New contollers for my live instruments

My old friend ASMO has built these two new controllers for me. They’re based on 3 Create boards and built into old cutlery boxes with a selection of old knobs collected on ebay. there’s a couple of nice joysticks, switches and buttons too. i’ve been using this set-up for a while and its still evolving as i get to know and develop my instruments more.

Michael Pinchbeck’s ‘And the Curtain Falls’

Memories of plays performed by The Falcon Players come to life as the stage directions are heard alongside how it felt to follow them. And the curtain falls is a sound installation that marks the end of a series of projects stemming from an interest in amateur dramatics as both a mode of performance and a meditation on memory, nostalgia and loss. Commissioned by Radar at Loughborough University.

Thing About Machines Festival

The next gig on the horizon will be a Threep performance at A Thing About Machines festival in Coventry on Friday 25th September 2009.
We’ll be performing in St. John’s Church along with British composer of the year, turntablist and sound artist Janek Schaefer, sonic and visual manipulators Modulate and a unique performance from Ben Ramsay using recordings of jet engines.
For more info and tickets check out the festival website here athingaboutmachines.co.uk

Ircam FTM workshop

Last week I attended a great FTM workshop at Bek in Bergen, Norway. Many thanks to Diemo Schwartz, who led expertly.  FTM and Co is a set of extensions for MAX MSP, released free through a LGPL licence. It’s a set of objects and externals that handle data management wth matrices, with the Gabor externals handling audio for granular synthesis and spectral analysis / re-synthesis. The sound quality is excellent compared to MSP, for reasons to do with timing which i don’t quite understand.

I’ve looked at FTM before but frankly couldn’t make head nor tales of it. Diemo very calmly and clearly took us through the syntax, structure and applications. He demonstrated his stunning cataRT synthesis software, created with FTM and Gabor. I highly recommend you check this out – its simple to use and incredibly powerful. Oh yes, and you can use it without having to do any programming!

Take a look at the videos of the workshop.

Threep Live at Future of Sound, DeMontfort University

Threep Live at National Space Centre Planetarium

Greanbean Dance Project

I really enjoyed working with with Katie Green to create a soundtrack for  ‘Caught Up’ , using my live set-up in rehearsals to improvise and experiment followed by studio sessions to finish things off.

‘Caught up’ was performed as part of the Heads up platform at Dance Base in Edinburgh on the 22nd August 2008, the Bowen International Conference in Winchester on the 25th October 2008, the relaunch of the On Time Exhibition at the Courtauld Institute of Art on the 13th February 2009, The Jam at The Junction in Cambridge on the 18th February 2009 and Déda in Derby on the 26th March 2009.

Choreography: Katie Green in collaboration with the dancers
Dancers: Rachel Birch-Lawson, Daniela B Larsen, Laura Savage (joined by Rob Guy and Laure Bachelot for the Courtauld Institute and The Junction performances)

Chris Watson Sound Recording Workshop

i’ve just been on a great workshop with sound recordist Chris Watson. A group of about twenty people from a wide spread of backgrounds, spent time with chris alongside the banks of the river thames. we explored the different sound habitats, natural and man made, whilst chris shared his enthusiasm and experience with us. We then spent an afternoon at the Museum of Garden History listening to recordings and to chris talk about his approach to recording and sound.

the only downside to the workshop is in the wallet dept, as i can’t help myself buying some better recording kit. i’ve decided its time to upgrade from my edirol r-1, which has been on the blink recently. a few people were recommending the fostex fr2 LE and i was wondering if anyone has any experience of using it ?

everyone was drooling over chris’s nagra aries p-II+ recorder ………. just waiting for that windfall 😉

i’m also looking at getting a good pair of stereo omnis. a few people recommended microphone madness for good but cheap mics, made with the same capsules as sennheiser.

big thanks to chris watson and chris potts

Work in progess

Things are pretty busy here at the moment with some great projects

‘Caught Up Soundtrack’

I’m pleased to say we’ll be writing music for choreographer Katie Green‘s new work ‘Caught Up’ which will be performed at  Dance Base in Edinburgh 22nd August.

Nanoplex at EXPO Brighton

Just getting new work ready for the Nanoplex at EXPO, Brighton. We’re working on a 5.1 remix of Flotel‘s soundtrack for Vent‘s ‘Still Life’.

Summer Sundae

Our line-up for our marquee at the Summer Sundae Weekender is shaping up – watch out for an announcement soon………

 

 

BBC Urban Bursary

I had the great pleasure to be asked to nominate two people for the BBC’s Urban bursary scheme.

I’ve nominated two talented musicians who been working hard to move forward in music.

MVP – who’s doing great things with grime and hip hop

Jahmarnyah who’s working his magic in the world of reggae

good luck guys – you both deserve to receive the award