rainier wrote:We create the meaning, you know?
The exchange leading to that sentiment nailed it for me.
When 'Reach for the Dead' broke, I was so excited...the familiar drone opening, the beat like a signal that they're back, the organic synthline opening up more layers, the buildup being its own climax (reminded me of Fehlmann), the peaceful cooldown, everything about it.
When the full album released, I loved it of course, but after like the 4th listen I caught myself thinking "man the album is a little more (emotional?sad?) than I'd hoped". I didn't mind the repetitiveness as much, I heard that as a kind of inner reflection, I was just wishing it was a little more upbeat, had a couple more positive spots at least.
It took that discussion right there to realize what was really going on though. The way we "create meaning" has that obvious relation to music, and it's even one of the things people seem to love when they make music (how others remake it for themselves when they listen). It's always been especially that way with BOC to me. There's more involved though I think, and you guys nailed it.
I wasn't just wishing the album was more upbeat, I was keeping *myself* a little more upbeat, and I didn't want to be "dragged down" by the mood it was evoking. Then I asked myself why. And it's that same thing: how we "create the meaning", kinda. I don't mean to get personal, but the everyday life things going on right now around me could easily "drag me down". I caught myself doing that sort of swimming upstream we all go through sometimes to stay above challenging things that happen. It's sort of the reality I'm making right now. It's so involuntary how we do this, and it colors *everything*. Things seem how they seem based on it. And of course how I'm hearing music. I'm not sure the album will ever sound as upbeat as I was hoping for, but at some point I think I'll stop hoping. I'll just enjoy the feeling it creates.
This track is making that easier. It's hard for me to not hear positivity in it...one of the few places in the album for me. I love the sort of balanced two-sidedness to it, the first half with that rambling textural pulse at the forefront (ya so 14a-ish!) and deep smooth sounds behind, then a switching of places in the second half, but all with a nice feel of fresh, positive depth...not sure how else to say it. Love it already, and usually it takes longer for me.
ps to Vordhosbn: you sound just as good at half speed
