Re: Complex99 and the East/West divide – A reply by Siril / 4D

Re: Complex99 and the East/West divide
A reply by Siril / 4D

In the last issue of SE, there were some thoughts about the difference between the East and West scenes; in particular, the music-scene. And the placing of Yerzmyey's music in the divided Complex Compo results is just another striking instance of it. (Although some sceners think it's stupid to divide votes between East / West - why not old/newcomers, 48k/128k owners, monochrome/colour monitor users, or homo/hetero-ppl? :))

But it's doubtful that ex-USSR ppl deliberately avoided voting for his music, after recognising his special style. I do not believe it possible because Yerzmyey became well-known to the ex-USSR scene only after Complex Compo, initially only as a cool funny-screen artist (with his own special style of course =)).

As a musician, Yerzmyey became more famous after Millenium Virtual Contest (organized by Fourth Dimension). But how is that difference in results to be explained? To my mind, there are several reasons... (And here allow me to call your attention to the fact that East and West scenes were separated from each other for a long time, and if something is natural to West-ppl, the same thing is seen in another way by East-ppl and vice versa, of course.)

So, first of all I want to say that Yerzmyey's music style is not so special to the ex-USSR music scene; on the contrary, it's associated with old-styled music, which is simply not very popular. And other Russian old-styled tracks (like "Broken Joystick") are placed at the bottom of the East results, and in the middle or top in the West results.

I think it is because we have different criteria for evaluation.

Generally, Russians follow these criteria (in order of priority):

1. Technique. East and West technique is different because of the different trackers used by musicians (it's easy for me to recognize SQ-Tracker or ProTracker modules by the sound). And, for example, ex-USSR musicians use envelope and echo effects more often, to achieve a different sound to Westerners. Of course, every cool musician has his own sound, original methods/effects/samples (and of course the best of them can emulate any technique of other musicmaker, and has no "general-style").

2. Originality. The original composition, form of track...

3. Theme. In my opinion, East-musicians make more melodic and "linear" tracks. Western themes are more "free-style" or "jazz-styled".

Despite theme being in third place, it's very important - but if the level of technique (sound/effects) is low, there is no chance that such music will get a high mark.

To my mind, West-ppl have another criterion list ;) Something like this:

1. Theme.
2. Originality
   ...
   X. Technique ;)))

So, there was my explanation. There are many things that can be said about the difference betwen the east and west scenes, but just remember that we are the same Speccy fans!