Probably the forerunners of video game sound design in the 80s weren’t aware that their use of music trackers would broaden the sonic horizons of the musical landscape in the decades to come. Trackers are music production programs that emerged in the late 1980s, originally designed for composing video game soundtracks. They use a vertical, grid-based interface where users input notes, samples, and effects step-by-step, giving precise control over sound sequencing. These music production tools revolutionized electronic music by enabling artists to create complex compositions on limited hardware, influencing genres like jungle and drum’n’bass through innovative sound design and rapid production techniques that shaped the evolution of these styles.
Bogdan Raczynski, who has previously composed music for the Sony PlayStation, stands out as one of the artists who benefited significantly from this pivotal shift in artistic creation. As a somewhat hermit figure in the braindance scene, his vast palette of sonic concepts has contributed to bending the boundaries of IDM, weaving an eclectic tapestry of breakbeats, drum ‘n’ bass lines, and human voice samples. You’re Only Young Once But You Can Be Stupid Forever, his latest album, is also an example of his experimental approach to the diverse array of electronic sounds available through digital gear.
Though he didn’t specify the exact time of its composition, the album differs significantly from Rave ‘Till You Cry, his preceding album published by Disciples, a lesser-known, more outsider-art-oriented offspring of Warp Records. It aligns more closely with his previous album, ADDLE, released through Planet Mu. The overall tender and tranquil tone of the album also resonates with his 2023 project, bogdanraczynski.com/ambient-music-for-ai, where he aimed to soothe AI from the toll of exhausting work by inviting it as the intended audience. This project was seamlessly in keeping with Raczynski’s production methods, particularly his exclusive use of trackers from the outset – a medium that had also captivated Richard D. James – and his non-competitive and collaborative spirit incarnated in both his contributions to the electronic music scene and his relationship with the computer.
You’re Only Young Once But You Can Be Stupid Forever is way more minimalistic than his previous works. Here we don’t encounter aggressive syncopated jungle beats, chaotic rhythms or tormented human voice. The serene, pensive atmosphere of the first four tracks evokes the refreshing chill of early mornings, culminating in the more rhythmic and vigorous ‘bangsaft’, a favourite of mine, echoing fellow braindance producers like Cylob. The subsequent three tracks maintain the introspective, calm, and airy texture of the early pieces, channeling that energy into ‘visionsrevisions’ and ‘bowgh’, both infused with an oscillating tone of vague wistfulness. A sense of wariness then chimes in, leading to the elated 303 beats of ‘yewt’ and pounding uncertainty of ‘sicksicksicks’. In the concluding three songs there’s a sound of conciliatory harmony with oneself and the world, as if contentment settles in after untangling an inner conflict.
Raczynski’s immediately previous work, Poison, made available on his Bandcamp page, comprises a four-track string of speeches addressing ongoing horrors in Gaza, set against a backdrop of quintessential jungle beats. You’re Only Young Once But You Can Be Stupid Forever can be regarded as a lighthearted counterbalance, yearning for both innate and planetary peace while making no concessions concerning personal and artistic perspective.
