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You really are lucky, Lucky lucky lucky
For me, the question whether British music is dead seems to be rather amusing. Well, I'm not an expert in these things because, first, I'm not that kind of enthusiast who always holds track to the latest move of the fickle music scene(s), and second, I can only provide a maybe somewhat distorted view from abroad (and, by the way, I apologize for my English). However, my favourite pop/rock/indie music comes from the UK. I always go for a good tune, and this makes the difference of British music to most of its contemporaries. And I don't think that this is a fault. Unfortunately, not many people share this opinion here at home.
On radio (over here) the dear audience is told that British music is bound to a dull and boring retro path and that there is hardly anything worth listening to. There may be a core of truth in this asserti-on. The first CD I ever bought (in 1985) was Tears for Fears' "Songs from the Big Chair", and Mansun's "Negative" is the best Tears for Fears song I have heard for ages. I love it, anyway. On the other hand, Viva2 TV (something like a German MTV) declared that week, when the Manics and Mansun released their new albums, the "Marilyn Manson week". For the whole week, they have shown about two spots and one video performance every hour. I really felt brainwashed. And the same VJs that accused British music to be retro didn't mind that "The Dope Show" could have been taken from David Bowie's "Scary Monsters" (no offend intended), an album I used to treat my pa-rents with. By the way, the Manics were lucky this time. Their video of "If you tolerate this..." was shown on TV, and on Radio 1 (not the UK but the local one I usually listen to) the commentator was eager to inform the public that this is not the first album this group has ever released. Amazing, isn't it?
So what's the point in all this? We are living in a "visual world" (look at the chart performances of film soundtracks), and radio has lost most of its influence just serving as background noise for our day-time activities. Record sales are dependent on expensive videos, and American record companies obviously have the biggest budgets. This is a hard problem for German bands as well, even at home. Therefore, the goal of most British bands to be "big" in America is hard to achieve. The music press is obviously not content with this situation, but they should not blame the British music for it. Do they demand from the public to change its taste? Maybe they will be satisfied if the next MSP album sounds like Korn? I would be very sad! The world would be very poor if all people had to li-sten to the same kind of music. But now, I can sit in the tube producing a dull happy face while listening to Catatonia, and my neighbour enjoys the sound of a Turkish pop star I've never heard of and probably will never hear of. Both may have in common that they are no world stars, but the world is much more interesting this way.
Ingo Grotjohann
Berlin
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HeadCleaner replies:
Cheers for that Ingo. Yes, perhaps we shouldn't moan as much about the state of the UK music scene. I caught Viva TV when I was on holiday in Austria this summer and it is indeed shite. The aboslute worst (although completely hilarious) band I saw was called Fettes Brot, who were three insanely ugly young chaps, obviously being marketed as the next Boyzone, singing atrociously whilst up to their waists in water in the middle of Venice. And we think we've got it bad?
Not sure I agree completely with you on the "visual age" point, as here in the UK a hell of a lot of records still chart on airplay alone, but it is still a fair point. And I agree entirely with your last point - music makes the world go round, and at the risk of sounding like a big hippy, we should all respect each other's tastes and not go throwing stones (not even at Shed Seven fans).
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British music lives!
I'm bewildered. Why is the NME rabitting on about British music being
dead? All the big groups they have mentioned as lacking (Oasis,
Verve, Radiohead etc) are all simply between albums, meanwhile the
charts are swamped with cheap and nasty pop manufactured pop/soul/and
U.S. rap sensations. Take, Another Level for instance. I seriously
doubt they would have got to number one in any other month. And
Billie, pretty, young....talented????I doubt it.
However the number of indie bands is also increasing and these groups are slogging their hearts out, and releasing quality singles which barely chart e.g.
Travis. Now and again the morons a.k.a the record buying public,
who buy Aqua, Another level etc. accept some decent music e.g.
Stereophonics but just not often enough. It's frightening and as
quality act after act is dropped (see Rialto, The Nicotines) labels
face financial difficulties aplenty i.e. cull quota of bands, or just
don't sign any). Oh, and Shed Seven and Kula Shaker do consistently
well. I just don't know (wistful sigh).
You tell me.
Yours Truly,
Greg O'Keeffe.
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HeadCleaner replies:
Couldn't agree more, Greg me ol' mucker. The NME has got its head up its own
arse in an attempt to find something interesting and controversial to write.
It's possible their ramblings may spur some areas of the industry into action,
but I reckon they've got it very wrong indeed.
In fact, take a look at UK - RIP?, HeadCleaner's
article on the subject to see where I stand exactly.
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Visit the Plasma Web
Let us introduce ourselves...We are Plasma Flasks and the Plasma Web
brings our world into your browser. A world revolving around our own
brand of MinimalistPsychedelicPunkRockDubPop. A world of four-track mayhem
which sporadically produces lo-fi pop, dub mixes, radio broadcasts,
movie soundtracks and hangovers.
Kill some time at http://www.plasma.force9.co.uk
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HeadCleaner replies:
There's worse places you could go. Give Plasma Flasks a visit.
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Half a mile away
I just finished reading your review of Crunchtime in Rocketown by
Sydney outfit Half Miler. As mentioned in your review, the Miler have
departed these shores for the lucrative world of UK superstardom.
London's gain is, unfortunately, Sydney's loss.
The Miler rose from the ashes of Disneyfist who released a couple of well
received EPs a few years back and were stalwarts of the Sydney music
scene - playing big gigs such as the Big Day Out in Sydney and
supporting silverchair when those lads were still at school.
Since Half Miler formed they've played gigs around town supporting
the likes of Smudge and Tumbleweed as well as headlining gigs at the
legendary Sandringhm Hotel in the inner city suburb of Newtown.
The review rightly pointed to "On the Wall" as a standout track on
the album. Anybody who has gazed up from the bar at the Sandringham
to the picture of the dearly departed Stevie Plunder (The Plunderers
and the Whitlams) knows what that song is all about.
Enjoy the Miler
London; there are plenty of people in Sydney who are missing them and
plenty of pubs in the inner city suburbs of Sydney who have seen
their takings plummet since the Miler left these shores.
Neill Jones
Marrickville NSW
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HeadCleaner replies:
Thanks for the info Neill. Half Miler are indeed a band more than worthy of
your time. In fact, look out for a Half Miler website coming your way soon,
courtesy of HeadCleaner Productions...
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