ofthaltned

gravatar
Member Since: 10/4/2006
Total Mixes: 42
Total Feedback: 419

What Is There in Uselessness to Cause You Distress?

Artist Song
George Crumb  Quest: I. Dark Paths (performed by Ensemble New Art / conducted by Fuat Kent) 
Loren MazzaCane Connors  Long Nights V 
Martin Siewert / Martin Brandlmayr  Form 
Double Leopards  untitled (Out of One, Through One and to One, track 2) 
Zoviet*France  Something Spooked the Horses 
Polwechsel Fennesz  Framing 1 
Brandlmayr Dafeldecker NTmeth Siewert  Part 3 (Die InstabilitSt der Symmetrie) 
Axel D÷rner / Kevin Drumm  untitled (s/t, track 3) 
Keith Rowe / John Tilbury  Oxleay [excerpt] 
Taku Sugimoto / Annette Krebs  untitled (A Duo in Berlin, track 7) 
Burkhard Stangl / Taku Sugimoto  untitled (An Old Fashioned Duet, track 3) 
John Tilbury / Eddie PrTvost  E1 

Comment:

I chose to categorise this as "experimental" mostly because it was certainly an experiment for me - I usually get a little intimidated by anything that doesn't follow the standard pop song structure when making mixes and therefore tend to not include too much of the more abstract music that I also listen to quite a bit. So this one's dedicated entirely to just that: starting off rather slow and gentle, getting dronier in the middle section, and then dissolving into silence towards the end, this entire mix is guaranteed not to feature any voices, hooks or sustained melodies. Most of it (especially in the second half of the mix) is coming from the quieter end of a rather tightly knight electro-acoustic improvisation scene. While I am not going to deny that most people would probably be bored out of their mind if they attempted listening to this, I'm fairly happy with how it turned out, especially considering how it's my first mix of this kind. If nothing else, at least I'll be a little less intimidated by this kind of material for future mixes.
The title is the name of a track by AMM (who do not appear on this mix as such, but their three longest-standing members do appear in duos - Tilbury & Rowe and Tilbury & PrTvost), from back in the glorious days when their mad titling skillz still matched their mad improvising skillz.

Feedback:

gravatar
Barrydali
Date: 11/16/2006
Looks utterly compelling Alex, I for one would love to hear it. To my shame I know nada here.
gravatar
ofthaltned
Date: 11/16/2006
I was thinking of uploading it actually, but YSI seems kind of dead right now (or at least it killed a zip-file I uploaded earlier tonight, so I'm too frustrated to try again). If you send me your address though, I'll be happy to just send you a copy the good old-fashioned way.
gravatar
Mixxer
Date: 11/16/2006
"Most people would be bored out of their mind..." We cannot accuse you of shameless self-promotion!
gravatar
ofthaltned
Date: 11/17/2006
Or maybe it's just a very clever and twisted marketing ploy - who really knows!
Seriously, what I'm saying is that a lot of this is built around well-placed silences, and the parts that aren't are mostly drone. Surely not everyone's thing.
gravatar
Jean-Yves1
Date: 11/17/2006
I'd love to get a copy sometime too!
gravatar
Mr. Mirage
Date: 11/17/2006
I usually don't give such a high mark (*****!) when I am totally ignorant of everyone and everything on a mix, but I love the attitude. Sometimes, you just gotta follow your bliss and put one together that YOU like, and be happy with what you've got.Most of my mixes are like that, though, so do take it with a grain (pound?) of salt.... I'd like to hear it, though...
gravatar
sammyg123
Date: 11/18/2006
This mix looks Interesting, Intruiging and very very cool. Count me in with the 'Would Love To Hear' mob...
gravatar
Salman1
Date: 11/20/2006
Looks really interesting...
gravatar
jonpoi
Date: 11/20/2006
There are more fans for this kind of thing than anyone can imagine.
gravatar
Barrydali
Date: 11/24/2006
Eurovision song contest style - The votes are in. ofthaltned dix points. Loved every second but the closing triplet hit me hardest. Everything I love in a mix is here, soft, beautiful but challenging. Too good.
gravatar
SwankExpress
Date: 12/6/2006
Everything you put your hand to is magic.
gravatar
Rob Conroy
Date: 12/6/2006
I don't think I know a single song here, but I'd love to hear this.
gravatar
Jean-Yves1
Date: 12/20/2006
You know, this might just be the best mix I have ever heard. Really.