The fact that minimal techno is currently seen as "hip" can only be a good thing.
More and more people are into labels like Chain Reaction, M-Plant and Basic Channel than ever before. That ultimately will lead them back to the Detroit originators. It takes time, but I know for one that it has transformed the London techno scene. -----Original Message----- From: kent williams [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 04 April 2008 15:41 To: list 313 Subject: Re: (313) Ellen Allien's New Mix: Opinions? The one mix I have by Ellen Allien is Fabric 34 and I listen to it a lot -- both straight through and when individual tracks come up on shuffle. I think it's high time that we stop using minimal as a dirty word. Minimalism in its broadest sense has been a revolution in music, not so much because it has been revolutionary in content, but because it has demanded a new relationship between the music and the listener. The best minimal techno is every bit as dramatic and emotional as any other sort of dance music. The worst is just boring. Worse than that, it's a sort of music that appeals and encourages an audience of people completely off their faces on drugs. Give me something with a little soul and variety anyday! It's also to separate the music from the scene, and to realize that slagging on a music/scene when it blows up is as much a hipster transgression as following that trend. I was amused last summer walking around Brooklyn 'hipster' neighborhood last summer; it seemed like people who, in my shallow evaluation were, in fact, the dreaded hipsters, were modulating their fashion sense and coiffure to avoid the dreaded hipster signifiers. Being hip is too exhausting for me. You'll always be trying to stay ahead of curve, and nothing but eternal vigilance will keep you from staying with something formerly cutting edge, now declasse'. It's like surfing -- you want to be in the curl without the wave crashing over you. I'm content to like what I like and let someone else sort it out. But I digress. Ellen Allien is usually pretty ace in my estimation. If one of her mixes sounded a little flat at first, I'd give it a few listens to sink in before dismissing it. For all the latest news and comment visit www.telegraph.co.uk. This message, its contents and any attachments to it are private, confidential and may be the subject of legal privilege. Any unauthorised disclosure, use or dissemination of the whole or part of this message (without our prior written consent) is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify us immediately. Incoming and outgoing telephone calls to our offices may be monitored or recorded for training and quality control purposes and for confirming orders and information. Telegraph Media Group Limited is a limited liability company registered in England and Wales (company number 451593). Our registered office address is: 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 0DT.
