Holy Hell! I feel like I've gone back to school, or woken up with the TV on and with BBC 2 broadcasting an old segment of the Open University, or something.
My brain has swelled to gigantic size --- oh no wait, that's just this novelty sombrero I'm wearing!
I must admit, I didn't read the whole thing; others probably won't feel this, but I began to drown a little in definitions and sub-classes. I wouldn't say it was dry, certainly not boring, but it's a little too much of a dissection of music to me. Not that it's clinical, far from it, but I prefer just to listen to music and not over-analyse it. And you certainly have analysis down to a fine art! Did I hear somewhere you're a scientist in real life? Doesn't surprise me; you have a very analytical mind. I just prefer personally to enjoy my music, not too bothered about WHY I enjoy it, though I know that emotion plays a huge part in that, naturally, and mood. Check the "Albums you're digging II" thread for a video that literally made me cry, or look for it in "Bitesize". It's Stevie Nicks' "Italian summer". Tears were rolling down, seriously.
I did wonder though about your definition of "Air" music: you say it sounds completely robotic, but surely that's not true? What about classical music, or any other soft instrumental? Can't music be "Air" without sounding industrial or mechanised? Wouldn't the very opposite be true? Did I read that wrong? I can't figure that out.
Great article though, but as I said, a little too technical and scholarly for my tastes. Good luck with it though.
Oh yeah, glad you liked the Narnia track: check my journal for a review of that album and more videos.
Oh, and thanks so much for your kind words about me in the "Spill your guts thread": must respond to that at some point...
TH