perhaps i can answer my own question/thought. the mainstream market will not accept the complexities of IDM. the end. as Evilmatik stated, the average listener demands accessibility, not depth.

I'm sorry, but why is it called IDM - I mean I know why, but why 'intelligent'. Why for instance is Autechre lumped in with Aphex when not since '93 have they sounded remotely similar (IMHO). Boards of Canada and Vsnares are two extremes really, but are lumped as 'IDM'. The reason Aphex got closest to mainstream is his persona and the myths around him, plus catchy techno too. No-one mainstream cares about drum pattern complexities when you can stare at Kylie's luscious 35-year old ass...

And Merzbow sounds like a factory anyway. A powerful, powerful factory.

But things like BOC etc are also not that complex. In fact a lot of IDM is very minimal and has nothing in comparison with the huge arrangements you have in some pop tracks, so complexity isn't the issue it's more the confusion issue because it comes from a skewed direction.

IDM needs more of Kylies ass though!

but wasn't this the foundation of IDM? to be more "intelligent", to be more "complex"? I know exactly what you mean, minimal techno is called IDM nowadays and it's ridiculous

I agree. Sometimes intelligence is shown in using just two notes because it is right instead of an entire orchestra.

I was just responding to autpts comment about complexity.

and I guess this all goes back to what David was saying about genres meaning shit, in this case, I'm going to have to agree with him...

Keef, i understand what you are saying. intelligence does not mean complex. perhaps complex has been redefined by intelligent music. a pure example is Miles Davis' Kind of Blue album. the simple structures of those pieces prove enough depth to challenge the listener with the upmost care of melodic movement and color. for example, "So What" is comprised of two progressions and one modulation and yet still can blow your mind. this is intelligence.

but can we really call it genius and intelligent? Intelligence is different to everyone, although knowledge seems to be the key to intelligence...

you do need to have knowledge to understand the "intelligent" part of "IDM". so what you appreciate in one song, I may not see it at all because I don't have the knowledge to understand it.

but you can still enjoy the results without any understanding of the "I" part.

hell, i'm doing just fine singing along to astrobotnia's 'everyone'...

a-one,
a-two,
a-one, a-two, a-three, go!

"i wanna kill everyone, satan is good satan is our pal."

c'mon everybody, putcha hands in the air!!!




... same as you need knowledge to appreciate, for instance, 'cry me a river' (yes, THAT 'cry me a river').
which is an incredible song, all the way.

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and i prefer braindance more than 'idm'.
idm just screams "snobbery!".
and it's stupid acronym (doh!).