Any news on BNW and or Cause and Effect

[~jacoblindsay]

Do these bands live? Are they hibernating or something? Todd? Any word from BNW? Cause and Effect have been "collaberating over high speed dsl connection lines" for about 2 or 3 years and haven't put anything out for 4. Also, if anyone has heard anything about Kie The Vez I would be interested. Thanks

Jacob

[~Todd Durrant]

This isn't much of an answer, but it is a legitimate response, I think...

Sometimes bands just go on with other sides of their lives. Making music and releasing albums takes a lot of blood, sweat, and tears (not to mention a huge amount of time). Even when it is something that band members love, they still have other things that happen in their lives that require their attention and even change their focus.

Take a simple senario like this: key band member gets married, has two children, and has a good job that is paying well. Now, if that person were to keep working on music at the pace he did when he was single and didn't have a career yet, it would take away from the time he could spend with his family, might detract his focus from his career, and make his life somewhat miserable in the long run.

If these synthpop bands were actually making a living making music, then I'm sure you'd see them continue cranking out albums even after they have families and such, because that would be their "career". However, that is not currently the case, so these band members are forced into other careers to make ends meet, and there is only so much time to go around.

-Todd

[~cosmicity]

Translation: You have to be crazy-obsessed with synthpop to keep sinking thousands of dollars and thousands of hours into it year after year. And you have to have no life. Count me in!

My point is... the next time you're wondering about your favorite "unsigned" synth band's next release taking so long, remind yourself that they're probably spending every free minute between their day-job and other obligations twiddling knobs and re-installing software updates to make the best album they can. They don't have time to "make cookies from scratch" or "read a good book". They can't be bothered to "put on deodorant every morning" or "post messages to synthpop discussions". Hey, wait a minute... ;-)

And when these bands lose momentum, Todd's right... it's too much to juggle if you have other priorities. But look at the bright side. At least they leave behind albums you'll get to enjoy for the rest of your life!

mark nicholas
info@cosmicity.com
http://www.cosmicity.com
http://www.mp3.com/cosmicity

[~jetjaguar15]

What I get from Todd's post is the idea that these bands have basically faded away forever.... These things happen, but it's sad nonetheless...

[~Mike Gjennestad]

NO DEODERANT?!?!?!?!??!! oh my.

[~jacoblindsay]

Didn't mean to chap anyone. I guess it's just my selfish self calling/demanding more. Whatever the case may be, I think it would be cool to update their webpages more than once a year to at least give some direction on what is going on- be it children, new career, or whatever- just to keep it up. Take Cause And Effect's message board for example. It's been interesting watching it dwindle and dwindle- but then once a year or so, they'll update and make it sound like they're coming out with something. Brave New World and Kie The Vez- well, they've just disappeared.
So while I understand and have no problem with these artists placing recording new albums on the backburner for a while- it takes a matter of minutes to post updates on homepages. In the meantime thank goodness for Mark and Joey B!!!!!!

-Jacob

[~SFARAH]

The truth is that even though some people may feel nostalgic with the dissapearence
of synthbands that produced amazing material and then evaporated (Cause n'effect, Seven Red Seven, Cetu JAvu, etc) or changed their style to a less electronic sound (talk talk) or get a bit darker ( Red Flag -thanks heavens that the Reynolds are still around); the gender -synth or whatever you want to call it- still exists and keeps on growing. There are new bands which are producing amazing music and filling in the "gaps" left by the "oldtimers"
Not to mention that we are lucky to have a Different Drum, Kinetic, Synthphony Records, etc that try to come up with new stuff as often as possible . They make synth "accessible". We have to stop mourning the dead and enjoy the living.

SSS

[~Dan1boy]

Wow, SFARAH, I couldn't have put that better myself. An excellent reply.....

The truth is that there are plenty of "working" bands out there creating new music, pushing the boundaries, trying to find a label and/or a distributor for their music and providing a quality experience for the electronic music listener. It's important, of course, to reflect back and give some of the MIA's continued spins in our players, but it's essential (in keeping this music alive) to support (purchasing, reviewing, emailing, attending live shows) the active groups and their activities.

Sure, it'd be nice to see new material from C&E, T42, Cetu Javu (who, incidentally, are reforming), KieTheVez, Children Within, Statemachine, 7 Red 7, Elegant Machinery etc. etc. but we have to give them time and continue to let them know that we care about their work.

2 cents,

Dan

np: Psyche - Sanctuary

[~Strasser]

Indeed, considering just how little money is to be made in this scene, I'm extremely grateful that we have these bands/releases at all. I can imagine how frustrating it is knowing that what you truly love to do doesn't pay the bills.

[~Synthphony]

:o

We do it because we love the music...surely it doesn't pay the rent or bills.

[~dj_rodent]

It's great that we had the chance to hear many of these bands at all. That's what I say.

Many thanks to people like Todd and Dave and David for bringing them to us. And thanks to the artists who took the time to make the albums for us (and for themselves).

And thanks to people like Mark who refuses even personal hygene in order to keep pumping out some kick ass synth music!

I'll be sure to bring some extra deodorant to Synthcon!! ;-) ;-)

Tony