Igor Shaposhnikov

Bratya po razumu

Hard drinking in Russia has deep historical background and traditions, while synthesizers, analogous, digital and virtual – appeared relatively not long time ago. Thanks to human beings, these two natures, that are seemed to be absolutely incompatible, come across each other face to face and are forced to exist both peacefully and not really peacefully. Venya Erofeev, the modern flag of the green snake (drinking) cult, hasn’t played synthesizers, hasn’t used them and has never mentioned them in his magic dreams and adventures. We will talk about those, who are able to enjoy these two luxuries at the same time, and also about those, who know the limit and make a living by head … «I don’t drink at all, only once, to celebrate New Year together with Tikhon we took one case of this,… how does it call? That’s it!», – says the muscular curly lady in «a la ski costume», scratching by synthetic trouser-legs and pressing the light-plastic microphone to the cheek by the gloved finger, to the cheek that is shining in the winter evening. Heart-rending drunk signing is pouring between the towers – it is a maniac-music lover expresses his nostalgia for his young seventies, bending unstable figure in the widely opened window of fulminatory nirvana. Another side of the building responds with the bursts of laughter and brattling-banging – people are drunk, people enjoy themselves, and music: Top, Top, Top, Òîp, Òîp, La, La, La, La, La; Òîp – Òîp-Òîp-Òîp-La-La-La-La! Bang, the empty bottle has been dropped out the dark window of the quietest wall. These don’t listen to the music – they drink in silence. In my ears is a new work «Vidu Rub», harmonizing and making piece between all external signals, subjecting them to tempo and implacability of sharply grooved and heavy loaded beat, but my head is busy with one thought, that Kraftwerk had never had its picture taken with the cigarettes and alcoholic drinks, avoiding these topics, as abstinent cyclists avoids the stumps in the forest. Practically, it is impossible to imagine drunk Lev Termen, Gary Newman, Claus Shultz and, particularly, Mr. Mug, because the electric music is aha factor by itself and also, it is a possibility to govern in the spheres of earlier unknown world of the new sound, that gives the state of man-caused euphoria, the trance of high-level organisation and the feeling of the cosmic space breathing. As to its origin and character, electric musical front clearly stays against latent-drunk carelessness of jazz – rock – blues. Look at any work that is created in this sphere by the human being. Strict, quantified and rhythmically checked structure creates the buildings of new imaginable feelings on the perception field that is irrigated by the new possibilities and doesn’t need any alcohol-containing stimulators. Exact hitting the keys by fingers, correct winding of controller’s handles, tracing of the spatial plans and parts of compositions – it is the destiny of abstinent and attentive people. But if the first one has been emptied for the health of the family of devices that are surrounded by the shining screens, it means that the second one will follow for their owner, and the big second one again for the health. Buttons and keyboard are bravely covered with ash, accompanied by the half glass of port, which, of course, knows which contacts and micro – circuits to stick to, in order to cause maximum problems. Equipment is quickly turns off and musicians go out to sink the newly born misfortune, without even the single thought of the tomorrow hang – over, shaking hands and ash, which again and again will falls on the musical instruments. Here are the straggles of the sacral ceremonial of music creation, inspired by the simple «green snake». So, the strict minimalist objects and strict worlds of early creative period, the «Vidu Rub» looses its temper in unimaginable dance and fight, as if they urge to become drunk with stormy alcohol and to dance the pre-Christian folk dance with cheerful retrospective mutants and signals, that went on a spree… It is very unwholesome to mix more than three alcoholic drinks during one evening, although sometimes it happens, but the music, which was created with the use of computer, can be successfully and painlessly mixed without feeling the toxic poisoning and sickness. People in all parts of the world write the electric poetry, using PC or Macintosh, exchange the files during On-Line projects. Together people create beautiful works, without even meeting each other. It means that they don’t drink alcohol during the process and don’t celebrate each update of the file or each connection to the network. Lots of devices and synthesizers were produced at the factories of Japan, now they are mostly produced in China, but it is almost impossible to hear something about the real Asian musical creative work. Brazilians, in their turn, either play popular today folk melodies or industrially mescals the compositions and general conceptions, spirit and mood of the post-industrial eclectic society. Germans, accordingly to their traditions, are strict and straight, even naive. But at the same time they are sincerely devoted and united. Russians are easily adaptive, playful as young cats; Australia – it is a huge continent, but it keeps silence since the time of Flash &The Pan, they, these antipodes, should be bustled about news.

Igor Shaposhnikov

So, we positively give up the habit that on the New Year’s Eve spoiled the performance in the club, broke the delicate digital wires and forced few fighters of the musical – computer front to be out of action till the next coding Total upgrade, guys! Antipodes wait for non-verbal voices from the united informational space, they are ready to communicate using the sole language of our united and quite loved civilization. It is enough to have PC and medium keyboard to enable you, while sitting at home on the carpet, to send your, already unfading, creative work to Antopodiya or Galapagos Islands only by one click of the mouse. Giant turtles! Listen to the voice of our Russian electric grasshoppers. Listen and obey implicitly! And you, what do you play? It is a question of the historical principle and habit, ability to develop and combine the newest with well-known. Love for antique analogous devices has lead to museum littering of the living space and studios. Anxious feeling of inserting of the jack into the nest, that is accompanied with typical sound; the feeling of the physical participation in the process of conception of the sound can’t be repeated by PC. Tough, thick, strident and clear at the same time. Moreover, it is obedient and polite to such extent, that in cleverly composed ensemble it maintains the reputation of analogous quality, raising the reputation of the whole team of sounding tracks. It is an ancient Mugi for one voice with spicy noise component, and literally ideal models by Voldorf, if you want – with keyboard or with small pin – holed units of controllers and signal control. But to understand the operation of these devices, it is necessary to sober up and to dry up. It is not the same as slapping the guitar during the hang-over, it has to be approached! Bt the way, DJ Kambala, who historically originated in Amsterdam and grew up in Europe, don’t give up composing practice (lounge, easy house, dance house), and hold the positions of absolutely computer composing. Good programs and wonderful plug – ins, followed by totally computer combining. In PC. We are talking about that thing, that has spoiled the mood of colleagues many times. From series. The sound, that were separately taken, are successfully driving, the drums – play the drum, basses – play bass, melodies – create the melodies, and, theoretically, everything sound good in the beloved ear-flaps, and even better – via Hi-Fi. But when it is summarized – it is a complete s*** … How would you resist the trip to the shop after this, to get something to come down the nerves?! By the way, Kambala usually composes while he is sober, it leads to the creation of the consistent stylish product with the stamp, which can be clearly seen. Such stamp is called «style». He mixes the sound in the virtual mixer, insisting to avoid the use of famous Electrical – synthesizer, that is beloved since Komsomol youth, and to use the virtual models of famous brands instead. And what is gonna happen to our originality? So, there is no place, there is no place to put an equipment. Butthere is a strong desire to create, anyway, it is better than to drink continuously, without breaks. Mini-composer (Roland, for example) can be bought on money saved on alcohol drinks. This device, where elegant pen is used instead of finger tips, can easily find the room in the pocket, transforming you into the absolutely mobile and independent composer … Of course, then you will need to ask the big brother computer for the favor, but you will keep in your hands the precious multimedia file and it will enable you to replace any sound from the arsenal of baby-composer by another wanted sound. The main thing – while you are at the peak of creative work and while you are drunk, don’t forget your bank and instrument in the car. Once, after the stormiest concert of the stormiest band, followed by the burlesque «after party», the sound-producer from Bunker club forgot the whole rack of compositions in the taxi, that he took on Tverskaya street. That is good, that the driver was timid and honest, he found and returned it. Thanks God! The Human Being – it is the main thing in the process of creation and performance of musical compositions. And it is indisputable. The human being and composer are needed!

Bratya po razumu

YuriyOrlov, the apologist of electric sounding, without giving up his love for analogous equipment, learns the programs and virtual instruments with selflessness of follower of secret doctrine. He participated in creation of Antikiller – 2 of Egor Michalkov, created the music for the movie of Tomash Tot «Deti Chugunnukh Bogov». Recently he composed the sound – track for «Kak bu ne tak» movie, the fresh black comedy of producer Maks Pegemskiy. This movie is created in the fashionable gangster style (we love his work in «Mama Ne Gorui» movie). The music added the story line and emotional sense to the recorded and assembled action, providing connections and refreshing the general situation, decorating the movie. Attention! Electric music of Yuriy Orlov, not the «maksidromovskie» baby birds and not the orchestra of the Army and Navy! It is very important that during the recording of this material, computer had only the role of additional source of sounds, while the original sound was created by few independent synthesizers and was mixed via external panel. Finally, it was recorded on the recorder with dynamism, that is inherited into this process, and followed by the mastering of the narrow profile. Parties and drinks after performances and premiers – it is a legal part of completed successful creative sober work. Everybody, who has access to the modern computer and a bit of computer experience may become a composer and participate in the World Musical Space. It is good, that the progress enable us to swap the files quickly, to participate in them and send them to everyone, who wants and desires. YOU MAY use this language to communicate with the world, to make this world as rhythmical and harmonious, as you want. These our feelings developed in each person to a different extent and it is valuable. Newest album of the «Motor», the project of Vadim Ugrumov, is an elegant positive example of success, which was recently released in Chicago by Friz, CD producer of Kuroneku. By the way, it hasn’t been noticed that Motor was drunk or violent. Learn.

January 2004