My CD album, Outside Inner Space, was initially released in 2005. Early on, several people asked what that title was referring to - at the time I chose to be vague (even coy) and basically responded with that lazy-ass “whatever you want it to”. Over the years, I’ve had a few people volunteer their understanding of what the song titles mean - most have been fairly accurate. Not that I was surprised, because I never thought the meanings were all that obtuse. For some unknown reason, over the past few months I’ve had six people ask me to explain various titles - the most recent just a few days ago. It seems to imply I need to be more forthcoming. I mean, if it isn’t obvious and you want to know, then I feel I’m shirking my responsibility as an artist if I don’t explain (and I do understand that music and song titles that confuse people are less than successful).
As a generality, the album title has a dual meaning - because the music is intended to describe both parts of that dual meaning. On one hand, it refers to the vast space beyond our planet’s atmosphere. On the other hand, it addresses our immediate, individual surroundings. “Perimeter One” refers to what’s right in front of our faces, as well as the boundary where Earth’s atmosphere ends and true Space begins. “Magnetic Disturbance” addresses the effect of the magnetic field of Earth (and other celestial bodies) on communications - whether they be at atmospheric level or above atmosphere. In a much less obvious way, it acknowledges our penchant for blaming communication problems on something/one outside our influence. “Tour of the Gas Giant”: there are so many meanings behind this title, it’s both difficult to understand why it needs explaining and fairly obvious why there would be questions. Basically, visualize a large body with a gaseous atmosphere (clouds; verbiage) that doesn’t seem inviting to “visitors”, but is so compelling in its differences to the bodies around it that we can’t stop ourselves from wanting to closely observe and understand. “Stress” - this one I’d like to believe anyone can understand without much thought, but here’s a quick answer: emotional turmoil and physical strain. “Debris” is about what’s often left after stress wins out. “Outside Perimeter Two” refers to the boundaries we each have - physical and emotional, imagined or real.
I confess to feeling a bit odd after addressing those questions this way. I’m pretty sure it comes from stepping outside my own perimeters and engaging the potential stress brought about by moving beyond my normal comfort zone. Which is actually the second time that’s happened with this music. It’s the only all-instrumental work I’ve completed. It took “forever” to finish in part because I wanted (and hoped) the music would stand on its own - without lyrics (or “lyrics”) that are usually part of the music I’m involved with. I gather I wasn’t nearly as successful with it as I felt it would be. Note to self: need better titles next time.
The Israeli duo, Carusella, gigged through my home town last week. Guitar and drums - they both sing. Aggressive post-rock / melodic mayhem / avant-grunge. Guy’s drumming is some of the happiest, most-charging, energetic and tight you can hope to hear. Tamar’s guitar tone is to die for. Their uninhibited playing is an example for all of us.
Click for a live version of Star Quality.
Myspace pages related to Burning Shirt have recently been updated.
adTHANKSvance for giving them a look and listen.
…so, Happy New Year!
When I look back at ‘09, I had a pretty good year. Songs and friends came and went, but it was great having the “gone” ones around while they were, and it’s especially nice being close to the ones who’ve stayed. And nice that some old ones have re-upped. And truthfully, there were so many highlights to last year, I can only remember the down parts if I really concentrate on them. I came into this new year with smiles and grins, and there’s no sign of that letting up.
Often Coiled worked hard last year while having a great time doing it. We have nearly an hour-and-a-half of original music written, and have performed all of it in public at least once. We’ve already played two shows this year - half our total for the previous year! So we’re taking a break from the trials and tribulations of road work, and buckling down to record those great songs we worked so hard to put together. We’ve also decided we’d like to expand the trio to a quartet, specifically by adding an electric cellist or a keyboard/synthesist (but heck, if someone came along who can play both…), so if you’re interested or know someone who might be, don’t keep it a secret.
Those of you who’ve been with me for awhile might remember Outside Inner Space, my synth-only album from 2005 — released in a cloud of no fanfare and almost immediately deleted. It’s been remastered and can now be found through MusicZeit.
Sara Ayers has a freely downloadable album recently released on the Endless Ascent net label. Titled “Ambient Collaborations”, it’s an interesting cross-section of her work with a variety of sound artists and includes one of the pieces we’ve done together, Not Even All the Stars. You’ll find it at
And: not long ago, I created an a cappella piece titled Cannibal Box. This song is a new approach for me - the first time (unless memory completely fails me) I’ve written an original melody for someone else’s words. Right now, you can only hear it at
I’ve been working in this rock trio for about a year - actually, it’s a Progressive Garage trio. Besides singing, I’m responsible for 99.4% of the keyboards. The other two members are a drummer/guitarist, and a bassist/guitarist. This past Sunday, we played at the 7th Annual Colorado Progfest in Denver. It was our third time in public, our first since April, and in front of far-and-away the largest audience we’ve played for. It went quite well - we were accepted/appreciated way better than I was afraid we’d be. Looking forward to playing there again.
Got a couple of other gigs coming up, as we continue to “tour” the I-25 corridor of the Colorado front range; Friday night in Colorado Springs and late January in Pueblo.
Often Coiled is the band name, and I don’t have a page for it here - yet. If you’re curious, you can find us at www.myspace.com/oftencoiled
The new EP from Jeff Sampson and Sean Carroll (Embracing the Glass) will be released sometime this fall (early, hopefully). To whet the appetites of those who may need it — and to help overcome the withdrawals the rest of you have been going through — there’s a free pre-mastered version of the first track, “Among the Infirm”, available here. As the title implies, there’s a rather dark feel to the music. Indeed, the four tracks on the EP are some of the darkest music the duo has created. Yummy.
As stated on the other site I (allegedly) maintain (www.toadware.net), I have a new — free — download for you. It’s titled “Seedling (sunshine mix)” and it’s the second in the Seedling series. The first one, “Seedling (reunion mix)” was on the CD Metaphor, which was created specifically for my high school class reunion in 2006 (and no, as long as you’ve asked, it didn’t make much of an impression on my former classmates — but who really thought it would, eh?). This version has a couple of additional vocal tracks added to the mix (and the synth track has been removed).
So here it is (7:30 - 6.4 mb) — hope you enjoy it.
And in case you’re wondering, it looks like a reworked Metaphor will be available to the general public by the end of 2008. I’ve been going over all of it, removing the restraint I tried to apply when I was initially recording it. (I guess I really was trying to make something “mainstream” listeners would like.) “Seedling (mountain mix)” is finished (so be sure to download this free version so you’ll be able to recognize the differences); “Working the Stream” has a bunch of new bits added; “Seeping Through the Boundaries” was remixed (and partially re-recorded). The only tasks left are mastering the audio and re-doing the cover art. Even I should have that done by fall.
There’s a welcome addition to the Burning Shirt roster and (very soon) catalog. Kepheus is the duo of Jeff Sampson and Byron Paladin (Haslam). They’ve been working on a project called “Dark Matters” for quite awhile, and the fruits of those labors should officially see the light of day inside of a couple of weeks - sooner, in all likelihood.
The music is a dark (and not-quite-as dark) ambient melding of voices and synthesis, and the outcome is quite unique (if I’m allowed to use that description in a world thick with bedroom musicians, underground artists, and other creative types pushing a vast series of envelopes).
Click here, or the link in the (heh) LINKS section to keep up with these particular Joneses.
It’s sort of a podcast, but you can only get it from here right now. Click the Free Downloads link on the right to get a sampler featuring a track from the hard-to-find Jeff Sampson album “Outside Inner Space”, an excerpt from Akrude’s “Predetermined by Hindsight” and the Tsuru track (”Several Levels Down”) from the Sheltered Shadows compilation.