Sunday, April 29, 2012

THIS IS HOW WE DEFORM: Synthesis Technology e560 Deflector Shield


My recent infatuation with all things Eurorack has led me to many interesting modules,  but this one is certainly the current favorite.  As most art is generally about transformation,  of subject as well as viewer/ listener,  it seems that any tool that pushes that change or epiphany along is to be embraced.  In something as abstract as electronic music,  the challenge of producing,  modulating,  and structuring sounds without resorting to cliche or worse, the imitation of natural sounds or acoustic instruments, is where the expressiveness of this kind of module really excels.  The Deflector Shield ups the ante by giving the player a frequency shifter,  a phaser,  and a ring mod,  all very useful in the creation of a vast array of sounds,  and is especially responsive when controlled voltages and/or an LFO is applied to a signal.  I'm thinking that the Cloud Generator and the Morphing Terrarium,  also by Synthesis Technology,  would merit the same kind of serious attention.

Friday, April 27, 2012

FIRST EURORACK TRACK



The first tangible results of my encounter with the Eurorack format.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

THE LURE OF EURORACK

Well,  I've kind of exhausted (not really) my addiction to all things Buchla and Serge,  not only because of their somewhat prohibitive pricing,  but also due to a real or imagined limitation with these formats when it comes to new module development/design (many thanks to Jason Butcher,  Chris Muir,  and Mark Verbos for their efforts beyond the inner circle).  Yes,  they are very deep instruments,  and they'll always be part of my sonic arsenal,  but I want more options.  To this end,  I've taken up the Eurorack gauntlet as format of choice,  and have dove head first into the plethora of modules,  manufacturers,  and designs that are available at very reasonable prices (check Analogue Haven).  They give both veteran sound splayer and neophyte noise mensch much to ponder and play with,  a well as a nearly infinite supply of intriguing modules.  The Eurorack format is certainly a less problematic starter kit for new modular enthusiasts,  as patches needn't be scrupulously saved after each session (Buchla is notorious for at least a partial tabula rasa each time a 200e is powered off).  There is also the issue of size.  Eurorack modules generally take up far less rack space than those well known,  pricier formats mentioned above,  while retaining excellent functionality.  Who says "bigger is better"?  My quickly evolving system now includes the following:

     TipTop Audio Station 252 Folding Case                   Circuit Abbey Gravity Well
WMD Gama Wave Source                                           MakeNoise Rene "Cartesian Sequencer
     Pittsburgh Modular Index VCA                                 Doepfer Envelope Generator A-140 ADSR
   The Harvestman Polivoks Filter                                 Doepfer A-143-3 LFO
Trogotronic Model 333 M Series Module                  Flight of Harmony Sound of Shadows
       Synthesis Technology Defector Shield                      Snazzy FX Dreamboat
Pittsburgh Modular Generator                                   Subconscious Communications LFO/Utility Osc
Synthetic Sound Labs Modulation Orgy                   Circuit Abbey Tripfire
       MakeNoise Wooglebug                                             The Harvestman Bionic Lester
Blue lantern Asteroid Bass Drum                             Toppobrillo Triple Wave Folder
    Blue Lantern The Mix



Sunday, April 22, 2012

THIS IS HOW YOU DISAPPEAR: Finalized Track Listing/Rear Artwork


I finally settled on eighteen new tracks for my third CDr,  some of which definitely need to be heard on good monitors or decent headphones for full effect.  My heartfelt thanks goes to brother ether^ra for technical,  aesthetic,  and "musical" assistance. The completed package will be available soon.

Monday, April 9, 2012

COMING SOON: New CDr by This Second Sleep


THIS IS HOW YOU DISAPPEAR is the name of the latest CDr by This Second Sleep.  I'm still in the process of finishing tracks,  determining track order,  and finalizing art/design.  It continues the work I started on the previous release (DELPHINE & CAGE) using my Buchla 200e  and Serge modular as the primary sound generators/modulators.  There may be an additional track that employs my latest toy,  a Eurorack system of modules by various manufacturers.  Some definite tracks include "Panorama (remix w/ ether^ra",  "R Matta",  and "untitled (dirge)". 

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

STICKS & STONES WILL...



I was recently cleaning and organizing a walk-in closet on the third floor of my house,   and found the above drawings,  the uppermost being mixed-media and the other, purely pencil.  I know they were specifically done for musical projects that never materialized,  yet those musical collaborations are long forgotten.  I do know that the lure of inanimate objects like sticks and stones still figures prominently in my paintings as totems of sorts,  and will continue to do so.  To me, they betray a silent history,  and strangely enough, a kind of transformative  power wrapped in a worldly hermeticism. 

Sunday, April 1, 2012

CHANCE ENCOUNTER: Steve D'Aquisto in Rome

"Que binario a Fiumicino" was the burning question buried within the noisy,  hectic scene (sempre lo stesso) in Rome's Stazione Termini.  Amid this confusion,  a towering presence (especially in a country where most people are relatively diminutive in physical stature) made itself plainly heard in aggitated italian. My wife and I were on our way back to New York after another great Roman adventure,  and this was an imperfect start to that mammouth journey.  True to form,  the track number was being constantly changed by an italian work force torn between hedonism and confusion.  The trains may have actually run on time,  but the track we needed was another matter completely.  Exasperated,  we struck up a conversation with "the figure".  He introduced himself as Steve D'Aquisto (1953-2001),  and that he was a music producer and DJ from Manhattan.  I'd never heard of him (strange,  mostly because I had been invloved in some small way in the downtown art and music scene), but he certainly seemed like an affable,  interesting guy. We spoke of our mutual love of the quirks and curiosities of Rome,  and he mentioned that he was fighting cancer (it turned out to be a brain tumor),  and that the Eternal City brought him to life and made him feel so much better.  It was now the three of us against public employees,  pensioners,  and tourists (we were all actually "explorers",  as our Roman friend Sergio called us),  bad odds,  but all the more fun for us.  We exchanged addresses,  phone numbers,  and email addys,  but sadly never met again.  That sadness was deepened when we later found out that Steve has passed away.  He is best remembered for his production work, DJing,  and collaborations with composer Arthur Russell. I remember him as another artist in love with Rome.