Walter Carlos 'Sonic Seasonings' - Classic or Dud?

As a musican , Switched on Bach was a cute trick, Clockwork was intruging and Sonic Sesoaning was a bit twee.

I paid about 40 UK pounds for 'Sonic Seasonings' on vinyl secondhand, and found it somewhat pretentious, although it did beat Eno to the Electronic Ambient genre. However, 'Well-Tempered Synthesiser' is one of the best records of its type (and there were many clunkers in the rush to emulate 'Switched On') and Wendy's 1986 experiment with pseudo- ethnic music and weird scales, Beauty In The Beast, is rather splendid.

I always associate that record with the 7" of "Autobahn" - though they may've been years apart, for all I can remember. I don't know the Kraftwerk album of that name terribly well, but the single (wasn't it described on the label as 'Highlights from...'?) is one of the most perfect bits of pop music ever.

You were sued by Wendy? What for? Sampling?

The general impression of Clockwork Orange soundtrack is hard to make since it is very linked with the movie with me.

I will listen to all three records in tandem. It's hardly easy listening, is it?

Want to add anything Momus ?

Where could I get the lyrics to Wendy Carlos?

I'll track down the lyrics on the internet. Interesting question though, if it was someone other than Momus, would that arse saving legal fees album be looked upon with such grace? Concepts of mainstream v. cult singer songerwriters and what they can and cannot do. If TLC released an album similar after their bankruptcy, how would that be looked upon?

Anyways, sounds like a lovely story of Wendy and Walter meeting up.

Because three parties (two labels and me) were cited, the decision to settle out of court was taken by BMG lawyers. I was then left with the legal bill to pay in full, because everybody except me had a contract exonerating them from responsibility in such circumstances. I was where the buck stopped. As the poorest person with the fewest lawyers, I had to foot the biggest bill. That was my 'welcome to America' experience.

Hence the 'Stars Forever' album. Which, actually, was both humbling (a year of toil down the mines of Tin Pan Alley) and liberating (hey, you mean I can write about somebody else now?). Maybe it was easier to shake the money tree back in pre-recessionary 1999, but if I'd continued writing two songs a day for a thousand dollars apiece (the rate at which commissions were coming in during February '99) I could have earned almost a million dollars a year.

Is the North American legal system not refreshing, the land of the free, etc...etc...

For two years, two very shameful years, I worked in a 'high power/we are god' law office and am still having karmic repercussions from. However, I was able to photocopy and sell the Backstreet Boys contract to loads of girlies at 50 a go. As a aside: just wanted to say, kudos to you, Momus. You were able to turn your legal 'failure' into art.

Personal question, though, were you able to listen to Wendy/Walter Carlos albums in the aftermath?

Fascinating stuff re. Momus v. Walter/Wendy here...

Just pulled this record down a few days ago -- interesting, tho I agree w/ above poster that the environmental fx often drown out the music.

that's what I love most about this album, you're just going to have to listen to it another few dozen times until you can hear how beautifully the electronic and natural sounds are balanced. The effects are the music, half the time the electronics are only in a support role to draw you deeper into the unperformed sounds, and much of the rest of the time they've merged so completely you can't easily tell them apart -- the locust drone on 'Summer', the way the field recordings of birds are slowly mixed in with twittering electronic loops, the moment when Rachel starts singing along with the wolves and the chimes.

the liner notes also make it clear that many of the most convincing moments aren't field recordings, they had to design them in the studio. the whole thing is a construction. that rainstorm is not a rainstorm.

I used a cassette of this for a study / sleep tape in high school so I honestly have no idea how many times I've listened to this album. And I hope she puts out the quadraphonic version sooner rather than later.