Anyway, I’ve got to get busy packing for the weekend.

Night

And here’s the write-up:

The Carillon is ringing out tunes, like the Cell Block Tango and Coin-Operated Boy. This is roughly how the Amanda Palmer Ninja Gig began. All the while Mr Fibby and band plead and beg and curse towards the concrete bell tower. They need her to stop so that they may begin. And just as all of the bells stop, a thunderhead rolls across the sky, blotting it out.

Kaelee and I rode our bikes to the Rat Patrol headquarters (or perhaps just one of them) where this entire adventure began. The Rat Patrol is DIY bicycle club, a motley crew that cruise around town on junkers, clunkers, choppers, tandems, all of which are Frankensteins, welded and bolted together from the corpses of dead bikes. I managed to meet and briefly chat a few members, before Ms Palmer rocked up and then it was on to get down to the Carillon on Aspen Island. There would have easily been sixty, seventy, maybe even eighty people, all pedaling towards the city centre.

This mob swarmed the bike paths and cluttered up suburban rodes as it made its way down to Garema for a brief break and photo-op, before setting off again towards Commonwealth Park. Then through the park and around the lake towards the bell tower, where more people were waiting to hear the performance.

A piano showed up, Mr Fibby and Band produced instruments and were about to play when suddenly the Carillon piped up, its bells chiming away, until a tune began to form. Amanda Palmer was up there knocking out Coin-Operated Boy on an old-looking pedal keyboard. CCTV at a nearby kiosk showed her playing away. Then the Carillionist wanted to show her a thing or two and what song she could knock out of the bells. At this point Mr Fibby who were waiting to open began screaming at the tower and then the CCTV monitor for her to stop so that they could start.

Behind them , clouds came steamrolling over the sky, blackened with storm that wanted to flatten anything in the way. And when the lightening made a crease across the night and the first drops began to fall, it was then that everyone ran for the nearest shelter under the bell-tower. For a short while there was some relief. But the wind made sure that no one would be left dry, as it seemed to blow in from all directions. As people made makeshift shelters, someone had the forethought of bringing a big enough tarp for Mr Fibby to continue playing under.

After a short while, Amanda Palmer stepped out, asked for a ukulele and began playing a few tunes, including Map of Tasmania and Creep. People sang along and cheered despite the seemingly apocalyptic storm. Then things were handing things back to Mr Fibby and band to tell one final tale about Koschei the Deathless.

At this point most people had left, the cold and the wet finally making Kaelee and I leave. We rode through the night back to the bunker to get somewhat dry and dredge up some food and to drive her home. An excellent and tiring night all round.

Here are some photos. Most have a resolution of 1200 x 900 pixels. Right-click them to see there full resolution, unless your monitor is huge.

The following photos are by Kaelee

(Right-click on the photos if you want the full size)

However, a work buddy knew the organiser and put me down for free entry. Sadly, I’m waiting on a phone call for when this buddy of mine decides to get moving…

And I still have a few things to finish – like housekeeping.

Adobe is still screwing with me, they have promised me a serial number which I have not yet received…

Problem is, it’s a grand, at least to get down here in the Antipodes. I do not currently possess a spare wad of cold, hard lucre to throw away on such a device. I mean I could say goodbye any number of things that cost me money. Sadly I like where I live, I need a car to keep and Japan might still be a possibility.

This is all part of a project to create some music. The problem is that anyone can create music with a computer. There are hundreds of little, large and massive software packages that vary in complexity and strength. Most of which prove that you would never have to touch a string, fix a reed, or release a spit-valve to push out a track. More so, you would never really have to learn how to scratch or mix a pair of records on two turntables. Ableton Live would happily do all this for you, while you held down a key or two.

My whole point in all of this would be to use several different devices as instruments and actually create some music as if I was performing, not simply composing with clicks of the mouse. So far this is what I have collected: A Buddha Machine Mk I, 2 x Buddha Machines Mk II, 2x Buddhist chant machines, EHX Memory Man with Hazarai, 2 x Nintendo DS each with Korg DS10, and a Korg Kaos Pad 3 that’s on loan.

So far, I’m still experimenting. The Buddha Machines, when put through of looping effects of the Memory Man creates this nice ambient, almost choral sound. But getting the mix right still needs work. Not much though. Still working on stuff in the DS10 only because I keep finding new sounds and making more and more save files. So nothing recorded yet.

Lately, I’ve been listening to a stack of music that’s new to me, mostly instrumental stuff, like 65 Days of Static, Explosions in the Sky, Bela Bartok and Sir Elgar concertos. Along with Jonsi’s solo effort, the leaked Crystal Castles album, The Cinematic Orchestra, World’s End Girlfriend and the Jukebox Buddha album. Each worth listening.

I recently picked up a copy of Do Anything by Warren Ellis, along with a stack of free comic books from the Free Comic Book Day on Saturday. Still yet to read it. Though I read through the free Weathercraft teaser. Jim Woodring still blows my mind.

Anyway, it’s getting late

Night

I was listening to some Tom Waits’ Glitter and Doom album while I wrote this.

This comic represents the end of ten years collecting the issues of Planetary. This highly elusive issue I couldn’t find last time I made the effort of looking for it. I’m sure some collector out there would charge a bundle for it.

I bought it for a lucre. And that’s an Antipodean lucre, mind.

I also bought this:

This appears to be mint, the record looks undamaged and unscratched. It’s from 1976. I bought it for three lucre.

I also picked up Pink Floyd, the Original Star Wars soundtrack, Bartok String Quartet Concertos, Elgar Cello Concerto, and two versions of The Planets. And this is all thanks to a recent book fair and an extended lunch. Either way, last night I chilled to some old tracks.

Went out to this tonight. Took a stack of photos but on review they all pretty much look like what’s above. There might be more, but it all depends how I feel about it after some sleep. Good night.

Re-visited

Okay time to finish this story. My friend, Michael (aka Drumloop from this post) told me about this party way out in the industrial sector of this city, though it’s mostly famous for its adult-entertainment. We cruise through empty streets discussing the news of recent times, such as a judge ruling that an ISP is not responsible for pirated content that it’s customers download. The other piece of news involved the fact that Antipodean lawmakers do not like flat-chested women, by banning porn that features such ladies as it “condones child pornography”. I can only hope that the Not-So-Chesty La Rues of this fair nation receive some kind of compensation, because they damn well deserve it if they cannot do their calling in life. More so, female ejaculation is apparently abhorrent, but I think this is because the censorship board was probably more into anal gangbangs than anything else. That and it’s “weird”.

Back to the story. The suburb is desolate at around nine with the last of the late night porn fiends seen skulking the car parks. We find the party, only because we manage to catch a glimpse of glow of neon laser. The whole affair was about five lucre entry, you get your arm stamped and then they turn you loose inside. The whole warehouse was on the small side, with two stages, one on the main floor and the other in an old office. There was also a chill out room on the side.

So far my buddy and I are enjoying then scene. I’m carrying a camera around and every other person is asking me whether that’s a camera and if I am some kind of photographer. One guy sidles up to me and asks me this and then says something along the lines of “having a good time? Making this a large one?” I knew instantly that he wanted to sell me something. i wasn’t interested for whatever thing he had wanted to pitch. I really didn’t have the money either. So i answered any of his hinting questions with nonsensical answers, the kind you might use to determine whether the person is an android or not. So the android not getting anywhere with me, turns and finds business elsewhere. Later in the evening, some fellow comes up behind me, queries about me, the camera and whether I am some kind of photographer, before wondering whether I have any pills. His eyes looks wild and sweat is pouring down his face reflecting the bright neons of the stage lights. I say no and see him meandering through the shifting crowd. I see young lady with a darkly angular face move among revelers, dancing in a shifting stilted kind of way, like a spider running along the strands of its web towards it prey. Later I find that the spider-woman has found some more of her kind, formed in a small circle, obviously communicating to each other through interpretative dance. The small room at the front of the warehouse was constantly cramped with half-naked people that either were dancing or suffering some kind of communal seizure from the music. I decided not to enter out of self-preservation.

The music itself varied between 8bit electronics, thumping drum and bass and fast effects. All in all, no complaints. Pacqman and Shifty Business sounded the best, in my opinion, though the transition between each player and the shadows behind the stage made it difficult to tell. Soon it hit the witching hour and Michael and I were off back on the road and across town, burning under a violet night sky.

I’ve been listening to this album a lot, so here is a video that Dead Man’s Bones put out. Enjoy.

Fuck Buttons – Tarot Sport

Warren Ellis kept mention this a couple of weeks ago. I need to listen to his music recommendations more closely, because this album is hypnotic.

Broadcast – Noise Made By People

It’s Broadcast’s first album and it’s probably my favourite, but I don’t know if it’s because I heard that album first.

Dead Man’s Bones – Dead Man’s Bones

This album is a bit of technical feat, considering the aim was giving the feeling of some community theatre production during Halloween. And it works, with little faults in performing and recording that seems to miss parts of the stage.

Miss Kittin and the Hacker – Two

Not sure about this one. Considering the feeling of the album is simple and somewhat predictable. It’s feels cheesy. I could go back to Skinny Puppy to listen to something that was (then) a technical feat, or go Ladytron, Crystal Castles, Ladyhawke, La Roux for something that seemed to be more in touch. I haven’t listened to Batbox yet. But I have heard it’s better.

Also thanks again to RadioButt!

You can acquire this mix here. Enjoy.

Also, here is the playlist of the tracks featured

Urban Assault  - Red Raider (Original Mix)
D Kay and Rawfull -  Sequential Circuit
Dejaru -  Virtual
Oak -  Tsunami
Calibre  -  Jackoff
Loudy -  Get To Know Me
Logistics -  Murderation
Craggz & Parallel Forces -  Shake The Disease
Spectrasoul  -  Organiser (Original Mix)
Lemonde -  Dead By Dawn
Channel 2 & Goldstar -  Kingston Town ft. Alberosie
DJ Fresh  -  Heavyweight
Tom and Jerry -  Maximum Style Vol 2 (DJ Vapour Remix)
D Kay and Lee  -  Tuning VIP
Break -  Let It Happen VIP
Survival  -  Sky
Commix & Rufige Kru -  Envious
Rico and Scoop  -  Gimmie A Beat (Original Mix)
Hype, J Majik & Wickaman -  Look to the Future (TC Remix)
Channel 2 & Goldstar -  Must Come A Road
Distorted Minds  -  Old Times
Kiat -  Slavecodes
Prolix -  Hold Back
James Bass -  Kill Your Killer
Camo and Krooked -  Dakota
Marcus Visionary -  Sound War (ft. Bunny General)
Aphrodite & Mickey Finn -  Bad Ass
Soul Intent -  Future Funk
Ewun -  Screw Up (The Upbeats Rmx)
Imprintz & Dilemn -  Questions (Original Mix)
Phantasy ft. UK Apache -  Gimme Da Gal (Vocal Mix)
Loud Sound -  Shiver
Spor -  Some Other Funk
Diode -  Antimatter
VTech  -  Let The B*tch Breathe (VIP)
CentaSpike  -  Killing Contract