u/darkdarkblack

I recently had the very disappointing realization that the absolute vast majority of music I've consumed throughout my life was "discovered" by me via extremely "surface" means. Even my "deep-cut" secret handshake iykyk acts are actually quite widely known... remember when it felt like being a fan of Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, Tricky, Massive Attack, Portishead, meant you were apart of some secret club? No? Well I do, but probably I was wrong to and my world-view was smaller then.

Also, before I continue- I don't for a second want to come off as some snobby elitist gatekeepy type whose enjoyment stems more from flexing knowledge of obscure niche acts... I totally appreciate that's what some of my first paragraph might read like, but that's absolutely not it...

The premise of my thread comes from a way more pure and curious place... I simply got bummed out at the idea of just how much I've been missing out on my 30+ years, regardless of how deeply rewarding it's been enjoying all of my favourite acts (of which there are an untold many more than the mere few I mentioned). Thinking of all the hundreds and thousands of names who most of us never got to know (and won't know) for every one of the ones we do. The terms indie, underground, etc. begin to lose value when you realize that many times there's still decently sized labels behind them pushing their stuff. Absolutely nothing wrong with that and absolutely super necessary, but just saying- think of all those who never get that privilege, yet are every bit as good and deserving or better/more.

So yeah, I'm just curious: how do you go about discovering these bonafide hidden gem deep-cut musical acts? Many times searching my favourite artists favourite artists still yields acts/names well within the established music zeitgeist/world. There are so many "niche" bands that actually aren't niche at all. I just want to explore the genuinely unknown but great.

I lost one of my very closest and dearest friend to heroin. The most talented songwriter I’d ever known, a really brilliant musical mind. I’ve dabbled in countless drugs, some extensively, but never with opioids. What I saw of him countless times over the years leaves me completely baffled at how anyone could possibly do anything at all from within that zombie state, let alone create some of the greatest music ever devised in the case of countless jazz greats. My dear late friend had zero control of his faculties/functions when high, and upon slowly emerging, was operating at like 20% speed, if that, often for many hours. How did these legendary jazz cats possibly come up with all they did from within such a state? I genuinely can’t comprehend it. Is there like a perfect window in time, like the tail end of your high when you’re able to be more congruent? Really trying/wanting to understand how. Me, when I’ve been high on much lesser stuff (or even just very drunk), I can’t even fire off a text, certainly can’t play anything congruent on my instrument, definitely can’t sing in key, and so on. Or is it meant to rewire your brain somehow such that even when you’re not actively using, you just become more creative? Clearly I have zero understanding but really want to. It fundamentally doesn’t make sense to me.

The CS-80 is, of course, on probably every synth-enthusiasts "if I win the lottery" list.

While the CS-60 is extremely highly-regarded in synthland, you just don't hear about it as much as you do it's big brother. Ditto the CS-50.

I'm just wondering, for those fortunate enough to have experienced all three: how would you describe their respective sonic footprints/core characteristics?

And secondly, how do these flagship old Yamaha analog poly's compare to the flagship poly's by other big synth brands? How would you describe the core Yamaha tone compared to others? And do these three synths named here share some kind of sonic common denominator, or are they completely different in character, how a Jupiter 6 and 8 are?

With many of my favourite musical acts, I'll admit there's a part of me that wishes they'd remain stuck in the vibe of my favourite albums of theirs. With BoC, however, I'm genuinely happy with anything and everything they chose to release.

I've seen a lot of fans expressing their disappointment and/or surprise at the direction of Inferno so far- and that's of course absolutely okay, I don't believe in being a blind fan of everything an act does/releases, regardless how big a fan you are.

Personally, I adore what I've heard so far, and am so far beyond chuffed for the album release + listening parties.

I will say, the sound is somewhat different to the sound which made me fall in love with them- I mean, it's still there in significant enough doses, but even more-so heads in a new direction; one which I personally really enjoy (so far, off the very limited teasers). I saw someone somewhere (I think on here) liken Prophecy @ 1420 to some industrial/NIN stuff, and I totally hear (and love) that, along with some other influence.

I'm also trying to figure out whether I had a harder time falling in love with Tomorrow's Harvest because it veered from the sound I'd come to love and expect of the brothers. Not to suggest that MHTRTC, Geo, and Campfire (as well as the EP's and other works) sound the same... but despite their distinct differences, I hear more of a common sonic denominator among them, which I associate to their sound/aesthetic, than I did in Tomorrow's Harvest, which was a real departure. Something about that album (TH) is a real outlier in their discography to me, and it remains the album I have a hardest time loving/accepting. I still absolutely adore it, but never internalized it like I did the others, which are a legit part of my DNA at this point. Inferno (and Tape 05) so far are very much to my liking, more-so than TH. Just my subjective take.

Just curious whether with our limited tease Inferno is (so far) what you expected/hoped for?

Also just curious what you want to see next/more of (of the guys, but also from Inferno) as a fan?

I'M SO FUCKING EXCITED, I DON'T KNOW HOW I'LL GET THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS!!!

I've struggled with this immensely ever since I picked the instrument up a little over 20 years ago. I was never a technique/theory guy, not for any particular reason other than being lazy... and how I regret it now- I so wish I knew all that stuff. Instead, I just fumbled my way around the fretboard, and eventually stuff started sounding not bad. Still, I'd say every time I pick the instrument up, I don't actually, fully, know it, and that's somewhat maddening for someone OCD like me- I want to know things inside-out, yet for some reason, this thing I love most, I never did that with.

Anyways.

My "process" has been such over all these years that I only ever noodled. I never "practiced" anything, just messed around, hoping for "happy accidents"- that is, series of notes that went well together, ditto chords. I'm the first to admit I'm a massive hack, not only on guitar, but other areas of life.

Now I'm at a point where my own sheer incompetence annoys me to no end. I don't want the cheap way out, hoping for divine inspiration to strike me. I want to know what I'm doing.

But also, I just want to start writing songs. I recognize I'm kind of asking for two things here- to understand theory and also how to songwrite.

How can I escape this endless noodling hell and actually write and complete some songs?!

It's very frustrating, for 20 years or so I've played music and tried to write songs, but haven't been able to finish a single one. I get maybe 30-40% of the way, it can even sound very good, but then I can't finish it. Thousands of ideas over the years started, not one complete one. The thing is, I hate to have these strong first few lines which are born of sheer inspiration and then "dilute" them, trying to expand on the subject matter once that spurt of inspiration runs out- when I force it, it tends to sound generic and low effort, despite how much I might slave away at it.

Why can't I write full songs?! It's maddening...

i know this group is primarily for discussion surrounding bands & artists, but hope that a post by a musician/songwriter is permitted.

i've been a musician/songwriter for just over 20 years now.

i never desired to pursue this in a commercial capacity, purely for myself.

more recently however, i've been toying with the idea of "getting out there", performing for others, especially after the handful of times i did it in recent years i got a very, very, positive reception from total strangers.

that didn't boost my ego, it just provided me the validation to know the 'product' was good enough to play in front of others. you could argue that's a function of ego.

where i really get hung up as far as ego goes is that i get in these weird dialogues with myself, poking and prodding and attempting to break down my own reasoning, trying to get some breakthrough "aha, gotcha!" admission that i, in fact, want to "do" this (music) for some kind of ego-centric pay-off, whether monetary or social or otherwise.

but, like, i've never been nor am i now delusional to think that i'd ever make it in any significant way, so that line of questioning should be irrelevant.

but it's not.

i'm like incredibly skeptical of my own selfs intentions as they pertain to making music. how weird is that...

i, in general, in life, have strongly believe one should only pursue such things (particularly in the arts) for honest, pure, reasons- sheer enjoyment of the medium, free expression, etc., and that as soon as things like money, seeking praise, etc. are involved, that the product (the music) is automatically invalidated, and thus not even worth attempting to complete.

but in the end, deep down inside, i know all its ever been for me is for the love of music, PERIOD. this annoying weird little voice in my head which is so desperately attempting to invalidate that part of me will not relent- he's so intent on proving that i want to do music for some bigger goal... money, fame, etc., even when that's absolutely not true. music has been my lifeblood and lone tether to sanity as far back as i can remember- it's all i'd love to do in life. why does he poke and prod and doubt me so much. and so what if the tiniest shadow of me hopes that some acclaim or god forbid money (even just for groceries) could be earned... i know it won't... i just want to do it, put it out.

so i don't even bother to 'get serious' and put stuff out, play out, etc. i want to, but this idiot keeps that guy at bay.

i need to put out at least one album before i die.