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benzenedream — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:34:33 -0800

What songs have sampled the philosopher Alan Watts? The Books' song "All our base are belong to them" has an Alan Watts sample, as does Giraffes? Giraffes! song "I Am S/H(im)e[r] As You Am S/H(im)e[r] As You Are Me And We Am I And I Are All Our Together: Our Collective Consciousness' Psychogenic Fugue". There must be a ton of other songs containing Watts' quotes. I thought there was a Lemon Jelly song as well, but can't find a reference to it at the moment.

Recommendations for DJ samples/songs ala Fatboy Slim?

heatherfl — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:30:56 -0800

My husband mixes dance music using Fruity Loops. I want to get him some CDs for Christmas for samples -- particularly stuff that sounds like Fatboy Slim. Help? I can buy loops already sampled or I can buy songs for that he can sample himself, it doesn't matter.

This song is a good overview of what FBS sounds like and what I'm looking for:
Mad Flava

There's a lot of retro sounding piano and brass, some funky bass/guitar, syncopated percussion, a bit of synth/electronica, and non-rap but rhythmically interesting vocals. If you're familiar with Fatboy Slim, you know what I mean!

FYI, I already got him "The Ultimate DJ Sample Box" which has actual Fatboy Slim samples. Just looking for supplemental goodies now.

So what should I get for him, music experts?

Thanks so much!

Have controller, need synth

Thistledown — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:21:16 -0800

I've got a PC, and an EMU-49 key midi controller. I've also got an Audiophile 192 sound card with midi-in-out connections. What I want to do is play some synths on the PC.... I've been out of the game for a long time with respect to synths and midi, but I just put my PC together and got the controller for cheap. So I ask you...what synth software would you recommend? I'm looking for sounds - pianos/ambient synths to make music. I'll probably use an old copy of Audition to do recording. But I'm curious about what's good and inexpensive. Bang for the buck here. Suggestions?

What's this musical technique called?

desjardins — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 12:47:38 -0800

What is the musical technique called whereby the music starts slow/quiet, builds to an, um, climax, and then, um, releases? This is most prevalent in dance/trance music. Examples within. Lasgo, "Surrender" (YT Clip)
Basshunter, "All I Ever Wanted" (YT clip)
Guru Josh Project, "Infinity" (YT Clip)
Alice Deejay, "Better Off Alone" (YT Clip)

(Clips may take a second to load.)

I think this question references a similar technique.

Song recommendations utilizing this technique very welcome!

Blanket Fort Party

Juliet Banana — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:13:21 -0800

In approximately two weeks, I will be holding a Blanket Fort Goodbye Party on almost the entire top floor of an apartment building. Given the excellent ideas I got from this previous party thread, I thought I'd ask what you crazy kids: what would you want to see at a blanket fort party? "Blanket fort" means the same thing as "couch fort;" there's a local band named Couch Forts I'm trying to not get us confused with. We're looking to enclose as much of an area as possible with blankets, high enough for tallies to be able to stand up straight in. We're also having three DJs play in a backroom, a straightforward "here's a song, now here's another song" DJ to get things started and then two wildly popular and talented local superstars to play the height of the party.

We have the top floor of the our apartment building to work with. It was apparently a hotel back in the 1920s so imagine that we have the size of 3 large hotel rooms, connected by hallways. Two of the apartments are completely empty. I am completely unconcerned about moderate damage to walls or leaving it particularly spotless. I'm not very concerned about keeping the blankets flawless, either. The ceilings are too high to reach, and we're going to have to try to build a ceiling out of blankets.

Our apartment building has a long history (apparently going back to the 1980s) of being an underground music venue that has raves and hardcore punk and noise and experimental electronic shows in the basement. This is the first major party that's going to be held in the upper floors. A lot of people can be expected to show up; not quite as many as a hardcore show (typically 80-100 people throughout the night) but more than our previous house parties (we usually get around 20-something people to show up).

How do we hang up this many blankets and sheets? My current shopping list includes a hammer, nails, lots of rope to string between nails and keep the "ceiling" suspended, clothespins to attach fabric to rope, safety pins to attach fabric to fabric, thumbtacks to attach fabric to walls.

Where do we get them? Thrift store sheets still run $2-$3. I was wondering if it'd be cheaper to buy yards and yards of fabric from a fabric store. We're also going to borrow as many extra sheets and tapestries and etc as we can.

What different areas should we have? One apartment is devoted to the DJs and dancing; how should we set up the stage? There will probably be a projector playing on a white sheet. I'm also thinking of devoting a small bedroom to being brightly lit with a nice sheet in the background to take people's Polaroids (it's our goodbye party, I'm going to miss everyone) and having the living room as some sort of lounge area. What should we have in the lounge area? Candles to toast smores over (fire hazard? people are definitely going to be smoking, anyway), lots of pillows, what else?

Any amazing examples of huge blanket forts on the internet?

What would you want to see at a party like this?

Yes, you can come, if you live within driving distance of Columbus Ohio and I didn't weird you out at the 10th meetup.

Gear Porn

Juliet Banana — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:42:48 -0800

Tomorrow, my boyfriend and I will be photographed nude and somewhat covered in electronics (music making equipment and cords). Is there anyway to attach expensive, somewhat heavy mixers and controllers to our bodies? For non-music nerds, imagine we're covering ourselves with video game equipment. The items range in weight and size from a video game controller to an old school Playstation. Here's some of the stuff we have to work with; the major pieces are a Korg KP3, a Monome, a Korg Kaossilator, some guitar pedals, and a laptop.

Worst case scenario, he's going to hold his Monome sixty four (yeah, he got it) over his bits and I'll cover up with a Kaossilator and we'll wrap a few cords around ourselves. I wouldn't mind getting a bit more coverage, through, half to illustrate the concept and half for modesty's sake.

The concept? We're modeling for a sex-themed issue of an extremely small press art magazine. It's a riff on the cover of Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins (NSFW). The more gear we can fit into the shot, the better.

So, how the hell do we cover ourselves with music geek paraphernalia without breaking the gear and ripping off skin? I own some skin-safe double stick tape, but I doubt it could hold up the Kaossilator, much less the KP3. Rig the items to the cords wrapped around us? Rope? Duct tape? Just pile it around our feet?

Name that tune

leahwrenn — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:25:30 -0800

My husband found a long-lost mix tape of electronica-y music from high school (c. 1986), and has always wanted to know what one of the (unlabelled) tracks is. He's been able to identify (using Shazam) other tracks as "an Eno/Byrne collaboration, and some unusual David Bowie stuff". Any ideas what this one is?

DEATHMATCH: Tenori-on Vs Monome

Juliet Banana — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:08:56 -0800

Which is a better musical instrument: the Tenori-on or the Monome? So, to a lay person (me!) they look like the same thing; buttons and LEDs. Most people either are in love with one or the other, or think they're absolutely different, apples and oranges.

The Tenori-on is made by Yamaha, sells for $999, and is probably best known as that weird lite-brite thing Little Boots uses. It can generate it's own sounds and the software it pairs with is not configurable by the user.

The Monome devices are made by Monome and vary between $500-$1,400, providing you can snatch one when they become available or find one on ebay, or put it together yourself. It does not produce sound on it's own; it's simply a controller for software. Many user-produced software exists for it, and you can write your own.

I'm asking this for my boyfriend, who does a fair amount of DJing live and bedroom-recording of music that sounds like if glitchy robots could beatbox. He mostly uses Ableton Live, and is learning Max/MSP. If I got any information wrong in this question, it's because I'm not a DJ, just a club kid; feel free to correct me harshly.

Does the Monome make sense if you're not a programmer and Max/MSP looks like some scary moonman software you'd have to be Venetian Snares to understand?

Which is better for playing live?

Which is a better deal for the money?

What's on your personal wishlist? If you bought one, do you regret not buying the other?

How to get started in electronic music production in NYC?

KilgoreTrout — Sun, 03 May 2009 21:06:45 -0800

I've been toying with the idea of getting involved in music, and I've finally decided to take the plunge. What's the best way to get started in computer music production - specifically in NYC? What's the best way for me to get the ball rolling in creating my own music? I have some musical background: I can read sheet music, I've taken a class in musical theory but have since forgotten most/all of it, and I used to play (classical) piano a ways back. Currently, I've been playing around in Reason 4 with a small M-Audio midi control, but so far I've been limited to a few simple melodies over a drum beat and I'd like to take this much further.

Specifically I'm interested in some of the more downtempo electronic music - some of my favorite artists are Bonobo, Thievery Corporation, Mr. Scruff, DJ Shadow, Manitoba/Caribou, Four Tet and Quantic. Much of my favorite music is a merging of jazz/funk and electronic beats, and this would be the style I'd be interested in pursuing.

From browsing around previous questions on the topic, it seems that reading a book on music theory is a good way to get started on my own. Are there any definitive books on the topic?

In addition to doing this on my own, I'm interested in taking some lessons. I'm not specifically looking to be limited to Reason, but I have a feeling that a lot of programs out there are fairly complicated, and since I'm really interested in composing full songs on my own, I feel like having a teacher will help me out greatly in learning the nuances of the program as well as things like song structure, and will provide some good motivation to keep me on track. I've looked around Craigslist for the past couple of weeks and haven't really found anyone who seems to be offering what I'm looking for. Are there any better resources for finding a teacher on this topic? I live in Manhattan so local suggestions would be great, but if there are any resources online, helpful books, or anything else, I'd love to know about it. Also, I've found Reason great, but are there any better pieces of software I should be looking at for what I'm trying to do? Would I be better off with a full size keyboard/midi control rather than my small 25 key-er? This has been a longtime dream for me, so I'd love and appreciate any other advice or suggestions.

Recommend me some good glitch!

grateful — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:10:00 -0800

I think I love glitch, but I know absolutely nothing about it. What albums / bands should I start with?

Oh No! I Can't Find Oh No!

carpyful — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:44:22 -0800

Music-filter: Anyone know a downtempo electronica artist called "oh no" (or "o no" or "ohno" or..)? I was just at a cafe and I really liked the music they were playing. It was light, electronica music, if I had to describe it. The one track I remember sounded like they sampled an old french song and sped it up (so it sounded high-pitched'ish).

I asked the barista what was playing and he said the artist was "oh no" and described the music as downtempo. I went back home and googled "oh no" "o no" "ohno" and "o no" to no avail.

The closest I found was "Oh No Numo". While it sounds sort of similar, I'm pretty sure this isn't what I'm looking for.

Does anyone know what I heard?

Where Are Your Favorite Old-Timey Folk and/or Beats Music On The Net?

Lipstick Thespian — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:45:14 -0800

Newly-minted Radio DJ Needs Great Music Online! I just got the go-ahead to start hosting a new show on a local radio station, and need help finding quality web sites that feature old-timey, folk, and trad country music, as well as any that specialize in gloopy, dubby, breaky beats.

Think Hank Williams meets Hallucinogen, or Pretty Polly meets her Death in Vegas after ingesting Infected Mushrooms.

I'm hoping for sites that have lots of downloads, good background materials on the artists, history, links to labels, etc.

Also: bonus points for any great suggestions for an intro tagline for this kind of show, i.e. "hangover music for robots", or "losing my 808 religion" - something hopefully more catchy than that.

Anyone who comes up with good suggestions will get an on-air nod for their assistance.

Where can I study electronic music?

CarrotAdventure — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 14:28:09 -0800

Over the last few years I've become very passionate about the pursuit of electronic music, and I'd like to become very proficient at sampling/remixing/dj-ing etc. Having been inspired by artists such as Daft Punk, Justice, the Twelves, etc., I would love to be able to do what they do, but many of their production techniques are completely beyond me. Are there any schools/programs out there that can teach me the skills to become a professional-level electronica artist? Ideally I would like to find a degree program in electronic music, rather than a diploma or certificate.

What would I have been listening to in 2004-08?

Bookhouse — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:15:40 -0800

Please help me get caught up on the last four years of (certain types of) music. About four years ago I quit my job as a rock critic and, as a result of burnout, really stopped paying attention to new music. I think I'm ready to get back up to speed. I'll use year-end lists to get caught up in general, so what I could use are suggestions from the last four years of my favorite genres, which are:

1). Shoegazer-inspired stuff
2). Trippy electronica a la Boards of Canada and odd nosdam (I do have the latest albums from both of them)
3). Stoner metal
4). elephant 6-style psychedelica

Also, links to video or music blogs about the above would be welcome. Thanks.

lebanese blonde music

shokod — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:10:01 -0800

arabic/iranian music question - help me ID this music and album cover and figure out other music like it. i downloaded music from this page and i'm especially in love with two songs that are labeled on this album cover. here are the two mp3s for those who dont want to go through divshare.

i want to know where these songs are from, and how i can find other similar arabic/persian soul electronic music. thanks!

Mystery song

chelegonian — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:06:50 -0800

Can anyone tell me what this is? if you wouldnt mind having a look see i would be much obliged

What songs should my electronica cover band play?

greenie2600 — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:33:56 -0800

Help me think of classic electronic tracks for my (as-yet-hypothetical) classic electronica cover band. I came across Orbital's Doctor?, a cover of the Doctor Who theme song, and I thought "man, this is great; I bet people go nuts for this at parties".

And then I thought it would be a hell of a lot of fun to start an electronic cover band with a couple of my synth-geek friends. Easier than starting an original band, since you wouldn't have to worry about all that pesky creativity—and, y'know, people would go nuts for it at parties.

So what tunes would you want to hear if you came to see my band? Kraftwerk offers a whole smörgåsbord of possibilities, of course, but what else?

Tracks should be familiar and recognizable (to electronic music geeks, at least), party-friendly (or amenable to being played that way), and not too techno-oriented. (I like techno, but that's not what this project is about. I'm sure we would put a more danceable spin on some tracks, but I don't want to just cover the big rave hits of the 1990s or whatever.)

Rockin' in the Eastern Hemisphere, or would be if I wasn't in the US

curagea — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:35:47 -0800

Calling all Germanic (and Slavic) rockers, ravers and, uh, *insert classical term that starts with "r"*! Help me expand my music collection with European melodies! A similar question was asked before, but I'd like to narrow the scope down a bit.

I'm a big-time metal/hard rock/electronica/classical/ambient fan. I like non-American music more than American, and have heard that Europe has a big music scene for those genres. Sure, I could spend countless hours listening to samples from each of them, but I'm VERY picky about the music I listen to. Main reason? Getting inspirations for making my own music.

So, fellow MeFites, help me discover more European music that adhere to one or more of the following criteria. I'll be listing American and non-American examples that I feel exemplifies the qualities I want so you can have a few starters. Oh, and I use the term "electronica" broadly, just to point out:

- Good/great sense of melody - This one is top priority. The more complex, the better, whether by vocal and/or instrument. And if screaming/growling is involved, it better be done not just for show (see below). Examples: Disturbed, Poisonblack, Paradise Lost, A Perfect Circle (Mer de Noms), Orgy, Schiller, Lunar, Hybrid, BT, Chopin, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, Liszt, Squaremeter

- Heavyweight/Workout/Emotional - Oh yeah. I love to bang my head and blow my eardrums out (not literally, of course). Or really rave and dance like a maniac. Or... shake my head in internal pain over the piano. Examples: Disturbed, Judas Priest (pre-Nostradamus), Testament, Oomph!, Rammstein (pre-Reise Reise), The Prodigy (pre-Fat of the Land), The Crystal Method's "Stir Fry - Breakin On The Street", Infected Mushroom, Rachmaninov, Lizst

- Quirkiness - I also don't mind something that "sounds" fun and manages to be unpredictable. Examples: Mars Volta, Spacehog, Van Halen, Infected Mushroom, Dead Can Dance, 70's Scorpions, System of a Down, Prokofiev

- Angst with authenticity - There's screaming and growling and wailing, then there's the good mature kind, done in the right places so they don't like they're just... there. Examples: Disturbed (yeah I know, I'm a fan), Oomph! (pre-Ego), 30 Seconds to Mars (debut album), Breaking Benjamin, Trapt, Paradise Lost, Alice in Chains, Sevendust, Zeromancer

- Good drumwork - I'm not a drummer, but since getting Rock Band, I've been paying more attention to drums because they're so underestimated. Speed is not an issue; complexity is. Examples: Disturbed post-Believe (alright, I'll stop), Mars Volta, Testament, Queens of the Stone Age, Kagerou (NO Dragonforce. After listening to the stupid lyrics and the mind-numbing drums and guitars, that kind of music now just exhausts my brain).

- Mysterious/Twisted - Crawl-under-your-skin or whoa... gnarly... Examples: Panacea/Squaremeter, SunnO))), Infected Mushroom, late 80's/early 90's Delerium, the soundtrack from Quake, some Prokofiev

- Germanic lyrics, Slavic lyrics, or none - This includes German, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, English, Czech, Russian. Please no French; I heard French rock once and it made me cringe. Chinese rock made me laugh out loud, not in a good way. I don't really care whether the lyrics make sense or not.

Whew! I know that's a lot to cover, but these criteria were listed in order of descending importance to me, so don't worry if your searches don't match all of them. Metal, electronica, classical, ambient - heck, even New Age (think Enya) - , whether from the mainstream or indie, gimme gimme gimme! I really love to see what new great music is out there. Who do you recommend/what are your favorites?

Note: Middle Eastern-style music is acceptable too, comme Squaremeter's "Aswad".

He Needs More CDs!

Liosliath — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:44:38 -0800

Any suggestions for music similar to what Audiobulb Records specializes in? (electronica, mainly?) My dearest has become interested in what he calls "beep-boop" music - some of the bands he likes include Effacer, He Can Jog, and Autistici. All of these artists can be found on Audiobulb Records, among other places. He often sleeps while playing this type of music, so he's certainly not looking for dance club stuff - more like experimental, minimalist, offbeat...for example, he doesn't mind when there's a long silence, then a series of beeps.

He's having trouble seeking out similar artists, because even though something may be called electronica, it may actually be closer to trip-hop, house, techno, or something else.

So...any suggestions on other bands he might like, and if they're not available via Amazon/Half.com, where to buy their music?

electronica double entendres

Juliet Banana — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:59:15 -0800

I need another electronic music themed double entendre for my boyfriend's Xmas gift. I've been decorating clothing for my boyfriend with references to the music he loves. Anything that will be worn out in public is a bit more restrained, but since we're the only two who will ever see his underwear I think immature dirty jokes are hilarious. The boxers he likes come in two packs, so I need another joke.

The idea behind the boxers linked above is that Analord refers to a series of albums put out by Aphex Twin. It also refers to anal sex. See? Music, and filth.

I need another artist, album, song title, or quote to stencil on the second pair of boxers. It doesn't matter how obscure or disgusting it is, as long as it is both music related and dirty.

We both listen almost exclusively to electronic music. He likes breakcore, drill and bass, Bogdan Raczynski, Venetian Snares, Shitmat, Bit Meddler, and Stunt Rock. My latest obsessions are the Warp Records discography, acid, and gabber. Neither of us cares much for ambient or house.

Ideas so far:

I would like some milk from the milkman's wife's tits (Afx)
Dr. Octogynocologist (Kool Keith)
Tall, Dark, and Handcuffed (Cex)
"My Selector" written over the fly (as in, Come on My Selector by Squarepusher)

PS - If you're dying to see the final project, recheck the same place as the Analord boxers after the 25th

I really want to hear more music just like this... but I don't know where to look.

stackhaus23 — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:43:17 -0800

I heard this song playing during the trailer for Reason 4, I put a link at the bottom and I want to hear more songs exactly like it - but I don't know where to look, nor what to look for. http://www.propellerheads.se/index.cfm?fuseaction=trailer_pop I don't really know anything about electronic music, but really really love the dirty grimey distorted sound of analog synths which is why that particular song stood out.

Looking for electronic music that features guitars.

mmoncur — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 01:30:30 -0800

Looking for electronic music that features guitars. I'm an electronic musician who is interested in learning to play the guitar. I've been listening to my collection of music for inspiration, but found I have precious few songs with guitars in them at all.

Can anyone recommend electronic music that features guitars? It doesn't have to be an amazing guitar player, or a guitar-heavy song -- just incorporating a guitar as part of the overall sound would be fine.

Most of the electronic music I enjoy falls into the trance, techno, eurodance, or ambient/ downtempo/ chillout categories, but I'm open to suggestions from any (primarily electronic) genre. Any style of guitar from acoustic to distorted metal is fine.

Here are a few artists I've already found that sometimes include guitars: Moby, Way out West, Euphoria, Junkie XL, Deep Dish, Royksopp, BT.

Thanks!

Drum n Bass in a major key?

icetaco — Wed, 30 May 2007 18:31:18 -0800

Looking for DNB artists/tracks similar to the Brookes Brothers' Hard Knocks... Looking for DNB artists/tracks similar to the Brookes Brothers' Hard Knocks - major key, upbeat, etc... Not having a whole lot of luck with Last.FM or iTunes' similar artists. Thanks all.

Name this electronica/dance song's artist

Plutor — Thu, 17 May 2007 11:48:54 -0800

Please name the artist who made this mystery electronica/dance song. I pulled it off of ageispolis's fantastic MeFiSwap mix, but sadly, he only knows the name: "The Hand". I don't know if it's the mystery of it, but it's my favorite track among a lot of great tracks. And I want to hear more, but Googling is is essentially impossible since there are no lyrics. According to his liner notes, he ripped it from a friend's vinyl. (Link to downsampled MP3 inside.) Unknown Artist - The Hand

More noise, please..

lekvar — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:14:28 -0800

New music needed. I've been listening to a lot of old Industrial and EBM recently, mixed with newer Electronica. I need more. I've been in a synth mood recently. Older stuff I've been listening to includes Front 242, KMFDM, Front Line Assembly, Skinny Puppy, Nine Inch Nails, Pop Will Eat Itself, and various offshoots thereof.

Newer Electronica that's been getting heavy play includes The Knife, Goldfrapp, Fischerspooner, Ellen Allien, Autechre, Amon Tobin, Ladytron, Royksopp, and VNV Nation.

Grind-y and/or dance-y. What else might I like?