More Droning

Recording a drone today and realised I needed a VC-panner. So I ordered a Doepfer A-134-1 from Thomann, who (once again) sneakily let me do it through Amazon. I say 'sneakily' cos it is, just too easy that way. Module looks like one of those useful things I might want several of. Along with more LFOs. :)

VC-Panner arrived, put to good use on new track representing the Ice Planet Tadmor. Test pressing of it after the industrial stuff from the other day is sounding OK. I also know what I want to go with it, the sort of drone to finish off. Quite tense these in their own way so a tension defuser will be required.

This was a part of it (BTW these links are ephemeral, I wipe stuff from soundcloud as soon as I need to)
https://soundcloud.com/smokyfrog/i-dont-want-to-go-to-scelsi

Yeah, been listening to Italian composer Scelsi. New to me but I'm inspired by his take on drones. You can probably hear the VC_panner doing its thing.

Hey, it's Autumn!

Not much to add, I was hoping for a proper Summer. The froglets hopping around the garden are way too small and there are still tadpoles, almost sure I saw one today that hadn't even bothered growing back legs yet. Just wriggling around like it had all the time in the world. Who does that remind you of? Seems like the dude is gonna do a fabulous editing job of the gig, can almost bear to listen to myself. Almost.
Made a couple of changed to 2 tracks today, small improvements that I felt were needed. May as well make them the best they can be, especially as it's a good batch. Should've done more really as this stuff I find easier than most. Unlike most of the music I've done, like, forever, the idea is this: do the most obvious things. I can bring myself to do that when it's library because that's what everyone wants. Ugh! I know.

Still having the occasional Octatrack twitch. I know it's insane but.

I also should record somewhere, and why not here, that the best thing about doing a gig with a maestro like AP is that after the gig, he uses advanced production skills to weave it into gold. Seriously, what I've heard so far from our 'scout hut' effort almost makes me reconsider packing them in. The guy should be rich off his music-making, if there were any justice. Instead folks like me manage to make a living from it. Weird eh?

Another email to MFB in hope of a review. I don't expect a reply, sadly. They really didn't like my Tanzbar review, which concluded: "Despite its shortcomings, I can't think of an analogue drum machine that sounds better, period." Actually that's still the case and despite some issues, I bought one and use it a lot. Ah well, nothing I can do now. Gotta say what I think or it's all pointless. I think I upset Korg more by my comments about the Minilogue's obviously software envelopes. :)

Today we had a brief 'heatwave' before torrential rain set in. Meant to be getting another tomorrow. Had baby again today so didn't get much done. Pat went out in rain and is now coming down with a cold. 

Not using this much, might flog. I got it thinking it would be nice to have a string synth for live but I'm not foreseeing it now:
 

I should 'not play' more often

At least if the reaction to my latest 'drone' album is anything to go by.

https://paulnagle.bandcamp.com/album/exoplanets-volume-1

Bizarre innit?

Good response at last for my 'minimal electronica' tracks - 9 out of 10 liked, the one they didn't wasn't one of the ones I thought iffy. Interesting. Anyway, in a burst of productivity today, mastered all 9 and their edits - 60, 30, 15 and Sting versions. Then I got my review that had been kicking around done, which basically involved getting down to word count. I'm still a few words over but basically a sentence or two at most. Being wordy can be useful!

Tim been busy, sent a tape to the Wire and the radio guy. Which is good. Think he coming round to idea of releasing more. I know I release too much, or always have, but only cos I have no idea what's good. Well, the new library tracks sound good.

Pat watching Olympics again. Must resist keep wandering in and asking 'what's wrong with her then?'.

Listening to old Headshock, the one I like with the weird voices and trautonium. Makes me want an Octatrack again. Mad but good.

That's my first idea for Vol2, not that I've done any more think of one theme I want to cover. Must graft for a bit though, finish reviews before I can play.

Oh and Andy did a brill arrangement of a track - gave it a better name too. Top day!

Arse probing & other mysteries

No, not me thank goodness. Our poor dog Jasper. He gets very stressed when I'm not around and unfortunately I had to go north to retrieve my Synthi yesterday morning, meaning he was alone for maybe 5 hours before Pat got back. Anyway, when I got home he was pretty sheepish and holding his tail down, very clingy as he sometimes gets. A little later I noticed he'd gone into the garden for a long time... to cut a long story short, I found him straining on the grass with an obvious prolapse.

So more vet visits, sad expressions and so on to come.

I'm now well on with a new project provisionally titled 'Exoplanets'. Getting the Synthi back wth its new long envelope times has inspired me to do a series of rule-based tracks, all drone-types with no interaction from me, at least until 15 mins have gone past. The idea is to use all my modules in different combinations and get ambient soundscapes named after a succession of Exoplanets that have names I like. Pat is away a few days so it'll give me a good chance to maybe set up and record another, plus get a load of work done, watch 'Enter the Void', drink beer etc.

Funny how the modular is making me very poor and inspiring me to make sounds again. I like the idea of releasing atmospheric stuff in which I don't play a note and there aren't obvious sequences running (although there *are* sequences if you know where to look).