worried about the melodic intentions of generations of epigones? - Then there's "In C": it shouldn’t be a record to listen to as background, sure, but it is one of the most important records of "minimalism," and minimalism is one of the few "new" visions of the 20th century, like it or not. Dismissing it with an adjective that should be reserved for mountains of garbage that followed, pilfering ideas and putting them at the service of the "pleasant," doesn’t seem useful or sensible to me. But everyone, of course, looks at the object from different perspectives. I have been postponing a page about "In C" for a long time. Since it is truly an "important" record (according to the major composers of the last 40 years, not just me), I don't intend to dedicate it one of the many pages written on a whim as usual. But if I decide to do it, we could talk about it there. - It doesn’t ruin anyone, the average. This one has it by default on the 5. Regards.

For example, once clicked on the big face and entered the home page, clicking on the image "Feelin' Patriotic" leads to a fun little surprise, featuring the "participation" of the Fugs....

Yes, Peter, but it was not my intention to highlight anyone's mistake. I mainly wanted to point out Riley's site. In fact, your information is accurate: it was registered in '68 and published the following year, as noted in the official discography on another page of the site (and on the vinyl, which in my case has a different cover, the one with his big face).

I wouldn't have said, Nick, that you liked a record like this so much. I'm listening to it right now, and I have to thank you, great suggestion. - Even if you don't want it, I'm giving you another splash of love, here you go.

Thank you, Godbowl, really. I'm so glad you enjoyed it; it’s quite a surprise for those listening now, isn’t it? I just shared on DeB what happened to me when I dusted off the record after so many years and rediscovered it still so relevant. After all, we’re here for that too. - For example, thanks to Debaser, I discovered another musician from that period, long gone but who left behind a wonderful and very emotional record, even if it's a bit more "refined" and perhaps "difficult" than this one. His name was Luciano Cilio; there are a couple of pages on DeB. I absolutely recommend it. Bye and thanks for the good wishes; help from the "Old Man" is always useful.

To Hammill: the album was recorded on an 8-track in 1968. On his website (what a graphics and what colors!!) you can find a lot of information. - www.terryriley.com

Well, Festwca, I wouldn't say "nice"; there are dozens of others aiming straight for that trendy "spoiled" melody, and you can't tell them apart. Can I say "fun"? Let's say that Ask The Tiger has a more homey and "playful" vibe than Kid A. Plus, it's practically the first work, after an album that he himself describes as "too simple." We'll see how it evolves. Cheers.

Wow, Rodney, you've really unleashed yourself these days! I must admit you’ve chosen one of the records I’ve wanted to attempt to describe for a long time. But a bit of affection for Mr. Riley and the emotional connection to the kind gentleman (whom I saw live about ten years ago) combined with the complexity of "historical" musical and theoretical references tied to this album made me keep postponing it. I’m glad it finally made it to Debaser, but, without any polemical intentions, the damn 1,800 characters for a record like this could easily be doubled. In short, a bit sparse... And that jab to the heart with the comparison to Pink Floyd, THOSE P.F.!!! I’m sorry, but I just can't forgive you for that :)) - Ghemison, allow me a piece of advice: this album is worth buying. Until recently, it was even affordable, but now I’m not sure.