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Re: Total Improv



Andy O said:
 > What are some current or past bands or loopers that do complete, 100% 
improv? I mean like off the top of your head vocals and all?
As an introduction, I'd like to state that complete 100% improvisation 
is a) overrated (http://bit.ly/hZ58xl) and b) not even possible (still 
need to write that text explaining this).

That being said...following the use of the term which I believe is 
yours, I do that, exclusively since about 2000, with a few exceptions: 
about three tracks I did last year (http://bit.ly/ecbtVI, 
http://bit.ly/9rdWY6, http://bit.ly/edrip3), one track on my "Neinnein 
auf dem kleinen Weg" album which is a reinterpretation of an idea used 
for a track which was originally improvised for my "SAUBER!" album, and 
one track I played in Espoo in 2008 which was based on an improvised 
track from my Weird Specialist album (http://bit.ly/gwpcBF). From 2001 
to about 2005, I had a band which also did unprepared stuff 
(http://moinlabs.de/index.php?id=252). Also, all of my MoinSound Studio 
Sessions follow that approach (http://moinlabs.de/index.php?id=289, 
well, nearly all of it).

 > Like they are so into it, dont even sell records or even archive the 
songs.....
No, I don't really sell records, but you can feel free to pay for a 
download ;) http://moinlabs.bandcamp.com/ [ok, self-marketing off now].

 > Who does that? This is what I like to do, whoo, not easy, and really, 
to get there I have to master every sound my rig and my instruments can 
make. Feels like a long long road but > gratifying when it feels you are 
one with the machine.

I don't see that mastering every possible sound (or even a few sounds) 
is more important for freely improvised stuff than it is for doing 
composed material, actually even less so. For me, just doing something 
with my (sometimes very complex) setup where I do not have any idea how 
the result might sound is a good starting point in improvisation to go 
from. Use new sounds, surreal effect settings, new instruments, 
functions you don't know - then see what happens and build on top of it.

It really helps for going "all improvised" if you have a certain 
averseness towards rehearsing, practising, learning songs etc.
What can help you getting better at it is recording lots of stuff you 
play, then reviewing and analyzing that and if you like something, try 
to find out how you arrived at it.

So much on that huge topic,

             Rainer

(who's been trying to get away from that improvisation addiction for 
several years)

-- 
http://moinlabs.de
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/moinlabs