Some more sounds from the underground

Browsing around for other independent sound creators I came across quite a few. Here are two that really stood out.

Health Club Music creates cheerful looking synthesizers and sequencers with a little rope attached to them. Below you see the model: Sound Lab Scribbles, where you got the synth on the front and a blackboard at the back (and a little pocket on the side for your chalks).
All their nifty boxes are built to order. Check out their other interesting looking creations.

































Teenage engineering ... to call them the coolest kids on the block would be an understatement.
I was just about to call them nerds but according to this diagram:



















They would be in the geek sector for sure ( by the way I think my discussion with my friend Hanna about it actually being positive to be a nerd or not is described pretty well in this diagram as well. It kind of depends of what kind you are? A Ponken or a Tilliander is a massive diferance, Hanna do you agree? )

Well... this little unit they have crated, the OP-1, just sounds like to be to good to be true. It seems to be a complete workstation running on batteries. Almost fitting in your pocket. You can generate sounds as well as sample them ( even from the built in FM-radio, or the built in microphone ) and then sequence it all. Play it through the built in speakers or hook it up to your mixer. Control it via MIDI or USB. I have no idea how they managed to squeeze all that stuff into such a small box. I had a look on youtube, and there they are presenting it, but not actually showing how it works. (I got a feeling it actually didn't work, not yet anyway)



























While on the subject, I would like to talk a bit more about Teenage Engineering. I happen to know one of the guys a little bit. David, well I cant say we are best buddies, but he was the guy who helped me writing my first Class in actionscript when at Hyper Island. And he turned out to be good friends with my former flatmate Dennis Christensen. So I have met him quite a few times and I have had a chance to ask him a bit more about his job. And it seems like as close to the pure essence of what I want to do as you could possibly get. A factory of inventions and fun, and they make a living out of it. Living of what they believe in and enjoy. It really makes me tick. It makes me want to go out there and do it. Have a look around on their website and on youtube.

Christmas day

As in most Christian countries, Australian people celebrate on the 25th. Tim (now my former colegue) kindly invited me, Noel, Angie and young Mika to you join him with his family in law for their Christmas party. I was worried we would be crashing a family dinner. Well it was a family dinner, but they where all amazing people, good company and good food. the time just disappeared.

Tim with his new surfboard he got when he left Deepend.


















Noel and Angies young son Mika, arrived only a couple of weeks ago


















Tim twisting his girlfriends neck


















Amber the dog, who was afraid of Mika.


















We didn't have much luck with the weather.


















Smoked ocean trout and other goodies

Dan Barber's foie gras parable

Very interesting theory, If you are interested in food its even more interesting.

Clever engineering

I reckon Sweden along with small independent engineers in Germany are creating the most interesting and innovative electronic music instruments at the moment.

Impressive set up with sweden made machinedrum and monomachine controlled by drum-pads.
They are damn impressive little machines I wouldnt hesitate to get my hands on.


From Germany comes LadyAda's impressive x0xb0x project.



























The very sought after Roland TB-303 built in the early 80's was finally reverse engineered. But not only that, supplying you with all the details on how to do it, as well as selling kits with all the components, you can have your own TB-303 for literately the fraction of the cost of the original and all its connectivity has been upgraded to today's standards. My electronics skills are still very limited so I was lucky to find a guy in Taiwan putting them together and selling them on ebay. Done deal. As they are home built their looks are customized as well. The guy in Taiwan not only had the cheapest ready assembled ones. They where also the best looking ones according to me. Here it is:




















Until I supply you with my own video, you can check out this one.

Since last time

1 - Lunch in the park with colleagues

Mr. Fowler


















Erin



















2 - Random in Sydney

This clock was standing randomly in the mark one day. I wonder if it was always growing there just like a plant?



















After having breakfast at the Book Kitchen one morning we found these guys




























Taking a wrong turn on our way to the company Christmas party, we ended up in an alley with these hairy cancer lumps scattered on the brick wall. Hidden speakers where playing hissing noises as you got close to them. I reckon they where apart of the current art project
lane ways by george





























3 - The Christmas party

After a long series of events we ended up at "The Establishment" for finger food, drinks and Secret Santa. Most gifts where "funny things" from sex shops, humor based on sex is a bit of an easy option in my opinion, so I was quite impressed with who ever got hold of the bouncy ball making kit. I wasn't to sure if a bar would be right place to actualy make the bouncy balls. But I was wrong. Here are 3 pictures from start to finish.

Rusty mixing the bouncy ball ingredients














More people helping out


















The ready made bouncy balls on a stick














Noel














The broken building fixed with some glass. Not a bad idea, at least when it comes to looks.














4 - Chrismtas eve

Noel invited me to his apartment, celebrating Christmas on the 24th. A time usually spent with family, and I wasn't sure how my Christmas was going to turn out. But I'm really pleased Noel invited me, it was a great evening. On the photo below you see Dennis and Ester who also participated.

Some Random Snaps

Me and the MC-202 taking a break in the park




































Epic sized Citrus fruit called Pomelo, havent tried it yet, but will very soon, yes its ordinary oranges next to it.














Im going to look something like the bass player when I'm 65

The Scary Lady Syndrome

Did you ever watch the apprentice on TV? If so, did it cross your mind how they act and react, especially when they are in the board room?
Since I arrived in Australia I have come across a certain personality numerous times. A personality I have rarely come across before, and if so It has been in small doses. I think its a cultural thing. Partly geographically and very much industry related. It's a behavior that to me is old fashioned and counterproductive. When someone does their out most to come across as talking the talk walking the walk, rather than being them selves utilizing straight forward communication, being humble enough asking or investigating if there is something they don't know rather than putting on a show. I think this shines through quite easily. It might be easier to spot the more aware you are your self.
It makes me think of the movie Mao's Last Dancer I saw a few months ago. They where telling an old Chinese story about a little frog living in a well. The only part of the outside world the little frog could see was the sky above. If I remember correctly, the frog was told how dangerous the world outside the well was. Til one day a toad came up to the well looking down, seeing the frog. Telling him how big and beautyful the outside world was.
I guess, if you are like that little frog, and someone putts on a show, you might not know, as you don't have anything to compare with.

The jig saw puzzle starts fitting a bit to well. I must admit that I have come across the other part more frequently since I got here, the people who lack awareness. So putting on a show might still work here quite extensivly, even thoug Its bound to be part of the past.

So why do I call it the scary lady syndrome? Well, I think I have come across quite a few women putting on a very dominant show, trying to scare you with their "I know how this works, and you better stick to it" attitude.

There is a bigger picture, worth investigating.

/Phil