Look what I found in a Glasgow museum the other day.
I’m not sure what to feel about this.
Uncategorized
With habeas corpus all packaged up (digitally at least) and off of the workbench (literally with respect to the Amiga tracks), minds turn to what’s on the horizon.
The collab project, involving samples and sounds recorded/given specifically for the purpose by some rather wonderful artists is slowly trickling in. Does It Offend You Yeah?, Moor Hound, French For Cartridge, Shoes and Socks Off and Yer Beauties are some of those that have donated already. It could take months before anything’ll be ready, but it’ll be worth it.
That aside, there’s a few 8-bit tracks coming together that may be destined for some sort of compilation; everything else going a bit quiet till the summer months start proper and time gets freed up.
Hey, I just want to tell you that I loved 26 Hour Days and just downloaded Habeas Corpus. I’ve followed unexpected bowtie since you started posting online and have awaited Habeas Corpus since you announced it. Cheers!
Why thank you! It’s a fair departure from the first, so hopefully you’ll like it…
It’s done!
Since we’d already posted up the album cover for habeas corpus, here’s the back cover/inlay/whatever you call such things in a digital-only release.
Another fifteen tracks of music in handy downloadable/streamable format… although if you loved the first set, we can’t guarantee you’ll feel the same about this.
Click on through to get your hands on a copy. Or two. Or as many as your bandwidth can carry.
The next unexpected bowtie release has got a name, and this is the artwork that has (literally) just been finished – credit to Kaylie for her initial drawing.
There’s still some loose ends to tie up, so the overall progress is sitting at about 90% – with the full thing expected to be online in the next couple of weeks for your downloadable pleasures.
Head over to the 8 bit collective for a listen to flurry of conversation – a track recorded using a Gameboy and other such equipment; it’ll eventually appear on a full-release.
as a way of an outlet for my fascination with all things lofi and 8bit related, I’ve set up a scrapbook of sorts – 8bitculture
As you may probably have picked up from the previous posts, it’s been a bit of a tough slog getting into the whole electronics modification side of chiptune music.
It reminded me a bit of learning to drive. You keep thinking – how on earth can I find this so difficult when so many other people find it so easy?
After hours and hours and hours of accumulated research though, I’ve finally taken a big jump forward and managed to front-light the Gameboy Color so I can use it to compose stuff on whenever and wherever. I did also add an extra 3.5mm line-out, but discovered that Maplin had given me the wrong jack… mono instead of stereo… which put the kaibosh on that plan.
Either way, soldering mistakes and cut hands aside, things are starting to settle in. Here’s a couple of shots of the Gameboy in all its illuminated glory; nestled snugly beside the other electronic gear.
As with any creative area, you can all too easily get absorbed in the gear and equipment side of things, and overlook the fact that the uh.. whole point of it is to do make something with it.
I’ve been so consumed lately with trying to get things soldered and the frustration at being unable (yet) to make much headway with electronics and modifying them to make cool sounds that I thought it best to actually write some tunes.
It’s okay to be excited about new things and the possibilities they bring… as long as you act upon the possibilities too.
A sneak preview of a new track from a release which is going to be based around chiptunes, and aptly titled ‘giving up on circuitry’, is up over at the 8 bit collective. Composed and recorded on an old Gameboy before I butchered it to install some LEDs.
My brain feels like it’s melting out through my eyes after not sleeping too much the past few days, but it seemed only right to type up something since I’ve spent almost every waking hour researching and trying to get my head round things related to this whole musical endeavour.
What started as a simple idea to have a couple of lights added to an old Gameboys has spiralled wildly out of control into what is unamiliar territory. Ultimately there should be a few different units that can be hooked up to different effects pads and guitar amps and all that sort of exciting stuff, as well as the ability to plug in a synth via midi…
Having never taken physics to any level past the age of 14, this is going out on a fairly big limb; a world of diodes, capacitors and resistors that I know literally nothing about. I think we’re getting somewhere though.
I was told today that when I take on a project I really go for it, with everything else in my life dropping off of the radar. I always knew that was true; I just didn’t realise it was that obvious. It’ll be exciting to have all the gear set up and ready to go – already I’ve managed to get the guitars that have sat in a dusty corner for years awaiting repair fixed, which is no small feat of motivation. Trust me.
In other news, samples and contributions have been trickling in from some of the musicians involved in the collaborative project that’s on the horizon, and they’re sounding rather delightful. More of that to come…
unexpectedbowtie 