Rejoice! I have finally gotten the chance to make mp3s of some the tracks I have been working on lately, thanks to good old Dan..(iel) of ex-Metem fame. For you enjoyment (I’m so nice), I have uploaded the newest of the batch, called “Dusty“. This is sort of a departure for me, but that seems to be expected at this point. Here I am operating in downtempo breaks sort of way, with watery little synths, stand-up bass, and seventh chords. In the background you hear a very lo-fi recording of me and friend riding the train form Canterbury to London. Originally this track was going to be called “Aquatic Railway Jazz”, but I ditched it because it was too wordy. Anyway, you get the idea. Tell me what ya’ll think.
April 26, 2002
April 18, 2002
Safely back in London now, and the weather is superb. Good thing too, because after all the sun I saw in Italy and Greece (I’m super tan now), the usual greyness would have been hard to come back to. Greece was amazing. Do you, theoretical reader of my web page, want to know more? Well, read on!
Athens: Very strange mix of Western Eurpean urbanity and quasi-third-world trashiness. In a good way. Somehow ended up there at the right time to see my old London favorites, Warp Records, work some magic at this geekfest/rave thing called BIOS02 (I told you it was geeky). Richard Devine and Prefuse 73 were the only Warp people there, and although their respective musics have never really turned me on, I thought they both put on great shows. I especially liked how the former got all crazy, gratuitous signs-of-the-beast included.
Santorini: This is one of the Greek Cycladic islands. It is also one of the most beautiful places I have ever been in my short life. The whole thing used to be a huge volcano, which exploded leaving a crescent shaped island centered around the it’s now-rubble-ish volcanic remains. Add picturesque little cliffside villages, amazing sunsets, and loads of blooming wildflowers to this, and you’ve got something really special. Loved it.
Delphi: This was the rural part of the Greece tour. Delphi’s claim to tourist fame is that it contains the ruins of the temple where the Oracle (of Delphi, duh) used to reside. Pilgims from all over Greece used to make pilgrimages (like pilgrims often do) to have her tell their fortunes. So, yeah, those super old pillars and rocks were pretty cool to see. The real highlight was the amazing scenery. The town is nestled up in Mount Parnasos and overlooks a huge valley leading to the Gulf of Corinth. The goats I saw, complete with quaint sheperd boy and man, really completed the pastoral paradise vibe of the place. Nice.
And, sigh, now I am back in London. Just got some cheap new clothes at a “sample sale” right by my school, courtesy of these people. Twenty pounds for a sweatshirt and a t-shirt. Not too shabby at all. Now… about that crappy Differential Equations homework…
April 4, 2002
Just completed a two day ferry voyage from Venice, Italy to Athens, Greece. As I type this, I still feel a very stong sensation of floating on the ocean, and it’s kind of sickening. This combines with the fact that I can’t read anything written in Greek, and can only speak one word (yalas = hello). All in all, things are a little wierd right now, but only in the best way. I have friends who are also visiting Greece right now, who I managed to meet up with given only the name of their hotel. I am a travel master! Oh yeah, if I need to say this: I am having bucketloads of fun.
Books I read on the ferry:
Difficult Loves by Italo Calvino : Set of short stories by wonderful Italian author. Gets really nice in the section on “Stories of Love and Loneliness”.
This is It by Alan W. Watts : Really insightful Zen-influenced philosophical musings.
