Sykonee's 'Sportsing' Surveys: TIPPER

You know the type of fan: those who are so enraptured by an amazing artist, they can't help but endlessly go on about their genius, all the multiple layers of ingenuity within each construct, and will make damn sure you know about it, whether you care or not. The Tool Fan is probably the most famous of the lot, but many such acts have had such fans over the years. Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Kanye West, and so on. And it's never enough that they simply enjoy their fav's while letting others be, oh no. They must preach the Genius Gospel to others any chance they get, as though they're revealing some forbidden knowledge to the plebs that only they understand.

And I get it. No, really, I do! I've had moments like that in my own musical crusades. Early on in my Trance Wars, I would invade any unsuspecting forum or chat going on about the latest Dutch DJ, proclaiming their prefered trance as the bunk, espousing the true artistic genius of such God-like names as Kox Box or Oliver Lieb. And you know what? I was wrong to do so. Nothing turns folks off from an act faster than some twat invading their space telling them their taste in music is wrong, and it would only be right if they would just listen to the finer details of this particular style. Nay, 'tis better to create your own podium (re: blog) if you absolutely feel the need to sermonize about your taste in music - let the people come to you.

Where was I? Oh, right, Dave Tipper. Yeah, he's got one of those fanbases too. Not nearly as obnoxious as some other electronic music acts (Boards Of Canada, Porter Robinson, Illenium, Ricardo Villalobos, nearly any popular tech-house DJ, really ...Bassnectar, before all that), but I've definitely had those conversations with Tipper fans. That he'd be so much more popular and recognized by the industry at large, if only more people heard and "actually understood what he's doing in his music". Yet when I listened to a couple tracks or watch a festival vid', I seldom came away thinking any more of his talents than what was presented. Maybe I needed to hear the whole story, then, all of his works (or at least, his albums), then I would see the light? Let's get that survey on, then!









After all that, I'm sure folks are wondering: do I feel Tipper's hype is justified? After a fashion, I'd say so. His attention to sonic detail cannot be denied, and if that's what gets your jimmies off the most about electronic music, then have at 'er. Whenever he'd get super-deep into the weeds, however, I more often than not would start checking out. It's just a style of excessive production I care little about, and truth of the matter is, not many others do either. Tipper's style fills a particular niche, and for those fond of that niche, he's their God favoured son. I just don't always need to hear about it.

*whew* All this Serious Artistic Music has made getting hype during my 'sportsing' endeavours difficult. I think I need to get back to some 'dumb' music again. Gonna' do another Mastodon poll, but don't be suprised if my next survey is significantly less musically challenging.