After lots of discussions on this forum lately about minutiae like heater voltages, U47 head basket dimples, and other micro-topics, here now a refreshing and challenging perspective from a world-reknown artist and recording industry veteran on some larger issues facing our industry.
(The interview was given to a German news daily a couple of weeks ago, and translated by me.)
On production quality of current recordings, and why the artist chose to go "unpolished" on the latest album:
"These days everyone can make an album, even a lapdog could do it. That's why there is no reason to deliver the same polished garbage like all the rest. It only distracts from what's really relevant. Pop has deteriorated to being background wallpaper, to peel potatoes or do crossword puzzles by."
On release formats:
"I am issuing the new album as either vinyl or Blue Ray, because these are the only two uncompressed release formats. All other formats only deliver a fraction of the musical data: CDs 15%, MP3 5%. It's not the illegal downloads that threaten the industry, but the technical quality of the product. These (low res) release formats ruin the listening experience.
Anyone with two healthy ears will have to say: 'I'm not going to be part of this. Keep your garbage, I'd rather go fishing."
On the future of albums:
"I am trying to shake things up, because the labels are not getting active. If they are not going to invest any money into new technologies, people will soon stop buying albums altogether, because they can download the music from the internet."
On music downloads:
That's the irony: even though you can find anything on the internet now, it simply sounds like shit: dispensable data garbage. That's why I recommend to buy my new album in vinyl or Blue Ray. Only then can you really hear what I am doing."
Honorable mention to the first person who can correctly guess who spoke these words.
