september 2023: Locked in a ChatGPT groove
I've been thinking about two things:
1. The concept of catharsis
2. Wondering what purpose locked grooves on vinyl records serve, other than novelty.
I feel like these two things may either be connected, or perhaps the inverse of each other. Can you help me make sense of this?
Locked grooves can create a form of catharsis through repetition. The constant replaying of a particular musical segment can lead to a meditative or trance-like state, allowing the listener to immerse themselves in the music and possibly experience emotional release. On the other hand, one might argue that locked groove records could be seen as the inverse of catharsis. Instead of leading to emotional release, they can lead to emotional stagnation or frustration due to the lack of progression and variety. In this sense, the relationship between catharsis and locked grooves could be a dynamic interplay between immersion and stagnation.
OK. You’ve helped illuminate where my thoughts were headed. A locked groove is an immersion, yet it’s ultimately confining. One must physically lift the needle to find release (or relief) from this endless loop. There’s no resolution without this intervention, and this intervention rips you out of immersion.
This idea is metaphorical. It can be a representation of emotional stagnation or a trapped state, which contrasts with the cathartic experience that art, particularly music, aims to provide. In this way, the comparison between locked grooves and catharsis becomes an exploration of how artistic concepts #can reflect and illuminate our psychological and emotional experiences.
It’s funny. I’m a person who has always loved chugging, loop-based music with little variation. Honestly, the slower and same-er the better. Once I took a non-club friend to a deep tech night, and they said that over the course of the night the music sounded like one single loop with no variation. I was surprised by that. Like, I hear the repetition, but it doesn’t feel meditative or trance-like in my ears. Every anticipation of the next loop feels different to the one before it. There’s suspense and drama in those moments.
In this context, the locked groove record metaphor might still hold, but with a twist. While the looped repetition may not lead to a grand cathartic release, it creates a series of micro-experiences, each with its own emotional charge. These micro-experiences contribute to the overall narrative of the music, offering a textured emotional journey that doesn't follow the traditional patterns of build-up and release.
I like what you're saying, that rigid loops can offer their own micro-catharsis. I remember telling someone once that I liked STL's productions, and they replied ‘yeah they’re cool, but they're tool tracks’. We had to agree to disagree.
Your experience highlights that even within the constraints of repetition and minimal variation, there can be a wealth of emotional and intellectual engagement for listeners who appreciate the subtleties, the tension, and the unique journey that each loop offers. The fact that you've found value, depth, and even micro-catharsis in loop-based music challenges the notion that these tracks are merely tools for DJs.
Um. You’re beginning to sound a little.. repetitive.
Thank you for pointing that out.
DOWNLOAD FLYER German translation by Thilo Schneider / Artwork by Marc Brandenburg