Albums in my iTunes queue for today for around the house listening. Lot of around the house time these days - even more than usual - but the usual still involves A LOT of around the house time.
I made a video to show how I’m using AUM to process live guitar. My first efforts at making weird drones in the granular & glitchy sampling apps Tardigrain & Nils. All done on my iPad.
I’ve been working on some Christmas arrangements. Please enjoy this one. I try to show my love for the carols of yore through reinterpretation. Even though my vocals didn’t come out well in this version (I’ll revisit those at some point) it was still fun to put this together.
I’ve just been watching several takes on one of my favorite piano pieces: the presto finale of Beethoven’s Sonata Number 14, “Moonlight.” Seven of the most gut wrenching and thrilling minutes of music that will ever exist. It moves me to the edge of my seat.
Check these out and see who you like best. It’s interesting to see the differences in approach and interpretation of 3 players in starkly different stages of life: a child prodigy, a young player at peak ability, and an old gentleman.
If you watch each of these all the way through, I think you’ll discover that classical music is far from set in stone. It is still a lively conversation spanning hundreds of years.
I find it enchanting that a Japanese maker of prefabricated homes commissioned an accompanying soundtrack for said homes. Features a blend of natural and synthesized sounds to make one feel right at home in front of the hearth.
I can vividly remember the absolute radio dominance of Hootie during my high school years. The time has now come for us to admit that they were, and are, a great band. Songs so catchy, but also secretly profound.
Strangely, I had just been reading about J. Cole’s alleged altercation with Diddy during the NBA All Star game last night. Then today I read about the unfortunate fate of Diddy’s wax sculpture. Coincidence?
I’ve been working on some ambient-esque instrumental guitar songs for the past few weeks - I’m arranging some old old Stephen Foster traditionals - please check out the first one I finished, “Hard Times Come Again No More.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAGKqAafoz4
I’m excited, and I wish I still lived in the Midwest. I’d trek over to Chicago for this. I hope it’s a sign that the duo still has another album in them.
I’ve been recently digging the music of Jim O’Rourke. He produced my favorite Wilco albums and was a fully tenured member of Sonic Youth for several years, but I frequently play his more recent solo work around the house, including the recent “ambient” effort Sleep Like It’s Winter.