Strange Textures

A quick reflection on getting to episode 90 and a commitment to the next few episodes - which might be after a bit of a break or not, I won’t know until the end of Monday probably!

…do your job, then let go. I’m feeling quite Taoist today. This episode has that sort of turning tension, starting Yang (with a bit of Yin) because of movement and drums and noise, becoming Yin (with a bit of yang) as we change state. We are leaving, but then arrive, realising we always were here anyway.

Post episode chat, a bit about the band, techniques used and aims of what I was doing in the last episode followed by some things I’m currently enjoying during recovery… Transverse Tempo show on Audio Interface hosted by C.Circo Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art by Stephen Nachmanovitch Unruly by David Mitchell The Righteous Gemstones The Conversation Bonkwave Clement Bertine - Inward Munso...

I’ve just realised that it says “be clear and concise. Show notes help potential listeners in finding the episode” at the top of the box where I’m typing this. So I’ve been doing it wrong all along! How marvellous, I do enjoy being wrong, making mistakes and so on. Bring on the happy accidents!

Weekly behind the scenes chat. My thoughts on Chase Bliss Onward (it’s good but doesn’t suit me I think), other pedals I like and should I learn to build my own? Mirlo can now be used as a self-hosted instance - how do I encourage that? Set up my own label? And finally, I might have an enforced break coming up so I recorded a couple of spare episodes in advance.

I’m experimenting this week. It is a bit odd, and different to normal I think. What do you think?

Behind the scenes on the latest episode - where did it come from, how is it all linked, not so much how but where and why?

What if there were a show about a legal firm of ghosts that handled ghost’s legal problems? Except maybe they also had regular clients and non-ghost lawyers as well? So everything was up for grabs? Plus it all takes place in San Francisco, but I can’t remember why? Maybe there’s a connection to Psych? Anyway, here is some music for that show. you know, the one that doesn’t exist. Or does it? (it,...

Mini-episode of additional notes - me talking about the last full episode in case it is useful for people. Background music is from A Chilled Night Sky .

More band material, some odd things that I’ve then added to contrast sill influenced by my time in Darwin Forest - very pine based which I guess also brings up Twin Peaks… Maybe we are the forest, floating..?

This week - I really want to know what people think of me including recordings of the band in the podcast. Does the variety and vibe work for you, or is it too much? A few more are lined up so feel free to wait and see. Interesting things to check out: Bandwagon - is available to self-host, these and Mirlo seem to be stepping into a very collaborative space that willbe useful in the future (I thin...

At last, the episode where I share something from the band! So after a quiet 2 minute start, things kick off for another 10 before the long form takes over with field recordings and sparse music. Drums: Steve Rhodes Bass: Roger Hughes Snoring: Merlin the French Bulldog

The usual post-listen back chat. Links referred to: Sky Arts: Portrait Artist of the Year Independent Artist Support Community

I’m being optimistic this week and you can’t stop me. Well, I definitely start of optimistic and upbeat and thinking about skimming over bodies of water, like a happy mind over problems. It gets a bit more thoughtful, complex, and deep later, but I think still positive. Yes, be positive if you can. I don’t encourage what people seem to be calling “toxic positivity”, but where you can, where approp...

Much more on point this week! A quick review of the last episode and how I think it went before talking a bit about the band, creative commons licenses, and future projects. But more importantly: BonkWave details and radio! The Indie Beat FM (radio) Bandwagon.fm (federated music distribution) Murdoch Mysteries Marple Background music is Surrounding Saturn from Stellar Umbrella

This week I’m travelling through a city that has ominous vibes to it, then overcoming that I’m getting up beat with something that sounds a bit like the riff from Block Rocking Beats but played wrong on acoustic guitar. I haven’t listened to that for a while so I’m not sure whether it’s really that similar. Then I get submerged in some restless water (maybe that isn’t water that is restless, but a...

What did I think about the last episode? What did you think? Feel free to tell me, after I explain a bit about what I was trying to do. I also talk a bit about some books I’ve been enjoying: The Story of 4AD , this isn’t the version I’ve got but how gorgeous is this limited edition? Rat Girl by Kristin Hersh Fingers Crossed by Miki Berenyi also worth looking at their linktree I then proceed to ram...

Another episode of my favourite improvised guitar podcast that is sort of ambinet, textural music. This one starts with some beat, follows up with acoustic chugging, and then turns into a spice influenced dunescape of alien noise. Or something.

A quick update on imagined visuals from this week’s episode, plus: Wishing Greg Proops was still podcasting so I could hear him celebrate David Lynch and Tony Slattery And a poem by Michelle Joy Gallagher - go and check out her books and follow her social media, really worthwhile.

I went for another three pieces, connected only by time this week - this is what came out. Similar format to last week because I’m into it but I think a bit pastoral in tone…

Week Two - Additional Notes I’ve just realised I was not well when I recorded this, but I’m sticking with it rather than going back and redoing. I don’t know how it turned out. A reflection on Tuesday’s episode plus some inspiring things to consider: Schall und Stille - open letter to Mikey Schulman Meljoann - website Kristoffer Lislegaard - friendly experimental ambient musician Both of these hav...

Episode Two - three different but connected pieces this week - reflecting what I said in the bonus episode. Quite enjoyed getting a bit of accoustic texture in this time…

An experiment - as promised, I wanted to try something different and talk a bit about what I’m doing instead of just doing it. So there is no music in this one (skip it if you only want the tunes), I’m just dealing with some admin, some suggestions for online places to check out, giving you an idea of why I’m doing this, and thinking about where it might go in future. It’s a replacement for bloggi...

And Season Five is off and running. A clunky start really, but it’s a start. I’ve put a couple of 2 minute sketches in at the start because it’s different, they are works in progress, unpolished and stylistically varied from a ballady chord progression to a weird noise solo piece. They might come back at some point. Then we have a more usual Strange Textures piece for the rest of the episode. I ho...

This is me introducing season five before I change my mind about trying to do it. A little rambling about what to expect, the basic message is that Season Five of Strange Textures is coming soon and will include more mistakes than ever, along with more of me talking here and there.