bub@ames-lm.UUCP (Bubbette McLeod) (04/14/84)
While we're all woofing around, being cerebral, and defining music,
does anyone have a good definition of dirge (as used in relation to
punk/new wave/rock)? It seems to have something to do with dub
(but not necessarily reggae type dub); and bands like Killing Joke
defined as dirge. It's one of these I-kinda-know-what-it-is-but-couldn't-
tell-you-about-it kind of things.
bub
{hao,hplabs,menlo70,dual}!ames-lm!bubellis@flairvax.UUCP (Michael Ellis) (04/15/84)
Re: Dirge Invented by PiL, 2nd wave of the Johnny Lyden, a combination of slow grinding punk and reggae-dub, and maybe a cello or two thrown in. What Joy Division almost succeeded in doing.. -michael
rlr@pyuxn.UUCP (Rich Rosen) (04/17/84)
> Invented by PiL, 2nd wave of the Johnny Lyden, a combination of slow grinding > punk and reggae-dub, and maybe a cello or two thrown in. What Joy Division > almost succeeded in doing.. [ELLIS] Almost??? What do you have to do to succeed in achieving dirgedom? Hang yourself? Joy Division, the Cure, and a lot of the artists on Factory Records fit the dirge description rather well. The sound is one of such extreme despair that it defies your turning it off to listen to Olivia Newton-John. It need not be all that slow; the tone of the voice and the almost non-movement within the lead guitar line often gives the same effect. Some prime examples off the top of my head: Joy Division--(Dead Souls, The Eternal), the Cure (All Cats Are Grey). -- Now I've lost my train of thought. I'll have to catch the bus of thought. Rich Rosen pyuxn!rlr