Video of Fives Performance

Five Movements for Five Sampled Sounds in Five Loud Speakers from Unearthed Music on Vimeo.

This video was shot during a performance of Fives at the University of Minnesota last December. The sound quality is poor, but I think it illustrates how I was able to sort of “pour” my looped granular experiments into each of the five channels using the iPod Touch as a controller. For more about this project visit my portfolio site at www.johnkeston.com.

Google Nexus One as an Electronic Music Device

With all the Android devices appearing recently, I’ve decided it is time to upgrade my four year old Sony Ericsson K800i to a Google Nexus One smart phone (I think I’ll hold off on calling it a super phone for now) and perhaps consider using it as a controller as I have been with the iPod Touch. Another consideration is attempting to do some music software development on the Android platform. Perhaps porting the GMS, developed in Processing.org, may even be possible with the Nexus One’s 1 GHz Snapdragon (Qualcomm QSD 8250) processor and the built in video camera.

I currently have the phone in hand and will write about my impressions once I’ve had time to familiarize myself with it. It’s definitely going to take some getting used to, but so far I can say that the display is gorgeous and for the most part the functionality is wicked fast.

Music applications for Android under development include TouchOSC, and I’ve read several articles on CDM highlighting others that are available or in progress. I’m curious about Android music or sound based projects and applications that are either currently available or under development. Please comment if you’ve encountered articles or examples on this topic. After doing some research, perhaps I can start experimenting with some of the apps and writing about them here on ACB. Thanks!

Generative Accident – Dripping Water

dripI have been re-reading articles on Generative music in Audio Culture : Readings in Modern Music again, and some unplanned generative music took me be suprise – dripping from my jumper.

I set up a few cardboard loo rolls to resonate with the sound and stood around for 5 minutes recording it all. There are some really interesting syncopated moments, all underpinned with a regular metronomic beat. I liked the intrusion of external sounds to the mix, as you listen on. A Happy accident

Tom

generative dripping clothes

rec@24/96 with rode nt5 and fostex fr2le, minimal eq

 

 

Water Color Dream

wcd
I’m back from the audio dead with a little mini track from my forthcoming ten72 release Bicycle Family due out in March on Unearthed Music.

Water Color Dream is an escape from the rest of the album. I’ve veered away from my spastic futuristic jazz fusion sound on this one and relaxed a bit. Enjoy the juicy frequencies!

Water Color Dream

 

What’s Your Favorite Traveling Music?

DC Subway StationYesterday I got up at 4:00am to fly to Seattle for the holidays. It being one of the busiest times of the year, the airport was jam packed and chaotic. When I was finally settled on the plane and off the ground I cued up Boards of Canada on my iPod to drown out the sound around me.

Within a few minutes I could feel the travel stress melting away as if the music was programming my brain to relax and empty the trash. Anyone else have any particular music that they listen to when traveling? Brian Eno perhaps? Debussy? How about the opposite extremes? Speed metal or drum n bass?