MB> I have much less experience time in music but I think all the bands you
MB> mention are relatively known, although I don't necessarily know them
MB> well. In the last months I've been more and more in contact with very
MB> obscure and original music, in the Prog/Fusion/Zeuhl styles, thanks to
MB> my friend who owns the best musicshop on Earth.
I forgot to list Orchestral Manoevures in the Dark, Men Without Hats, Heart, 
Rush, and Gary Numan in my previous post.  That pretty much sums it up for me 
although I do also have over 700 CDs and 900 LPs (from the early days) - so 
those I listed aren't even close to all that I like to listen to.
And yes, they are relatively known - although there is hardly a soul that I 
know in my personal life that listens to any of them save for Led Zeppelin. 
I'm pretty much on my own with this list.  I have to go online to get any 
good conversation out of anybody regarding them!
As far as obscure stuff goes, probably the most impressive record I've ever 
encountered by an artist I didn't know is "The Iceberg Model" by John Watts. 
It was released in 1983 and is the only music in existence by him that I'm 
aware of.  The music on it is not amateurish sounding, so I'm sure he must 
have other releases out somewhere in the world.  Where to go to get them is 
another matter altogether however.  I found this album languishing in a 
cutout bin at a local record shop (which still sells new LPs in abundance!).  
The cover looked interesting.  I was surprised by the quality of the music 
within it as well.
I also listen occasionally to Captain Beefheart's "Trout Mask Replica" but 
it's difficult to endure in its entirety.
I like Laurie Anderson too.  (She listens to Captain Beefheart too.)
Perhaps you would be interested in *my* music when I get it finished.
It's not very rhythmic or rich in tonality but it is enjoyable to make.
It will be available on 6-hour VHS HiFi tape only.  I hope to be through
with it by year's end.  I'm also currently mulling over my options regarding 
what video information I should include with the audio.  It will not be 
marketed as a video despite the fact that it will be on videotape.  I just 
think it would be wasteful to not include something simple visually to 
accompany the music since the medium inherently supports that capability.
MB> What kind of computer do you use?
Why, a Commodore 128, of course!  I have two of them here at home and a
C64 in my office at work.  They are amazing machines and some amazing little 
peripherals have been developed for them by 3rd party manufacturers in this 
decade which will no doubt extend the useful life of my machines for me well 
into the 3rd millenium.
Re: Trackers
MB> Music-Composing software.
Ah!  Now I know what you're talking about!  You needn't explain further.
MB> Our music sheets actually look like
MB> spreadsheets and databases, with all those note names,
MB> volumes, octaves, instrument numbers, effect codes.
That's interesting.  I have always believed that one day I will get into this 
aspect of music-making, but for now my Ensoniq EPS-16Plus and my C128 keep me 
quite busy.  Too busy as a matter of fact!
Myke
mykec@delphi.com
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