When the musics align, you can stare a future in the eye.

October 1, 2007: WAX STAG Melts Your Brain


I found out about Wax Stag from his appearance on the Hot Chip DJ Kicks mix CD. That song quickly became my favorite song (on repeat) and now "Short Road" now has its very own EP. His mix is really good. It got me to thinking about the music people grow up with. Wax Stag, AKA Rob Lee, grew up in the UK surrounded by, apparently, death metal and Warp Records material. It got me to thinking, what is it like to grow up in Europe where electronic music is more a part of the mainstream of things? Does it make for more interesting electronic music, or less interesting electronic music than that that comes out of the United States? Somewhere recently I read about a British guy who said he preferred Americans because they were interested in creating music that was totally original, whereas Brits and other Europeans were simply interested in re-creating their favorite things. I don't really know what to say about that.

I know when I was growing up in Dallas, it was really hard to find electronic music at like Best Buy, especially the weird Warp-y kind. I guess it became easier as I moved into teenagedom and Nothing, Trent Reznor's label, started bringing over all of the Warp Records stuff. Aphex Twin, Plaid, Squarepusher, and most importantly even though it wasn't on Warp, Pop Will Eat Itself. And then there was Trainspotting.

I know a lot of you who listen to this show are in other countries, so please, in the comments, tell me, are there certain things about growing up in your country that you feel like you got more or less of that your American counterparts? And Americans, do you think we're missing out on stuff? Or do we have better choices?

I know without Nine Inch Nails and nothing (the label) and a lot of internet (a LOT OF INTERNET. Let me say that again, A LOT OF INTERNET and it was back when AOL was charging per-minute...my father was not happy) my music tastes would've been completely different. I think that kids growing up in the UK just get this through osmosis, not really hyperactive internet use. Like, is PWEI really popular in the UK? How about Orbital? Underworld? Does your mom know who Underworld are?

In some of these CDR songs on the mix, they are lo-fi in a way that a lot of American amateurs are, but they are completely electronic in a way that no Americans could ever think to be, I think. I think it's possible to grow up on a diet of synthesizers, not guitars, in the UK. I mean, mostly this is a theoretical thing. That's what it feels like from over here anyway. American rock bands that try to integrate electronics into their sound often sound awkward, but not so in the UK I think.

Anyway, thanks to Wax Stag for this really excellent DJ Mix!!!

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