Reptile
Recently, I picked up the T Rex Reptile guitar pedal. I've never been much of a pedal guy - in fact, I've basically avoided them for the last seven years. But for the new record that I am making with my friend Will Dyar, I wanted to have some different sounds. Even though it is only two days old (in my ownership), I was able to effectively use the pedal for a quick delay on some Wurlitzer chords, and also to modulate some guitar inserts in a new song called "Totally Fatalist". The song itself has a new feel for me - lots of intricate acoustic guitar sections surrounded by a somewhat dancey arrangement. More on that later.
Anyway, the pedal allows to veer away from general taste, too. Here is an example - played on the Wurlitzer while manipulating the sound with the pedal.
A few album covers that I really enjoy...
Genesis, A Trick of the Tail (1976)
Arve Henrisken - Strjon
Ralph Towner - Diary
Richard Beirach - Eon
Lenny White - Big City
Sparks - Propaganda
Checking In
This weekend has been great so far. I have confirmed that the rather unique release of DJ Responsibility's Formalism will occur this April. I'll be scouting locations for an installation tomorrow and starting to write some press releases. The album is seven tracks long and features a few local musicians: tENTATIVELY, a cONVENIENCE, Nathan Hall, Kerrith Livengood, Ben Harris, and Brandon Masterman. Those last four + me also make up Vocal Assembly, who has a modified version of a piece called "Hard Music" on the album. I'll be posting more info on this project along with artwork and such soon. It will be a pretty unique release - not sure of any kind of official release show - but at the moment, you need to be in Pittsburgh to hear it, specifically, the Oakland branch of the Carnegie Library.
Other projects on the horizon include a 7" with my good friend Will Dyar. We're remaking one of my favorite tunes from 2005, "In Hell" and adding a new b-side, "Gentle In". Possibly a bit more too.
And Daryl Fleming and I are halfway through the mix of a new record where Daryl duets with violinist and vocalist Megan Williams. That should be out sometime this year. There are some really great pieces on there, including the darkest, most forked version of "America, the Beautiful" that I've ever heard.
To cap off this post, here are 25 randomized tunes from the ol' iTunes:
1. Yeasayer - Grizelda
2. DBLD - Fourteen
3. Fred Van Hove - Boven Alle Verdenking Verheven (Alfons)
4. Death Cab for Cutie - No Sunlight
5. Led Zeppelin - I Can't Quit You Baby
6. Matthew Shipp - Pulse Form
7. Conlon Nancarrow - Study No. 34
8. Blood, Sweat, and Tears - My Old Lady
9. Madvillian - Rhinestone Cowboy
10. Charles Mingus - Los Mariachis (The Street Musicians)
11. Paul Giger - Tropus
12. Vocal Assembly - Individual Burdens
13. Rufus Wainwright - Want
14. Moovers - Someone to Fulfill My Needs
15. Susan Ibarra Trio - A Glimpse
16. Blood, Sweat, and Tears - Fire and Rain
17. DJ Responsibility - As In Form
18. MF Doom - More Rhymin'
19. Josh Berman - Db
20. Genesis - The Cinema Show
21. Can - Bring Me Coffee or Tea
22. Zs - Mimesis
23. St. Vincent - The Strangers
24. The Frame Quartet - M.E.S. (for Merce Cunningham)
25. My Morning Jacket - Anytime
