Echo Plus Sound on Sound

After a few dormant years, I got out the soldering iron and got the old Hohner echo plus sound on sound machine back in order.

The fix required a new fuse, which I was able to solder into place.

It works!

I am using the material that was stored on the tape at the time of breakage three years ago for a found sound composition. there were some interesting noises on there! Stay tuned for the music.

echo magic I (a composition)

One of my current classes is about computer music composition. In the class we are encouraged to think about what roles computers can play in the making of music.

I developed a simple computer program using Max/Msp that takes eleven sound samples and repetively sequences them in random order. During playback, the sounds are delayed (this is where the echo magic happens) for different time periods and durations.

The idea is heavily inspired by Eno's 1975 masterpiece "Discrete Music", where he uses "self-regulating and self-generating systems" so that the composer can "tend towards the roles of planner and programmer, and then beome the audience to the results."

For my first composition using this method I sampled myself playing lap steel as the source material. The results are very beautiful. Take a listen:

echo_magic_I.mp3

Island Steez

Come aboard the Jolly Pirate, where the rope swinging and snorkeling are merely an accompaniment to the free booze.

If you drink too much of this Cuban rum and Amstel Bright, you end up like this island bum we saw on the side of the road.

The Arubski salute.

Snorkeling around an old German freighter ship that was sunk in WWII.