South by Southwest (SXSW)

Ok, so this post isn’t directly electronic music related. But I figure if anyone should have a handle on new media innovation it should be those of the electronica persuasion. What better person to produce high quality media than those who are always messing with knobs and buttons and software.

So, even though we couldn’t make it this year (again… sigh), the podcasts from the speakers are already being posted. You can listen to a variety of great minds on a variety of great topics. Check out the podcasts here.

Enjoy.

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High Contrast video.

This came out a few weeks back. I love the track, but the video is only OK. Still definately worth the link though. Can’t beat the disco-groove-headbob music of High Contrast.

By the way, you do know who Hospital Records is right? Good.

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NFS tshirts.

Check the sidebar. There are some tshirts that I threw together for NFS. I have other better ideas but it is already midnight and I will wait until later to put them onto shirts. Expect some cool EDM designs though.

For now, you can buy NFS shirts and support the site at cafepress.com/nonfictionsound

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Digital Aura.

In the realm of electronic music, however, everything from the inception of the song, the lyrics, the musical phrasing, the instrumentation, the performance…right down to the mix-down and mastering of the final audio file is done by the artist. Most people are completely unaware of what they DON’T hear in a song. Things like creating the proper structure for a track, so that tension is created. If a listener doesn’t feel any tension in a build or if they don’t anticipate a break in the music, then there is no climax, no sense of fulfillment and no thrill in the journey. This is the art.

Digital Aura writes some great thoughts and insights on his webpage. And while you are over there, check out his music too. Great stuff.

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Cardamar Music.

There is a lot going on at everyone’s favorite chillout label. My latest album, In Medias Res, is still for sale but is also now available on iTunes, May 25th is the due date on the highly anticipated new Cardamar album, Dream Lab is scheduled for release after that, and I am excited for some of the new stuff I hear coming from the studio of Marco Torrance. All in all, the air is buzzing with good stuff over in Sneek. Keep an eye on the Cardamar Music page for continuous updates.

Plus, find all of us Cardamarians over at myspace: s. zeilenga : Marco Torrance : Dream Lab : Xerxes : Cardamar

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ps. – In the little spare time I do have, I am finding time to redesign the Cardamar page. So, look for that soon. It will be sporting a new logo and all.

RWAT ~ March 9th

Random Weekend Adventure Tracks (RWAT) will be posted every friday. These will be songs that are meant to soundtrack a little weekend adventure. Use these tracks to inspire a weekend trek, an outdoor activity, or just few hours in a good book. Enjoy.

Well, after a hectic and draining week, it seems like a good drum&bass track is in order for this weekend. Something fast and upbeat so that you can drop the remainder of the week into 6th gear and bury the needle. So, after a little debating between favorite tracks, I decided to go with the still rockin CLS+Wax song Quite Perfect. (click on the Quite Perfect track in the player)

Sporting an electric guitar riff, some bouncy female vocal stabs, and a bassline that stirs you up inside, Quite Perfect gives you goosebumps in a matter of seconds. There is a headbang-push through the song, building upon rock and roll goodness to explode into outright drum&bass mayhem. I can almost guarantee you will be dancing (or speeding) by the end of this track.

Good rock & roll for your weekend. Now, go make the most of it.

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Review: hyp0static

Oh, by the way, TastyFresh just posted my review of the Hyp0static EP called Halogen. If you want to hear clips of what I was reviewing go to Hyp0static’s webpage here.

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Dig this DJ : Aaron Simpson

Well, I admit I was googling something completely different – namely, what’s the deal on the Matrix & Futurebound CD? It feels like I have been waiting for ages. Can I get it please? Grrr… Ok, so that is another story for another post.

But in the process of google hounding the drum&bass world, I came across a really quality DJ. I have been listening to his latest mix, Audible Telepathy, all day. Aaron Simpson hasn’t been on my jungle radar, but I am definately going to be checking out his mixes more often. With a combination of intellegent jazzy drum&bass and raw dance energy, Aaron is going to quickly become a favorite of mine.

Check him and his newest mix out here.

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Remixing Brian and David.

My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts came out in 1981. Over the last decades, hundreds of artists in genres ranging from DJs to alternative to electronic have all borrowed from its ideas and claimed its influence. It is now being re-issued in a beautiful new package, with extensive liner notes and photos, and featuring 7 previously unreleased tracks from the original album and a film by influential artist Bruce Conner.

I got into the electronic music thing too late to know this. I never heard of My Life In The Bush of Ghosts let alone listened to the album. But I guess it is good. It must be for a re-release 25 years later.

But I have heard of Brian Eno. He writes some amazing music every time he sits down in studio. I like quite a few of his songs. Especially his ambient stuff. So, when I saw this chance to snag some remix material I jumped at the chance. But, I figured since I am a nice guy I will pass the information along to you as well.

So, go here. If you sign up you get full access to all the separate parts of two tracks from the MLITBOG album. Then you remix them, mash them, kill them and tweak them until you have something that isn’t nearly as good as the original and upload the track. Should be fun. Even if it only means we get free music tracks.

Ready. Set. Remix.

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Underworld gets it.

As if on cue, Underworld illustrates my last post perfectly. I was poking around the Underworld site and found that they have been releasing little artsy EPs for a while now. The releases are 5 dollars and include a selection of tracks all mixed together (which is another good idea), a gallery of photography, and a pdf album cover design. A perfect little package that I don’t mind downloading just to get the whole experience.

So, there are people successfully doing it. Now it is just a matter of figuring out what I want to do with NFS releases.

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