“The net result is that if something is pondered over and farted around with to the extent that it is capable of being done now, digitally in particular, the music becomes clinicized beyond belief.”
The most recent issue of Tape Op magazine features a revealing interview with legendary recording engineer and producer, Glyn Johns (wiki | tape op). Johns, who recently released an excellent autobiography chronicling his history in the music business, is perhaps best known for his work with the Rolling Stones, The Who, Small Faces, Led Zeppelin (in the musical heydays of the 70s). Not surprising, he remains active today, working with contemporary bands/artists like Band of Horses and Ryan Adams. All in all he has worked with a veritable who’s who of rock.
As for the Tape Op piece, what comes through Larry Crane’s excellent interview/portrait of Glyn Johns is his pragmatic and straightforward approach to getting to the heart of a recorded moment or session. As one who tends to get bogged down in “the process” of creativity, working with something over time, slowly, I find Johns’ quote (featured above from the interview), a fine reminder of the power of the immediate–get in and get going so as to keep it fresh and alive instead of labored, obsessed over, and, in turn, sterile or “clinicized.” Additionally, working this way has the tendency, I imagine, to create the environment that avoids the sometimes inevitable “analysis paralysis” that can creep in when things are “farted around with.” As I mentioned, this challenges my own tendencies, but I totally get where he is coming from. Pickup a copy of the magazine if you want to read/learn more about Glyn’s approach and career. Tape Op continues to one of my favorite magazines about music and recording.