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Looper's Delight
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All, Adrian Belew Electronic Guitar (60 mins.) Copyright 1984 DCI Music Video Productions available at: http://www.gtrheaven.com/videos.htm David Torn Painting with Guitar (2 tape series / total time: 130 mins.) Copyright 1993 Homespun Tapes Ltd. available at: http://www.homespuntapes.com/prodpg/prodpg.asp?prodID=564 I own both of these and while I have enjoyed both and have benefited from both I'd still have to say that the later has been more useful. Belew's video is mostly built around getting specific, signature, oddball sounds from various devices that are no longer available. He does explain a small number of physical playing techniques too, but these are few and far between as I recall. It's also a gas to see him experiment live on camera. But, while it is a terrific peek at the "wizard" behind the curtain (so to speak, for anyone who has ever heard his music and wondered "how the heck did he do that?") it doesn't translate much beyond that in overall usefulness. On the other hand, while Mr. Torn in his videos also makes use of a number of similarly esoteric (and probably no longer available) devices, the explanations he gives of his techniques are generally more transferable to other devices and styles of music. His demonstrations seem to reveal at least as much of the "architecture" as it does of the "hardware" behind his approach. This is more useful in my opinion. And there's still the same "peek behind the curtain" aspect of it too -- and, as expected, the playing is fascinating to listen to/watch as well. As an aside: I bought the DTPWG video at one of my first NAMM shows (in the early '90s when I was working for Seymour Duncan). It was at the end of the day and not 5-10 minutes after making my purchase -- when I was rushing back across the hall to meet up with my coworkers to head out for the evening's activities -- and just who should I almost physically run into rounding a corner (whilst not looking and concentrating on other things) but Mr. Torn himself. Of course, like the doofus I am, I said: "Excuse me, uh, err.... Hi, aren't you David Torn? I reeeeeally like your stuff. Keep it up (or some other silliness). Have a great show!" Then I hurried off like the happy, harried idiot I was. He probably wondered "What the _____ was that all about?" Anywho, it didn't occur to me that I had his videos in a bag under my arm (and might have gotten them autographed). I was too embarrassed by the situation of almost having bumped into a fellow struggling along with a walking stick (not to mention that it turned out to be an artist who's work I happen to think rather a very great deal of). Ah . . . so it goes. Anyway, if you go to NAMM, watch out where you are going. You never know just who you may bump into. Best, Ted Killian www.mp3.com/TedKillian www.pfmentum.com/flux.html www.mp3.com/Ophelia_Pancake