Portishead and Kieslowski
So, I did something fairly dangerous this morning -- I let my mind wander around on it's own for a bit. This is always a dangerous thing as I am not certain where it's going to go. Today's thoughts mostly centered on the films I have been watching (the Kieslowski films), and the music I was listening to.
So, the first thing that I started thinking was about the appreciation that I had for Portishead. Unlike other groups, they were able to put out three volumes of material, and then decide to call it quits. (Although, there are rumours that they may get back together.) I think it's much more impressive that a group can maintain a consistency of ideas and vision over a period of time, than so many of the one-off's that are out there. (For example, the group I am listening now -- Propellerheads, appear to only have the one disc to their name.)
But, then I started thinking about Kieslowski. I started thinking that it was interesting how he made the transition from making documentary films into making feature films. And, I starting thinking about the contrasts and similarities between the Three Colors trilogy, and the Decalogue. (Admittedly, I have only watched the first film in the Decalogue, but it's beauty and power were overwhelming. If it were the only film I saw from the series, I would remember it always...)
This also started me thinking that it was an interesting insight into the whole media industry that when you have a group of people, the audience tends to want the group to stay the same, or to at least use the same "vocabulary" or "ideas" in communicating what they have to say. However, when it comes to individual artists, there is much more room to accept change and variance.
For example, Rod Stewart has been through many stylistic changes over the years, and indeed, much of the substance of what he puts into his work has changed. Could anyone have forseen an album of standards from him? Then I was thinking of Miles Davis and Frank Zappa and the variation and range of recordings they produced throughout their careers.
Then I started thinking about groups like Styx, Rush, REO Speedwagon, etc. They are stuck in a rut of having to do the same type of material that they were doing back in the 80's. Twenty years and they've barely been able to change anything about their style.
And, lest this seem like I am singling out 80's rock groups -- think about a group like Radiohead. I know that more and more people have not liked their work from Kid A on because they feel that the group was changing -- getting more electronic and less organic feeling. Then I look at a group like Yes that only had a hit when they changed to a more radio-oriented format, and they lost quite a bit of their original following. Then, when they went back to a format closer to the original style, they lost many of their newer followers...like a big weird reaction to their changes in personnel.
I think this also extends to a group like Portishead. I don't know that they could have changed their style without alienating part of their audience. So, it was good to show that the stylistic choice was not a one-off: it was something that they could work within, and take on the road, etc. However, when it was time to change, they decided to go different ways.
So, anyway, just a bit of weird correlation between Portishead and what Kieslowski do within their art. Not based on fact, but just a personal observation based on my impressions.
So, the first thing that I started thinking was about the appreciation that I had for Portishead. Unlike other groups, they were able to put out three volumes of material, and then decide to call it quits. (Although, there are rumours that they may get back together.) I think it's much more impressive that a group can maintain a consistency of ideas and vision over a period of time, than so many of the one-off's that are out there. (For example, the group I am listening now -- Propellerheads, appear to only have the one disc to their name.)
But, then I started thinking about Kieslowski. I started thinking that it was interesting how he made the transition from making documentary films into making feature films. And, I starting thinking about the contrasts and similarities between the Three Colors trilogy, and the Decalogue. (Admittedly, I have only watched the first film in the Decalogue, but it's beauty and power were overwhelming. If it were the only film I saw from the series, I would remember it always...)
This also started me thinking that it was an interesting insight into the whole media industry that when you have a group of people, the audience tends to want the group to stay the same, or to at least use the same "vocabulary" or "ideas" in communicating what they have to say. However, when it comes to individual artists, there is much more room to accept change and variance.
For example, Rod Stewart has been through many stylistic changes over the years, and indeed, much of the substance of what he puts into his work has changed. Could anyone have forseen an album of standards from him? Then I was thinking of Miles Davis and Frank Zappa and the variation and range of recordings they produced throughout their careers.
Then I started thinking about groups like Styx, Rush, REO Speedwagon, etc. They are stuck in a rut of having to do the same type of material that they were doing back in the 80's. Twenty years and they've barely been able to change anything about their style.
And, lest this seem like I am singling out 80's rock groups -- think about a group like Radiohead. I know that more and more people have not liked their work from Kid A on because they feel that the group was changing -- getting more electronic and less organic feeling. Then I look at a group like Yes that only had a hit when they changed to a more radio-oriented format, and they lost quite a bit of their original following. Then, when they went back to a format closer to the original style, they lost many of their newer followers...like a big weird reaction to their changes in personnel.
I think this also extends to a group like Portishead. I don't know that they could have changed their style without alienating part of their audience. So, it was good to show that the stylistic choice was not a one-off: it was something that they could work within, and take on the road, etc. However, when it was time to change, they decided to go different ways.
So, anyway, just a bit of weird correlation between Portishead and what Kieslowski do within their art. Not based on fact, but just a personal observation based on my impressions.