And Margaret, too

 As I write this it hasn't happened but I'm optimistic, finally, that it will. She does seem to be recovering what mental capacity she had prior to the heart op and Pat has sorted some social care, anticipating her cancer discussion soon (and any possible treatment). I have still not managed any studio time but we've been assured by the guy working here that he'll be done by early next week. So I won't get the prep time I'd hoped for Real World but I may get some. 

I still have some jobs to do - sealant for the concrete slice we cut, a keysafe for Margaret, some small stones to fill the hole where the concrete broke and a few more minor things. I'm hoping to walk next Thursday and be in the studio on Friday. Funny how being unable to get there really makes you want it. 

My following of the tastes of the guy who buys the Wily stuff on bandcamp is giving some great stuff - getting into the Autumn of Communion, right up my street. I guess today will be listening, reading and old lady-watching. Shame cos last time Tim and I got together produced that cool electribe stuff and I'd like to revisit. Soon, hopefully.

Monday and our 'handyman' didn't show but we took Margaret back to her place for the day, back at teatime. Felt like a decent day and I fired up the MPC, had no promising ideas but was nice to just use it. Actually I should just have played the Osmose. Realised that the MPC's internal synths are so slow and limited I should probably get more MIDI gear attached and just record that. Then I won't need to worry about the shitty snapshot process for tweaks, just record what I want where I want it like the BlackBox. Audio and samples eh? Going to be good having the Octatrack too - recorded some loops off that today into the MPC and it worked well. 

Fuck, it's July!

 

Ducks gone to a better place..

 No, not that better place: Turbury Gardens, the pond there. Our new neighbour volunteers at the place and recommended it. Caught the mother then the chicks, reasonably easily. Margaret still here, still weedy. I'll be looking after her while Pat goes south on Friday. So won't be my usual afternoon sesh, alas. 

Pat didn't go - reasoned that Margaret is really struggling and there's all the hallway mayhem to co-ordinate as well as materials to gather. The whole project has blossomed out of control, it seems to me, with perectly good doors and doorframes replaced with different ones. I won't dare mention doing a proper staircase now since we finally have fixed the ceiling, plus I'm fed up of the house being a building site and being unable to access the studio. Got my MPC downstairs and put 3.9 on it, which has several important updates for the arranger and for drum and keygroup programs. Spotted a bug immediately where the drum program save switches from your name for it to the track name the first time you save. Not sure I can even be bothered to report. Hopefully will get into the studio next week and put it through its paces properly. 

Tuesday went to Windermere with John and Mick. Fabulous.

Saturday is here. No idea when we're getting our house back but hopefully Tim and I can go to the pub later and escape for a while. The hallway job has grown and grown and Margaret is getting stronger but losing her marbles, I think. Pat got up in the night cos she'd been running hot water down the sink for 15 mins for no apparent reason. Fed up of the bathroom stinking of vinegar as she washes her dentures in it, again for reasons we can't work out. I'd really like to play with the MPC and put in some bug reports but I suspect I won't be using the new oscillator feature all that much - but do appreciate the arranger and time sig improvements. 

FIred up the MPC for a while on Monday until it got too hot. On Tuesday it was hotter and I finally ordered an air conditioner - sadly the one I wanted wasn't available until early July. Otdered a window kit that will suit velux - the room's smaller and has a door so will be easier to cool. May have to move stuff around, perhaps even reduce some of what's there. Sorta stuck with the speaker position due to shape of room. Actually, the speakers could be at the door end and I could be at the center, back looking/listening in that direction. Might even be scope for a graphic wall /projector behind at some point depending on space. 

Tomorrow guy coming to tackle drains. Will try and persuade him to also replace pipe between drain and bathroom.

Thursday it's John's last thursday tea. Said I'll try and attend but Pat pulled face as she's planned food for the week. I sometimes wonder why we have a freezer full of stuff but get fresh in daily for meals. What's the freezer stuff for?

Now rhen. Another Friday gone to shit. Almost literally since I spent a good portion of it digging out the drain. Neighbour's mate cut the concrete, connected the pipe and laid concrete. I dug out the shitty ground, bashed and removed the old piping. Back now a bit sore but the job's done - just hope he got it at some kind of angle - wish I'd got my spirit level on the job actually but anyway not many degrees to play with. May need to invest in a pump :)

I'm really getting withdrawal symptoms from music. Depressing. Work dude managed just a single door today so hope he pulls his finger out tomorrow. Just want it all done but there's skirting, floor and random woodwork to do. Better not take many more days... Saturday I promised to watch Margaret while Pat goes into town. Good for her to have a break. Doc came today to look at Marg - she's actually better than she's been all along so perhaps there's hope after all. 

June - but shall I change my tune?

Friday's thing had some good moments, especially those featuring the Opsix, but the parts that don't work so well involve the DRM-1. It sounds great but I've just lost of feel for groove and wonder, now, why I included it. I will do a remix/rework deleting the DRM clips and adding more ambience. I may yet keep the DFAM bits as they have a certain something. 

We're getting ready for a few things next week, not least Margaret's long-awaited op and the installation of solar panels. I cleared part of the side of the house and will ditch my bike this weekend. I let it rot really, as Pat is also doing with hers. Would be great to ditch that bike house actually or move it. 

Saw Rich Hall tonight, pretty funny. His comedy appealed more than his comedy songs but all very enjoyable. Raining heavily and I went out in sandals and my new cardi. Yeah, sharp as a button. 

Monday, scaffolding up. Margaret through her op. Cirklon's bloody battery low again. According to this blog I last replaced it on Dec 31 2021 so 4.5 years. Solar Panels come tomorrow. 

Panel install started. Was reminded it's just a month before Real World so I should think about what to take, what contribution I might make. Jim mentioned Porty's Head, Massive a-Tick  and others as a reference so I could look for my albums. I'll probably take the Octatrack and MPC (supported by KSP) with possibly the DFAM and a pedal or two for hands-on fun/looping. Was contemplating the Fuzzbillion pedal but gonna hold off. Real shame I don't seem to be able to source an Easel Command in time. Octatrack can replace a mixer. Just need to prepare a few things and hopefully will be able to sync up to Jim's Cirklon and add stuff to whatever's happening. May put the little Alesis mixer in the car just in case I need more flexibility.

Friday was pretty good, started a few sketches and I probably won't need all that many, just have to keep working the MPC really and putting material in. Still waiting to see what's happening with Margaret, hospital not really providing much info. Pat has gone in on the bus due to the problems parking. 

Saturday, fun jams with Tim, minimal. Sunday, walks with dogs, saw Margaret (still expecting op on her clot but she's looking better). Tomorrow guy doing work in the hallway so no studio for me. Must get car lights done before MOT. Have started re-reading the Vorrh.

A simple graphical editor makes life so much easier. I wonder if one will ever come to Cirklon?

My little rig for Real World. Well, not the Sys8. The Octatrack is basically my "comfort gear"

oh yes, a duck and three ducklings turned up today

I didn't use this album cover, or rather sobered up and deleted. Still plan to though. Not sure if this Friday scuppered as Margaret discharged from hospital too early and here. Preston are bloody rubbish. Didn't even tell us, just cleared her out of her bed. Pat livid. 

Off to see Mick and John tomorrow. 

And it was lovely. Duckies still doing OK too. Yay.

 

A week of (partial) freedom

 Yeah, partial because I still have Broc to look after. But it'll be slow and chilled and hopefully productive. Haven't decided about food yet but will go to RK maybe Monday to stock up. May get a curry from Sangham tonight and get enough for two days. Start as I mean to go on, eh?

The new Hannah Peel album is fabulous. 

MPC thought: although it's possible to do entire tracks on it, the world it makes you inhabit is very small and less than optimised for working fast and smoothly. It's not as fiddly and impossible as Eurorack but so many aspects of operation could be streamlined - assuming the developers actually used it. I think this is the problem with a lot of modern gear.

Saturday was good. Video call from Pat and boat looks good, wished them well. Useful studio noodling, abandoned MPC for Cirklon and then moaned about how Cirklon has lagged behind in terms of what you'd expect by this stage of the 21st Century. Recorded a thing that has definitely thingness to it. Solace. 

Sunday went to see Jan and visited Dave's wood.

Bank Holiday Monday and I can't see myself going anywhere. It's very hot and I doubt the attic will be habitable. Should at least have a think about what I might do at Wednesday's EMOM but will probably just have a beer and gummy kinda day. Listening to old JIC jams and wallowing a bit. 

Monday got too hot in studio around 14:00 so gave up. Have a thng I could do at EMOM though, a single track, work in progress but if I took a keyboard I could probably jam in the odd bits it needs. Tracks already set up after all. 

Back to listening to JIC. Phil had some CDRs I may have lost and some good stuff on them. One I must do something with. Several maybe. Might upload first and invite people to edit or finish the various tracks. All quite minimal. Next one (in time order) also good, early versions of some tracks better known, perhaps a late version of an older favourite. Remember how I hammered that P2K.

Tuesday was 33 degrees and Brian's funeral so not much done. Tim came and we talked about EMOM. Hopefully it's cool enough Wednesday to have a jam and decide what we'll play. Gonna order an air conditioner just as soon as I sort which room and window attachments gonna be needed.

EMOM was a laugh. My first MPC gig and also first battery gig. Some lessons learned but went OK. I let my hair down, forgetting that I'd just had Pat trim all the ends - so it's a rather bizarre Cousin It vibe going on rather than the Jesus I was going for. Heh.

Thursday didn't feel like a lot so had a Synthi and Cric duet day. Recorded some cool shit (I think) to progress tomorrow, unless baking. Still have nor ordered aircond but must, really must. Did more cool stuff with those Cric envelopes, endless fun there. Sequenced it and the Synthi from the A4, got some odd loops. Simple pleasures.

Friday here and there's a new Bored of Canada album, which I'm playing as I type this. Seems good on first run through, possibly a bit too much of the old voice sampley nonsense in places (for my tastes these days) but musically sound and definitely up to their usual standards. Can't see why the Guardian were so down on it, the po-faced bastards. Or bastard; just one guy I expect. It's cooler today and I took Broc to Bunny Corner, which made him happy. I'm really enjoying the quieter mornings - without all that frantic barking that occurs every day (goodness knows why) as I'm making breakfast. I guess it's just a habit Pat and Broc have acquired for some reason - but he seems quite content without it and I surely am. Not wasting bird seed either as I put out enough for the day then a small top-up later if needed but I let them clean up themselves so I needn't go out later with a dust pan and brush. Simples, as some stupid TV advert would doubtless say. Oh yes, agreed to do Awakenings with Pete. Worth it for the music we'll make even if I hate the drive.

Seemed like a good day

https://wilyepeyote.bandcamp.com/track/ambient-death-throes

Berlin here we come

 OK, here I come. Probably won't post this until after I get back of course. There may be photos by then.

Sunday today, didn't do much except (finally) reflash that GR-1, which I've been meaning to do for yonks. I'll also try and use the latest firmware, including shutting it down properly, assuming I can acquire the habit. Bank Holiday tomorrow but I think family coming for kitchen admiration and dog walking. 
Monday, bank holiday, pleasant visit with Dawn & Chris then Jan & Lisa. Watched snooker and generally lounged around. Meant to plan the trip for wednesday but didn't. Only really need to note the station to get to from airport that's nearest the hotel so not exactly precise planning. Should also find a bag and check it fits the Ryanair requirements. Tomorrow...

Did Superbooth. To actually write about it though, not sure I have the time right now. Today (Tuesday) we took Margaret to Blackpool and she's got a date for her op (June). Yeah bit busy for blogging, sorry. 

Superbooth summary: lots of gear. Some sounded great but had naff UI Some had some great ideas and innovations but failed to move me sonically. I was most drawn to the Fzzbillion pedal I'd seen before but still haven't ordered one. Failed to get a definitive answer on the Easel Command / vactrol offer and so have still not ordered one. Awaiting Odd1 for review, which promises to be interesting. Liked the Beat Friend but at £500 doesn't feel like an impulse buy. The RND might be but not available yet. So much stuff but what I really need is time to play with the stuff I already have.

Where am I? Well, a few days off Pat heading to her cruise. I agreed to do the next EMOM based on the idea Tim and I could take stuff in on the bus and make some shit up with whatever we take. It could be a week of lots of studio time but we'll see what fate throws in my path. I'll either take MPC or the S4 and maybe a BlackBox loaded with whatever takes my fancy.

Spring is springing

 Yeah, well, it is. 

Kitchen should finally be done this week. Solar panels will be next. Was gonna play EMOM but no slots apparently so my idea of taking a bag with the Reface CS and S4 and making shit up will have to be sometime else. Was looking fwd to Tim's acid noodles though. Gonna go anyway. Seems like April is pretty much done with. 

Seems AKai have fixed the Running Status / Active Sensing bug I reported - will try it tomorrow and hope!

Friday was a good one. Started a track on the MPC to test the fixes in 3.8 - can finally use my System 8 keyboard with it. Must try the JD-XA as that was my first choice back when the MPC arrived. Recorded a piece on the Osmose too as I was itching to play it after so long. Made toast in the kitchen for the first time (Saturday). 

It's Bank Holiday weekend so the weather has turned a bit grey. I can cope with that. Pat off to Llandudno tomorrow for the day so another early morning taking her to pickup.

The Great Kitchen Hack!

 Starts... with ripping out the old one. We'll be coping somehow but no music making for me except on MPC I guess.

Well, taking it out was quick enough but nowt will happen now until Wednesday when electrician comes then nothing again until next week. Kitchen arrives thursday or friday so maybe he'll come and do a bit but doesn't sound like he's in a rush. Floor can't go down first now because of pipes or something. Personally I'd get it done and just only do up to pipes as that's all still gonna be covered up. Took Margaret to Blackpool this morning for her CT scan so hopefully will learn what they can do (it anything). Put MPC back upstairs. Seems I'll be able to use studio after all, at least until next week. 

A pleasant tuesday in pub with Tim. Talked some good shit, made some good plans. 

Did some work in kitchen, Pat doing some painting, me filling holes. Broc ran through the paint tray twice, which was far from ideal (!). Delivery of kitchen tomorrow morning. Hope to have time over weekend to fill remaining holes, file the filler flat and generally do what I can before the kitchen install starts on Monday. Hopefully by this time next week things will be almost normal again.

Friday I recorded some ideas for Oojami - a song he'd been working on. I fired up the Minimoog and it sounded great. Unfortunately the mixer confused me in my stoned state and I got one channel of stereo rather than a mono input on the MPC. Using it worked fairly well though although I need to learn to record in various parts rather than always from the start. Trying new stuff stoned probably unwise. Then recorded a couple of my tracks in progress, making sound improvements by compressing master output and making more intelligent use of buses and Q-Link knobs to keep control. Will update my default/template song soon when all the ideas come together. 

Did this