Sebastien Bailey
Simulation of an Enemy

While I was browsing these pages, I came across an article criticizing the presence of software in many electronic musical projects. It was a critique that was somewhat similar to the one I took up a while ago when I read that "power electronics has moved from the realm of theory to the realm of practice". I am sure I am not the only one who feels this way about practice. In a way it is a natural evolution. When I began playing electric guitar and other electronic instruments, I could not help thinking about the difference between theory and practice: the former involves the application of concepts, while the latter is based on physical phenomena. It is a matter of practice to master the concepts, but the process of mastery is a process of practice. With practice comes a certain freedom, and with that freedom comes a certain responsibility. In practice one can play with the results, but one cannot allow one's practice to become the result. In that respect, one might say that it is the practice of a "guitarist who has moved beyond theory to the realm of live performance". That is, in a way, the same as what I am doing with this review. I am no guitarist, so it is not a question of me playing a guitar and you reading a review. I am not saying this is good or bad, only that I think this is a different way of doing things. I am not sure if it is a good or bad thing, but I am sure it is a change of pace.

In that respect, this is not a review of live performances, but a criticism of software, which I would think is a unique form of electronic music. I am not sure what the limits are, but I am sure it is a very personal thing. I must say I am not a fan of this kind of music.

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