eddie prevost- no sound is innocent

saltwatersnow · November-30th-2003, 02:56 PM

has anyone read this and can tell me what its contents are. i know nothing about it except its author

Alastair · December-1st-2003, 12:43 PM

I have. In fact, I bought a copy off Nat at the Conway Hall a year or so ago.

It's a series of short pieces regarding different aspects of Eddie's theories of music, plus a potted history of AMM. This may say more about my intelligence than Eddie's ideas or writing style, but I found it tough going. One day I may read it again.

Not to say there weren't some intriguing ideas and arguments in there though.

Nate Dorward · December-1st-2003, 09:05 PM

Yeah, I have it & I think I read about 1/2 of it. Eddie's an OK writer but the ideas seemed to be pretty predictable, especially the idea that basically any type of music that, er, wasn't AMM was stagnant or an adjunct to capitalism or whatever. I'm parodying somewhat (& it's not fresh in my head) but........

It does have some useful history of AMM, but if I remember rightly this is confined to a couple introductory chapters, of which one is reprinted in its entirety on the European Free Improvisation website. The rest of it is simply Eddie expounding his aesthetics. The basic thesis of the book to put it crudely (not that it's any less blunt in the book) is that music is inherently ideological. (The title puts it in a nutshell.) There's no great detail on his actual musical procedures or drumming technique, if that's what you're looking for.

Long & short of it? If you're curious or a serious AMM fan, go ahead. If not I'd suggest investing in one of Prevost's CDs instead, as it'll likely give you more to chew on.

Jon Abbey · December-11th-2003, 04:41 AM

he has a second book due out relatively soon, I believe.

setanta · June-6th-2004, 02:17 PM

Its just out. It is called "Minute Particulars" and is subtitled "meanings in music-making in the wake of hierarchical realignments and other essays".

Alastair · June-7th-2004, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by setanta

Its just out. It is called "Minute Particulars" and is subtitled "meanings in music-making in the wake of hierarchical realignments and other essays".

Ideal beach reading, by the sound of it.

Nathaniel Catchpole · June-7th-2004, 03:03 PM

Having read both (the first one about three years ago, and my own ideas about this stuff have developed somewhat since then, but still), I'd recommend starting with Minute Particulars, since he deals with more specific situations/musicians/events, and this would probably work well as an introduction to some of the more abstract essays in "No Sound is Innocent" - again without having read them close together or in that order.

http://www.matchlessrecordings.com/pub_set.html

Jon Abbey · June-7th-2004, 03:48 PM

I have one en route, I'm very curious about the Rowe/Tilbury essay.

walto · June-10th-2004, 10:37 PM

I've got one coming too.

Jon Abbey · June-10th-2004, 11:57 PM

I don't actually have one en route yet, thanks to the overly busy people at Forced Exposure. hopefully one of the stores in the Village will have it next time I make it over there...

Jon Abbey · June-11th-2004, 09:52 PM

ok, now I have a copy of this, and have read a bit. my initial thoughts: nice to see Erstwhile referenced so much, credited as many times in the index as Morton Feldman. Eddie's essay on Duos for Doris is also very interesting.

on the other hand, his essay on Hands of Caravaggio is intrinsically misguided (not usually a good idea to write about the difference between a concert and a CD when you didn't actually attend the concert), and I've just written him a note telling him so.