DJ Spooky was on local radio

[wrench45us]

DJ Spooky was on my new local alt radio station to promote an appearance promoting his new book 'Rhythm Science'
and with some nice cuts from his upcoming release of mixing up Chuck D with Slayer 'Drums of Death' i think it's called

first he comes off as being very intelligent forward thinking guy -- one of those rarities of deep cohesive thinking about things that don't initially strike one as worth that sort of investigation

second -- he had very nice things to say about the electronic scene in the UK -- very together, very progressive and diverse -- his little neighborhood in a small part of NYC he felt was the only thing that came close this side of the Atlantic

so cheers to that I suppose
explains to me why my efforts seem to get more articulate and thoughtful responses from the UK than anywhere else

[shamann]

I'm a big fan of DJ Spooky's older material. The Dialogic project, Viral Sonata and Songs of a Dead Dreamer are fantastic material. Found after a while, roguhly around the time of File Under Futurism that he just started repeating himself.

But Rhythm Science was an enjoyable read, recommend checking it out. Also comes with a CD, which I don't think I've actually listened to yet, and the book itself is quite pretty.

[butter]

I saw DJ Spooky do a dj set a couple of years ago. I was greatly dissapointed. I hate to say it but outside of the studio he is a seriously mediocre dj.

His productions on the other hand are exceptional.

[Amberience]

explains to me why my efforts seem to get more articulate and thoughtful responses from the UK than anywhere else

Its been said so many times that American is 10 years behind in the electronic scene. Sure, you've got a few good acts, but most of the good electronica comes from the UK and other european cultures.

Blow up Miami and you might have a good chance of overtaking!!

[butter]

I don't think that's true. The US scene is just different. Remember too that the US is significantly larger than the UK and it takes a while for a scene or a sound to spread across the country. In this time underground there ends up being IMO a lot more time for development of said genre. What's more, electronic music is not the predominant form of popular music.

Europe in general is a little different story. Things come up quick and leave just as quickly. At least that's what I've come to understand from the people I know that have lived in the states as well as the UK.

[wrench45us]

DJ Spooky made a very explicit point that the Brits excel at 'packaging'.

I wasn't entirely sure what he meant by this by as an example he used the initial British Invasion where each band that came over presented a consistent and stylized message.
In looking at it -- it seems fairly clear that every British wave -- punk, neo-romantic, whatever, had this complete package of style that was consistent with the music.
I think in America we have very mixed feelings about our artists doing this -- as the packaging tends to be dicated by 'corporate' culture and maybe aside from hippie/psychedelic and grunge, most stylistic packaging has been dictated from on high.
I don't really know if it's true or not, but my feeling is these British package elements as we come to know them are more a natural outgrowth of the same culture that creates the music and not dictated from above.

[foosnark]

The best American electronic acts are all Canadian though

[shamann]

I don't really know if it's true or not, but my feeling is these British package elements as we come to know them are more a natural outgrowth of the same culture that creates the music and not dictated from above.

I think it comes down to cultural priorities. The American mythos is all focused on the individual, whereas in the UK there might be greater allegiance to rising up as a whole.

Might have something to do with the way each culture views opportunity. The US seems to look at opportunity as self-made and hence always there, while in the UK, I get the sense that when opportunity knocks, it's best to get in while the getting is good.

It strikes me when "scenes" emerge in the US, they tend to turn negative very quickly, where each additional band becomes a bandwagon-jumper. Look at the Bristol/Triphop thing. That scene tried to extend itself as far as possible, even once it had exhausted its resources. You don't see stuff like that all that often in the US. Even the Seattle thing turned ugly within six months, where every Fifth Avenue halfwit was trying to cynically sell something "grunge."