By Roman Shehovtsov on YouTube. Submitted by ⓉⒺⒸⒽℕ⌽▃ⒾⒹ●⒞⒪⒨ via Twitter.
“Booka cat playing with iPad — KORG iKaoissilator.”
I wonder if Luna would enjoy playing the iKaossilator on our iPad?
Synthesizers
CatSynth pic: WonJai and Korg
Submitted by Damien Olsen via our Facebook page.
“Even WonJai has inspiration issues once in a while.”
The Use and Mountain Vs. Building, Luggage Store Gallery
The Outsound new-music programs at the Luggage Store Gallery often try to pair groups that complement one another geographically and musically. This was the case in late March with a program featuring The Use and Mountain Vs. Building.
The performance opened with Mountain Vs Building, a group featuring Sheila Bosco on drums and keyboard, Michael Lowe-Grandi on guitar, Brian Lucas on bass, and Mark Pino on drums. Given the instrumental lineup, there were two drum sets going at the same time during many parts of the set, including at the start.
With so much opportunity for rhythmic foundation, it wasn’t surprising that their music included strong and sometimes funky riffs overlaid with guitar and keyboard effects. The two drum sets worked well without being overwhelming. There were more freeform pieces as well that focused and timbral and noise effects via synths and effects boxes; and the final piece featuring vocals was fun. Overall, it was a strong set technically and musically. The visual effect of the lighting was a nice touch as well.
The second set featured The Use, the latest solo project by Michael Durek who was visiting from the New York area as part of a west-coast tour. I have seen many of his performances before with PAS Musique and the SK Orchestra, but his new project takes things to another level musically and technically. The electronic elements, a combination of Ableton Live and theremin, were more idiomatic, combining dark melodies, harmonies and rhythms. And it was as much a visual performance, with dance movements in time to the music. You can get a good sense of the overall performance in this video.
Outsound Presents: The Use (Michael Durek) at the Luggage Store Gallery from CatSynth; on Vimeo.
As a bonus, I had the opportunity to perform a duet with The Use to close out the evening. You can see our impromptu jam in this video:
The Use with Amar Chaudhary at Luggage Store Gallery from Michael Durek on Vimeo.
I am glad that The Use had the opportunity to perform at our Thursday-night Outsound music series. Indeed both bands performed well that evening to an appreciative audience. And I am happy to see more experimental music groups confidently incorporating popular idioms into their music.
CatSynth pic: Moog Little Phatty
Submitted by Christy Purrrlington (@Puffystudiocat) via Twitter.
“I find you trigger the best arpegiators if you spread out on the keys.”
CatSynth pic: Dexter and Doepfer modular case
Submitted by Chris Carter via Twitter.
“My Doepfer ‘as new’ modular flight case for sale ( Dexter not included)”
CatSynth video: Serge modular * Dubstep
From TQDOQ on YouTube, via matrxsynth. See if you can spot the cat.
This is the way we do it in Japan. Dubstep music using TRAKTOR and a
vintage design Serge Modular synthesizer.
Syncing is accomplished over Wi-Fi MIDI clock, with TRAKTOR as the
master and Ableton Live as slave. Latency is compensated “on the
fudge”.This set up is being ported to local clubs in Tokyo, where the DJ
lives. The cat “nyamu” lives in a tower, inside the studio…
CatSynth pic: Rhodes and Prophet 600
Submitted by Ian Miles Becker via Twitter. Two classic instruments, Rhodes 73 electric piano and Prophet 600 synth.
You can always follow us on Twitter @catsynth and share your own cat-and-music pics with us there.
CatSynth pic: Meow Mix
Submitted by Morgan Pittman via Facebook. Many readers know Morgan (“Mo”) as the editor of The Cat Blogosphere and faithful caretaker of many cats.
CatSynth pic: Mandarina and modules
From Travis Johns via the CatSynth Facebook page.
Mandarina “assisting” with some modules – March is the hottest month in Costa Rica and my studio is on the second floor of a building with a metal roof so daytime temperatures render it unusable – so I’ve been bringing work home with me in order to work at night when the temp’s a little more bearable. Unfortunately, there’s usually a certain orange snag to that plan. The modules themselves are from a class I’m teaching called TicoTronics – teaching basic electronics and circuit design via open source synth schematics, modified to use only components common to Costa Rica. For more info – www.vauxflores.com
