From: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org (alloy-digest) To: alloy-digest@smoe.org Subject: alloy-digest V2 #229 Reply-To: alloy@smoe.org Sender: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk X-To-Unsubscribe: Send mail to "alloy-digest-request@smoe.org" X-To-Unsubscribe: with "unsubscribe" as the body. alloy-digest Friday, October 24 1997 Volume 02 : Number 229 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: Alloy: Suggestions! [Lem Bingley ] Re: Alloy: Rude Words [Lem Bingley ] Alloy: Calling Alexander, calling Alexander! ["Keith Stansell" ] Re: Alloy: (c)1967 Lem Bingley [RThurF@aol.com] Re: Re: Alloy: Poor electrix [RThurF@aol.com] Re: Alloy: Poor electrix [crackers@hwcn.org] Re: Alloy: How I became "Weightless" [crackers@hwcn.org] Re: Alloy: Let's have a party! [crackers@hwcn.org] Re: Alloy: Suggestions! [crackers@hwcn.org] Re: RE: Alloy: Names to faces. [crackers@hwcn.org] Re: Alloy: Scrapbook ???. [RThurF@aol.com] Alloy: not Dolby related in the least [RThurF@aol.com] Re: Alloy: Birthday Cake!! - the aftertaste............................ [] Re: Alloy: (c)1967 Lem Bingley ["Lazlo Nibble" ] Re: Alloy: Suggestions! [crackers@hwcn.org] Alloy: Re: Aliens Ate My Birthday Cake! [crackers@hwcn.org] Re: Alloy: Names to faces. [crackers@hwcn.org] Re: Alloy: Birthday Cake!! - the aftertaste............................ [] Re: Alloy: Suggestions! [Eclipse ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 10:24:43 +0100 From: Lem Bingley Subject: Re: Alloy: Suggestions! >Ahem....... why does the next present have to be recorded music? Well said Robin, I agree. I think a scrap-book of oddities would make an equally nice gesture and would let everyone take part. Saying 'Happy Birthday Thomas' into my dictaphone this time around was never going to give the non-musician's among us much sense of artistic satisfaction and pride, now, was it? Lem ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 10:32:15 +0100 From: Lem Bingley Subject: Re: Alloy: Rude Words At 00:24 23/10/97 +0100, the rambling conversation went: >>We'll be on to the original meaning of 'berk' in a minute, and then, I'm >>afraid, I'll have to retreat, embarrassed. Slarv said: >Re Berk, are you alluding to the old 'Berkley Hunt' (that's rhyming slang >BTW, Lissu) as it was once explained to me, or as we used to say rather >coyly in the Tap Room, 'FFB?' I think it's actually Berkshire Hunt, but yes, that's it. People do tend to think that 'berk' is a nice, gentle insult, when in fact it's a lot ruder than you'd think. (For the curious, I'll only ask 'what's the rudest word you can think of that rhymes with Hunt?) I'd forgotten all about FFB. Ha! I'm not explaining that one again, so stop tugging at my sleeve Lissu, you'll have me shirt off in a minute. Lem ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 08:32:34 -0600 From: "Keith Stansell" Subject: Alloy: Calling Alexander, calling Alexander! Hey, you may be on your way and not get this, but in case you do, I'll be there. I'll be the guy building a beer-can statue of a redhead male, big nose, blue eyes, 200 pounds in a suit and tie, keeping those spice girls from spilling my beer. Myself, brown thinning hair, glasses, 5'8" 165lb green eyes, blue shirt comming from the building across the street. To the Wynkoopeeeee - ---------- > From: Dennis S. Alexander > To: alloy@smoe.org > Subject: Alloy: Keith Stansell, calling Keith Stansell. > Date: Wednesday, October 22, 1997 10:50 PM > > I'm up for a Boddington's Bitter at the Wynkoop! > > Hey, I'm heading down to Denver tomorrow (10/23/97) for a job interview. > They're going to treat me to an early dinner. I'm guessing you get off > at 5:00 so I will try to be there about then. > > If you show up (I doubt I'll get a response from you in time), I'm the > redhead (somewhat afro-ish, curly and a bit fuzzy), male, big nose, blue > eyes, 200 pounds in a suit and tie (maybe), with a constant smile. (I > think I look better than I just described myself. This sounds awful! At > least you're not a woman or I woudn't have described myself!) > > Just ask around for JAMac, James MacAlister or Dennis Alexander (my given > name). I answer to any of those. > > Hope to see you there bud! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 14:06:47 -0400 (EDT) From: RThurF@aol.com Subject: Re: Re: Alloy:UFO's In a message dated 10/23/97 1:17:00 AM, Trent wrote: <> Hi Trent! Now you've got me repeating the term "angular separation" over and over. Do you mean, how far were the three lights from each other? They seemed to be connected, in a little triangular cluster, as if on one "craft". The total area this covered was small, compared to the moon; if you held out your hand at arm's length, the cluster would fit nicely into the very center of the palm of your hand (about 12-15mm across). It wouldn't surprise me if there were any military bases somewhere near Boston; I don't know of any for certain. We thought it was a helicopter too at first, but it just didn't act like one - there was no noise, for one thing, and the motion was that of something drifting along on an air current.... but very fast. The only other thing I can think of is the proverbial weather balloon, because of the way it moved, and getting caught on a fast air current could make it suddenly shoot off toward a very high altitude like that. But I didn't think weather balloons had lights that switched on & off that made geometric combinations, or could disappear & then reappear in a different part of the sky. Dave and I look at the sky a lot when we're outside (Dave includes wild-looking skies in his paintings sometimes) so we're pretty familiar with just about any common flying craft, satellite, comet, or meteor. This thing has me really baffled. If a helicopter can fly without sound, disappear, and then shoot off into orbit, then I'll happily agree with the helicopter theory! The night before Thomas' 39th birthday was strange indeed (I get a chill just thinking about it) Robin ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 14:21:33 -0400 (EDT) From: RThurF@aol.com Subject: Re: Re: Alloy: Poor electrix In a message dated 10/22/97 5:53:51 PM, Lissu wrote: <> I agree Lissu, we really should just try to put it behind us regardless of our opinion one way or another. I do indeed swear not to utter another word about the situation. (sorry if I have appeared harsh in any of my recent posts; I have been grouchy lately. In my small department at work, one of the other two people is driving me toward murderous impulses. She is a very self-absorbed, excruciatingly boring OBSSESSIVE TALKER, and I can't get away from her. HELLLLLLPPPPPPPP!!!!!!) Robin ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 15:01:33 -0400 From: Tim Dunn <113203.2623@compuserve.com> Subject: Alloy: Birthday Cake!! - the aftertaste............................ Hi there, = I just got my copy in the post yesterday, and I'm still amazed at how brilliant and especially how varied it is. I never thought we'd all have such crazy ideas of what to do with these already immaculate songs. = Electrix's version is v. cool, and Ian's totally right about the intervie= w at the end, really remarkable. I wish I had some drum samples that good too. I don't know what to say about CRACKERS' 'NuVogue.' It's simply unbelievable!! What a fantastic sound. Please tell us all about this styl= e of music. Where does it come from? Is that a tuba? And what's that slidy thing in the background? Is it just you or is it your band? Either way it= sounds like a whole load of fun, and the quality is excellent, on my quad= system it sounds like there are people laughing all round my room. Definitely my favourite - I wish I'd heard the original version to compar= e it with! As a guitarist I have to admire Eric's work on Weightless, not just the playing, but more especially the arrangement - I think it's one of the mo= st complicated songs you could have picked. Scandinavian music has a really bad name over here (Roxette, Wannadies et= c) but here's something to fix that! SO mellow and minimalist, but a real hi= t with that pair of voices cooing over the top. I like what the backing voi= ce does in the chorus alternating between the major and minor harmony. I'll = no longer believe you when you say there's no market for your stuff. = Ian - you and I are soul brothers - we've both worked with 8-track ADAT, the worst recording system on earth, and suffered from brain burn-out whe= n trying to mix at the end. Mixing on ADAT is awful, there's always somethi= ng which doesn't come out, so you turn it up, and then everything else is to= o quiet!! I think you lost alot of your backing vocals, which also happened= to me alot........... Monya - I can't hear you! I wish I could! I love the guitars on Therapy/Growth! Exactly what equipment are you usin= g? I have to know these things! Are you going straight into the desk. It's s= o clean. Also the tiny percussion noises are perfectly judged, I love the b= it in the middle that speeds up. My drumming speeds up periodically, but that's unintentional. Altogether,= although I'm proud of mine, it's a bit too rocky - I wanted more of a dub= feel - so turn the bass up when you listen to it! And I don't have an accent! = Lee, this is ferocious, youobviously have alot of really cool gear, and know how to use it! If you have some time on your hands, I have an electronic song that needs the touch of an expert. I have a really crappy= version that I recorded manually which I can send you if you're intereste= d. I think we could make beautiful music! = Well, that's what I think! Reach over now with your right hand and give yourself a big pat on the back!! Even the sleeve is awesome. Can we reall= y do it again another time? CRACKERS'll have to start taking his dibs from hell!! the_copse ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 19:55:09 +0100 From: Lem Bingley Subject: Alloy: Call Mulder and Scully Robin, sounds like you might have seen an F-117 stealth bomber. They're small, agile, triangular, black, quick, quiet, and they have lights on at the corners when they're not on combat missions. But I have no idea if there are any airbases near Boston either. Either that or maybe some flying alien guys playing luminous frisbee. Lem >They seemed to be >connected, in a little triangular cluster, as if on one "craft". The total >area this covered was small, compared to the moon; if you held out your hand >at arm's length, the cluster would fit nicely into the very center of the >palm of your hand (about 12-15mm across). > >It wouldn't surprise me if there were any military bases somewhere near >Boston; I don't know of any for certain. We thought it was a helicopter too >at first, but it just didn't act like one - there was no noise, for one >thing, and the motion was that of something drifting along on an air >current.... but very fast. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 17:11:55 -0400 (EDT) From: RThurF@aol.com Subject: Re: Alloy: (c)1967 Lem Bingley In a message dated 10/17/97 1:36:32 AM, Lazlo wrote: <<> (There's a comic book called "Europa and the Pirate Twins", by the way. I > sent Thomas a copy a while back -- it's pretty dire. :-) See what I get for reading articles in subject order instead of posting order? Sorry folks, I had no idea that the comic had started this discussion! >> At least now I know I'm not the only one who digs around in comic book stores! Robin ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 17:58:13 -0400 (EDT) From: RThurF@aol.com Subject: Re: Re: Alloy: Poor electrix In a message dated 10/22/97 8:53:10 AM, Paul wrote: <> Paul, you do a fantastic job of taking care of this list. It would be great if this statement could be incorporated with the rest of the "Welcome to Alloy" post which new members receive, to give people a general feel for the attitude of the place. This way it might prevent those who might be more inclined toward argument or hostility from starting off like bulls in a china shop here at Alloy, and then getting into a position where they might feel they cannot back off gracefully (even after being given the option). Alloy has become a wonderful part of my social life. One thing that's keeping me from being too sad about leaving all my friends in Boston next year is that I'll always have my good friends at Alloy no matter where we go!!! Robin ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 18:01:55 -0400 (EDT) From: crackers@hwcn.org Subject: Re: Alloy: Poor electrix In article <2.2.16.19971023004107.247f45e2@mail>, you wrote: >As I said previously, I deleted a >lot of the offending correspondence without reading it as it was so lengthy, >so I don't really know how over-the-top he became. I can only speak from my >personal correspondence with him which has been nothing but congenial. If >he has offended others either via Alloy or in direct mail I wonder if he has >a screw loose or maybe has accidentally activated his self distruct >mechanism. Whatever the case, Paul B was absolutely right to act as he did, >and I don't envy him the job of trying to be diplomatic in such cases, which >he managed with great skill, IMO. ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ I found on The Tap Room that Electix had a habbit of getting a little pretentious at times and so I would just ignore the thread and wait for him to come back down to earth. That's what I was doing during the whole navel gazing breu-hau-hau that was going on here. I figured it would peter out eventually one way or another. He has a habbit of presenting speculation as fact which I find most obnoxious so I just tune it out until he's finished his rant. CRACKERS (Where's my photon belt from hell!!!!) - -- Accordionist - Wethifl Musician - Atari 2600 Collector | /\/\ *NEW CrAB URL* http://www.hwcn.org/~ad329/crab.html ***| \^^/ Bira Bira Devotee - FES Member - Samurai Pizza Cats Fan| =\/= ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 18:01:52 -0400 (EDT) From: crackers@hwcn.org Subject: Re: Alloy: How I became "Weightless" In article <344D68EC.40AB@verinet.com>, you wrote: >Could you name any popular songs from "Canned Heat"? None come to my >mind >at the moment... ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ Um... there's that one used in the Mini-van commercial. And... ummm... well.... ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ >Second, I wanted to do something with trombone, as I've got a good >friend >who plays the bone. However, once again the songs were too dependent on >synth (Hyperactive), not really a Dolby song (I Scare Myself), or >already >taken! (Brain is Like A Sieve) ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ Did you attempt to arrange a trombone part for Weightless? ^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ >I really have a hard time listening to the vocals on my rendition, >especially >the second verse and second chorus. I think they detract from the cool >sounding guitars in a big way. I apologize in advance! If Thomas wants >to re-record the vocals on top of my arrangement, I'd jump at the >chance! ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ I've heard worse... I've heard much worse... much much much worse. What is much worse than a weak singing voice is someone with a weak singing voice who thinks they've got a golden throat. There's this one person I know, she can't sing to save her soul, but she's become a real prima donna because she made a tape on her 4-track. She shows up at the open mics in town and causes mass exoduses from the pubs. She's convinced she's Canada's #1 female vocalist (she's been bragging about sending a tape to "Nashville"), but she's just bloody awful. And so far nobody has had the heart to burst her bubble. This has caused her ego to grow even more and this has caused her to become a bit of a pain in the ass (especially to who ever is running the soundboard at the open mic). I have a feeling that pretty soon someone is going to gleefully and cruely pop that bubble on her. I just hope they don't throw a beer bottle or something. But don't worry, your guitar work came shinning through on that song. I was blown away with the guitar on that. ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ >Now the technical details... > >Equipment: >- ADAT 8 track digital tape deck >- ART 2408 mixer >- Ensoniq DP/4 effects processor >- Yamaha stereo acoustic guitar >- Modulus Graphite 6 string fretless bass >- Fender cheap acoustic guitar, strung "Nashville" style (the top >strings of > a 12-string set) >- Yamaha TG500 synth ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ "Nashville" style, eh. I'm not much of a guitar player (I know my three major and three minor chords, so I can become a rock star if I have to ;) It's still tuned the same though, right? I was wondering when I listened to the song if you were using some sort of alternate tuning trick. ADAT... wish I had one. But then again, if I had an ADAT it would just make all the sonic flaws of my ancient synth gear all the more noticable. That's the one nice thing about analogue. The lower frequency responce acts a bit like a "crap" filter. I don't even have a mixer anymore. My crappy Traynor went nuts on me and has gone to the "To be canibalized for other neat projects" pile in my geek-room. But Thomas Dolby lead me to a solution. In an old issue of Keyboard Magazine, just after a Thomas Dolby interview is the plans for a passive mixer, so I built myself an 8 to 1 passive mixer for all my synths. It's not too bad really, cheap, and very clean. The odd thing is, since I've switched my focus from keyboards to accordion, and dropped my subscription to Keyboard magazine, my whole "Gear Lust" thing has pretty much petered out. I used to torture myself endlessly over the ads and reviews in Keyboard, now I couldn't name a single new synth that came out in the last two years and I love it. Of course now I pine over accordions, but not to the degree I used to pine over synth and recording gear. Pretty much the only piece of gear I REALLY want now is my own CD-R. But I want one of the ones with the analogue and digital audio inputs, not one of the ones where you have to record to a hard drive first. Of course, they're still expensive. CRACKERS (Transcending the Gear Lust from hell!!!) - -- Accordionist - Wethifl Musician - Atari 2600 Collector | /\/\ *NEW CrAB URL* http://www.hwcn.org/~ad329/crab.html ***| \^^/ Bira Bira Devotee - FES Member - Samurai Pizza Cats Fan| =\/= ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 18:01:50 -0400 (EDT) From: crackers@hwcn.org Subject: Re: Alloy: Let's have a party! In article <2.2.16.19971021231456.373727a0@mail>, you wrote: >HA! Easy peasy lemon squeezy, though I'm not sure that the 'Spice Girl' >line scans correctly. ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ HAR! (incidently, on the Hamilton BBS scene a "HAR!" point is the highest humour award a message can get. Even higher than ROTFLOL) Maybe we should have a Thomas Dolby Parody contest. CRACKERS (One of our Vascelines is missing tonight from hell!!!) - -- Accordionist - Wethifl Musician - Atari 2600 Collector | /\/\ *NEW CrAB URL* http://www.hwcn.org/~ad329/crab.html ***| \^^/ Bira Bira Devotee - FES Member - Samurai Pizza Cats Fan| =\/= ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 18:01:54 -0400 (EDT) From: crackers@hwcn.org Subject: Re: Alloy: Suggestions! In article <971022190125_1278424175@emout19.mail.aol.com>, you wrote: >Some of us are not really inclined to strut our best stuff in this realm, >which is probably why more people didn't (or couldn't) participate. Next time >we should consider doing something that the rest of us can feel competent at, >too. > >Some ideas: illustrations of how we feel about Thomas' songs, works of >photography, portraits of Thomas himself, or some other work of physical art >- and perhaps short stories or poems relating to Thomas' work. These can be >collected, photographed if necessary, and made into a very nice hand-bound >volume. > >Dave and I would be very happy to to collect the various artwork and put >together the book in time for the next BIG DAY. > >I know that steps were taken to provide the artists and writers among us with >something to do on this last project, but really, there's only so much space >to work with on a J-card. Doing a different project (or projects) would give >Thomas something new to look forward to, and maybe then I won't have to feel >like such a DWEEB next year, with just my cello and Radio Shack tape recorder >with condenser mike! (We can of course include a tape of our own music with >the rest of the artwork, so Alloy's wonderful musicians can shine too) What >is the concensus? ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ Well I was going to design either a booklet, or a folding J-card like an accordion where each panel would contain a piece of artwork, or a poem. Unfortunately no one contributed any artwork or poetry by the deadline so I just made up a simple J-card myself Perhaps what would be nice would be a B-Day videotape. You can video tape your artwork or poetry readings. While the artwork is being shown the soundtrack could be the musician's contributions. However, this would require someone who has access to high end AV equipment. I think the audio tape is the most economical and easily accomplished project. It doesn't take much to send in a recorded birthday greeting. A cheap Radio Shack recorder will do just fine. You can even record you poetry. And if people want to submit artwork, the folding J-card should do the trick. Actually I was a little disappointed that three people who had committed to the tape and got on the J-Card didn't send in a contribution. There was a whole summer to get the project done in. Maybe this year I'll start taking Dibbs earlier. CRACKERS (Procrastination from hell!!!!!) - -- Accordionist - Wethifl Musician - Atari 2600 Collector | /\/\ *NEW CrAB URL* http://www.hwcn.org/~ad329/crab.html ***| \^^/ Bira Bira Devotee - FES Member - Samurai Pizza Cats Fan| =\/= ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 18:01:51 -0400 (EDT) From: crackers@hwcn.org Subject: Re: RE: Alloy: Names to faces. >Wouldn't it be a good idea if we could all send in a scanned image of >ourselves - maybe to Paul (if he had the time/space to do it) for display - >sort of like a scrap book of Alloyites (gee I hope that doesn't sound like >a disease). ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ Well there's a picture of me and my family (well most of my family.. I need to update the photo to include my new daughter) on my webpage. But I've shaved since this pic was taken. CRACKERS (Me in my old geek-room from hell!!!) - -- Accordionist - Wethifl Musician - Atari 2600 Collector | /\/\ *NEW CrAB URL* http://www.hwcn.org/~ad329/crab.html ***| \^^/ Bira Bira Devotee - FES Member - Samurai Pizza Cats Fan| =\/= ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 18:12:11 -0400 (EDT) From: RThurF@aol.com Subject: Re: Alloy: Scrapbook ???. In a message dated 10/22/97 3:15:26 AM, Slarv wrote: <> Yesss.... I had a dentist's appointment today & got to leave work early. I doubt I'll be any more lucid now though, with half my head loaded with Novacaine, but I'll try (an earlier bedtime would be nice for me tonight too) I need opinions, as I can't decide between two different JPG pictures for the scrapbook. One is of me outside near our house, and the other is of me in my sister's wedding. The outside one has me wearing grungy old clothing but looking very happy, and the wedding one has me all dressed up, but with a benign look of tolerance on my face because I couldn't breathe in that corset thingie. So, formal or casual, I guess is what I'm trying to say. Maybe I should send both and Paul can choose? indecisive Robin ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 19:00:05 -0400 (EDT) From: RThurF@aol.com Subject: Alloy: not Dolby related in the least I have to announce that my wonderful husband just brought me home a copy of "Predator vs. Judge Dredd"#1 !!!! YAY ! I've been waiting months for this :) Robin :) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 23:10:24 GMT From: ljackson@nstar.net (Lee Jackson) Subject: Re: Alloy: Birthday Cake!! - the aftertaste............................ On Thu, 23 Oct 1997 15:01:33 -0400, you wrote: >Lee, this is ferocious, youobviously have alot of really cool gear, and >know how to use it! Like I told Crackers, this is probably the most minimalist song on the tape. Just a Mediatrix card - an Audiotrix 3D-XG. >If you have some time on your hands, I have an >electronic song that needs the touch of an expert. I have a really = crappy >version that I recorded manually which I can send you if you're = interested. >I think we could make beautiful music!=20 =46ire away - can't guarantee anything, but if it's a MIDI file, I might be able to tweak. // Lee Jackson // ljackson@nstar.net // Garland, TX ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 17:32:40 -0600 (MDT) From: "Lazlo Nibble" Subject: Re: Alloy: (c)1967 Lem Bingley > At least now I know I'm not the only one who digs around in comic book > stores! Well, you may still be the only one, Robin -- I visited Golden Apple Comics on Melrose when I was in L.A. a couple weekends back, but that was only the second time I'd set foot in a comic shop in probably two years! I kind of gave up on comic shops after going through every shop in Albuquerque trying to find one that could get me the books I read without screwing up the orders every other week. I've been ordering my books through the mail from At Your Service in Dallas for five years this December . . . If the record business were as screwed up as the comics business, 95% of the record shops out there would sell nothing but death metal and posters of swimsuit models. - -- ::: Lazlo (lazlo@swcp.com; http://www.swcp.com/lazlo) ::: Internet Music Wantlists: http://www.swcp.com/lazlo/Wantlists ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 20:41:11 -0400 (EDT) From: crackers@hwcn.org Subject: Re: Alloy: Suggestions! In article <3.0.1.32.19971023102443.0069a96c@computerwire.co.uk>, you wrote: >>Ahem....... why does the next present have to be recorded music? > >Well said Robin, I agree. I think a scrap-book of oddities would make an >equally nice gesture and would let everyone take part. Saying 'Happy >Birthday Thomas' into my dictaphone this time around was never going to >give the non-musician's among us much sense of artistic satisfaction and >pride, now, was it? ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ Well you could have recorded a Dolby inspired poem, or submitted artwork for the J-card. I was rather disappointed that nobody did that. CRACKERS (There were other options from hell!!!) - -- Accordionist - Wethifl Musician - Atari 2600 Collector | /\/\ *NEW CrAB URL* http://www.hwcn.org/~ad329/crab.html ***| \^^/ Bira Bira Devotee - FES Member - Samurai Pizza Cats Fan| =\/= ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 20:41:13 -0400 (EDT) From: crackers@hwcn.org Subject: Alloy: Re: Aliens Ate My Birthday Cake! Hi Crackers, Here's My story. Would you be so kind as to forward it to Alloy for me? "My BRain is like a sieve" was recorded at OIART (my Alma Mater) on 24 tracks of Tascam Da88's. I performed the drums, Bass, Vocals, Guitars, Keys, Shakers (homemade) and Djembe. I learned the song on my guitar and then r3ecorded a rhythm track and just simply built on it from there. It was MOSTLY done in one ALL-NIGHT session (I left the studio at 10:30am from a 6:30pm start time!) The mix on the tape was actually done a week later (the mix I did that night was pretty WONKY! ;) I was planning on recording it "Folk-Style" (meaning fingerpicking and one voice) but I thought I might like to try and produce it like it was a full-band effort so I did. I have to laugh everytime I hear that "Murder" part because I recorded it at 5:30 in the morning and was super wired on coffee and you can hear the result of that I am sure. The "Trombone" part was going to be a harmonica part but I forgot it at home, so I improvised. Most of the gear I used either belonged to the school or a student there. Only the guitar was my own instrument. I seem to have a real knack for getting other peoples gear! Don't ask me how I do it, THey just say "hey do you need to use a synth? Try this one..." So I do! I am currently recording at home ("Camp Waverly studios") with a buncha borrowed gear. I am producing a radio play, a jazz band, a 63 year old, 7 fingered, slide guitar player, a 17 year old folkie, a 70's style funk band, an aging punk band and my own eclectic singer/songwriter stuff! I am a busy boy! Thanks for everything guys! If any of you want to drop me a line and say Hi then remember to do so at mailto:igifford@hotmail.com Cheers All Ian Enjoy the Tapes! They are All in the Mail and should be recieved within the next week or so! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 20:41:15 -0400 (EDT) From: crackers@hwcn.org Subject: Re: Alloy: Names to faces. In article <19971023193924.28310.qmail@hotmail.com>, you wrote: >COunt me in for the next Compilation gig. That is if you like my work. >If you have complaints I will take care of that for next time. Maybe for >that one you could all send your submissions on DAT and I will be able >to do it 100% digitally!! > >Peace > >Ian ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ No complaints with anything on your end of the project, although it's a real pitty that Monya De's recording came out so poorly. DAT wouldn't work for me, I don't have a DAT machine, my contribution was mastered on a Tascam Porta Studio One (4-track cassette) and then mixed down to a Sharp dual cassette deck. CRACKERS (low-tech analogue from hell!!!!) - -- Accordionist - Wethifl Musician - Atari 2600 Collector | /\/\ *NEW CrAB URL* http://www.hwcn.org/~ad329/crab.html ***| \^^/ Bira Bira Devotee - FES Member - Samurai Pizza Cats Fan| =\/= ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 20:41:17 -0400 (EDT) From: crackers@hwcn.org Subject: Re: Alloy: Birthday Cake!! - the aftertaste............................ In article <199710231501_MC2-24EC-16F3@compuserve.com>, you wrote: >Hi there, >I just got my copy in the post yesterday, and I'm still amazed at how >brilliant and especially how varied it is. I never thought we'd all have >such crazy ideas of what to do with these already immaculate songs. ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ I know what you mean, the diversity of styles and interpretations of Thomas's work just amazes me. There's some very talented musicians on this list. ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ >I don't know what to say about CRACKERS' 'NuVogue.' It's simply >unbelievable!! What a fantastic sound. Please tell us all about this style >of music. Where does it come from? Is that a tuba? And what's that slidy >thing in the background? Is it just you or is it your band? Either way it >sounds like a whole load of fun, and the quality is excellent, on my quad >system it sounds like there are people laughing all round my room. >Definitely my favourite - I wish I'd heard the original version to compare >it with! ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ Garsh... you're making me blush. ;) As for the style... It's influenced heavily by the works of people like Kurt Weil and Tom Waits, I don't know what the name would be. It's kind of an eastern european gypsie/khlezmer/cabaret kind of fussion. It's a sound I've been enjoying experimenting with a lot recently. There's no band, it was just me playing live and recording it with an Atari ST (MT-Pro) and a Tascam Porta Studio One (4-track cassette). The sounds you're hearing are... Yamaha TG-100: Fiddle Tack Piano Hammered Dulcimer (I think that's the "slidy" instrument you refer to) Banjo Assorted orchestra percussion Tuba (yep, you were correct that's a Tuba for the bass) Ensoniq Mirage: Clarinet Hohner Student ][ 12-bass accordion I slapped it all together in the space of an afternoon. I started by recording all the midi tracks first. Then recording them all to track 1 of the tascam. Then I recorded the background vocals and hooligans by repeatedly pingponging the remaining three tracks onto one track. Then one track for the main vocals and finally finishing up with one track for the accordion. As for the original version of "Nuvogue" (which appears on "Gateway To The Mind's Eye" soundtrack) it's an increadable live band "Cab Calloway"-like swing which Thomas always does oh so well. Absolutely inspiring track. Very lively and full of fun which is why it transcribed nicely into the style of my arrangement. I play this song frequently when I'm playing at pubs and even though it's just me an the accordion (no electronic back-up band) it always pleases the crowd (they enjoy doing the back-up Eye-eye-eye-eye). If I'm not mistaken there's an audio clip of Nuvogue on the FES page. ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ >Well, that's what I think! Reach over now with your right hand and give >yourself a big pat on the back!! Even the sleeve is awesome. Can we really >do it again another time? CRACKERS'll have to start taking his dibs from >hell!! ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ I'm glad you liked the J-Card. Unfortunately I couldn't make it as cool as I wanted because my computer was severely crippled at the time, but it all worked out well enough. I'm certainly up for making this a yearly event. I've also been wondering if it would be a good idea to make an Alloy/FES album where, instead of a Dolby cover, the contributors submit an original work for the project. This way there won't be any copyright problems with distributing copies to fellow FES/Alloy members. And then the non-contributors will get to sample the musical talents of the contributors too (and we'll still send Thomas a copy of this one too). I've also been wondering if there's even a need for dibbs. We all have such distinct styles and interpretations of Mr. Dolby's work that it might be interesting to have a tape where we see how two people interpret the same song. But then again, some people might feel like they've just come to a party and discovered they're wearing the same dress as the hostess (I know I hate it when that happens to me). CRACKERS (Lobster Dibb from hell!!!!) - -- Accordionist - Wethifl Musician - Atari 2600 Collector | /\/\ *NEW CrAB URL* http://www.hwcn.org/~ad329/crab.html ***| \^^/ Bira Bira Devotee - FES Member - Samurai Pizza Cats Fan| =\/= ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 1997 21:25:19 -0700 From: Eclipse Subject: Re: Alloy: Suggestions! crackers@hwcn.org wrote: > > In article <3.0.1.32.19971023102443.0069a96c@computerwire.co.uk>, you wrote: > >>Ahem....... why does the next present have to be recorded music? > > > >Well said Robin, I agree. I think a scrap-book of oddities would make an > >equally nice gesture and would let everyone take part. Saying 'Happy > >Birthday Thomas' into my dictaphone this time around was never going to > >give the non-musician's among us much sense of artistic satisfaction and > >pride, now, was it? > ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ > > Well you could have recorded a Dolby inspired poem, or submitted artwork > for the J-card. I was rather disappointed that nobody did that. I didn't think of recording a poem (and don't recall it ever being brought up), that might have actually worked rather well, supposing I had a tape recorder in time (which I didn't really).. and even though I hate the sound of my own voice. I intended to submit both a poem (vaguely Dolby inspired and one of my favorites, though I'm not sure how it would do in spoken instead of written form) and artwork, but I couldn't figure out how either would fit on a little J-card, or even a folded open J-card. I suppose I should have just passed them on to you to see if you could do anything with them. -- E(lipse ------------------------------ End of alloy-digest V2 #229 ***************************