SUUUUCCEEEEEEEESSSSSS

This is a follow up to last weeks post.

I have taught myself to use Pro Tools again!

Haven't tried any mixing yet, and I need to get the BFD sorted out.

Otherwise, we're all set! Got me a MIDI keyboard this time round as well. Sahweeet!

Which reminds me, I really must make a start on my distance learning course...

Well this is a little embarassing.

Before this blog was started, and before I started working where I am now, I was a college student. I was studying Music Technology. I.e. the uses of technology in the creation/reproduction of music. Everything from synthesising, mixing, mastering, recording techniques, studio techniques, live sound and performance. 

I wasnt top of my class but I was pretty good. I got pretty good at using the software, Logic Pro, and I migrated onto Pro Tools on my own. I used the software for two years solid. I got to know the ins and outs of the software and I got pretty adept at using it.

Two years later and i've reinstalled Pro Tools onto my iMac. Pro Tools LE 8 to be specific And I was just sat infront of it and realised that I couldn't remember how to use it! This is going to be a bit of a difficult journey remembering how to use Pro Tools. It feels a bit like i'm starting from new again. 

Wish me luck! 

I do support, but alas I cannot act.

There's this thing going on today regarding the US Senate and some bills that a party are trying to get passed regarding shutting down websites without due process.

Now while i'm all for free speech and democracy, i'm afraid I cant do anything to help your cause.

You see, i'm based here, in the little old United Kingdom. And you're all the way over there in your big old group of states. And thats where these bills would be confined to if passed. The legislation would only apply to websites owned, based and operated in the USofA. If a chap starts posting anti-congressional twaddle from a blog here in the UK, the US would have to sit and whistle, or take it on the chin, because we're not part of the US' jurisdiction regarding these matters.

Go free speech.

Go democracy. 

Dont shut down websites because you dont like their content. 

Unless of course theyre related to terrorist activities in which case, do it! 

Well that failed...

July 11th 2011

I told you id write again soon about what Jamie Woon's 'Mirrorwriting' is like and 6 months later here's a new post!

Ive got to be honest with you on two things here. Firstly, 'Mirrorwriting' was a little underwhelming, with 'Night Air' most definitrly being the stand out track of the album.

Secondly, the lack of posts since July 11th of last year unsurprisingly coincides with the purchase of a new phone. As some of you may know I used to write all my blog posts in an email on my blackberry and mail the blogs in for instant upload. Now ive got an HTC and things arent so simple. Not because i dont have email, and not because there isnt a Blogger app, because im using it right now. But its because of this sodding touchscreen, which i loathe!

All that above has taken me about ten minutes to write. On my blackberry it would have taken half the time. I miss hard keyboards. Im thinking of selling this HTC.

Anyway, excuses excuses.

Ill try to be more attentive to your needs again, readers.

Ciao for now. Coffee time.

I think I might need help...

All last week I was listening to BBC Radio 3 at work. Don't ask me why, I guess I just fancied something a lot more chilled out and presenters that are a lot less in your face (not that i'd mind Fearne Cotton in my face...) but anyway, I thought that was okay until yesterday when I found myself browsing the classical music section of HMV! The cashier must have wondered what the hell I was on because my shopping basket for the day comprised of Jamie Woon's album Mirrorwriting, Kanye West's Late Registration and three classical albums - Philip Glass - Violin Concerto and Low Symphony, Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue. 

Hopefully I shall be purchasing some new speakers soon too, so i'll have something a little more modern to listen to these classical and modern wonders on. I think I might take my old speakers apart when I get the new ones, and maybe spend a little money on upgrading them.

Anyway - I shall let you all know what Jamie Woon's Mirrorwriting is like and i'll keep you up to date on my classical music purchases... or should that be my purchase on classical music? Haha

Haven't posted in 10 days!!!

That's enough for some people to go to rehab, 'get better' and start gigging again. Unless you're Amy Winehouse who thankfully wasn't ANYWHERE on the bill for this year's Glastonbury. Some of you may have heard or even seen footage from a gig she did last week where she sang so dreadfully out of tune that she was booed off stage! Good. I'm glad. Arrogance isn't excellence and she excels at being arrogant.

I'm happy to write that, while I didn't watch as much footage of this years Glastonbury as I'd have liked, I did watch all three headline acts and a handful of others. U2 performed a respectable set, albeit somewhat toned down from their usual eyewatering mesmerising live shows. Coldplay were brilliant live and Beyonce, well she impressed everyone by bringing a good sense of reality to her set. For a woman known for singing to electronically produced beats, she sure sang her heart out and proved that she has soul.

I also watched Paul Simon, Everything Everything, Kaiser Chiefs, Bombay Bicycle Club, Two Door Cinema Club, Biffy Clyro and Mumford And Sons, all of whom i thought played excellent sets! I was a little disappointed by Pendulum this evening though. They're not the band I went to see three years ago. It seemed like a lot of noise and it was far too distorted.

Haven't finished yet though, I intend to watch all the highlights packages this week and hope to see a couple more bands like the Barenaked Ladies.

Until next time - peace

Hugh Laurie - Let Them Talk

Thank you Mr Laurie, I will talk!

So for those of you who dont know, comedian and actor extrordinaire Mr Hugh Laurie has released a blues album. That's right, a blues album. He hasn't started a pants rock band. He's put his love of the blues and his piano playing abilities to good use with some of the finest musicians in the south of America, to record an album of blues standards in the holy city of New Orleans.

Let me start by saying this, so I can get it out of the way - he hasn't got a great voice. What he does have is fingers like feathers, an adequately gruff voice to pass for a blues singer and a fantastic backing band. For a man who has spent most of his career acting and being a funny man, Hugh Laurie isn't the first name that would spring to mind if someone were to ask you which actor/actress you think would be most likely to release an album. But according to the insert book his piano playing stems back to the age of 6 when he learned in primary school.

The album is entirely made up of cover tracks, there is no original material here. Some of the songs you may have heard before. Some of them you will know quite well if you are a big blues fan. I am not. I mean, I like blues fine. But you're more likely to find me in the alternative section of HMV than the Blues section. I've said it already and i'll say it again, he has some really good musicians in his backing band! The music is well executed and there's a lot of soul behind the songs. Hugh puts a lot of effort into performing the piece. The album is well recorded too, plenty of feeling of space, and the piano is perfectly clear. The double bass is recorded perfectly and offers so much in terms of warmth and it fills out the bottom end of the sound spectrum beautifully, while still allowing the mellow, woolly punch of the bass drum to emerge through.

All in all, a fantastic album. I'd recommend it to everyone, even if blues isn't your thing!

HMV Wish list

So much like amazon.com, hmv.com has a wish list feature. It's a place for you to easily 'bookmark' albums and dvds you want to buy. I checked mine last night. At the bottom there is an option to add all of the items to your shopping basket and pay for them. Twenty-two albums on my list and the total cost was a fiver short of £200 !!!!

Empty my bank account for lots of great music? I wish I could.

Another year, another year older!!!

Twas my birthday yesterday. 20 years old. Shot - where has the time gone? Seems like not so long ago I was turning 18... Then I got a job... And now I'm 20. Ah well - 21 next year and then I'm a fully fledged adult and the world is my lobster... Oyster? Pasta? Whatever. Anyway - thanks to all who got ne cards, gifts or even just said happy birthday. It all means something :-)

Another update!

So its safe to say that I'm more than happy with my HTC Sensation. Battery life isn't as good as a blackberry or iPhone, it doesn't have push email, but it has a beautiful screen, It's blindingly fast and its comfortable and easy to use. And its for those reasons that I'm happy to spend a bit of time getting used to Android OS and a touchscreen!

All in all I'd give the handset 8/10, bought down from full marks by battery life but hey, in this day and age everybody has half a dozen chargers with the same micro-B type USB connection in place.