Why does everything on Rephlex sound like 3rd rate RDJ? | xltronic messageboard
 
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Why does everything on Rephlex sound like 3rd rate RDJ?
 

offline idle interloper on 2014-03-12 20:34 [#02468911]
Points: 418 Status: Lurker



Is there some good stuff I'm missing? Does RDJ just have
these artists signed out of narcissism? Or does he figure
that if the acts sound enough like him, the rumors will
spread that he was the one who made the music, leading to
sales?


 

offline drill rods from 6AM-8PM NO PARKING (Canada) on 2014-03-12 20:46 [#02468913]
Points: 1171 Status: Regular



Not at all. Astrobotnia and Bochum Welt sound like 1st rate
RDJ!


 

offline hangjas from Netherlands, The on 2014-03-12 21:29 [#02468917]
Points: 121 Status: Regular



Why does everything on Creme Org sound like 3rd rate
Legowelt?

Why does everything on Unique Leader sound like 3rd rate
Deeds Of Flesh?

etc etc etc

Except for maybe the older BW stuff, I'd say it doesn't. If
anything, they're the most diverse label around imo.

It's just that afx paved the way for a whole new generation
creating a new subgenre which new artists can expand upon
and add their own flavours, like EOD or JK. Isn't it pretty
logical for a label to release music that has the same
braindancey vibes?

Rephlex is pretty unique as a label as in it's all over the
place (haven't you heard Dwayne Omarr, Victor Gama,
Freakwincey, Hecker, Pierre Bastien, Gentle People, Leila,
Slipper, Like A Tim, Leo Anibaldi, Voafose, Peter Green,
Robert Normandeau, The Criminal Minds, etc. etc. etc.?) but
still has a cohesive vibe to all of the music they put out?
I don't see many labels getting out of their comfort zone
like that.


 

offline RussellDust on 2014-03-12 21:39 [#02468918]
Points: 16053 Status: Lurker | Followup to hangjas: #02468917



I doubt he's heard much of the relases you mention. Maybe he
has though and this is a wind up.


 

offline idle interloper on 2014-03-12 21:54 [#02468920]
Points: 418 Status: Lurker | Followup to drill rods: #02468913



I admit this sort of was intended as a wind up, thinking
someone would prove me wrong. I have almost everything
Rephlex released on an old hard drive.

I should have said their more recent stuff is what usually
sounds like Richard. I mean stuff like David Monlith, Jodey
Kendrick, Steinvord, etc. Their output sounds like Analord
outtakes a lot of the time. I swear they use the same drum
machine patterns even. Richard should just lend them his
rare expensive synths so they can replicate his sound
entirely. I listen to a lot of their stuff and it makes me
think "I should just relisten to Analord stuff", as it's
aesthetically the same, but has the sort of "spark" that's
missing in these tracks.

Aleksi Perälä sounds like RDJ, but he's good enough that I
don't mind.


 

offline djhardcode from Netherlands, The on 2014-03-12 22:04 [#02468922]
Points: 498 Status: Addict



My guess is that he signs people who sound like him not out
of narcissism but the simple fact that he likes what he
makes, and probably hopes someone else might be able to make
the same kind of stuff so he can enjoy it without having to
make it himself. I think luke vibert kind of succeeds at
that, but is too unique to completely fill the void. I
somewhat agree with the more recent releases, haven't heard
them all only snips here and there, sometimes one will
rudely come on in the soundclpud player when I wasn't
expecting it, spammed. But I haven't heard any other rehex
except vibert and afx.



 

offline djhardcode from Netherlands, The on 2014-03-12 22:10 [#02468923]
Points: 498 Status: Addict



Oh and it has crossed my mind before that the "dilute afx"
tracks are simply the output of a test ai project that
creates tracks automatically. We all know that richard james
writes software or whatever, this would also account for the
similarities.


 

offline WarpBot2012 on 2014-03-13 08:06 [#02468942]
Points: 58 Status: Addict



I know what you mean. What you describe is more of a feeling
or vibe that's held by non fanboys. i.e. ppl who are not big
fans of Aphex Twin or Rephlex. But these days the mass music
media is worthless. Fuck NME and pitchfork. Also it's a lame
move to go on a fan site and provoke fans.

As for Analord copies, yes. Things have changed. Before the
vibe used to be that everyone had to make a new technique
and everything had to be 'seminal' and 'genius'. Every day
chasing the new things, the new sounds. In a way, that can
be ok. In another way that can be a cheap way to describe
music.

Think of Analord in one way: analogue synths instead of
virtual, recorded to tape instead of DAW, recorded live
instead of multitracked on PC. These are good things. OK
someone might point out some analord trax as not fitting in
to this mould. My point is: doing things in the classic 70s
way is not Analord copy. It is super awesome to record to
real tape, real nice lovely synths, and record it as a live
performance rather than cut and paste it together. More
music should be awesome like this. VST and DAW are
shitstains on your underwear. Many ppl knew this b4 analord
neway.

So there are talented guys and they are doing things with
70s 80s methods in the cool way and yeah they do copy Aphex
Twin too much. But do you actually have the talent yourself
to make something 'better' than Aphex Twin? I hope you do
because I would love to hear something better.

Now, I'm orf to write on the Chris Morris fan site about why
all the comedians on that site are copying Chris Morris.


 

offline jnasato from 777gogogo (Japan) on 2014-03-13 08:23 [#02468944]
Points: 3393 Status: Regular | Show recordbag



When I first discovered Rephlex in high school in ze late
90's, I was so into the label. Because to me, it was all
about this obscure vibe that they had, that could be felt in
most of the releases. Rephlex was vibe city.

I think likening everything to afx is an over-generalization
and giving too much credit to Richardz for his sounds. He
is just rich, famous, and influential (haha, "just"). It
doesn't mean all his stuff is good or that he's the best.

Jodey Kendrick is amazing, and although there is aphexish
influence, the production style and EQ is much more
space-tech. In that sense, I think one of RDJ's greatest
strengths is the sense of Earthy organic vibes. There's a
fine line in vibez between humans making alien tech, and
aliens trying to be human-- both are IDM, but there is a
slight different slant. (People like Richard Devine are
pretty much making alien-tech sounds "by aliens") RDJ is
like a human tripping and realizing space origins, yet still
grasping the grass and soil.

I dunno whatever, what the fuck.


 

offline djhardcode from Netherlands, The on 2014-03-13 18:22 [#02468960]
Points: 498 Status: Addict



either way that sound is massively overdone and played since
like 5 years ago


 

offline Advocate on 2014-03-13 18:37 [#02468962]
Points: 3319 Status: Lurker | Followup to djhardcode: #02468960



i'm just wondering, is this you?


 

offline ddrummondd on 2014-03-14 02:03 [#02468981]
Points: 558 Status: Regular



let's hear idle intercunt's rejected from rephlex music pls?
no wait, dont bother because no fucker would waste their
time with your yamaha 360 loop shit. so fuck off you jealous
prick.


 

offline idle interloper on 2014-03-15 19:26 [#02469015]
Points: 418 Status: Lurker | Followup to ddrummondd: #02468981



Why do I have to make music to have an opinion on it? Let's
hear [i]your[/i] rejected music Mr. Dick (sucking) James
apologist. Or do you spend all your free time training as
JivverDicker less eloquent understudy? I haven't made music
in years but when I did it didn't sound like an Analord
clone, for better or worse.

I never said I actually disliked this RDJ-sounding stuff,
it's just a bit annoying when there must be so many other
acts out there who sound much more original who remain
unsigned. I understand that they want a certain unifying
sound or aesthetic on their label, but ideally this would be
within reason.

Most of the acts I've criticized, I still enjoy listening to
at least occasionally, I just get the feeling "I may as well
just listen to AFX".


 

offline melack from barcielwave on 2014-03-16 01:26 [#02469020]
Points: 9099 Status: Regular



for what i know richie is not involved in the rephlex
managment anymore, so i guess its just grant alone, and id
say:

- he just releases what he likes and he likes aphex music

- rephlex is a dying label (as most little labels) and acid
trend is what sells the most nowadays

- he has some artists he signed up based on his high quality
sound, he just releases what they deliver to him

also, who sounds like analord? j/k and monolith (steinvord
sounds more like something between druqks and analord, and
id bet it is related to aphex somehow) and that makes just
two or three albums in some years...


 

offline yann_g from now on 2014-03-16 17:07 [#02469027]
Points: 3772 Status: Lurker



"Or does he figure that if the acts sound enough like him,
the rumors will spread that he was the one who made the
music, leading to sales?"

I know of one rephlex artist I was asked to not tell who he
was. I assume a little rumor boosts interest.


 

offline jnasato from 777gogogo (Japan) on 2014-03-17 05:02 [#02469028]
Points: 3393 Status: Regular | Show recordbag



Well, rephlex did pick up Macc and dgoHn, which is next
level drumstep or whatever, and Fire For Effect Records was
created to release Ultrademon. So sometimes new sounds get
in- and sometimes new labels are created for somewhat
different sounds? Actually, I felt seapunk fit in well with
braindance sounds.


 


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