June 2006 - Interview for Tokafi.com:
Reprint of an interview conducted via email with Tobias Fischer for Tokai.com
(selected questions edited from the Tokafi.com original) :
Generally speaking (which is always wrong, but
makes things a lot easier), there are two types of drones: The celestial, "open"
and high-pitched type on the one hand and the deep, thickly meandering and
resting bass bubbles on the other. Paul Bradley mostly prefers to explore the
latter category, but his aural excursions take you to heaven nonetheless. Two
factors play an important role in his discography, which by now has reached
about twenty impressive releases of almost impeccable beauty: Infinity and
frequency. For it is mainly through the ebb and tide of frequencies as well as
their subtle but constant modulation that his only seemingly static pieces dance
both in circular and linear slow-motion. And it is the total irrelevance (or
even disappearance) of time, which makes them seem like oceans without borders
and like stories without a beginning or an end. Paul's aproach is the absolute
antithesis to "intellectual" concepts and his music can be "understood" by
everyone when listened to with the heart and - yes! - the body - these
low-register tones sure have a strong physical effect as well! Which may be the
reason that he has a strong liking for collaborations, among them with some of
the biggest names of the genre: Colin Potter, Andrew Liles and Darren
Tate.
What’s your view on the music scene at present? Is there a
crisis? (in relation to mp3 files and downloads)
I think music is currently in a period of change. As with
cassette tapes and VHS video recorders in the 80’s, the Internet is seen as the
death kneel for music. The music industry (meaning the bigger corporations of
the music world) complain that music downloads are the ruin of the industry, but
I have little sympathy with them. They fail to acknowledge that a drop in sales
could be linked to the poor quality dross that is currently saturating the mass
market. I do however have sympathy with marginal artists who due to Internet downloads
are finding it increasingly difficult to make a living from their craft
(although of course, some circles would see it that such a crass and deplorable
thing would never happen). I have no problem with downloads as such; they do
have a positive side. For instance, they can open a world of music to someone
who otherwise would never be exposed to it not to mention the portability and
ease of use of the MP3 players. However what I do have a problem with is the
lack of control over what happens to our own creations. It is not for someone
else to decide how best they think somebody’s music should be distributed and
presented by, for example, sharing files without the artist’s permission. It
is also worth remembering here that MP3 files etc are a step backwards with regards
to sound quality. What passes itself off as ‘CD quality’ is a long way short of
that and it concerns me that there will be a generation of listeners unable to
tell the difference between their crap quality sounds files and a CD. Poor
quality computer files played through poor quality ‘in-ear’ headphones whilst on
the train to work is killing the ability of people to actually listen.
What does the term „new“ mean to you in connection with
music?
Recent.
How do you see the relationship between sound and
composition?
I see composition as the act of arranging sound.
Are “serious” and “popular” really two different types of music or
just empty words without a meaning?
I’m taking the term ‘popular’ to mean
anything that appears in the ‘rock and pop’ music racks in a general music
store. I’m not sure what ‘serious music’ is to be honest. Music that is thought
about? thought provoking? acclaimed? accomplished? pretentious? There is plenty
of ‘popular’ music that are all these things.
Do you feel an artist has a certain duty towards anyone but himself?
Or to put it differently: Should art have a political/social or any other aspect
apart from a personal sensation?
‘Should’ art have a political / social
aspect? No. Art is made for numerous reasons, and political or social comment is
only one. An artist has no duty to anyone unless they choose to take it
on.
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