Connectivity

Milton Bradley, of "Do Not Resist The Beat" fame and "The End Of All Existence"? Shurely shome mishtake.

I have to admit that my writing style can often be a little overwrought. There's a constant search when both reviewing and appraising to grab the most tenuous link possible and to rebrand it for public consumption; ie spout as much shite as you can and see if you can get away with it. Well, we often do. Such is the relative blandness of a lot of today's music, both electronic and otherwise, that any attempt to make it sound more interesting involves a verbal gamble with the senses. It's always been this way and I must say that I've been trying to get the metaphorical monkey off my back for ages now, but due to a lack of time and discipline I've failed up to now.

Having said that I don't really owe anyone any favours here. It's wonderful to receive so much free music but not so good to feel tacitly obliged to make your gratitude constantly explicit. I think I've done quite well so far though. One development over the last few years is that I've become increasingly isolated from the rest of what I would regard as "The Electronic Music Community." It's been touched on in at least one previous post so I won't reiterate the reasons why again, better just cut to the quick and list advantages and disadvantages. Advantages: well, zero really, barring filling the role of completely impartial outsider and, therefore, answerable to no one. Disadvantages: plenty, not least my inability these days to be able to engage with people who share my interest and passion for this music. This month marked the third year in a row I haven't made the trip to Sonar. In truth I was beginning to get a little bored with it, but who do I think I'm kidding. Three days from one year of relatively the same annual activity isn't really much to be bored of.

Even though I've always held the view that looking back isn't necessary, (except when watching coverage of Glastonbury. What a hideous homogenous Behemoth that has become. Going there these days is as mandatory as a gap year), and living in the moment is difficult to better re: house, techno and its bastard offspring, things do seem to have suddenly plateaued. I can't quite put my finger on it but certain things that should be exciting me aren't anymore. That's not to say that nothing is. There's plenty to be excited about, but the endless 4/4 furrow that has been ploughed for the last twenty five to thirty years is, I feel, about to reach critical mass and that within will germinate in all sorts of unpredictable ways. How I'm not sure but I'll follow up this post very soon though and list some thoughts.