I have attended a few so called ''laptop jams'' and to be honest i just thought that a jukebox could have done the job with the minimum requirement of human physical presence.That is not to say that computer music can't have a heart(and i hope that's the way cause i compose my stuff exclusively without real instruments).This thread is a tricky one and one that merits large discussion

jim o'rourke does a good laptop and i saw dat polotics a while ago and they did some good stuff. probably the best was merzbow and prefuse 73 (not together) as i was completely transfixed.

its true that its how you play it, as with most things.

Fennesz is a case in point.His stuff is emotionally enriched pretty much because it's for the most part played on a laptop.Or a good example in terms of not even being a laptop musician but still managing to be a genius is Philip Jeck.2 old Dansette record players and a minidisc player on constant repeat.Now, there's a talented artst!

I second that!!!
Saw Philip Jeck live 2 yrs ago and it was a complete blast!!!
Got most of his records, he's definitely one of my all time favourite artist.

and what's more, he's a Scouse. Liverpool area is my favourite place in England.

A few years ago he had an installation at the Hayward Gallery in London as part of the Sonic Boom exhibition.It had to be seen to be believed.On a huge scaffolding he sat about a hundred broken record players all going on at the same time.ACE!!!!!!!!

afrirampo was one of the best shows i've seen in a long time.

i just started playing with my buddy and we both use laptops in addition to him playing drums/vocals and me playing saxophone/vocals. all saxophone and vocals are played through his laptop/midi keyboard and i use my laptop to create harsh textures. the last time we performed, i ended up wailing at the top of a ladder. i don't think anyone thought of it as a boring performance.

live laptops can be very interesting if the performcer is genuine enough to have some sort of connection with the crowd and not just be pretending to check his/her email behind the screen.

If you have any descernable talent,it will normally come across wether you play a guitar or a laptop.There is certainly an element of office work by sitting in front of a laptop/desk top .They should create a laptop that you could play like it was a guitar but then,what would the difference be?If you have no talent you simply have no talent.

As anyone ever heard of Tu_Um by the way?

ohhh you mean like when they made a keyboard you could play like it was a guitar?



the discussion is not about whether doing music on a laptop is worthy or able to go on great heights of creativity and expression or not; but how live laptop music is bad and when it's not, and how it can be cool.

and resume, while it is a great tool for music making/recording the laptop is NOT a musical instrument, never was never will period. it's like when people perform with found objects, same thing

long live the keytar!

I think it really just depends on whether or not you dress in a hand made cardboard horse costume...


Blevin Blectum (of Blectum from Blechdom)

as far as that is concerned, don't bother going to see steve beresford or david toop play live

Everyneurotic:
the discussion is not about whether doing music on a laptop is worthy or able to go on great heights of creativity and expression or not; but how live laptop music is bad and when it's not, and how it can be cool.

and resume, while it is a great tool for music making/recording the laptop is NOT a musical instrument, never was never will period. it's like when people perform with found objects, same thing


That's a matter of opinions.

I have yet to see a cool laptop performance, beyond Cock ESP taking a pizza box, setting it up and writing "laptop" on the front of it during a show.

david toop......YES!!!

Is cock esp still putting out records on the vvm test recording label? I first heard of him(them?) on the 'it's fun-da-bi dozi' comp on the same label.Insane!

one fucking word MATMOS

Right,this post is in complete and utter defence to the laptop live experience.It's been bugging me for a while and i thought i had to tell you:
laptop live music does work wonders when the audience have the heart and the mind well adjusted to such event.It came out once more last night when i was attendeding a gig by some french guys who played at the ever stimulating Foundry in old street.What made it click for me this time was the perfect combination of visuals to the music that was being played.For the first time i felt like i really didnt have to look at the musician anymore but i had to completely immerse myself into the visual part of it and gel it with the sound aspect in the background.It worked!It worked!It worked!No drugs.It worked!

Whitehouse
Jim O'Rouke in SY circa 2000
CK Dexter Haven

as far as i'm concerned anything goes in music