Sound as place in Berlin. Boombox, with an essay and field recording. Thursday, in Souciant.
I'm surprised that there was no mention of Detroit here. As far as electronic music is concerned, especially stripped-down techno, the two cities have numerous connections since the early 90's. They are almost sister cities in the evolution of techno. In fact, a couple of our best known electronic musicians have lived in Berlin for a time. The exchange of DJs between the cities has been ongoing for decades. I've never been to Berlin, but I've heard a number of comparisons between Detroit and Berlin that extend beyond music. I've actually never heard the Austin comparison. I saw Kraftwerk here in Detroit several years ago, they got a very energetic reception.
That's a great point, and one that makes a lot more sense. Underground Resistance has always been a popular label in Berlin techno circles, as well as around Europe. I know of a lot of local producers who will emphasize Detroit in their US tour schedules, or go play festival one offs.
The electronic / experimental scene in Berlin, in tandem with the one from Dusseldorf, has always fascinated me. Around the late 60's there, sequencers, synthesizers, feedback loops and the (sometimes drugged out) Europeans controlling them got really popular. Not radio-play popular, but to the point where artists around the world were listening to this bizarre development of music. It ended up having a big influence worldwide. The main two genres it spawned were Krautrock and New Age. While 'New Age' has some negative connotations these days, Krautrock still has a cult following, as evidenced by the blogs, youtube views, and the bands that still label themselves 'krautrock'. Tangerine Dream, CAN, Kraftwerk, Neu! are a few artists that have remained popular since those days. I feel this contributed to their popularity, too: Brian Eno was influenced by Kraftwerk (he called their sound "nostalgic for the future"). David Bowie and Iggy Pop made visits to Kraftwerk in Germany. It's known that that had a clear influence on Eno/Bowie's popular 'Berlin Trio' of albums --'Lodger', 'Low' and 'Heroes'-- but IMO it had a clear influence on Iggy Pop's album 'The Idiot', for which David Bowie wrote most of the music, and produced the album. So that'a 3 very influential artists that were themselves influenced directly by the German electronic scene. Obviously electronic music didn't come solely from Germany--people like Raymond Scott (1950's), BBC Radiophonic Workshop team (1950's), Bob Moog (1960's), among others all contributed to the development of electronic music as we know it today. But it was Germany that had the thriving local scene of experimental musicians working with the tools first-hand. It makes sense that trance music would eventually come from Germany, knowing that. i will conclude this rambling with a reflection: EDM-flavored music on the Disney channel has its stylistic origins rooted in music that was made for people to rave, take drugs and have sex to. Best keep that from the soccer moms.
I have never been to Berlin, but I've been to Austin a number of times. The image I have of Berlin, admittedly comes from American news and pop culture references, is likely not terribly accurate but there is no way that I would have ever considered Berlin to be an up-and-coming version of Austin. Berlin has over 3 million people while Austin has less than 1 million, that's a pretty big difference right there. But I get that the comparisons have more to do with the an emerging tech industry that is complemented by a distinct music scene. I wonder, anyone here been to both cities? Is there a valid comparison to be made?
I live in Berlin myself, and have spent a fair amount of time in Austin. I made a few records there with my old band, the Christal Methodists, in the 1990s, and have returned a few times since. I think the bottom line is that parallel industries and music scenes aside, Austin is simply more wealthy. Exponentially so. Berlin doesn't have any industry, whatsoever. WWII wiped it all out, and it hasn't been revived since the wall fell, in 1989. It's just government and the arts. The city government looks to US cities, like Austin, and Portland, where there are thriving digital scenes, and imagines that this would be the fastest and most complementary way to revive.
The same "Christal Methodist's" that brought us New World Odour? Great stuff!The city government looks to US cities, like Austin, and Portland, where there are thriving digital scenes, and imagines that this would be the fastest and most complementary way to revive.
-Is that an unrealistic expectation by your estimation?
Hah, yes. Thanks! My handle was Khmer Ribs. I co-founded the band at Reed College, with Shrimpy Skampers (Patrick Burkart.) Yeah, I do think it's unrealistic. Most state investment in east Germany goes towards infrastructure building and unemployment, due to the region's continued need for post-communist rehabilitation. The German government would have to change priorities, and reinvest equally in the private sector to make things work. That's not going happen any time soon, I wager.