We sink ships radio episode 3 podcast 1

Published on March 2, 2010 in 100 days, music, waves below, we sink ships and we sink ships radio. 0 Comments

And now for the traditional Tuesday We Sink Ships Radio blogging…
To be fair though, this one is pretty impressive.  This month, we feature the cinematic-pop label Erased Tapes, home of Ólafur Arnalds, Rival Consoles, Peter Broderick, Nils Frahm, Codes in the Clouds and others.  In the first podcast, released yesterday I caught up with Robert Raths, the label manager and we had a chat via Skype.  He told me a bit about the label’s history and the things that inspire him.  After that you can hear what turned out to be a pretty good mix-set from me – though if you’ve ever listened to A DJ’s mix and thought “Ooft! He just crowbarred that in there!”, then I’m sure you’ll appreciate just how appalling one of my mixes is.

As usual, the podcast is here…

Post Script – 100 Days. Day #92
Blogged.
Polish Phrase: “Wcześnie wstaję” – “I get up early”

Happy birthday Chopin

Published on March 1, 2010 in 100 days and music. 0 Comments

Tonight there was a wonderful gala concert celebrating the 200th birth of, in my opinion, one of the greatest composers of all time, Fryderyk Chopin.  Unfortunately given my poor timing and lack of money, we settled for watching it on television.  The highlight for me was the Daniel Thai Son performance with the 19th century piano and orchestra.  Daniel Thai Son is mesmerising to watch. An incredible pianist? That goes without saying but his grace while performing is so inspiring.

Happy Birthday Chopin.

Post Script – 100 Days. Day #91
Blogged.
Polish Phrase: “Gram fortepian i gitara” – “I play piano and guitar”

Just, nope.

Published on February 28, 2010 in 100 days, music, waves below, we sink ships and we sink ships radio. 0 Comments

After a lovely, slow, relaxing day on Saturday, Sunday was supposed to be the day I got everything done. It turned out to be the day I did very little, though not through want of trying.  I tried to perform my mix for Tuesday’s podcast. I did. I tried a few times but I just wasn’t feeling it.  In the end I hung up the headphones, having at least chosen the tracks I wanted to play, and decided Monday would be a better time to make a fresh start.

Post Script – 100 Days. Day #90
Blogged.
Polish Phrase: “Czy pan ma drobne?” – “Do you have any change?”

Union Terrace Gardens

Published on February 27, 2010 in 100 days, beneath us, the waves and music. 0 Comments

I’m not sure how well known Union Terrace Gardens are outside Aberdeen, however, if you’ve not heard of the proposed Arts Centre at the Gardens then you should listen up.  The Arts Centre project has been placed in doubt and the Gardens in danger by an opposing plan to “deck over” the land and build a business park instead.  Of course, this will have a greater detrimental effect to the landscape and environment which has been evolving since the 17th century, in effect, wiping it out.  It will also deprive the city of an importance cultural and artistic focal point.  You can read more about the campaign to save UTG here…

The campaign organisers recently put together a compilation album to raise money, and more importantly, awareness of the campaign.  The album is available on digital download from bandcamp.com in 320Kbps, VBR and flac formats.  I donated the Elegy for Tramway track and it fits alongside some other tremendous bands and artists including too many fireworks favourite Fiona Soe Paing.  The album is selling for a pay-what-you-like price, beginning at £1 (to cover paypal transaction costs).  Go see, go buy, go listen, go enjoy.

Post Script – 100 Days. Day #89
Blogged.
Polish Phrase: “Czy pan ma czas?” – “Do you have some time?”

Spring is coming…

Published on February 27, 2010 in 100 days, beneath us, the waves and music. 1 Comment

I’ve had a slow, productive day today trying to organise the shows in Scotland in April.  Things are going well but I don’t want to announce anything really until it’s all tied up.  I’ve got some ideas for for a replacement to Winter So…

Ah, that’s embarrassing.  Yes, I haven’t mentioned that I’m hanging up my hat and calling time on trying to complete the wee mini-album before the 100 days project is up.  Unfortunately with We Sink Ships commitments, moving to Poland upheaval and organising the shows mentioned above, I’ve just not been able to give it the attention it deserves and I don’t want to spend the next 13 days struggling to complete something that i’ll not be happy with.

I’ve enjoyed learning new techniques and working my way into new software packages and new ways of recording sound and music so I’m particulary excited with what I’ll be able to do in the future.  Instead of the suggested “Winter Songs” album, I’ll be starting work on a soundscape/ambient e.p. influenced by Polish, Scottish and Icelandic folk music.  I plan to finish this before the shows in April and may even play a couple of songs from it live.  After that, I’ll start working on my first full length contemporary classical release and see what happens with that.

I’ll continue with 100 days until the end, ensuring I blog each day and keep up with my Polish phrases and then when 100 days is finished, I’ll go back to blogging semi-regularly – whenever I’ve really got something to tell you about being here in Poland or indeed the steadily increasing beneath us, the waves workload.

Post Script – 100 Days. Day #88
Blogged.
Polish Phrase: “Zmywam naczynia” – “I do the dishes”
Album: Is no more… see above.

Kraków

Published on February 26, 2010 in 100 days. 0 Comments

Tell someone you spent the best part of 10 hours in a car in a 15 hour period and they’re not likely to think that would have been much fun.  Ordinarily, they’d be right.  Today, however, was a different story.  Started at 6am and with Asia’s dad behind the wheel, he, Asia and I drove to Kraków for the day.  The drive down was in parts beautiful, foggy, flat, bumpy, scenic and occasionally rustic.  I took the time to make some plans and work out exactly where I want to take beneath us, the waves this year.

Kraków is similar to Warsaw in that it has it’s entirely ugly, grafitti-strewn areas but in the same way as my adopted home, it also has a beautiful old town.  There is a noticable change in pace in Kraków too, people seem a lot less stressed.  I Warsaw, a lot of people seem to get the head down and head towards their destination as quickly as possible.  In Kraków, things move a bit slower.

The clothmarket is being rennovated at the moment and so we couldn’t go all the way in.  Worse still, the outside was covered in tarpaulin so the effect of the building was muted.  We wandered up to the castle and met the dragon (well, from above) and heard some baroque rehearsals from afar.  A lovely introduction to the city but I think we need to go back in Summer to do some proper sightseeing.

A negative epilogue unfortunately as when we were walking through the old town, looking for a nice café in which to have a drink, we happened upon what, reportedly, is now a common occurence in the city.  English cunts being cunts.  I apologise for the potty-mouth (especially as I know my mum reads this) but it’s the only way to accurately describe it.  Loudmouthed, obnoxious, fuckwit, English pricks (a couple actually wearing shellsuit bottoms on what looked clearly like a stag-weekend) making a lot of noise and generally being rude and unpleasant.  I guess, I should mention that I’m quite aware Kraków has no doubt had it’s share of Scottish cunts being cunts but on this occasion, they just happened to be the typical twats you’d see on an episode of Blighty’s booziest arseholes, or some such Sky One show.

Post Script – 100 Days. Day #87
Blogged.
Polish Phrase: “Jak długo się jedzie z Warszawy do Krakowa?” – “How long does it take from Warsaw to Kraków?”
Album: Spent time working on ideas for the rest of the record. Time’s running out.

Chopin birthday concert

Published on February 24, 2010 in 100 days and music. 0 Comments

Tonight was an absolute pleasure. A complete indulgence mind you, but a wonderful experience.  Asia and I bought tickets to the Murray Perahia Chopin recital – one of the 200th birthday concerts.  We almost didn’t get there.  Asia took a translation job early in the afternoon and worked frantically to ensure we could leave on time.  In the end, to ensure a job well done, she took some extra time and we booked a taxi.  Taxi arrived, we jumped in and headed straight into Warsaw rush hour.  The tension in the car was tangible.  The car’s clock ticking onwards, telling us we had minutes until the programme began.  The driver remained stoic throughout, assuring us we’ll get there on time.  We did, but it was only when we got inside the Philharmonic that we realised his clock was 5 minutes fast.  Laughter and sighs of relief ensued as we found our seats.

Perahia emerged, looking every bit the piano master, and sat behind the beautiful Steinway & sons grand.  The programme started with Bach’s Partita no. 6 in E minor, the gigue of which ended to rapturous applause.  This was followed Beethoven’s Sonata in E major before a 15 minute break and then we had Chopin.  The Études performed (op. 10/4 and op. 25/1&5) were my favourites of the evening but the real crowd pleasers seemed to be the Mazurkas.  I get the impression that Chopin’s Polish heritage and obvious love for the country’s folk music means a great deal to the Polish people.

A beautiful night’s music all in all.  Also, it’s my mum’s birthday today.  Happy birthday mum!

Post Script – 100 Days. Day #86
Blogged.
Polish Phrase: “O której koncert się zaczyna??” – “What time does the concert start?”
Album: started sampling for new song.

We Sink Ships presents too many fireworks #2

Published on February 23, 2010 in 100 days, music, too many fireworks, we sink ships and we sink ships radio. 0 Comments

From one We Sink Ship related blog to another, this time it’s the new We Sink Ships presents too many fireworks podcast. Number 2 to be exact.

This month we have music from Chopin, Daníel Bjarnason, Nico Muhly and Richard Skelton amongst others and an interview with the English composer and musician, Clem Leek.

It’s very pretty stuff, so stick the headphones on, lie back, relax and enjoy.

we sink ships presents too many fireworks podcast #2

Post Script – 100 Days. Day #85
Blogged.
Polish Phrase: “Jak daleko to jest?” – “How far is that?”
Album: Ditched the second song and have begun working on a new idea.

Elements: Fire

Published on February 23, 2010 in 100 days, Photography, beneath us, the waves and we sink ships. 0 Comments

We sink ships are proud, and fairly excited, to bring you the second in our series of Elements Exhibitions, “Elements: Fire“.

The exhibition contains 24 individual photographs combined to bring 12 ethereal “digital double exposure” interpretations of the word “fire”.  The exhibition is accompanied by a new piece of music from my beneath us, the waves project and a poem by our very good friend, Rhys Baker.

I’m really chuffed with the whole thing so I really hope …waves in Warsaw readers enjoy it.  You’ll let me know, though, right?

Post Script – 100 Days. Day #84
Blogged.
Polish Phrase: “Na jak długo?” – “For how long?”
Album: Working on the second song and it sounds creepy. Not sure whether to start again.

a tired fire

Published on February 21, 2010 in 100 days, beneath us, the waves and we sink ships. 0 Comments

I’m very tired. Very, very tired. Yes, I know. I complain about being tired a lot but I’m very, very, very tired.

Today I have written the music for Elements: Fire, the new We Sink Ships exhibition.  It took me 3 false starts and a 4th idea to get started (though I’ve kept all the other ideas for future pieces) but when I finally got underway, it came together really quickly.  I’m very happy with it and obviously, tomorrow I’ll tell more when I’m blogging about the launch of the exhibition.

Tonight, I took half an hour out to interview a guest for Tuesday’s WSS presents Too Many Fireworks show – the second one so far.  The incredibly talented Clem Leek will be the podcast’s first guest and it was lovely to have a chat with him.

Anyways, it’s late and as I said I’m… well, y’know.

Post Script – 100 Days. Day #83
Blogged.
Polish Phrase: “O której się spotkamy?” – “What time shall we meet?”
Album: Back to manipulating samples today but haven’t had a lot of time.