(nature of minimalism, minimalism in nature)
Dear Readers,
this is the fifth installment of the
HNW-Q. I am really proud and happy, that the british sound-artist
James Killick decided to complete it. Especially because his version of the HNW-Q opens an admirably clear, honest and deeply personal and thoughtful perspective on
HNW and
Static Minimalism ! At first his incredible work as a label-owner should be mentioned. I think, that it is no exaggeration to say that most of "us" discovered HNW/ANW with the generous help of Killick's first and now famous label
"Sweet Solitude" with all the now classical releases; for me mainly:
Vargrwulf (the first in the
"Infinity-series" ),
A View from Nihil,
Vomir,
Angström,
Lungwash,
Static Mantra,
the monumental Anonymous).
Also
James Killick's own versatile, important, masterly crafted and admirably multi-facetted main projects appeared here for the first time. His ultra-minimal project
Pulse, the multi-farious, multi-thematic and micro-rhythmic project
Small Hours or his now legendary approach to HNW/ANW under the
Love Katy sign (eg. paradigmatically
"You're no good for me"). Most of his works (if I may risk this abstraction here) are dedicated to the musical
techniques of sonic over-paintings or over-coats and
the four-folded technique of expansion-explosion-implosion-transformation of given or pre-existing sound-worlds and -works and
micro-rhythmic reworkings of seemingly unformed and unmanageable
minimal sonic matters and atmospheres (also at work in
Cory Strand's work) -- having its starting point refreshingly in LIFE and not in DEATH. A good counter-point to all the immature death-and-negativity-driven projects - who have (mostly) not the slightest idea, how terrible death, violence, depression and insanity
really "are".
"Vagary Records" in business since March 2012 is
James Killick's new space for the precious, the extravagant, the experimental, the thoughtful, the unorthodox, the funny and the affirmative, the dark classical HNW - but also heavy and serious stuff dedicated to the memory of the Unforgivable in history. In short: a living and ever expanding rhizome totally in touch with new lines of flight of the genre - but also deeply rooted and obliged to the short but deep history and heritage of HNW and the minimalism and minimalists of all times, ages and planets (- like me ! [SKG]).
To pick out a few artist's and project's names -
for those who aren't already familiar with the wide-spanning aesthetics of this great label -: a lot from
Clive Henry,
KT ,
Small Hours (eg the 4-CD-set "A Love Like This Is Hard To Find " (2012) and other stuff related to and by Killick), to
Cory Strand and
Burial Ground. A lot of time and effort
Killick invests for design and artwork (so take a closer look on
Kermit, the
Clangers Set and/or other really nice and personally crafted designs on the Vagary blog- especially the beautifully designed 4-Tape
Small-Hours-
Box thematically related to "
Kingdom Hearts" - one of the real treasures of my small - but strictly quality-oriented HNW-collection.). Also a clever move to make "noise" more precious - to turn "noise" into sound-art (a term I prefer). I hope, that more multi-tape-sets will appear soon - if a little daydreaming is allowed here:
AVFN,
Angström,
Bast,
Lungwash, Zionist, Clive Henry, Vast Glory but also of course another
Small-Hours-set ). Click
here to visit
Vagary Records.
As you can see -
James Killick's impressive creativity and importance for the development and the working out of the originary bifurcation of sonic minimalism in
"HNW" and
Static Minimalism cannot be estimated high enough. I may not agree to all of his concepts and ideas, but Killick's works contain always something to think and argue about - a good starting point for breaking up HNW-complacency, -conventionality and -ignorance - to carve out new possible trajectories or identities for the genre. (Don't forget to visit and support his
Vagary-bandcamp-site-here and/or to listen to his latest impressive, multi-textured work
"Jerusalem" here.) More of this desire for novelty, innovation and emancipation from given institutions are more than desperately needed today - and here I am totally in line with Killick's general impulses !
My own strong aesthetic convictions and quality criteria go exactly in this direction - describe and formalize the
very few interesting HNW-paradigms or idiolects - to open horizons for
NOVELTY and block out the REPETITIONS. But to support also
necessarily repetitive or serial approaches to HNW like
Angström (cf. Grégory Henrion's HNW-Q No. 6, coming: 24. July 2013) or
Vomir's. You find traces of this desire in my attempts to re-translate the acronym HNW always in the context the artists gives. But on my blog I can only try to filter the HNW-events through my own lenses, through affects and affections, personal dispositions and convictions, limitations and desires. In this sense it is
only one blog about HNW - and
not the blog about it.
It is far less normative, than it might seem: I am really enjoying myself here - taking a daily bathe in affirmation, eternity, fun and joy ! Doing it for my own and unrepeatable LIFE-DEATH ! That's my life-style - feel invited to discover your own L-D !.
So it would be really great, if other courageous blogs with different aesthetical convictions, vocabularies and arguments would appear - to keep all the other important HNW-idiolects, that are currently not on my map (mostly because of my limited time and working capacities) in constant appreciation and loving and (!) critical support beyond fan-boy-attitudes, in order to
keep HNW singular, multifarious and alive !
Critical reviews that are trying to interconnect form and content or to put in a Deleuzean way, to build up
"un rapport direct matériau-forces" are needed and highly welcome ! Please stop focussing on - and fetishizing the often dull and repetitive descriptions of the sounds alone ! Change your vocabulary at least once a week - otherwise the conceptual side of HNW would remain forever unnoticed ! This only helps the dilletantism to reach the frontrow !
But why should HNW alone remain the same in an otherwise ever changing and expanding universe ? What are you afraid of ? Decisive is only what YOU and your own fragile and unrepeatable LIFE-DEATH really desire - here and now - and maybe forever ? What else should count ...?
A general remark: Stay compassionate, empathetic, courteous and respectful towards the life-worlds of other persons ! There is enough violence and disrespect in our daily lives! In this sense - and only in this sense - my blog is directed to adults only: spinozistic and life-affirming creatures and creators, with a slight inclination to the Fine Arts, Minimalism, Zen, deconstruction(s), schizo-analysis and seynsgeschichtlichem Denken ! Thanks a lot for your interest - and for the support with solid and inventive sounds and interesting ideas of all ages and sound-worlds and pluriverses ! Keep music and this planet alive - by producing music for "body", "mind" and "soul" - if only one element is missing you have lost your orientation ! Always good vibrations - and please give your own singular LIFE-DEATH a try and a chance ! There is no reason for anything than optimism, like John Cage said ... In this sense all the best for all my readers ! [SKG]
All lines in
green ink are written and copyright by
James Killick. All lines in
normal ink show you the HNW-Questionary written and copyright by me.
P.S. If you are interested in the main ideas of the HNW-Q please consult all earlier versions or the main page - here you find a more general descrition of it. It should be clear how it works - now - so the general text is not reproduced here again! - click here for further informations [SKG]
This is the fifth HNW-Questionary brilliantly
completed by James Killick:
The HNW-Q No. 5:
[1] I discovered and invented HNW for myself, when I purchased (on impulse), Vomir’s ‘Claustration’ boxset. I had read a lot of chatter on the internet about this new type of ‘noise’ that was more ‘extreme’ than all the rest. I will have to admit that my first impression was one of disappointment. I found the tracks to be boring, repetitive and not overly harsh.
Some time went by, and for no particular reason, I returned to the Vomir box. Prior to this I had been listening to a lot the work of the minimalist composers (Feldman, Young etc.), and it struck me how similar they all were e.g. often monolithic and repetitive. I was suddenly hooked, and wanted to find more!
I began to acquire a lot of HNW releases. I often really liked the sounds contained within, but did not like the imagery and thematic content that many artists use. They struck me as unoriginal, at times boring and perhaps worst of all no longer ‘shocking’. We have become so over-saturated with ‘horrific’ imagery that it is no longer shocking. It was in fact, boring.
I decided that I wanted to create some noise of my own. I wasn’t trying to reinvent the wheel here; I just wanted to create a fair approximation of what I was hearing (which was not as easy as it first sounded!). However, I did wanted to challenge the notion that HNW has to be shocking and/or dark. As a consequence I created ‘Love Katy’. Please see question 3 for more on this.
As well as creating ‘LK’, I produce HNW / ANW under a number of different aliases. My other main project is ‘Small Hours’. This was named after a track by John Martyn. He was a fearless innovator who was not afraid to change his sound, and move forward. I found this ethos to be admirable, and felt that was the guiding light behind this project.
Under this banner, I have experimented with ultra-minimal ANW (Pulse I and II), have released HNW informed by nostalgia for the past, have used historical themes and dedicated numerous release to people who have inspired me or struck me by their beauty. In short, anything goes; the only limit is my imagination. Hopefully I have inspired others to do the same.
[2] The initial radicality of HNW would should not be preserved, if , because imitation ultimately becomes parody, and we need to innovate and not simply rehash old ideas. The initial ‘Militant HNW’ agenda was radical because it was fresh and interesting. This got a lot of attention, and obviously people began to imitate (and sometimes copy) the original HNW practitioners. If this were to continue, the result would be stagnation and parody. Sadly, I think this is why a lot of people have since lost interest in HNW. For many it has simply run out of ideas, and this to me is a real shame, as there are a lot of new HNW artists out there who are trying new things, but are ignored due to the general feeling of apathy surrounding the scene.
[3] HNW is whatever you want it to be. I know that many people will disagree with this idea, but in order for the genre to survive and grow; people need to be a lot more open minded. This applies specifically to the themes and concepts that people use to frame/present their material. For a long time, the general consensus has been that HNW releases must be about one of the following; void worship, giallo, horror films etc. (e.g. the original concerns of the early HNW innovators – ‘The Rita’, ‘Richard Ramirez’ and ‘Vomir’). This is ok, but it became a bit of a ‘strait-jacket’ as if you chose to stray from this formula, you were often derided and ignored for not sticking to the unwritten ‘rules’
When I started my ‘Love Katy’ project, I received a lot of negative attention. I was attacked for mocking the scene and not taking it seriously enough. I will admit that my original intention with ‘LK’ was to parody the seriousness of the scene, but this has since changed to becoming something akin to idol worship (for me anyway). After all if you break it down HNW is just ‘static’noise, and ‘static’ noise can be whatever you want it to be. All I can say is don’t be constrained. If like me, a pretty girl with blue hair, inspires you to make noise, all I can say is, why not!
[4] HNW is not and will never be an ‘elitist’ club. Don’t feel constrained to follow any rules, and ignore the critics. Do what feels right for you!!!
[5] I believe that the acronym H.N.W. is a bit of a misnomer. The ‘H’ in HNW implies that the sounds contained within are overly ‘Harsh’. In my experience (and particularly with the ‘walls’ that I create) this is not the case. One of the defining characteristics of HNW is a lack of ‘movement’ in the sound (hence the ‘wall’). This ‘stasis’ creates a calming mood in the listener, which is far from the mood that the ‘Harsh’ tag will imply. I believe that there are better terms to describe ‘HNW’, but I shall discuss that later.
[6] HNW is pure mindless self-indulgence or the best thing since sliced bread (to some!).
[7] The sounds of machines are an image that many reviews use to describe the sounds of ‘HNW’.
[8] HNW helps you to be revealed, who has good taste in music or not!
[9] Monolithic Walls are one approach that can be taken when composing / crafting HNW. It is not the only way to make HNW though. I prefer dynamic walls. They help maintain interest, and over the course of a longer track provide much needed variety and change.
[10] The Future of HNW would be is unwritten. We should acknowledge our forebears, but at the same time be prepared to move forward.
[11] The Death of HNW would be if people involved lose the desire to reinvent themselves, and the scene were to dissolve because of the petty jealousies and feuds that seem to be rife at present.
[12] HNW should be related to the work of other minimalist artists to understand it better. I think that HNW follows in the grand tradition of artists such as Rothko and Feldman, who despite working with a different medium clearly shared similar ideas to those of many working in the field today.
[13] Singularity and Originality in HNW are should be actively encouraged. As previously mentioned, there has been a ‘Herd’ mentality in HNW for far too long. Individual voices should be heard!
[14] HNW should could be called Static Minimalism, because it is a better descriptor for the sounds that are being created, and would also avoid any confusion created by the use of the word ‘Harsh’.
[15] HNW should not be called Static Minimalism, because – See my answer to question 14.
[16] The permanent repetition of the HNW-Mantra (No ideas, no change, no dynamics, no development etc. ) leads to should be avoided. I believe this term was coined by ‘Vomir’. It words for his approach to HNW, but others should find their own path.
[17] Volume in HNW is absolutely essential in a live setting, but something that can be experimented with when recording.
[18] Distortion in HNW is a useful tool that can be employed to add more depth to your sound.
[19] My Unconscious is mind always feels that my in HNW is not good enough, filling me with a constant desire to improve and better myself.
[20] Narratives, Analogies and Metaphors in HNW are essential tools which can be employed to make your HNW interesting and differentiate it from the rest.
[21] Time and Space in HNW are interesting concepts. I have noticed that I sometimes ‘lose’ time when listening to and creating HNW. I also find the phenomenon of ‘phantom’ sounds in HNW to be quite fascinating. When listening to tracks, you often perceive sounds/changes in the ‘wall’ that aren’t actually there. Vomir is the master of this, and this is something that I have tried to incorporate into my sound as well.
[22] HNW for many (but not me), represents the sound of absolute Nothingness.
[23] My HNW amplifies is a vehicle for sharing my interests and passions with a like-minded audience.
[24] Minimal Music and Cosmic Drones are alternative labels which can be used when describing of HNW.
[25] Conceptualism is one of the key components of HNW. Without a clear concept / rationale behind your sound, you are simply left with static.
[26] The main ingredients of brilliant HNW are very subjective and largely based on the perceptions and personal tastes of the listener. For me, good HNW is multi-layered, with plenty of shifts in tones and frequencies. My advice to people, who want to create HNW, is experiment with your source, and once you are familiar with your equipment / gear start mixing walls together.
[27] The purpose and the concept of my HNW are can be found in my response to question 1.
[28] The distinction between ANW / HNW is controversial and still open to debate. My first exposure to what would later become known as ‘ANW’ was on the ‘Wall Whores’ release from the sadly missed ‘HFFL’ label. When I listened to this release, I thought there was something different about it. The tracks retained ‘wall-like qualities’ e.g. minimal movement, repetition’, but the sounds were more quiet and restrained. I felt that this was something different and should be explored further. That is why I created the ‘Infinity Series’. It gave people the opportunity to experiment with the form. Somewhere along the way it was labeled ‘ANW’ and the label seems to have stuck.
[29] The philosophy of HNW can change because at present there is no real ‘philosophy’ of HNW. It is constantly being shaped / altered by its creators and whatever ‘philosophy’ you choose to apply to it should be based on your ideas rather than those of others.
[30] My first words (after the initial underwhelming reaction and re-discovery) about HNW were ‘this looks fun, I want to try making that!’
[31] My final words about HNW would be ‘long may it continue!’
[32] The phrase I would like to add to this questionary is ‘It is easy to make HNW, but it is difficult to make good HNW’.
Cordial thanks to James Killick -
for his open, insightful and inspiring words and works ! -
I hope that they will set a lot in motion -
And don't forget to support "Vagary Records" !
I am sure there will be an awesome new batch soon !
So watch out !
SKG: