How the CD Changed the Value of Music

Dec. 11, 2015 by

Analog mediums of music playback are fragile. Vinyl cracks, warps, breaks and scratches. It deteriorates with each play. Cassette tapes likewise. Play after play, copy after copy, they fade and unspool, and jam into hungry play heads. It’s all very

How Not to Adjust To New Technology

Oct. 15, 2012 by

My father was a remarkable man. He could fix almost any broken object just by staring at it long enough and when that didn’t work he would pry it open and poke about inside a bit until it did, occasionally

What’s Wrong With Touching the Computer?

Jul. 18, 2011 by

These days countless controller apps and hardware controller devices promise emancipation from the dreaded computer interface. DJs and live performers have fallen head over heels over the concept that touching the computer somehow lessens an onstage appearance and the act

How to Appreciate Art – Part 2

Jun. 6, 2011 by

Some thoughts on seriously engaging with art – Part 2 – Or Whose Party Is This Anyway?

How to Appreciate Art – Part 1

May. 30, 2011 by

Some thoughts on seriously engaging with art – Part 1 – Or Why a Child Couldn’t Paint That.

Why I’m Glad Beat Matching has been Usurped by Technology

Apr. 5, 2011 by

First things first. There are always a number of people who have invested a lot of time and energy into obsoleting skills and technology and they often bemoan those who learn and make use of the new tools that displace

How to Spot a Professional DJ

Nov. 22, 2010 by

The party is not going so well. Something is off. The crowd is edgy, some people are dancing, sporadically, but most everyone is milling around the bar and the promoter is looking stressed. The DJ is playing some good tunes,

Working with Mistakes.

Nov. 8, 2010 by

Using mistakes as a source of  inspiration can open up a world of possibilities that our tools of correction often negate.

The Insidious Burden of Choice

Nov. 1, 2010 by

There are a plethora of music making machines and software programs out on the market these days, many snake oils and, myriad merchants of miracle mojo peddling them too.

There Is Hope, Just Not For Us…

Jul. 5, 2010 by

George Carlin played with words like Zeus played with thunderbolts. In this video he asserts that the planet Earth will do just fine without us humans and our overblown sense of self importance.

Why Don’t We Talk to Bees?

Jun. 25, 2010 by

Have you ever tried to talk to a bee or an ant? Why not? They live in highly structured and sophisticated colonies, even the architecture of a seemingly innocuous hole in the ground rivals the pinnacles of human achievement in

Play From Your Heart

Jun. 21, 2010 by

A collection of comedic diatribes bemoaning the death of rock spirit in modern music.

If We Copyright Nothing will be Copyleft

Jun. 19, 2010 by

I have no problem with people sharing my music online, in fact I welcome it. (But to anyone selling my music without cutting me a piece of the pie – “May a thousand Ceti eels stream into your ears.”)

Why I Don’t Like the Vuvuzela

Jun. 18, 2010 by

With all the debate buzzing around the Vuvuzela at the World Cup I find myself siding with the “Nuke-it-from-orbit-just to-make-sure” crowd. I have no problem with people enjoying themselves, but it really pisses me off when said enjoyment it is

Music for Small, Dark Places

Jun. 14, 2010 by

This TED talk by David Byrne is a fantastic, if somewhat sparse on detail, look at the influence of architecture on the creation of music.

Sometimes the Customer is not Right

Feb. 5, 2010 by

In January 2010 I played an intimate underground show with the Just Do It crew as co-guest with DJ Wada at the Gamuso Art Bar in Asagaya. As always the hand crafted monster stereo sound system was tuned to perfection