I personally feel that while the cost of producing a CD is an absolutely valid deterrent to having one's work released, it's also one easily remedied.
In the doujin ongaku scene (wherein artists like ZUN of the Touhou fame, and ZTS, a famous remixer-turned-professional-composer populate) it's not uncommon, and in fact, expected by consumers, for single-artist releases to simply be burned onto blank cds and shipped in a jewel case with cover art from an inkjet printer taped into it.
Given the examples of musicians I supplied, one may be inclined to think that their audience is just so desperate and doritos-scented that they'd accept even the lowest grades of presentation so long as their nerd lust is satiated. In reality, this method of distribution is acceptable thanks to the passionate love the audience possesses - a love which understands that anything beyond the music, and supporting the person who makes it, is simply shipping peanuts in the end.
I think that Kalm and Dada both have audiences just as enthralled by them as any one in the doujin scene. The posts in this thread, at the very least, support the fact that we've all been worn down to the point where seeing a CD-R in our mailbox labeled "DADA AND KALM (AND SOME OTHER, LESS SIGNIFICANT FOLKS) GO TO THE BEACH ~ GREATEST UNRELEASED HITS OF VELEVET EDEN" in sharpie would make us break down in tears. While I recognize the fact that visual kei begets a stunning presentation by law of its very concept, when it handicaps the very distribution of the music that gives meaning to the madness of white makeup and bad spider drag queens... well... I think it's time to shed at least some vanities.
in short:
dear dada and kalm,
come on.
In the doujin ongaku scene (wherein artists like ZUN of the Touhou fame, and ZTS, a famous remixer-turned-professional-composer populate) it's not uncommon, and in fact, expected by consumers, for single-artist releases to simply be burned onto blank cds and shipped in a jewel case with cover art from an inkjet printer taped into it.
Given the examples of musicians I supplied, one may be inclined to think that their audience is just so desperate and doritos-scented that they'd accept even the lowest grades of presentation so long as their nerd lust is satiated. In reality, this method of distribution is acceptable thanks to the passionate love the audience possesses - a love which understands that anything beyond the music, and supporting the person who makes it, is simply shipping peanuts in the end.
I think that Kalm and Dada both have audiences just as enthralled by them as any one in the doujin scene. The posts in this thread, at the very least, support the fact that we've all been worn down to the point where seeing a CD-R in our mailbox labeled "DADA AND KALM (AND SOME OTHER, LESS SIGNIFICANT FOLKS) GO TO THE BEACH ~ GREATEST UNRELEASED HITS OF VELEVET EDEN" in sharpie would make us break down in tears. While I recognize the fact that visual kei begets a stunning presentation by law of its very concept, when it handicaps the very distribution of the music that gives meaning to the madness of white makeup and bad spider drag queens... well... I think it's time to shed at least some vanities.
in short:
dear dada and kalm,
come on.