Electronic Music

Response: Contemporary Electronic Music

I really was amazed that the creator of the theremin and the early synthesizer were able to find people that had the skills and imagination to make socially acceptable music with the new instruments. I've actually played a theremin before, and it was amazing to hear classical music coming out of it.
I was also really amused by Kraftwerk; both their robotic "aesthetic" and songs were very fun to hear.
It was interesting that so many of the electronic music groups introduced other forms of art, both visual and tactile, into their work. Besides the pictures embedded in songs, the sculptural aspect of mixing music was very cool.

(kraftwerk wendy carlos)

Synth Brittania

I was impressed by how young Kraftwerk was when they toured internationally, and it was nice how seriously they took themselves. The introduction of the synth into the general public when the price dropped was interesting; I wonder if the quality of synth music dropped?

I really liked Gary Newman, both for his aesthetic and his music. I was glad that the "manly, sweaty, gross" kind of aesthetic was taken over by this smooth, industrial music.

Survival Research Laboratories

I wonder how the people in SRL are satisfied with what they do? Their creations aren't particularly useful in any research, monetary, or aesthetic sense. They remind me of teenage boys who ride around on motorcycles and want to join the army so everyone else will think they're tough. I also don't really consider what they do "art"; it's more like scientific experimentation; throwing random things together just to see what they'll do. I see how social commentary could be taken out of it, but I don't think that's their main goal with the machines. However, I do respect their idea of trying to siphon off some of the talent that goes into the defense industry as to not "destroy us all."