Tasty Harmonix

I have been taking some introductory classes on the incredibly modular program MaxMSP created by the company cycling 74..  This is an interesting instrument called the Harmonic Architect that was developed in MaxMSP.  I am really fascinated by overtones, or harmonics and this instrument allows you to generate several harmonics at once while controlling each individual's amplitude as well.  You could create some amazing sounding creations I'm sure.  Anyways, just one of the bazillion things you can do with MaxMSP.  I found this on the project section of the Cycling 74 website.

Bulbous Attack

I like to smack my guitar, and pretty much any sound source silly.  Back in January someone was gracious enough to pass me a new toy, the Adamas 2mm graphite pick.  This thing is huge and makes my guitar sound like a flubbery drum, in the best way possible.  I play guitar very percussively and after 14 years of bangin strings, I feel this pick is the missing link towards my style of attack towards my guitar.  It is the equivalent of finding the perfect size drumstick for your hand.  2mm is quite thick for a guitar pick and is usually used for people who tend to have a light pick attack.  I am the exact opposite, I already have a heavy pick attack and applying that attack with an equally heavy pick is just preposterous! I am able to do things with my axe I have never been able to do before and am having a blast, check out the adamas 2mm graphite wonder if you get a chance...sexy little slammer.

Space Is Deep and Horny

A few days a go I had some of the most fun I've had in a while playing guitar.  I hadn't had a good, solid experience playing with other noise makers for far too long. I had a great 3 hour jam that seemed like we were only playing for 30 minutes a guitar, trumpet, and saxophone player.  It was one of the first times I gotten to play with horns and I must say...its was QUITE FUN!  I thought it was very interesting to play spacey riffage and see how the horns reacted to it.  In honor of horns taking there proper place in outer space I have posted a pic of Nik Turner...the original caster of the horn into orbit.

In Solitude Fucking Grooves

It's always a pleasing site when I see bands taking an already awesome concept and expanding on it to the 666th degree on their own terms.  In Solitude from Sweden are a great example.  The group is made up of a bunch of kids (around my age) who simply just want to rock out, nothing else.  It really reminds me of the first time I heard bands like Iron Maiden when I was 12 years old and used to sit in the back of the bus  alone with my headphones on the way home from middle school caring about nothing more than rocking out...this sort of activity was much more important than getting pussy.  These guys take the Maiden swing to the fullest and then some, really happy to know there are people in my age group that want to keep the spirit of pure rock n' roll alive.  Makes me feel a little less alone on this planet!

Isadora Exercises

Here are my first Isadora patches, nothing special...YET

Floatation Is Groovy

I recently found out about an interesting sensory deprivation device known as the Floatation Tank, invented by Neuro-physicist John C. Lilly in 1954.  Basically it involves floating in a pool of salt water at body temperature in total darkness as well as total silence.  This method of shutting off the senses allows for a very interesting kind of relaxation and allows the brain to experience the feeling of 4-6 hours of sleep in about 1 hour.  

FOLLOW THE SMOKE TO THE RIFF FILLED LAND

A collective consisting of disciples of the riff, known as Sleep, announced a month or so ago that they would be releasing a remastered version of their classic recording "Dopesmoker".  It is one of my favorite examples of the power of the riff and I got a little bit excited when I heard about this special release.  Arik Roper, the Dopesmoker album artist completely redesigned the artwork for the record as well. Above you can see the original and new artwork, both possessing enough potential to guide you to the weedian nazareth.

Online Curator Project: The Hidden World of CYMATICS

My quest for understanding all the wonders of sound has led me to an interesting new form of sonic analysis, or art form known as Cymatics.  It is the study of visible sound and vibration and provides unbelievable feedback on the way sound can perfectly manipulate different forms of matter in the natural world.  Below are listed a few major contributors, and interesting players who have played an integral role in shaping what has become of Cymatics today.

Hans Jenny: Swiss physician who coined the term Cymatics, considered the father of the field.  He developed an intrument called the Tonoscope which was used for conducting Cymatics experiments utilizing the human voice as the sound source.  In 1967 he published a book called "Cymatics: A Study of Wave Phenomena" which documented his experience with using sound to vibrate fluids, powders, and liquid paste.

A demonstration of Jenny's Tonoscope can be viewed here: Christian Stuten Demonstrates Tonoscope

Examples of Jenny's work from "Cymatics: A Study of Wave Phenomena"

Alexander Lauterwasser: German researcher, photographer, and tortoise enthusiast highly influenced by Hans Jenny.  He has conducted several experiments on using sound to vibrate water and published a book of photographs documenting his experience.  Here is a short clip that is part of a PBS produced documentary done on his research: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxV0FrFMxUY .

Example of Lauterwasser's work from his book "Water Sound Images"

John Stuart Reid: An acoustics engineer who has been a major contributor to what information can be gathered through cymatic means.  He began in 2002 developing a tool called the CymaScope which has been used to conduct Cymatic research in fields ranging from Astrophysics to Dolphin speech recognition..  More information on the CymaScope can be found here: John Stuart Reid's CymaScope as well as video clips documenting research done using the CymaScope: http://www.cymascope.com/soundsfun.html

Examples of Reid's process towards decoding the language of the dolphin using the CymaScope.

Evan Grant: Founded the collective Seeper in 1998 (http://seeper.com/) which does several public installations involving sound reactive devices.  Seeper has also used Cymatics as a means for accelerating language development in individuals with Autism.  A video of one of their installations can be viewed here: http://seeper.com/baskerville/ , as well as an article written by Grant on Austism and cymatics: http://www.cymatics.co.uk/autism/ .  He launched the hub www.cymatics.co.uk which brings together people all over the world involved, or interested in cymatics.  Here is a link to a short TED lecture by Grant on Cymatics: http://www.ted.com/talks/evan_grant_cymatics.html

MESOAMERICAN SUMMON SPACE ROCK VIA AMANITA MUSCARIA

This is my first attempt at using photoshop ever in my human existance.  I created this photo mashup for my intro to electronic media and digital arts class at University of Denver.  I had a lot of fun creating it and finally got to visually display my love for rock n' roll in outer-space.  Connect the dots between all the information in the image and come to your own intergalactic conclusions!

The Enlightening Punishment of the Fuzz Factory

I am always on the hunt for interesting variations of distortion.  Recently I have gotten really into distorting my distortion pedals, meaning multiple distortion circuits in a row.  I have found by doing this I am able to achieve incredibly unique distortion tones I could never obtain from using one standalone pedal or amplifier.  One pedal that is incredibly close to my heart is the Z.VEX fuzz factory.  I remember when I got it my 9th grade year of high school and how long it took me to save up for it.  It was the first fuzz pedal I ever owned and completely changed the way I perceived sonic limitations for the rest of my life.  This is not a normal one trick pony fuzz.  This circuit has a life of its own and many people are turned off by it due to its sporatic and at times uncontrollable nature.  It brings out so many amazing qualities of my other pedals when used together and also totally changes the way I play guitar while using it.  Today I started using it as simply as oscillator.  It can go into pure self-oscillation and be used as a tone source!  I have found it to be incredibly cool to have an oscillator I can modulate with my guitar and THEN SOME.  I pulled the fuzz factory out for the first time in months today and had a great reunion with it.  Everytime I pull it out I never get the same sound twice and it always inspires me to pursue sonic annihillation to a new level.  Zachary Vex is one of the few TRUE wizard amongst humans today.  Cherish his babies.

Tape Won't Make My Eyes Burn

I have been wanting to learn how to record on tape since I was about 15 years old.  My band recorded on my neighbor's old Teac reel to reel machine a while back but I never got serious into learning how to splice tape and edit recordings.  Although it may be more convienient to record and edit audio digitally, I have always gravitated towards analog signal processing and recording for some reason, just seems like a better match for me and I dig the primal nature of it. Plus, I found that I cannot stare at a computer monitor for a long time.  A year ago I decided I wanted to teach myself analog recording from square one, meaning, buying a good ol' 4 track cassette recorder.  I happened to score this Tascam 234 from the 80s for cheap but realized the belt in it didnt work when I got it, meaning, I can do everything with it BUT record.  Instead of paying Tascam a minimum of 200 dollars to even wink at the 234 I've decided to bite the bullet and troubleshoot the grimey bastard myself.  I found a great link online: http://www.thegreatbear.net/audio-transfer/tascam-234-4-track-cassette-capstan-belt-replacement/. It shows it detail how to replace the belt on a tascam 234...what an AWESOME resource!  I am actually looking forward to ripping this bad boy open and bring it back to life.  I believe learning how to work with this piece of gear will be essential to me digging a deeper tunnel to the analog underworld and will also contrast nicely with the digital recording techniques I have been learning.

"DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO, DON'T DO WHATEVER YOU DON'T WANT TO DO"-Makoto Kawabata

Last night I checked my self into the right parts of space with Acid Mothers Temple and the Melting Paraiso U.F.O at the Larimer Lounge as part of their "Last Tour in United States & Canada 2012" Tour.   They provided the most efficient means of transportation to outerspace via their intergalactic rock n' roll train.  There have been few concert experiences I've had where I learn incredibly valuable information without engaging my brain in the slightest, Acid Mothers Temple is always the exception.

The Future Lies In The Eye of The Rocking Man

Enough Said.