Apr 4, 2012
Mar 24, 2012
Gudrun Gut
Whatever it is about this song and the video, it moves me. No really. Reminds me of being young(says the crone), especially on a Saturday morning.
Gudrun Gut is a bit of a legend too.
Mar 23, 2012
Equinox
Weeeellll, it's happened. Against all odds, despite all our expectations, much to our surprise, the spring is here. Hats off to The Ancient Ones, the dolmen and passage tomb builders, the astronomers and heavenly worshippers.
Labbycally (Leaba an Chailligh - The Witch's Bed) dolmen tomb in Co. Cork is positioned in such a way that on the 22nd of March and (vague! I dunno me equinoxes!) its autumnal counterpart, the central spine is lit up by the sun's setting rays.
Stuck up a rough version of a track off the new EP on Soundcloud. It'll be streaming for a week or so. Preview shtylez!
Labbycally (Leaba an Chailligh - The Witch's Bed) dolmen tomb in Co. Cork is positioned in such a way that on the 22nd of March and (vague! I dunno me equinoxes!) its autumnal counterpart, the central spine is lit up by the sun's setting rays.
Stuck up a rough version of a track off the new EP on Soundcloud. It'll be streaming for a week or so. Preview shtylez!
Mar 20, 2012
ECHO release!!
Well, kids, it's finally happening. "Echo" has found a home, on the excellent Alphabet Set. A long-standing (ten years old this year!), well-respected, electronic label of consistently high quality, I was bleedin delirah that they had room/time/yaknowwhaddImean for me and my thang.
Now all the admin begins. I'm getting records made, with big, beautiful, artwork, courtesy of Barry and Chris. For that (and for the cash moneys needed), I'm going to go the crowd-funding route - Fundit or Pledge or one a them crowds. Well, "pre-order" is closer to the mark. Gotta get my pro-active pants on now. If only I could find them.....
Now all the admin begins. I'm getting records made, with big, beautiful, artwork, courtesy of Barry and Chris. For that (and for the cash moneys needed), I'm going to go the crowd-funding route - Fundit or Pledge or one a them crowds. Well, "pre-order" is closer to the mark. Gotta get my pro-active pants on now. If only I could find them.....
Feb 22, 2012
Cello stuffs
Cello lesson in Amsterdam again today, trying to loosen up that bowing arm. It has a tendency to tense up trying to stop the bow from tipping over or falling altogether. Gravity, innit! Seán Bergin put me in touch with Harald Austbø, a cellist and improviser who lives in Amsterdam.
He's a student of Ernst Reijsiger, the composer and cellist who's written music for a good few of Werner Herzog's films (including "Wide Blue Yonder" and "Cave of Forgotten Dreams"). Beeeyyooootiful!
In the course of the lesson, talk of portability came up. I started playing the cello eight years ago for many reasons, but its portability (compared to a piano anyway) was one of them. Hundreds of bus journeys later -"Would you not play the tin-whistle?"; "I'd say you have some trouble getting that under your chin!", cue gales of laughter - I realise it's maybe not the most portable.
Still and all, hats off to those who try. Here's Harald on mini-cello with the Bakfiets Band. This clip from a concert of Werner Herzog film music is beautiful, and round 8 minutes in you can see Ernst Reijsiger playing the cello standing up. Apparently he walks around with it sometimes too.
And, a bit less successfully by Woody Allen in "Take the money and run".
The brilliant Herv released "Portable Music, Vol. 1" last year, made with Nintendo DS, Korg Monontron and (I think) an Ipad - a practical solution to having a very long bus commute to and from work. Get that show on the road, as they say!
He's a student of Ernst Reijsiger, the composer and cellist who's written music for a good few of Werner Herzog's films (including "Wide Blue Yonder" and "Cave of Forgotten Dreams"). Beeeyyooootiful!
In the course of the lesson, talk of portability came up. I started playing the cello eight years ago for many reasons, but its portability (compared to a piano anyway) was one of them. Hundreds of bus journeys later -"Would you not play the tin-whistle?"; "I'd say you have some trouble getting that under your chin!", cue gales of laughter - I realise it's maybe not the most portable.
Still and all, hats off to those who try. Here's Harald on mini-cello with the Bakfiets Band. This clip from a concert of Werner Herzog film music is beautiful, and round 8 minutes in you can see Ernst Reijsiger playing the cello standing up. Apparently he walks around with it sometimes too.
And, a bit less successfully by Woody Allen in "Take the money and run".
The brilliant Herv released "Portable Music, Vol. 1" last year, made with Nintendo DS, Korg Monontron and (I think) an Ipad - a practical solution to having a very long bus commute to and from work. Get that show on the road, as they say!
Feb 15, 2012
Gig tonight in Zaal 100
Come on down! It starts at 9 p.m., all details are here.
Zaal 100, De Wittenstraat 100, 1052 BA Amsterdam.
Zaal 100, De Wittenstraat 100, 1052 BA Amsterdam.
Feb 4, 2012
Amsterjam
Headed up to Amsterdam yesterday for a jam with Tobias Klein and Raphael Vanoli. Tobias plays clarinet, bass clarinet and saxophone, Raphael is a guitarist, and both of them use electronics along with their respective instruments. Yesterday was wonderful, that flotation tank feeling from abstract improv, and the bass clarinet is a big velvetty swoon-machine. Plus, the studio had a window, so we could see snow falling outside (minus 23 centigrade last night in Eindhoven - winter came late, but it's here now!). Just beautiful.
They're amazing musicians, wildly prolific and proactive, involved in loads of other projects, including Lackritz, Knalpot and Spinifex. I've come into contact with a lot of (for want of a better word) jazz musicians over here, and technical ability and prolific collaboration is a big part of (let's call it) jazz circles. Left to my own devices, I'd write and write, acquiring the technique necessary to play my own music, but not stretching myself any further.
With that in mind, I'm getting a cello lesson next week in The Dam. It's been three years since my last one, time to get back on the horse. Tis a life's work, eh.
They're amazing musicians, wildly prolific and proactive, involved in loads of other projects, including Lackritz, Knalpot and Spinifex. I've come into contact with a lot of (for want of a better word) jazz musicians over here, and technical ability and prolific collaboration is a big part of (let's call it) jazz circles. Left to my own devices, I'd write and write, acquiring the technique necessary to play my own music, but not stretching myself any further.
With that in mind, I'm getting a cello lesson next week in The Dam. It's been three years since my last one, time to get back on the horse. Tis a life's work, eh.
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