Synthpop blurbs in Keyboard magazine

[~David Vesel]

Spotted in this month's Keyboard magazine:

A positive mini-review of Codebreaker T133 by Red Flag.

Also, a near-one-page letter to the editor that I wrote concerning music software piracy. I'd be interested in your opinions on it.

[~intro]

Someone there is kinda synth friendly. I've spotted a lot of synthpop album reviews. And they had Ronnie Moorings in their workspace page last year. Not to mention Francis Preve (remixer extraordinaire, does a lot with Beborn Beton) is a regular contributor.

-Mark
www.djintrovert.com

[~Ninthwaver]

The editor (whose name escapes me here at work) is super friendly and likes synthpop. He gave great reviews to NASA, Electricity, Evolution and others. When I thanked him he apologized for not being able to devote more space to reviews.

I love reading keyboard every once in a while - sort of like Synth Porno ya know.

The parts I understand that is. Sort of like reading Spanish porno.

Not that I read Spanish porno-

I should end this right now shouldn't I?

-Dave

[~David Vesel]

Heh heh. I can relate Dave. Not about the porn though, but well, you know... :)

The current editor is Greg Rule. And yes I've noticed that the magazine is way more synthpop friendly than they used to be. In the last year, they did an article on Underworld, gave Unsigned Artist of the Month nod to Moonlife, did a 411 article on Joy Electric, and did several other mini-reviews, including a synthpop compilation that I thought was a 9th Wave release but I'm not sure -- I know Ganymede was mentioned in the review.

Plus their product reviews have been very timely for me, and I love Craig Anderton's home recording column. That's almost worth the subscription price alone for me.

I just renewed my subscription, they've done a magnificent job lately.

[~Daft Monk]

I thought the magazine took a big step forward when Greg Rule took over in the late 90s. They finally got past, mostly, the prog rock bent that had been driving the until then. Actually it was sort of amusing reading all the reviews back in the old days when ambient techno albums were the majority of what was reviewed and every review seemed to start with "prog rock is alive and well...". Thankfully things have changed and the magazine is at least moving along past the 70's even if the reviewer of Electronic's "Twisted Tenderness" album had never heard of them and stumbled trying to figure out if they were "electronica." Actually, even with all the improvement they still aren't nearly together on "contemporary" electronic music as Brit mag Future Music, but FM costs three times as much as Keyboard. So keep the good work Keyboard.

[~intro]

Yeah, the Brits know where it's at. Future Music rocks. Computer Music can be cool from time to time (I like their Cubase SX articles, learning lots of stuff I didn't know), though a little beginner. Wish the Americans would catch up.

-Mark
www.djintrovert.com

[~A04]

...even if the reviewer of Electronic's "Twisted Tenderness" album had never heard of them and stumbled trying to figure out if they were "electronica." ....

Actually, I remember that review distinctly. I wondered how anyone could possibly review an Electronic release and have absolutely no idea who New Order or the Smiths are. I believe the review stated that after the third track he felt that he was being assaulted by "wolverines with razorblades" - those words if I'm not mistaken. If that reviewer feels that way about Electronic, we GOTTA get that guy a Hocico CD...

No offense to Greg Rule or whatever he's done for Keyboard, but I still can't relate to most of the reviews and interviews they do. I also heard the Greg Rule remix of a Clan of Xymox track. Ronnie could have done better elsewhere. I wasn't sure where the remix was supposed to be going, or even what sound it was going for.

In Japan, we have this magazine called Sound&Recording which is cool because they are more into the technical aspect of sound production, so they interview a wide variety of DJs, recording artists, and technicians and review a LOT of equipment. They did a great article on Mark Mothersbaugh (DEVO) and his studios. Of course, it takes me a lot longer to sift through the Japanese. Bummer.

[~rivetbadtz]

Im just waiting for the day when my bands(VNV,Apop,Covenant,A23,EchoImage,IconofCoil,N euroactive, etc) start getting mentioned in all these techno/subversive music type magazines.

[~A04]

Must append my previous post regarding the guy who reviewed Electronic's "Twisted Tenderness". I went home and looked it up. It's so much better than what I remembered. And keep in mind that we are talking about Electronic when the reviewer states that "After four or five songs, I felt as if I were being attacked by psychotic wolverines with razor blades." I must have gotten a different copy of "Twisted Tenderness" because I play it for my kids, and I used to play it to rock my baby to sleep (the baby also fell asleep to trance if you can believe that).

Just wanted to add that bit from the Nov2000 issue of Keyboard. Surprised I still have it, actually...

[~Daft Monk]

I could be wrong, but I think the Electronic album was reviewed by Jim Aikin, who does many/most of the Keyboard reviews. He's been at the magazine before the Greg Rule-era and according to his picture is not the youngest kid on the block. Why he reviews anything other than Windham Hill (or however you spell it) records is beyond me.
Also Greg Rule does remixes and the has done some tracks for Cleopatra & Hypnotic under the name of Bonehead (if I remember correctly). I didn't really fall in love with the stuff I've heard of his, but at least he's taking the magazine in the right direction.
Fun Fact: I live minutes from the Keyboard offices which are in San Mateo, California!

[~David Vesel]

Jim Aikin retired at the end of last year. Nearly all of the reviews I've seen him write in the last year were software reviews, not music.

[~Daft Monk]

We can all be thankful for that!


:)