I am bound to fall over myself trying to describe what I am about to put before you - so, please bear with me as I try to weave several threads together. I am a follower of Brian Eno. The subject of this blog is a reference to one of the Oblique Strategy cards. On a recent BBC show, Eno postulated several ideas that struck a chord with me. I paraphrase from the transcript at:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?s=73e2f3feaca9eb232f512accaff39a98&t=205625

"Instruments sound interesting not because of their sound but because of the relationship a player has with them", "They (synthesisers) are constantly renewing so people do not have time to build long relationships with them. So you tend to hear more of the technology and less of the rapport"

He used the example of a guitar which is inherently bad design and fairly limited sound. But its the players that make the instruments and hence the music interesting and beautiful. They build those important relationships with the instrument. They learn its possibilities and its limitations which can also be a source of music. If we look at the guitar again - it is essentially unchanged over many decades yet we do not tire of the music it produces. It has not been consigned to the bin.

From my own experience I wonder if the never ending possibilities of synthersizers and the constantly changing hardware and software is counter productive to building a meaningful relationship with an instrument. I use Reason and Logic Express and very often I find myself trawling thru their huge library of patches and loops, trying to find the start to a song. I am drowning in patches, loops and samples. 

I have recently purchased the Roland JD800 (reviewed on this site) and am bowled over by its sonic capabilities. Whilst not turning my back on Reason or Logic I am going to try and use the JD800 as if it were a guitar. I am trying to learn  its possibilities and limitations and want to make it my main instrument. I would love to still be using it in 10 years and thinking I knew it inside out but still be surprised by it sometimes. I would love to feel comfortable with it like an old friend, rely on it and be safe in the knowledge that it would not disappoint. I want to build that long relationship that Eno talks about...