S05
Additional Notes
On the influence of forests, how appropriate the word ‘fuzz’ is and some thoughts on teh textures involved in melody and harmony.
Season 5 episodes (33)
S05:E16
Little Camp Fires
This week I start very small and very quiet, like a little creature in the forest visiting different campfires with different flavours.
S05
Additional Notes
Just a quick ramble about trying to play less and using different basic playing techniques to get ‘round’ sounds. Also a plug for the new Bonk Wave Remix Album (available here) and other places too - the announcements will be on the main Bonkwave.org page.
S05:E15
Multi-State Stately Home
I mean, the title says most of the words for this. The rest is the sound uo can hear…
S05
Additional Notes
What was I thinking with the last episode - find out here! Also a quote from Death Comes to St Ives by Jo Silva and Johnny Greenwood from Radiohead. About being human and celebrating imperfection!
S05
Additional Notes
IA quick run through what happened with the last episode and an update of what I’m reading and listening to: Natalie Haynes - Divine Might Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics - BBC Show
S05:E13
20 Years in an Alien Forest
And we’re back with no gap! I have no idea what this sounds like, I have no time to listen or check, just a note that says 20 years in an alien foresst, so I guess that’s the title. Does it work? Does it fit? No idea. Maybe I’m getting closer to becoming a certified failure…
S05
Additional Notes
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!
S05:E12
Stop leaving and you will arrive...
…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.
S05
Additional Notes
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 Munson Guitars
S05:E11
The Silence of Tiny Islands
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!
S05
Additional Notes
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.
S05:E10
The Bleep Bloop Test
I’m experimenting this week. It is a bit odd, and different to normal I think. What do you think?
S05
Additional Notes
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?
S05:E09
Ghost Legal: San Francisco
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, it, it, it - echoes going on a bit)
S05
Additional Notes
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.
S05:E08
The Insensate Pines are Moving
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..?
S05
Additional Notes
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 think). NHAM - is a good hub website to check things out from, lots of things interlinked and co-operation feels like the way forward. Thigns are growing! They also do a monthly mixtape now on Audio Interface bringing us music from the fediverse. Non-musicly, I’ve been enjoying Michelle Joy Gallagher Soffe’s poetry in Mastodon and in book form, and the photography of Wim Van Mierlo of not-the-usual places around Nottingham, also on Mastodon. The background music is A Hollow Return from Unfamiliar Recognition.
S05:E07
My Best Fried Darwin
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
S05
Additional Notes
The usual post-listen back chat. Links referred to: Sky Arts: Portrait Artist of the Year Independent Artist Support Community
S05:E06
Optimus Boat McFloat
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 appropriate, maybe have a few positive thoughts today?
S05
Additional Notes
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
S05:E05
Ominous Restless Blocks
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 thing on it’s own, Dr Who style, the Restless Water will support you Doctor, we are here to help?). All just in my head in my room. Imagination is a wonderful thing, isn’t it?
S05
Additional Notes
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 ramble on about stuff for too long. The background music is tracks 8 onwards from Marchland Stars
S05:E04
Breaking Dunes Rhythm
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.
S05
Additional Notes
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.
S05:E03
Sand Pipes and Wires
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…
S05
Additional Notes
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 have livestreams coming up and there is a handy calendar that you can use to know when and where. Oh, and Audio Interface has good shows, and the episode with my collaboration with this occaisional society is on this week’s The Ambient Hour.
S05:E02
Babysitter
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…
S05
Rambling
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 blogging really because I’m getting more averse to writing as time goes on. It might be the only time I try it, or it might continue and change over time. Some of what I’m talking about was prompted by things I’ve seen by Venya (who I have now relooked up their profile address), and Jamie Hill. Cool that I can add links in here to make it easier! Ahir Shah’s Seven Blunders of the World And of course, my main site link Strange Textures. I also totally forgot to mention that I have a collaboration EP out with this occaisional society. It’s called impossibly impermanent and is available on my website, also Bandcamp and Mirlo. Any profits from these tracks will be split evenly between young lives vs cancer (formerly known as clic sargent), the yellow door charity, preventing and responding to domestic and sexual abuse and refugee action.
S05:E01
An Arcade Chill
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 hope you enjoy the variety!
S05
Season Five Trailer
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.