What's the point of it?

s-cease · Post by **s-cease** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 4:08 pm

My question might seem a bit strange and maybe aggressive but I hope you will read my whole post before judging me (I've gotten the feeling that there are some people on this forum who are keen on judging people, sorry if I'm wrong). My question is: "What do you feel is the point of dubstep tunes like 'Forgive' by Burial" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOh6WEmTryU)

I don't really like the mainstream kind of dubstep today, I'd say my favorite kind lies between what started a couple of years ago and the more original dubstep. Maybe you considered it an abomination when it first came but now realize it was nothing compared to what we hear today.

However I love Darkstar (not sure what people think of them here) and really enjoy listening to many of the songs on Burial's "Untrue". I've known about these forums for quite a while but I've never really tried to find more of the "real" dubstep until recently. I visited the "WHAT IS DUBSTEP? A guide to start with is here." thread and came across the song I mentioned earlier and just couldn't understand it. What am I missing? To me it is 6-7s repeated over and over for 3 minutes and 8 seconds, with some white noise (?) from about 1:30. Even if those 6-7s are great and it's nice to have in the background sometimes, it just doesn't give me anything more if I really focus on it. My base for this thread is this particular song but to me it seems like among the dubstep songs I like there are quite a few like this one that I don't see the point of.

I understand that it is impossible to explain music but I want to understand. I always try to remain open and develop my taste in music so if anyone could take the time to explain to me what this song gives to/tells him/her, what feelings it conveys, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!

south3rn · Post by **south3rn** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 4:16 pm

don't think of it as dubstep

think of it as music

1point5 · Post by **1point5** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 4:22 pm

each to their own, you don't have to like every dubstep track to like dubstep. I'm not a huge burial fan to be honest, although I love his production

Also, what south3rn said

leeany · Post by **leeany** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 4:23 pm

It's a tune that fits a certain vibe, and doesn't work in every context. I love that tune when I'm somewhere out in the streets late at night, or when I'm trying to fall asleep. It's not something I put on when I'm in the park with my mates on a hot summer afternoon. It also makes more sense when you listen to the entire album and not that one tune. Apart from that I wouldn't call it a dubstep tune, it's more ambient but it's on a dubstep album.

Maccaveli · Post by **Maccaveli** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 4:58 pm

I really don't get the point of the question... it's music, why does it need a 'point'? Don't look into it so much. It carries a certain emotion, a certain vibe or atmosphere. If you get it you get it, if you don't you don't. But like what's been said already, it's most effective in the right situation, like when walking home from a party late at night or in the context of the full album.

s-cease · Post by **s-cease** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:49 pm

south3rn wrote:don't think of it as dubstep

think of it as music

I understand what you mean and once I've added a song to my library, I won't. However, right now, I'm exploring the genre and by doing that putting the songs in a context. At least for me it's easier to comprehend a new kind of music by listening to more than one song of that type.

LumiNiscent wrote:It's a tune that fits a certain vibe, and doesn't work in every context. I love that tune when I'm somewhere out in the streets late at night, or when I'm trying to fall asleep.

That I can understand, I usually have a couple of hours each day when I only focus on music. When I listen to 'Forgive' during this time it feels like a waste because I like to find new things in songs, develop a deeper understanding for them and I've felt like I had this one figured out very quickly.
As background music this tune has grown on me.

Maccaveli wrote:it's music, why does it need a 'point'? Don't look into it so much. It carries a certain emotion, a certain vibe or atmosphere. If you get it you get it, if you don't you don't.

That is exactly the point I'm looking for, music, like all art, is primarily a medium for feelings. Nevertheless music is usually considered more than just sound that carries emotion, to me this tune felt more like ambient sound, like waves, rain, wind, I hope nobody considers it demeaning. Like LumiNiscent said maybe it should be considered ambient music not dubstep. I've often listened to recordings of rain, rivers and wind they have a point to them because they convey certain feelings. I reacted because the "hype" around it baffled me, the comments on youtube didn't seem to fit it.

Thank you all.

Sexual_Chocolate · Post by **Sexual_Chocolate** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 1:53 am

td;lr

Sonika · Post by **Sonika** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 3:06 am

Interesting question - addressing your point about repetition, it IS, at heart, dance music, which is inherently repetitive. However, although dubstep can sometimes repeat a lot, it doesn't generally seem "repetitive" to me because to me, being repetitive is when a phrase or idea repeats enough that it becomes boring and uninterering to the listener. If something deep and minimal that repeats a lot (such as 'Forgive,' although I just realized that's one of those interval tracks that Burial just puts between his main ones) isn't to your fancy, fine, you don't like it, to each their own. However, tracks like that just nail a certain vibe for me that I really like.
One could argue that artists like Mala, Pinch, Coki, Burial, Distance, etc etc etc make "repetitive" tracks, but I would argue that just because they repeat a lot doesn't make them repetitive (because the vibe they maintain, some people call it "bassweight," keeps it interesting.

Also, I know this is really cliché, but it IS important, what medium are you using to listen to this music? Because you won't really get it on laptop speakers.

NW_DUBAHOLIC · Post by **NW_DUBAHOLIC** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 4:09 am

You're thinking about it all way too much. When I listen to that song I just enjoy it. It sets a mood/atmosphere and I definitely agree that it is something that is a part of the album as a whole. This thread is wierd. It seems like you're trying to hard to get it/like it. Just take it for what it is and maybe you will understand someday.

ultraspatial · Post by **ultraspatial** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 5:38 am

Don't think I've ever listened to a Burial tune on it's own, except maybe remixes. Never got the "you need a certain vibe" thing, I can listen to Burial anytime.

Sonika · Post by **Sonika** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 5:51 am

ultraspatial wrote:Don't think I've ever listened to a Burial tune on it's own, except maybe remixes. Never got the "you need a certain vibe" thing, I can listen to Burial anytime.

I don't know if you're referring to what I said, but that's not what I meant - I meant that the music CONVEYS a certain vibe that keeps it interesting. But I agree, the whole thing about "Burial is best listened to while walking the rainy streets alone at night" doesn't really hold true for me, his music can work for me most any time.

ultraspatial · Post by **ultraspatial** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 6:02 am

Sonika wrote:
ultraspatial wrote:Don't think I've ever listened to a Burial tune on it's own, except maybe remixes. Never got the "you need a certain vibe" thing, I can listen to Burial anytime.
I don't know if you're referring to what I said, but that's not what I meant - I meant that the music CONVEYS a certain vibe that keeps it interesting. But I agree, the whole thing about "Burial is best listened to while walking the rainy streets alone at night" doesn't really hold true for me, his music can work for me most any time.

oh no, just the general opinion that you gotta listen to his tunes "while walking the rainy streets alone at night" to "get" them.

Hircine · Post by **Hircine** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 6:04 am

if I ever walk listening to deep music alone in a rainy night I'll probably get mugged, maybe that's why I don't get burial.

damn edits can't fucking type

Sonika · Post by **Sonika** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 6:04 am

ultraspatial wrote:
Sonika wrote:
ultraspatial wrote:Don't think I've ever listened to a Burial tune on it's own, except maybe remixes. Never got the "you need a certain vibe" thing, I can listen to Burial anytime.
I don't know if you're referring to what I said, but that's not what I meant - I meant that the music CONVEYS a certain vibe that keeps it interesting. But I agree, the whole thing about "Burial is best listened to while walking the rainy streets alone at night" doesn't really hold true for me, his music can work for me most any time.
oh no, just the general opinion that you gotta listen to his tunes "while walking the rainy streets alone at night" to "get" them.

Yeah again, I disagree because I feel like I "get" them just fine without. Then again, I've never listened to them alone on a rainy street so maybe I'm missing out

Maccaveli · Post by **Maccaveli** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 6:11 am

For me it's just that Burial's music = instant change of mood. For many of his tunes, that's a mood I don't necessarily want to be in most of the time, not that it's necessarily a bad mood. So, when I'm in this mood already it's the perfect time to listen to him. This mood usually comes when I'm alone after being with a group of people, or in the aftermath of something emotional or tumultuous. I imagine most people here will know what I'm talking about if they've experienced this 'Burial mood' too.

Yes, I am aware that sounded like a load of pretentious wank but... fuck it

garethom · Post by **garethom** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 8:06 am

Sonika wrote:(such as 'Forgive,' although I just realized that's one of those interval tracks that Burial just puts between his main ones)

Just? JUST? JUST?! Just one of those interval tracks? Some of those are the stand out pieces on the albums!

Craziness from young Sonika. JUST?!

Not sure who decided on the order of the tunes on the albums, but they're perfectly placed. 'Raver' wouldn't sound so good coming out of 'Archangel' as it does coming out of 'UK'.

Those beatless pieces make the albums.

Jwccs46 · Post by **Jwccs46** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 8:15 am

There is alot of music in this scene that does not sound like "Dubstep"..doesn't mean a thing either way

zomby
skull disco
burial
swamp 81

etc

all these other sounds still orbit around the dubstep world..

JBoy · Post by **JBoy** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 8:17 am

ITS GARAGE MUSIC!!!!

Sonika · Post by **Sonika** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 11:06 am

garethom wrote:
Sonika wrote:(such as 'Forgive,' although I just realized that's one of those interval tracks that Burial just puts between his main ones)
Just? JUST? JUST?! Just one of those interval tracks? Some of those are the stand out pieces on the albums! Craziness from young Sonika. JUST?!

Not sure who decided on the order of the tunes on the albums, but they're perfectly placed. 'Raver' wouldn't sound so good coming out of 'Archangel' as it does coming out of 'UK'.

Those beatless pieces make the albums.

AAAHHH SORRY! :baby:

haha I wasn't downplaying their importance or quality, although that's probably what it sounded like. I meant more that the point I was making related more to tunes that had beats in them, and were more fully formed than tracks like UK, In McDonalds, Night Bus, Forgive etc

dickman69 · Post by **dickman69** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 11:23 am

ya, i dont understand the question...

it's an album, he does whatever he wants
you ever hear carl craig - alien talk? it's just alien noises, but it's still defined as "techno" because it's on a "techno" album

i think you're looking too far into it

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