Bruce Russell

It is difficult to discuss a niche music scene without coming over as pretentious or exclusive, which some of the authors here acknowledge. Personally I have found the 'experimental scene' that I have encountered in my city to be very receptive to all types, and to new-comers. People are I suppose put off by the challenging nature of the music, and the cliquey seeming patrons who more often than not are dressed very hipply ;)

Various contributors here give accounts of the sound scene in the major centers. By all accounts it is a select few in terms of crowd numbers. Un-populist by nature, the music we are talking here is droney, looped, sampled, feedbacky, loud or very quiet, and often with little visible musicianship (ie: produced with computers or electronic equipment where it is difficult to equate the sound with the process of making it).

What I am drawn to in this scene is captured in this quote: the "...non macho aesthetic...comparatively free of rock posturing, finding beauty in the domestic and the happenstance" (p154). I like being challenged by music and finding some wonder or interest in it. This book is a good reference, but not very cohesive.… (more)