Ask Geir Hongro

1. Do you get interested in and excited about production, when working on stuff? Apart from the actual song you're playing, do you find it fun to play with or think about interesting sounds or interesting ways of arranging them in space?

Definitely. A good tune is most important of all, but I a good production makes it even better.

2. I know that with a lot of popular r&b or hip-hop you often don't like the songs, but do you ever just think the production is interesting? Do you ever listen to stuff and decide that even though you don't like the song, you think it sounds pretty cool?

Indeed, yes. Absolutely.

Geir, Manchester United have just won eight in a row, three of which were at some point unlikely comebacks, to more or less seal the title. It's a great achievement no doubt, but in your view was this the last gasp of a team running on empty, or typical of great champions who will now go onto even better things?

Depends whether Ronaldo will remain with the team ;)

Which are your least favorite tracks on OK Computer, and why?

"Electioneering" is a bit repetitive and boring. A bit like the guitar rockers on "The Bends", only without as strong a tune. "Climbing Up The Walls" I don't really have anything against, but it isn't quite as amazing as the rest either.

What are your views of the direction modern music should be progressing in, in regards to its history?

It may progress in any direction it wants to, as long as it remains rather conservative in terms of melody and harmony. Technology develops all the time, and using new technology is positive. As long as the songs and chords are composed in the traditional way at first, and the new technology is only used to "spice up" that afterwards.

:(

i know, only a month...

i take it this means dude is temporarily banned?

the not-even-crypto racism was certainly fucked but i can't help but admit that part of me feels sad tbh

finally the SB system does something right

It is you guys who are trying to make music into something else than just music. Music is all about how it sounds and nothing else. There is no quota for certain genders or skin colours, just sound and nothing but sound. Music is strictly music, and shouldn't be judged from any other criteria than strictly (head) musical ones. The world neeeds to get back to the values of German classical music in the 18th and 19th century.

Music sounds best when being melody/harmony oriented rather than rhythm oriented and performed by male voices. Now, it's easy for black people to make the former, and they probably well before or since to a larger extent than today. But no hope for female voices, sorry.

are we positive geir's a real person?

Do you reckon he'd pass the Turing test?

lol no

oh wow i didn't know about the female voices thing.

Wow.

lol, never saw the female voice thing before either, what a shame it'll never be explained

The female voice is the female voice and only the female voice. True complex harmonics can only be performed by the resonance of an adam's apple. Of course some female voices can be appealing in certain ways, with the right melodic structure :)

SB'd u for reposting

let's pour one out for our buddy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZE6HfWbg1E

this you, Geir?

geirbot

that is not a question iirc

Geir, what are your favorite albums that can be described as lo-fi? if you heard a record that was extremely well written (I'm talkin Pet Sounds quality) but rather shoddily produced, how highly would you rate it?

Geir, what are your favorite albums that can be described as lo-fi?

A lot of 60s albums would apply. "Face To Face" by The Kinks is horribly low fi, as in very very very badly produced. But it's still a great album because it contains great songs.

(Needless to say, I would have liked it way better with a state of the art production a la "Revolver" or "Pet Sounds" though)

that's funny, because Face to Face is the last album of theirs that Ray didn't produce. it's pretty flat and tinny-sounding, which is less of a problem on the garagey songs than on the more delicate stuff like "Too Much on My Mind" and "Rainy Day in June". I think Something Else was a pretty big leap in sound quality in terms of stereo effects and the sense of space surrounding each instrument, but I don't know if that has more to do with Ray's creative input than with improved recording technology. both, maybe.

Probably some kind of demand that even they would get access to better equipment. Pye was a small label with a small budget, and Kinks had to put up with really bad recording conditions for longer than most major acts.

Geir, are there any more recent albums (say, last 10 years) of which you're a huge fan, but would consider the production "lo-fi"?

Geir, what breakfast cereal do you eat?

Frosted mini wheats but only the white side

thanks geir

what is your favorite record sleeve?

Geir, are there any more recent albums (say, last 10 years) of which you're a huge fan, but would consider the production "lo-fi"?

Depends on the definition of low-fi and "huge fan". But "Phantom Power" is one of my definite favourite albums by Super Furry Animals. I don't know if it was low-fi per se, but it was a considerably cheaper and rougher production than the ones before and after it. Still sounds great though.

what is your favorite record sleeve?

Probably "Tales From Topographic Oceans".

As for acts I am not necessarily a great fan of musically, I absolutely adore this recent sleeve by Danish postrockers Efterklang:
http://onethirtybpm.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Efterklang-Magic-Chairs.jpg

who is your favourite painter

who is your favourite painter

Not very into painting, but I guess it might be Dali or Margritte or somebody from that age.

Weird and absurd, but strictly figurative.
Which sort of parallells my taste in prog and 60s psych pop: Weird and absurd, but strictly tonal.

Geir, what breakfast cereal do you eat?

― glumdalclitch, Wednesday, 23 March 2011 04:51

LOL We usually don't eat cerals for breakfast in Norway. More like slices of bread. :)

oh.

Who is your favourite 19th century German classical composer?

Good name for your putative record label: Strictly Tonal.

Who is your favourite 19th century German classical composer?

Either Schubert or Brahms. Would be Brahms if you count Schubert as an Austrian.

In the last 5 years where have you been on vacation and which would you say was the place you find the most relaxing?

Good name for your putative record label: Strictly Tonal.

omg <3

geir, being married to a norwegian we eat ribba (sp?) every year for christmas. Do you?

geir, being married to a norwegian we eat ribba (sp?) every year for christmas. Do you?

Yes.

In the last 5 years where have you been on vacation and which would you say was the place you find the most relaxing?

Several places, most of which were big cities and great but not particularly "relaxing". :)

(using other superlatives than "relaxing", I loved Rome, I loved Venice, I loved Barcelona, and - in spite of the weather - I always love London and Copenhagen. Hard to pick, really)

do you like the sound of birdsong or other natural 'non-musical' sounds?

Ever fancied visiting Scotland, Geir? If so, what would you most like to see?

are you a side sleeper? back sleeper? stomach??

tmi

How big is your 'record collection'? The exact size in inches.