Happy days again.
Ok, it all happened at once. All of a sudden I literately have work pouring out of my ears again. 3 jobs at once. So if it gets quiet here on the blog, its because I'm working my bum off for the next few of weeks. Feels great as now I can plan some more adventures.
Tuesday 27 January 2009
Monday 26 January 2009
Friday 23 January 2009
A new post
Just came out from a cold shower, poured my self a glass of home made ice tea ( Earl Gray, a sliced lime and plenty of ice ). And the day is slowly progressing from afternoon into evening. Maybe these circumstances makes you a little philosophical?... hmmm... probably not. But what ever it is, I feel I need to write a little about 2009.
Is it like this when teenage parents are coming back from a holiday, and their kids have completely trashed the house? Im not thinking of Corey the Australian "Legend" ( for you who don't remember or never saw it, can refresh your mind here
). Well... how he became a legend is a mystery to me. Never the less, I'm not really talking about house parties getting out of hand anyway. I'm referring to the world in general. What happened? Where did all the money go? Wealth cant disappear, it must have ended up somewhere, right? even if its not in actual money? Well... lets blame it on Bush shall we? I guess he needs that on his shoulders, and to know that a big part of the world hate him and his country.
Isn't it strange that it's socially accepted to hate one country but not another? Ok... Bush might have been the front man for a few big mistakes effecting the rest of the world and the lives of millions of people. Thats not a cool thing, you are right. But damage has already been done, and bush isn't there any more. So lets look forward, as arguing who is to blame wont solve any problems or turn our future brighter. I really hope Mr. Obama has got a magic wand so he can put the world back in peaceful order again.
By the way, I saw his biography is on the bookshelves already. My god, when did they write that? Maybe they prepare one for all the "finalists" in the American election just in case. Ok, so while we wait for Mr. Obama to do his Magic we... hey stop. There is something wrong here? When will we realize not to wait for someone else to do it. Lets create a better life our selves.
So what am I doing? Well... I'm building a drum machine... It might be the really dumb idea in this moment of despair, but possibly very cleaver. Time will tell... So don't wait for the future to arrive, create it your self, trust your gut and go for it.
( Part of this project is to brush off my dusty illustrator skills, and I managed to mock this one up. I'm really proud of it )
Is it like this when teenage parents are coming back from a holiday, and their kids have completely trashed the house? Im not thinking of Corey the Australian "Legend" ( for you who don't remember or never saw it, can refresh your mind here
). Well... how he became a legend is a mystery to me. Never the less, I'm not really talking about house parties getting out of hand anyway. I'm referring to the world in general. What happened? Where did all the money go? Wealth cant disappear, it must have ended up somewhere, right? even if its not in actual money? Well... lets blame it on Bush shall we? I guess he needs that on his shoulders, and to know that a big part of the world hate him and his country.
Isn't it strange that it's socially accepted to hate one country but not another? Ok... Bush might have been the front man for a few big mistakes effecting the rest of the world and the lives of millions of people. Thats not a cool thing, you are right. But damage has already been done, and bush isn't there any more. So lets look forward, as arguing who is to blame wont solve any problems or turn our future brighter. I really hope Mr. Obama has got a magic wand so he can put the world back in peaceful order again.
By the way, I saw his biography is on the bookshelves already. My god, when did they write that? Maybe they prepare one for all the "finalists" in the American election just in case. Ok, so while we wait for Mr. Obama to do his Magic we... hey stop. There is something wrong here? When will we realize not to wait for someone else to do it. Lets create a better life our selves.
So what am I doing? Well... I'm building a drum machine... It might be the really dumb idea in this moment of despair, but possibly very cleaver. Time will tell... So don't wait for the future to arrive, create it your self, trust your gut and go for it.
( Part of this project is to brush off my dusty illustrator skills, and I managed to mock this one up. I'm really proud of it )
The incredible heat
It peaked at 40 degrees today. It's impossible to be indoors, its even worse outdoors. And when the breeze comes... its the worst. It's something called a hot breeze, I'm not sure I have experienced it before. But its a bit like when you blow with a blow dryer in your face, and its not something I can recommend on a day when the sun is full on and 40.
I was invited to go to the beach, but realized that would be pushing it a bit. So me and Mikkel ended up chilling out with these guys from Star Wars ( They had air condition, so it was not to bad ).
I was invited to go to the beach, but realized that would be pushing it a bit. So me and Mikkel ended up chilling out with these guys from Star Wars ( They had air condition, so it was not to bad ).
Friday 16 January 2009
Yam Cha
Yum cha (飲茶) is a term in Cantonese which means "drink tea". It refers to the custom of eating small servings of different foods while sipping Chinese tea in Cantonese speaking areas of southern China. It is an integral part of the culinary culture of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macau.
I had my first Yam Cha in Hong Kong in 2007 when conspiring against the rest of my family to have Chinese traditional food for lunch. It wasn't until I moved to Sydney I had it again. Since my arrival we have had it a few times at a place called Zilver, the food is excellent and just like in China the place is absolutely massive, and the lighting is a little on the bright side to be comfortable in a restaurant, and offcourse full of Chinese people which is a sign of being genuine.
Unlike most restaurants, you dont order your food. The staff is walking around the restaurants with trolleys full of small plates of freshly cooked delicious things. You point out what you like to have and the selection is huge, therefore you don't have to have the not so delicious things like steamed chicken feet or pigs lung (well... I have had the lung, that was not great, the chicken feet look really bad so I never dared trying them, but the people who have say they are fantastic. I think that's still a little to hard core for me to try, but maybe I will one day). All the food is for sharing and if you are a larger group of people you will be sitting at a table with a spinning center piece so you will always be able to access everything. One style of food served is Dim Sum, the steamed dumplings, buns and puffs and like them very much. There is a certain type of steamed dumpling containing soup inside. These originates from Shanghai, and It was a mystery to me how they managed to get the soup into the dumpling and then cook them. I had all these theories of them being cooked first and then filled with the soup using some kind of syringe. The answer is quite simple, its tucked inside the doe in a firm jelly form, and when heated up the jelly melts and turns into soup. Sorry, I get so carried away when talking about food... here are some pictures. Sorry they are not that good I was to busy focusing on the food. I whish I get to take you who have never been, one day.
Dave, Paul & Kat
Simon, Dave, Paul
I had my first Yam Cha in Hong Kong in 2007 when conspiring against the rest of my family to have Chinese traditional food for lunch. It wasn't until I moved to Sydney I had it again. Since my arrival we have had it a few times at a place called Zilver, the food is excellent and just like in China the place is absolutely massive, and the lighting is a little on the bright side to be comfortable in a restaurant, and offcourse full of Chinese people which is a sign of being genuine.
Unlike most restaurants, you dont order your food. The staff is walking around the restaurants with trolleys full of small plates of freshly cooked delicious things. You point out what you like to have and the selection is huge, therefore you don't have to have the not so delicious things like steamed chicken feet or pigs lung (well... I have had the lung, that was not great, the chicken feet look really bad so I never dared trying them, but the people who have say they are fantastic. I think that's still a little to hard core for me to try, but maybe I will one day). All the food is for sharing and if you are a larger group of people you will be sitting at a table with a spinning center piece so you will always be able to access everything. One style of food served is Dim Sum, the steamed dumplings, buns and puffs and like them very much. There is a certain type of steamed dumpling containing soup inside. These originates from Shanghai, and It was a mystery to me how they managed to get the soup into the dumpling and then cook them. I had all these theories of them being cooked first and then filled with the soup using some kind of syringe. The answer is quite simple, its tucked inside the doe in a firm jelly form, and when heated up the jelly melts and turns into soup. Sorry, I get so carried away when talking about food... here are some pictures. Sorry they are not that good I was to busy focusing on the food. I whish I get to take you who have never been, one day.
Dave, Paul & Kat
Simon, Dave, Paul
Thursday 15 January 2009
New Portfolio
The new portfolio is finally up and running. After quite a few attempts with not so elaborate and complex ideas I decided to make it clean and simple. There is still things I want to do to it, but I think its got to a state when it does its job.
I must admit I'm not to depsperate to get a new project in. I got so much on at the moment that I'm very excited about. More on that on later posts.
Anyhow pay a visit to: www.philipsportfolio.se
I must admit I'm not to depsperate to get a new project in. I got so much on at the moment that I'm very excited about. More on that on later posts.
Anyhow pay a visit to: www.philipsportfolio.se
Tuesday 13 January 2009
The Ghetto Talk Box
After stumbling a cross a few tutorials on how to build a "Ghetto talk box" we decided to be sound rebels and build one. I guess the the guy in the hardware shop thought we where going to make either a bong or a bomb.
For you who are new to talk boxes, Its the sound effect processor that turns your voice in to a robotic voice (its slightly different from a vocoder in sound). Talk boxes can be heard in tracks such as "Around the World" with Daft Punk, "California Love" with 2pac or "needy girl" with Chromeo.
Well, the result turned out looking like a home made bomb more or less. And what about the sound? Well the volume is far to low, I guess that's what you get when you buy the shittiest, cheapest speakers you can find. And to be honest its bloody hard to make it sound like words.
Here is a first demo on how it sounds. Please, please and please again, please keep the following in mind.
I had to use headphones as microphone, holding them while crouching, having the plastic tube in my mouth singing recording and playing the melody with the other hand. And on top of that I'm pretty crap too, and the talk box is not quite state of the art either. But I think we can claim top marks for effort. And with a bit of practice you might here "Californa love" in the near future :)
Here is the first example: http://www.philipsportfolio.se/share/aroundtheworld.mp3
Its a bit embarrassing, but I owe you that one.
Cheers.
For you who are new to talk boxes, Its the sound effect processor that turns your voice in to a robotic voice (its slightly different from a vocoder in sound). Talk boxes can be heard in tracks such as "Around the World" with Daft Punk, "California Love" with 2pac or "needy girl" with Chromeo.
Well, the result turned out looking like a home made bomb more or less. And what about the sound? Well the volume is far to low, I guess that's what you get when you buy the shittiest, cheapest speakers you can find. And to be honest its bloody hard to make it sound like words.
Here is a first demo on how it sounds. Please, please and please again, please keep the following in mind.
I had to use headphones as microphone, holding them while crouching, having the plastic tube in my mouth singing recording and playing the melody with the other hand. And on top of that I'm pretty crap too, and the talk box is not quite state of the art either. But I think we can claim top marks for effort. And with a bit of practice you might here "Californa love" in the near future :)
Here is the first example: http://www.philipsportfolio.se/share/aroundtheworld.mp3
Its a bit embarrassing, but I owe you that one.
Cheers.
Sunday 11 January 2009
Watsons Bay
Around 9 this morning the sky was grey and dull. Which was a shame because I really wanted to go out and swim. But just to get some fresh air and see soemthing new I decided to catch a bus to Watsons bay. I'm glad I brought my swimming trunks and towel just in case, while on my way there all the clouds dissapeard and it turned out to be a terrific day.
The cliff where people jump who are really really bored with Sydney (or other things).
You can see the skyline of the city centre in the distance
Watsons bay and city skyline
I live at "A" Watsons bay is at "B"
/Hugs
The cliff where people jump who are really really bored with Sydney (or other things).
You can see the skyline of the city centre in the distance
Watsons bay and city skyline
I live at "A" Watsons bay is at "B"
/Hugs
Saturday 10 January 2009
Sydney Festival 2009
We went there in the early evening. Various stages scattered around Hyde park and the botanical gardens. It seems to be a trend to be extremely crowded like 100ds of thousands and have flashing fluorescent gadgets and scream a lot when it comes to festivities in Australia.
The biggest stage where Grace Jones where to play later.
One of the smaller stages where we saw Busy P and Mehdi from Ed Banger.
The biggest stage where Grace Jones where to play later.
One of the smaller stages where we saw Busy P and Mehdi from Ed Banger.
Friday 9 January 2009
Let your computer sing
Vocaloid is a piece of software replicating the voice of a singing girl. Version 1 and 2 was only available in Japanese, and has been the no 1 selling software on Amazon in Japan. The 3rd edition is now supporting English.
So is the computers taking over completely? Well, in my opinion the answer is a definite NO. Top marks for effort, but seems to be a fair bit to go still. To be honest I can hardly make out the words. Check out this video that is meant to be Amazing grace
or this one "500 miles by the Proclaimers", cover the lyrics with your hand and try to hear what she is actually singing. Can you honestly make out any words what so ever?
Some music pt.2
Many years ago I discovered the concept of net labels. Like a record label but without the actual records. The music can be downloaded and distributed for free under the Creative Commons license. For some reason this world seem to almost exclusively dwell within minimal/dub techno and ambient electronica. I would love to see this concept applied to many other genres in the future. Anyhow, I used to scrutinize these sites quite frequently, but as with record browsing this is more of an exception now a days. But it happens occasionally, like yesterday (that was probably the first time in about a year).
One net label that stands out is Sutemos from Lithuania. Somehow they manage to gather a whole bunch of famous (within the electronica scene that is) artist to contribute on their compilations. Their latest two releases, Intelligent Toys 5 and Myrakura are top quality.
You can find both these and many more releases here: http://www.sutemos.net/
Artwork from Intelligent toys 5
Artwork from Myrakura
Despite that the productions are "as clean as a surgeons knife, as crisp as the midnight snow" to quote a friend. I feel its very much been done before. Could have been any release on Expanding records or similar. Though its enjoyable but not quite the same as that steaming hot summers day in Stockholm many years ago when I heard those minimal dubby clicks for the very first time.
While on the subject of net labels, I got to mention Gas - Microscopic. By accident I came across this video clip on you tube.
The track and video can be downloaded for free
http://www.microscopics.co.uk/electronic_music.html#free
I'm not sure if they got anything to do with GAS releasing records on Mille Plateaux many years ago.
One net label that stands out is Sutemos from Lithuania. Somehow they manage to gather a whole bunch of famous (within the electronica scene that is) artist to contribute on their compilations. Their latest two releases, Intelligent Toys 5 and Myrakura are top quality.
You can find both these and many more releases here: http://www.sutemos.net/
Artwork from Intelligent toys 5
Artwork from Myrakura
Despite that the productions are "as clean as a surgeons knife, as crisp as the midnight snow" to quote a friend. I feel its very much been done before. Could have been any release on Expanding records or similar. Though its enjoyable but not quite the same as that steaming hot summers day in Stockholm many years ago when I heard those minimal dubby clicks for the very first time.
While on the subject of net labels, I got to mention Gas - Microscopic. By accident I came across this video clip on you tube.
The track and video can be downloaded for free
http://www.microscopics.co.uk/electronic_music.html#free
I'm not sure if they got anything to do with GAS releasing records on Mille Plateaux many years ago.
Thursday 8 January 2009
Some music pt.1
I'm going to dedicate this post to music and its whereabouts. It's tricky and I fear this post can end up very long so I might slice it up into parts.
As I claimed a few years ago, the music cant survive on its own anymore. Perhaps it never did, just me not realizing it. I believe most kinds of music can be good if it serves it's purpose in the right context. Therefore I discovered a lot of music first when I heard it at the right time at the right place.
But my musical interest has changed a lot for the the proximate last 5 years. From being heavily into electronic music, spending hours sniffing the internet and browsing crate after crate of vinyls to find the hidden gems and stay in touch what was new and fresh on the market, it all came to an abrupt end. It's not that music became unimportant to me, it was rather other things that became as interesting and started fighting for my attention. Not only that, but also many other genres of music have come into my life. This would require a post on its own, and some of you might get really surprised of what I'm listening to now a days. I'm not quite going to reveal that to you yet.
It still happens I come across those tracks and records that I know I will never get bored of. They might last for a life time. One of those was Solo Piano by Gonzales that I discovered in 2007.
You can download the album as a .zip file here
Solo Piano
Or if you just want a teaser, go ahead and listen to these tracks.
Gonzales - Overnight
Gonzales - The Tourist
There might be sequels to this post in the future, till then you better listen to something good.
As I claimed a few years ago, the music cant survive on its own anymore. Perhaps it never did, just me not realizing it. I believe most kinds of music can be good if it serves it's purpose in the right context. Therefore I discovered a lot of music first when I heard it at the right time at the right place.
But my musical interest has changed a lot for the the proximate last 5 years. From being heavily into electronic music, spending hours sniffing the internet and browsing crate after crate of vinyls to find the hidden gems and stay in touch what was new and fresh on the market, it all came to an abrupt end. It's not that music became unimportant to me, it was rather other things that became as interesting and started fighting for my attention. Not only that, but also many other genres of music have come into my life. This would require a post on its own, and some of you might get really surprised of what I'm listening to now a days. I'm not quite going to reveal that to you yet.
It still happens I come across those tracks and records that I know I will never get bored of. They might last for a life time. One of those was Solo Piano by Gonzales that I discovered in 2007.
You can download the album as a .zip file here
Solo Piano
Someone claiming to be Gonzales requested me to remove the zip.
Or if you just want a teaser, go ahead and listen to these tracks.
Gonzales - Overnight
Gonzales - The Tourist
There might be sequels to this post in the future, till then you better listen to something good.
Tuesday 6 January 2009
Another Award!
Another project I worked on at the end of this summer won an FWA award today (http://www.thefwa.com/).
The site was initially only in Swedish, but was recently translated to English (for award purposes I guess). The speaker voice accent is pretty bad, apparently it was deliberate to make it sound more Swedish. Any how I think its not going to harm my portfolio with another award.
You can check out the site here: http://www.aspirant.nu/english/
(for you who prefer the Swedish version: http://www.aspirant.nu/ )
The site was initially only in Swedish, but was recently translated to English (for award purposes I guess). The speaker voice accent is pretty bad, apparently it was deliberate to make it sound more Swedish. Any how I think its not going to harm my portfolio with another award.
You can check out the site here: http://www.aspirant.nu/english/
(for you who prefer the Swedish version: http://www.aspirant.nu/ )
Funny things
Craigslist have released a list of the funniest entries of 2008. For you who don't know Craigslist, its a bit like Gumtree, and for you who don't know Gumtree either. Its a website where you can put an add in, buy and sell second hand stuff, find a date, find an appartment, flatmates etc. etc.
Here are 3 higlights
http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/fay/938646501.html
and
http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/hou/852526961.html
and
http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/nyc/907788944.html
And you can find the whole list here:
http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/all/
Here are 3 higlights
http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/fay/938646501.html
and
http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/hou/852526961.html
and
http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/nyc/907788944.html
And you can find the whole list here:
http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/all/
Monday 5 January 2009
Please Vote!
The Coke Zero Game site I was working on has got the chance to become site of the year 2008 on the FWA.
Please help out by giving it a vote. Follow this link: http://www.thefwa.com/pca2008/
Its the third one from the top COKE ZERO GAME, just klick VOTE, and then we are happy days.
Thanks for helping out.
Please help out by giving it a vote. Follow this link: http://www.thefwa.com/pca2008/
Its the third one from the top COKE ZERO GAME, just klick VOTE, and then we are happy days.
Thanks for helping out.
Saturday 3 January 2009
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