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).

Contiguous Time / new case arrived

It's like this: you can't add up all those 5, 10, 20, 38 minute chunks of free time in a day and say 'look at all that free time you had!'. In the same way, a forest or nature reserve is not the same when sliced and diced by roads, quarries, pylons, clearings and housing. It's Friday and my afternoon, hopefully, will be a contiguous, slow-paced session of music capture - the track I forgot to play at the gig, some work on a piece Andy sent, maybe that's enough.
The modular is still dead. That old Doepfer power supply clearly not up to the job and a pure coincidence it died when it did. I'll go along with that until I know better. Ordered a new case with an update power supply, will get the old one fixed, hopefully next week, have the one from Ross coming, in theory. Frustrating as two very cool-looking modules arrived yesterday but have to put ideas of those aside for now.

I can see why people get hooked on euro, start looking around for things to sell to get more. I'm doing the same, I notice. Ultimately will it be a habit I kick? Hard to say but it does so much it's gonna be tough.

I know. Another picture of 'the tree'.

Today I did a version of one track I didn't play well at the gig. Worked on overdubs for one Andy did. Chilled. Good day. Hopefully going out later for something to eat.

OK today is Saturday. Which is a different today than the earlier one. Deal with it. New case arrived - good old Thomann. Modules installed, all peachy, should really look more into the power consumption. Tried the two new modules that have arrived - both impressive. I sorta thought they might be. Made a well groovy sequence using the Tonestar with two filters, each articulated by different EGs.
Colin sent me the 19" Eurorack-style BOB, like awesome! Lots more CV to play with. Need longer lead though as the 25-pin connector on the far end. Could mount it upside down I guess. Hey that would work...

Yes, I had a relaxing afternoon... :)

Binar Gig

Well, it came and went. New venue - better than the school hall but very hot and sweaty. A good night though, enjoyed everyone's set, especially Monkey Trial.
I think that might be my last gig, of that type anyway.
The idea of a 90 min set wasn't mine and the last minute idea to make it 2x45 didn't suit me as I totally forgot which songs I'd played already when it came to the second half. Alas I totally failed to stick to my running order which was a mistake. I may even have forgotten to play the best one, at least the catchy one I'd given the highest rating to in my listening the day before. Still, despite playing way too long I think there were some great moments - as usual those that were completely random. Looking forward to hearing the recording.

The Keyboard/Rack swap didn't go well. I failed to look at the rack I was getting, which is a mess - slider snapped off, main encoder not working, actual rust on the front panel and 3 knobs missing. So will reverse that when I get chance. Possibility we'll hire a rehearsal room somewhere and record more material for future releases. Might do that but, as I say, don't really want to go to the effort of more gigs in this style. It's either ambient drones or complete, planned structures from now on. I've done this weird improvised middle ground for too long, feel it's time for a change, especially as I doubt we'll ever top the best of previous work.

Back to modular tinkering today. Got a really cool module to review, another on the way that looks interesting. Still no case from Mr L after 1 year so maybe Synthfest will be the next chance. Else I'll buy a second Doepfer basic case and dump that large Synthracks thing which they still haven't sent a power supply for. Sigh. Bet they never send a power supply for my Doepfer ribbon either. Grumble, moan...

Of Interest only to me

Today we (Tim & I) recorded 'Hell Knuckle' having temporarily adopted a new naming standard. Listening now it's a masterpiece but, hey, it's Friday afternoon and I always say that. It's tagged onto a session from a few days back which we called Ylem. Did some production work to improve a few parts of it, which seems to have paid off. Quick and decisive working here. Apply same to 'knuckle' and we have a hit. No. not a hit, what's that other word?

Glad we did something on Friday. I sometimes think of all those times Phil wanted to record and I couldn't be bothered.

Seems I have at least one catchy sequence for gig. Excellent! Will play them through in the week, catalogue them. Still not totally sure I'm happy it's 90mins. Woulda been nice to have been asked if I have enough material (I wonder if I do?).

I am reading Steppenwolf again. In breaks between review stuff.
It occurs to me that all I've ever done in my own novel-writing is to paraphrase this book, in a style closer to National Lampoon than the Kurt Vonnegut I aspire to. Not much of an epitaph so call that version 1. :)

The sun seems to be here. Apparently for a few days. I should maybe post some incisive comments about it on twatter.