Glacial Communications

The second of the 2010 reissues is complete! I present to you, GLAC-5: 33 1/3. Originally written & recorded in February 2008 for the RPM Challenge.

There are three bonus tracks which are only available if you download the full album. Here’s a preview of one of them:

Not so übercoolische by glacial23

There’s also a text file explaining how you can get the .xm files for the tracks I did in MilkyTracker – I’d embed them in the download, but Bandcamp doesn’t support .xm files…

The next one is going to be a double – GLAC-7 and GLAC-11 (both basically singles/EPs, so why not combine them?). For those more into the noise/experimental material of more recent times, we’re getting closer.

I realized recently that the next available catalog number was GLAC-20, which seems like a good point for some sort of compilation. One is coming (it’ll be all previously unreleased or currently unavailable archive material, some dating back quite a ways), but in the meantime I’m going to revamp and reissue the current backcatalog, remastering where necessary, and adding additional material where it makes sense.

The first of these reissues is the GLAC-2 “A Glacial Sampler” EP from 2003. Originally issued as an 8 copy sandpaper-sleeved 3″ CD, it was modified and reissued online in 2005. I’ve now added the full versions of Oscillator Drift and Phase Lock, as well as a leftover from the Phase Lock session called Out Of Phase. The album also now available in whatever format you like, instead of the old 128kbps MP3s from before (thanks to Bandcamp!)

You can grab it here or just get it below (provided your browser’s cool with Flash):

My RPM Challenge 2010 Album is done. Here’s a streamable version on SoundCloud:

(Here’s another link to the set in case the embed isn’t working…)

Yes, all the titles are mathematically oriented. There will probably be some further explorations in that direction later in the year. Stay tuned.

There will be a handful of free CDs given away to people who become a fan on Facebook. I might even include a copy of the GLAC-18 cassette as well – the whole glacial DIY experience for free, for a select few! Giveaway will occur in a few days.

It’s finally, completely, done.

GLAC-18- DIY volume 1: Signal Intercept.

31 minutes of instruments I either built or repaired myself.

I’m told that our partner in crime for this release, Everyone Else Has A Record Label, So Why Can’t I? has made up an initial batch of the cassette. You should be able to get it through them, or me once I get a handful of them, probably on Friday (8/07/2009).

I’m trying to also work out a mechanism for getting digital copies to people that works to the satisfaction of all parties involved. If there’s interest, let me know, but I’m not guaranteeing anything yet.

Now I’ve really got to get cracking on Volume II, but it needs more gear finished before I start…

Lots of things going on of late. A quick recap:

1. Upgrading the FeedWordpress plugin ate a number of the PTB show descriptions from the last three months or so. I recovered some of them. The rest have the generic description again. Yay upgrades.

2. I’ve set up a Facebook page for whatever it is we do here(are we a label? do we build gear? A little of both and then some?), so if you’re a fan of whatever it is we do here and prefer Facebook to these ‘blog’ things, go become a fan there. I promise it won’t be a constant source of annoyance.

3. Expect some announcements of things happening in the future. For instance, I’ll be performing at Bella Dubby in Lakewood on August 21st, as a duo with my friend C. Randolph C. More details soon. Also be on the lookout for the forthcoming cassette released in conjunction with Everyone Else Has A Record Label, So Why Can’t I?, as well as more fun stuff on the horizon.

4. GoatTracker fans- here is a FAR better port of GoatTracker for Mac OS X than mine ever was. Seriously, it’s awesome. I’ll be going back and adding links to this one in my older posts.

5. A quickie on the DIY front – I’m moving right along on a MIDIbox SID. It’s just going to be a single-SID/basic control surface model, but it is moving right along. Hopefully usable & in an enclosure before August 21st…

I finally got around to uploading my RPM Challenge Album, Radioactive Decay – You can find it over here, in easy to use Opentape format.

There’s also a short non-RPM Challenge track on there as well, an outtake from the forthcoming Glacial DIY tape, since today is a somewhat terrible anniversary.

Known things:

• It will be a recording
• There will be a physical product.
• All gear used will either have been built, modified, and/or repaired by me (except the recording media itself, and maybe a microphone or two)
• No computers (except microcontrollers) will be used until mixdown. Maybe not even then.

Unknown things:

• #tracks: 4? 6? I dunno. I’m shooting for 30 minutes, but could go over. If I go over/under, leftovers will probably end up online in an Opentape, or on NEOelectro.
• Catalog number? Unclear.
• Art (any volunteers? You’d obviously get let in on some secrets and stuff…)

Any questions?

I’ve been kicking around the idea of doing an “album” of my SynthDIY progress. Y’know, maybe a track for each component built – one of just oscillators, one with the XNORs added, etc. It’ll be noisy. I guarantee that…

So, the other day, Opentape gets released. This looks like a nice easy way to post things. I think I’m going to try just using this as the mechanism for distribution of this weird SynthDIY album. For the moment, you can find it here: The SynthDIY Sessions. Once I actually get some  tracks recorded, I’ll put them up. I may even put up some placeholder ‘bonus’ tracks to tide my legion of fans over until I can actually get some proper recording done (this week isn’t very good for that sort of thing. Lots of cleaning and ice cream making going on).

I finished my RPM Challenge album on Friday, mailed it off on Saturday, and I’m now in the process of uploading it. You can get it here at NEOelectro.

So, downloads off of Catalog have been less than inspiring. I’m debating moving stuff (specifically, the stuff without lots of naughty samples) onto Jamendo. I think it would stand a better chance at being seen, and people could always use their donation system if they like it. It’s non-exclusive, so I may give it a try with something.
I also considered whipping up my own hosting stuff in Rails, but the time’s just not there. I may still make a small thing (a la castr) for the verboten stuff. I dunno. Can anyone think of a better idea? I’m all ears.