Comments on: Madame Pamita – Do Whatever You Please (Chords)

By: Woodshed

Woodshed — Sat, 23 May 2009 07:57:59 +0000

Jon: I hate fun. But I still like Madam Pam.

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 22 May 2009 02:44:06 +0000

I’ll have to admit to being a Madame Pamita fan. The thing here is that the wax cylinder recordings are artifacts. They’re not meant to be transparent reproductions. When Pamita performs she shows off one of her actual wax cylinders and explains about the recordings. Also, if you buy a CD directly from her, she includes a whole package of prognosticatory marvels. This is a tough concept for some people but the whole thing is meant to be “fun”. It helps if you like fun.

By: Woodshed

Woodshed — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:36:24 +0000

ronhale: I take it you’re on the fence about this issue! Obviously a lot of what she does is an affectation. But there’s no real difference between affectation and showmanship.

rowrow: I’ve listened to that song (and many on the album) numerous times in less than a week and it doesn’t bother me a bit. The sounds become part of the song.

David and Jon: I’m in the like it camp.

J-Hob: Well put!

By: J-Hob

J-Hob — Wed, 20 May 2009 21:07:55 +0000

I enjoyed that. I’m in support of eschewing modern recording techniques, they can encourage an over-clinical, over-produced sound. This is clearly the other end of the spectrum and I do think in her case it really lends it something extra – it evokes memories old 78s and sets the mood for her music.

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:11:34 +0000

1.) I liked it too!

2.) I really dislike audiophiles.

By: David

David — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:32:19 +0000

I liked it!

By: rowrow

rowrow — Tue, 19 May 2009 19:33:17 +0000

ronhale:

While I certainly agree that the trend of purposefully recording on sub-par mediums can be irritating, I think it can also serve to put the listener in a different mindset. The act of straining to understand the sounds you might miss otherwise could cause you to really listen, instead of just passively hear.

Having said that, I don’t think I (personally) would be able to listen to that song more than once in the span of a week in that format without growing increasingly frustrated with every replay.

By: ronhale

ronhale — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:48:35 +0000

If this is some sort of trend in the making, the gods of
music have mercy on us all. Patti Plinko & Her Boy recorded
3 (of the 7) songs on their 2008 cd, Dada Noir, on dictaphone,
a fact that was not, in fact, spelled out in advance.

The difference with dictaphone sound is significant (& not in any good way) & the music is NOT in any way enhanced. I’m sure both MP & PP think this sound plays into their carefully crafted
images, but all it really does is call judgment into serious question.