AnalogSuicide.com

The legendary Vince Clarke has baked up a fabulous new synth series called Analogue Monologues! Filmed in his succulent Maine studio, the first video in the new series as it features the synth that is dear to my heart, the Sequential Circuits Pro One. I cannot embed the video, but here's a little pop of a screen grab. Visit his site to see it:

Slight spoiler: I especially love the disclaimer at the end - though in my mind, Mr.Clarke makes it look easy!  Also, follow Vince Clark himself here on Twitter and his studio updates here.

And my adventures with Pro One? Here's a few...the good news is, I'm actually reading books and manuals now (and going to "synth school"- more on that later), instead of "earing my way through the sonic wilderness" as I have been...my own progress to be shown soon. But till then, here's the wilderness, via my YouTube channel:

Remixing Bat for Lashes last year (psst - download the official Pro One-drenched mix here):

Performing in the 'wilderness'; LA in 2007:

Till next time! Back to the books...by the way, what synth books are your favorite?

Good morning to you all! In the midst of a mild summer and brewing plans a-plenty, I've been meaning to share with you quite a few things lately...one dear to my heart of course is any and all things Moog (cue the music below)!

 As we have featured Moog Cookbook's Brian Kehew on here quite a bit, here's a lovely update on what he's been up to on planet Moog. I read this a few days ago on the Bob Moog Foundation website and on Matrixsynth...well worth a peek!

 Mr. Kehew takes us back to 1965, to explore the 45th anniversary of the R.A. Moog Electronic Music Workshop. Here are a few excerpts and photos from the "unveiling":

"...In 1965, Bob Moog had already been selling theremins and theremin kits for 10 years, but this market was falling fast. As theremin sales decreased, most of the current R.A.Moog sales were from small guitar and bass amplifiers, built at the Moog factory and sold through catalog outlets. Why amplifiers? Young people had become fascinated by The Beatles and the new era of pop/rock music was in full fever. Yet with many competitors in the field, the sales of these amplifiers was not enough to keep the company stable. But R.A.Moog also had a new product to offer, with virtually no competition…."

Photos from Bob Moog Foundation

Read in-depth about the 1965 seminar here.

And of course, don't forget to wander here and read all about the wonderful MoogFest (mind the floating space helmets) that is coming to Asheville Halloween weekend. My favorite band that is playing? Why, Caribou of course. More on this as it approaches, we'll surely be there!

 Extra nutrition: How about some 2008 vintage Brian Kehew footage from Analog Suicide? Here we are on a rainy LA evening perusing an innocent Mellotron MKII...till next time!

The artist/artists that have indeed given me the most sonic pleasure this year bring us a lovely new film, 'y'. So yes, the correspondng letters of the song titles spell 'bounty'! Indeed...what's next? If you have no idea what I'm referring to, pop over here for a catch up on the briliance that is Iamamiwhoami.

What do you think, do you have a favorite 'letter'? Mine is 'O'. And of course 'B'!

 Read more about this wonder that has turned mine and many others' musical stratospheres on its head here & here. Download my official remix of Iamamowhoami's 'B' here, and read about the making of the remix here.

 Extra credit, have a listen.. over and out...

Iamamiwhoami;b,2 by Tara Busch (remix) by TaraBusch

 It is a gorgeous morning here in Cardiff. I slept with the windows wide open, and as a result, the first thing I saw upon waking was a seagull feather tumbling on air through the room. It settled on the floor below my piano. Sigh.

I'm re solidifying myself after our trip to Sheffield, which was a charming blast! I must apologize to any of you that came out to the show to see us play - we had a irreconcilable technical problem that took the pilot down. Despite that, we had a great time and met some wonderful people in Sheffield. What a city! Happy to say we'll be spending more time up there indeed. Everyone that played the Audiovisual Zone were fantastic, Skywatchers in particular were magical....listen:

 The beautiful Oberheim 2 Voice:

EMS Synthi AKS presets resting on Minimoog's tummy:

Minimoog Model D, circa 1973 and EMS Synthi AKS (the nun is out to lunch):

Well, more soon my dears. I have much to keep you posted on, but I have to focus on writing and do the best I can to keep this blog's blood pumping! Thanks as always for paying us a visit. 

As always, follow me on Twitter for more up to date adventures goodies. xoxox

Good morning darlings! We're in the midst of popping together the live show for our gig at the Tramlines Festival in Sheffield on July 25th - we are performing a live movie score. Here's the lovely poster:

And now I must say - Oh, Ableton....I am still the equivalent of a baby bird in the nest, sprouting feathers, as far as my Ableton skills are concerned, but I'm getting there. Let's hope I make a somewhat graceful leap out of the nest next Sunday when we perform this.

I have come to realize the potential of this "instrument" that is Ableton, and can see it as a way of finally being able to perform my songs without the heart attack of having to sit behind a piano, sonically naked. I've only scratched the surface of what this brilliant software is capable of unlocking, and I'm so grateful to have a new approach to try. I suppose I've finally come to realize, at age 36, that reinvention is always possible and that I am now, as Graham Massey would say, a 'non musician'. Or a sort of oddball sonic pilot. That's who I am.

 So, here I sit, armed with an APC 40 and my trusty Moogerfoogers (and, erm ....a piano), opening up the whole situation and rewiring my entire creative circuitry and approach to music making.

I'll try & post more progress and stay in touch; who else has rewired themselves in such a way? Does this make sense to anyone? Ah well. Off for my morning coffee...