| Friend's list 'spring' clean... |
[Jun. 25th, 2008|10:18 am] |
Had a bit of a cull of the friend's list. It's essentially all those who have either de-friended me or not returned friends requests.
If you wish to be re-added please leave a comment here. |
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| Keyboard player required - Inertia |
[May. 21st, 2008|02:16 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  hopeful | ] |
After 8 years in Inertia, Andrew Trail will play his last gig with the band on the 28th of May at Camden's famous 'Underworld' venue.
Andrew has provided a very unique sound to Inertia these last years.
As well as being a great live musician, Andrew has assisted in Inertia's studio output, most notably on the band's latest release 'Inertia'.
Andrew is leaving to concentrate on his project, 'Knifeladder', with which we offer him our total support and best wishes.
We are therefore, faced with the difficult task of finding a new keyboard player!
What we're looking for:
Male or Female
Ability to actually PLAY keyboards (Inertia never has, and never will mime a live show)!
A great stage presence/image
Understanding of melody as well as 'Industrial' textures
The ability and desire to commit to live shows, touring and recording
Have their own professional level equipment
Inertia is a London based band, hence any potential keyboard player should live nearby, or be prepared and willing to travel to London for gigs, rehearsals, recording etc.
We're looking to fill the slot with some sense of urgency.
If you're interested or know someone who is, please leave a comment here or send an e-mail to bob(at)astromusic(dot)co(dot)uk
Please feel free to copy and paste this around your journals, MySpace etc. Post left open and public if you wish to link to it. |
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| Inertia Gig, Tomorow 3rd November - CANCELLED |
[Nov. 2nd, 2007|08:32 am] |
Due to reasons beyond our control, Tomorrow's (November 3rd) Inertia gig at London's Electrowerkz venue has been cancelled.
The decision was that of the promoter and not our own.
We hope to be gigging again shortly, so watch this space for news on upcoming gigs. |
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| Synth for Sale! |
[Feb. 9th, 2007|11:13 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | hopeful | ] |
My 1981 Korg MonoPoly is currently on e-bay up for grabs! Drop me a line if you're interested!
Buy my Vintage Synth!
Feel free to cross-post or link this if you know anyone who might be interested. Left this post public so all can view. |
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| Casualty on the road...... new V-Kit |
[Feb. 20th, 2006|11:46 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | gibson, ibanez, v-kit | ] |
| [ | mood |
| |  disappointed | ] |
| [ | modulations |
| | APB - You and Me against The World | ] |
Well, the first leg of the tour has been fun! Certainly enjoying myself!
Unfortunately, my V-kit has finally thrown in the towel at all the gigging and hard-work it's been put to.
Something like 100+ gigs (yes really), rehearsals, two music videos and all the transportation and accidents along the way have taken their toll.
At our Kings Cross gig, my cymbal triggers began to fail, and I had one PD pad fail on one edge completely.
Despite me stripping the pads in an attempt to fix them, they are simply unfixable, completely and utterly worn out.
On top of this, the drum brain is battered with a VERY wobbly volume pot, and the connector for my kick trigger is currently gaffered to the side of the trigger!
Enough, really IS enough.
Reluctantly, in order to raise the money for a new kit I will be putting two of my guitars up for sale in the coming weeks. A transparent blueGibson Les Paul DC, exactly like this:
also my Ibanez RG7620 7 string exactly like this:
It's going to be really tough to see these guitars go, and unfortunately , as I don't play them that often, and as I'm a full-time drummer now, they have to go.
Neither of them have seen much use, and bar one chip on the Ibanez, both are in essentially 'as new condition'.
I'm asking for offers around £875 for the Les Paul DC, and around £650 for the Ibanez
If you know anyone who might be interested in these guitars, please pass this on, Thanks. |
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| This is SERIOUSLY hilarious!!! |
[Nov. 23rd, 2003|04:16 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | amused | ] |
| [ | modulations |
| | Hobo humpin' slobo babe - Whale (this cafe rocks!) | ] |
Looks like someone has hacked the google website.
Go to google dot com and type in "weapons of mass destruction", then hit 'I'm feeling lucky' instead of search.
Read the error message carefully and laugh your ass off!
Brought to my attention by my mate Mark Latham from Stoke. |
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| Time to sort the friends list.+Daily updates |
[Nov. 6th, 2003|07:17 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  thoughtful | ] |
Okay. Time to be a little ruthless.....
Had a look at my friends list yesterday and it's ridiculously huge. I mean RIDICULOUSLY huge.
I have also decided to make my journal 'friends only', for a few reasons:
An embarrasing incident invloving an old freind's mum reading my LJ (not good).
Constant bitching about work (which could get me fired if found out).
And, bluntly, only friends being able to read my personal musings.
I'll make the journal friends only next Monday, tied in with sorting out my friends list. Whilst there will be obvious people who remain on forever I'd appreciate it if you could leave a comment if you'd like to stay listed.
Hope you all understand and that it's nothing personal. There's just not enough time in the world!
( in other news )
( update-Tuesday, ) |
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| What the hell?! |
[Nov. 4th, 2003|07:57 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  weird | ] |
| [ | modulations |
| | Atari Teenage Riot - Rage EP | ] |
Today has been like viewing my life from afar. Very strange.
Woke up this morning (dur dur dur dah dah) feeling quite ill. Thick head and a chesty cough. Ordinarily I'd have got out of bed anyway and got ready for work. Some how though I just felt too damn ill, despite not felling archetypally ill. Most strange.
So. Called work, told Neil I couldn't make it in (God I hate calling in ill, I fell like such a skiver) and promptly went back to sleep. Was woken (briefly) by a phone call telling me my medication was in at the Chemists and promptly went back to sleep (again).
At 4:55PM (yes, really) I awoke to realise the entire day had passed me by. This made me feel quite a lot better as I was clearly suffering from something other-wise I just wouldn't have slept for that long. I'm generally not a sleeper, unless I've been deprived of it, and I'd got bed at a reasonable time the night before. Weird. Just Weird.
Had a wonderful thing happen today. Saw the Pavarotti Album 'Ti Adoro' for sale in Sainsbury's. This is the album I had a hand in (Pro-Tools engineer, surround sound mixes). Ironically my parents, nor myself will be able to hear the sork I did on the album, as one needs an SACD copy of the album, plus associated 5.1 setup to hear the mixes.
Non the less, It feels fantatstic to have a hand in something tangible and non-esoteric, a house-hold name no less.
Do I now have a kick-ass CV or what! |
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| Birthday Plans |
[Nov. 3rd, 2003|05:53 pm] |
Okay guys. Courtesy of an Elektrowerkz mailing I've just decided what I'd like to do in terms of Birthday plans:
My birthday is on December 20th. The previous day, Friday the 19th sees a 3 floor electronic music extravaganza at Elektrowerkz, with a floor being hosted by the Aphex Twin (ooooh! Yay!). Also in attendance (amongst many others) are u-Ziq whom I understand are rather good.
I do believe the e-mail in that this event will sell out fast. It's early days I know but if i can get some numbers together I may be able to get some tickets reserved. Safest bet though will be to call up and book yo' selves.
( in other news )
So. Just in case you momentarily forgot, who's joining me on the 19th for a night of IDM fun 'n' frolicks? Eh? Eh? |
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| Work, and old amplifiers. |
[Nov. 1st, 2003|05:06 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  hungry | ] |
| [ | modulations |
| | Clickety click of keyboards. | ] |
Hmmm, been a realtively update free week that.
Well, despite the appaling start to the week, the rest of the sessions went very well. God knows what happened to me, but I went on session on Tuesday and suddenly seemeed to be 'The King Of Machines'. Almost as if I'd had some Matrix-style knowledge download. Sweet. This I feel has impressed Neil and John. Which is a good thing.
Additionally, they've just fired the secretary. After her first week. Because she was a bint and took blatently unauthorised time off. Reckon they now realise how committed I am and that not everyone of my age makes the sacrifices I have for them. So there.
Halloween partying didn't happen sadly, as I was working last night. Shame, as it;s a good opportunity to dig out the Goth tat one used to wear and remind oneself how dreadful one used to look! Amusing.
In Tottenham Court Road/Leicester square area at the moment. Came to buy some guitar strings and also was lured by a vintage WEM guitar amp for seemingly silly money. Was very much hoping that due to its vintage it would be a lovely low wattage valve amp I could drive mercilissly into distortion and maybe modify for some additional gain. As it happens they had two, but were unfortunately Solid State amplifiers. Which almost always sound like crap for guitar, especially when they are of that particular vintage (god I'm a geek). Meh.
Anyhow. Worked up a particularly grunty hunger, so am off to find some sustenance.
Oh, also had my hair cut. Grade 1 back 'n' sides, spiky on top. Nice.
Must. Use. Longer. Sentences. Yes. |
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| Picking up the pieces, and making good! |
[Oct. 29th, 2003|11:07 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  accomplished | ] |
| [ | modulations |
| | Covenant - Northen Light | ] |
Well today went infinitely better than yesterday. Arrived a whole hour ahead of schedule which meant I had time to eat, and familiarise myself with the equipment.
That half an hour has helped me immensly. I can now cope with virtually any cock-up quickly and efficiently, often without Neil or the producer even being aware of things. I know this, because there were cock-ups today, that I dealt with.
At one point, towards the end of a session, the conductor rattled off about 20 takes in the space of a few minutes. Pretty mad going. Neil turned to me and said, with a rather unhopeful look on his face, 'did you get all that?'. I was able to reply with a very smug and glowing, 'yes'.
At some points in the session I knew where we were, in terms of takes, better than Neil and almost the producer i.e. the person calling the takes!
Incidentally, thanks to those that replied to my previous post. Wise words indeed, unfortunately my age does show at times and I'm unable to see things as the bigger picture. *hugs* to you all.
Journey home was interesting. On the tube some scruffy tramp got on the train and started busking (badly) followed by a round of 'spare any change please guv?' to all in the carriage.
Thankfully I had my Sennheiser HD25 'dogs bollocks' head-phones on which cut out virtually all external noises. An added humour was aided by Covenenant's 'Invisible and Silent' coming on my CD player as the guy started busking. Life, it seems, is not entirely humourless!
Bizzarely, bumped into ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) kuchisake_onna coming out of the tube exit, as she'd been to a tiny theatre around the corner from King's Cross. Not seen her since the Rubber Ball weekend, and it's always a pleasure!
So. The outcome of the last 24 hours is positive. Before long I'll feel confident enough to take on more responsibilities, and with it, more credit.
I have to take into account how relatively young I am. Neil has been in the industry since the early 80's. I.e. almost as long as I've been on this planet! But is he 20X as capable? 4X probably (cocky mode on).
So, that means I've gotta wait 'til 2008 until I get my Grammy :) He he!
Thanks again guys. You rock. |
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| Music and vocal mangling! |
[Oct. 27th, 2003|10:22 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | happy | ] |
| [ | modulations |
| | Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer | ] |
Okay. This week I will be very much on session, and hence very much unable to go anywhere or doing anything really. Wank.
Anyhow, the weekend was pretty good. Club Hard:Drive on Friday was a nice realxing environment. Nice to meet new people and get to know some people better.
Saturday was fantatsic. As I'm sure it is now glaringly obvious, Combi-Christ and Galan Pix played Slimes, as oppoesed to Icon of Coil and Galan Pix as I'd initially been told.
As it happens, I had more fun engineering Combi-Christ than I've ever had live. Andy was a really friendly smiley guy to work with. He gave me two guides to how he wanted to run the live show, lots of fun, and VERY loud!
To this end we unleashed the full might of Slimes' PA, and rigged up some crazy delayed filtered setup so that I could mangle and twist Andy's vocals live. This worked brilliantly. At one point I noticed Andy tapping the mic, at which point I realised he wanted to start some weird Dub style delay trickery. It was wonderful to watch a grin develop on his face as I started winding in the delay and punched the feedback up! Wicked! As Andy said before the show, "So, it seems you are the third member of the band tonight yes? Cool!".
Anyhow. Black Celebration did not happen for me. I got home at 9 and after realising I'd be lucky to get there for Icon of Coil starting, and effectivly having to pay 14quid for the privelage, I decided to get take-out and go to bed early.
Right. I'm off to a Church in tooting now to begin a week of Choral recording with the Gabrielli consort. We were setting up last night. I find churches very eerie places at night. Especially on a Sunday night. I think I'd rather have been anyhwere else last night. Harrumph. Le sigh etc.
See you soon guys! |
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| Need excitment! |
[Oct. 23rd, 2003|06:06 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | melancholy | ] |
( quiz nonsense )
Man alive am I tired, and with no good reason. I've done very little of great value at work today, but then again I've not been asked to do anything. It really grinds at me this. I get my energy form engaging projects, challenges and tasks, which seem to be lacking in my job at the moment. Hmmmm job issues rearing their head again. Danger Will Robinson!
Still, at least the 'band' is off the ground, and I'll be seeing friends this weekend. I just really need things in my life right now that engage, captivate and excite me. I'm afraid to say the only time that has happened was when I worked on the Pavarotti project a few months ago (le sigh).
Ahhh well. I am tired and hungry. Usually makes me feel melancholic. Got shit loads of ironing to do too. Bugger. |
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| Recording roxx! |
[Oct. 22nd, 2003|05:44 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | accomplished | ] |
| [ | modulations |
| | Trucks and cars going zooooom! | ] |
Today's been an interesting mixed bag.
Amongst other things today, I took a porta-dat recorder and a stereo pair of Schoeps MK4 microphones to the end of our Industrial estate, and recorded the sound of traffic going past.
The stereo imaging is incredible. Sat, listening back in the mix-room, one really could almost 'see' the traffic and individual cars zooming past. Especially remarkable given that the mic setup I was using, the co-incident or 'Blumlein' pair, was invented by Alan Dower Blumlein (hence the name) in the '30's. Incredible!
Anyhow, gotta be in for 9 on the dot tomorrow as we have clients in (yee-har, some work!) the mix room. A good night's sleep therefore being relatively essential as a few evening trips may be taking place over the next few days! |
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| Now, I'm getting somewhere. |
[Oct. 20th, 2003|05:40 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | happy | ] |
| [ | modulations |
| | Hypnoskull - Operation Tough Guy | ] |
Took my new track into work today, and by Christ it slams like a fukker! Managed to get sub-bass bleed through into the edit suites, something that shouldn't theoretically be possible. He he :)
Anyhow, this Wednesday night will be the first time I've worked on a track with band-members for maybe two years. It is giving me so much enthusiasm and energy for life it is unreal! It really feels like I'm personally moving my life forwards, even if my career is mildly screwed right now.
Slightly concerned at how I'm going to pull next weekend off. I'm engineering at Slimelight on Saturday night for two VERY big name acts. Something I can't turn down a:For the opportunity and b:For the cash. However, Sunday morning I'm assisting in a load-in and setup with work. In a church. In Tooting.
Crashing over at silky_fish's on Sasturday is gonna help enormously. Non the less it'll be a challenge. Planning on lots of sleep through the week, and Pro-Plus and Red Bull on Sunday morning!
Meh. Things are going (partially) where I want them to right now, which is giving me hope. A wonderful commodity to be in posession of! |
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| Opening up those flood-gates. |
[Oct. 19th, 2003|06:21 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  creative | ] |
| [ | modulations |
| | Pounding, pounding techno music. | ] |
Wow. The past 24 hours have been pretty cool.
Uwe and silkyfish lent me 'The Shawshank Redemption' this week, which I must say was a fab film! Whilst watching it, I heard a few little bits and pieces that sounded like they could make good samples. Henceforth, they were, indeed, sampled.
So, last night (actually jezus, this is last night, err morning, err OK, FRIDAY night) I found myself sat down in front of my PC making music once again. Trying new processes, new methods, and making music entirely new to me. Atonal, purely rythmic, fucking nasty.....basically some hardcore powernoise, which I'm quite chuffed with!
It feels wonderful to finally have a concrete product of my thoughts and angst. Though without the input and support of a couple of good friends (who know who they are ;) I probably woud have just carried on moaning rather than doing.
Anyhow, it's the first baby-step to something much bigger, which, after this start, I feel is edging ever closer. I cannot begin to describe how empowering this is!
Anyhow, in other news from the land of Bob:
Slimes was good as ever tonight. Despite abject lack of cash-ola, I still attended beric's birthday meal, which was lovely. Met a few more people too, the circle of friends grows wider and wider.......
Plans for tomorrow (shit, later today, today!!!!) may include: Watching David Blaine's descent from perspex box, and/or enjoying installation art at the Tate Modern.
Of course, it could involve neither as I may be spacked out in bed. Meh.
All is good. For now. |
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| (no subject) |
[Oct. 17th, 2003|06:44 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  tired | ] |
Oh man. I'm SO tired it's unreal. One of todays' tasks involved saving, loading and reloading files from the AMS console in the mix-room. Bearing in mind the desk is built around computer technology at least six to seven years old, it takes a while. During said process, I unfortunately dozed off. Whoops!
( Old uni friends )
Urrrgh. Anyhow. I'm gonna continue to try and get hold of Mack tonight, with regard to engineering tomorrow at Electrowerkz. Painful as it is, I;ve pretty much had to blow out beric's birthday dinner on account of lack of money. I can neither really afford to eat out, or will have the time to attend if I'm earning money by working it Elektrowerkz.
Grrrrr.
On a plus note, there may be a cat in hell's chance of having my car down here soon. My new insurance quote has been considerably more realistic due to being older and having a years' no claims bonus. In truth, I also feel my parents have suddenly proved willing in contiuing to maintain a car for me after mentioning the prospect of a motorbike. My Mum and sister were horrified, and Dad didn't openly approve! So. Flog may be making an appearance. May being the operative word, however, will sure prove handy for transporting musical gear around London! |
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| Learning, learning. |
[Oct. 16th, 2003|06:07 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  exhausted | ] |
| [ | modulations |
| | Oasis. Hmmmmm. The radio=bad | ] |
Doooooooooood did today start badly!
Was to be in work early to open up this morning. Amazingly I did get up early enough to alleieviate any tardyness. Unfortunately I had lost the office key Neil gave me. Wank.
Anyhow. Upon opening up the building, I called Neil, who remembered one of the editors had a spare key. Good job! Thankfully Neil was quite lenient, probably because I've been doing lots for the company this week. My crowning acheivment being re-wiring the entrance lighting on account of it not working before, and it working now. Which is a good thing. Yes.
Good god has my bottom been a human health disaster the past week. GasSmanN? I fart in your general direction sir (literally)! Christ. One knows it is bad when it is the smell is personally objectionable to ones own self. Phhhhhhhrt! Brap!
Hmm, anyway. Today has mostly comprised of more tomfoolery in the Mix room. Hooking up many effects units and evaluating them:
Lexicon 480L (10K's worth about 12 years ago) very nice HI-FI sounding unit excellent for classical but sounds too 80's for anything else really.
TC-Electronic 6000, awesome piece of kit with its touch-screen remote and sounds superb too, although a bit too 'dark' for classical stuff. My personal fave. Yamaha SPX900, time has not been kind to this beast. Probably some potential and the on-board distortion sounded like it could be interesting. Probably a beast waiting to be unearthed with some decent programming, but, as it stands, wank.
Also FINALLY got the hang of some of the synchronisation issues Neil's be beating into me. Which is nice. My head is still aching. 25fps Black-burst, AES and video ref sync anyone? Urrrghhhh!
Bring on the weekend (I think). |
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| I have no will control. |
[Oct. 15th, 2003|11:31 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | tired | ] |
Am at deathbypeaches's at the mo' with the splendid cyberpvcfairy. Promised myself I'd leave by 11:00 and it's just gone half-past. Wank. This is worsened by the fact I have to open up at work tomorrow. Double wank.
We are currently watching Mullholland Drive, which even by Lynch's usual standards, is very difficult to follow. Le sigh.
Hav tried to contatcing Electrowerkz to discuss Sturday with Mac, i.e. I AM going to beric's Birthday do, and can only help out at certain times (despite enjoying my work their and REALLY needing the cash - harrumph!).
Hmmmmm.Meh. |
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