Archive for January, 2007

Listening to music is so much fun.

Tuesday, January 30th, 2007

Below The Bassline - by Jamaican jazzmaster Ernest Ranglin

Kothbiro - by Kenyan lyre (nyatiti) player Ayub Ogada. Haunting.

Soltarlo - jazzy acapella scatting and layered vocal “percussion” from Colombian singer/songwriter Claudia Gómez

So, what am I working on this week? My first freelance music reviews! A local paper found this very blog and now wants me to review 5 albums, each in 50 words. Daunting for a rambler like me, but nonetheless a task I undertake with relish. Do you guys have any recommendations? What albums lately can you not help mentioning to everyone you meet?

“The basic concept behind it is that most “classic” dance music is so formulaic it should be easy for a computer to generate. Generating all patterns and sequences from a small set of rules the unit is able to deliver new and original tracks in realtime.” Obviously this is easy enough to do in software, but Mungo has actually made a hardware box.

He continued: “ROMS has no rights from the record companies whatsoever to licence these pieces of music. ROMS and AllofMP3.com are well aware that record companies have not granted authorisation for this service.”"

The New Licensing for Movies and Music

Friday, January 12th, 2007

9) Trent Reznor plays Billy Idols’ ‘Eyes Without A Face’ sometime in the early ’80s10) Madonna’s ludicrous appearance with Tim Westwood on ‘Pimp My Ride’ (check out the very theatrical cocaine sniff half way through, just before she starts writhing on the floor) BONUS: Delia Derbyshire speaks

If you use Winamp, you can obtain a similar effect by selecting the modern skin and entering the “Windowshade mode”, a mini version of Winamp that could remain always on top. Windows Media Player can also be minimized to a small player integrated into the taskbar.

While the keyboard is interesting, it’s the motion-sensor instrument that responds when you wave your hand over the tubes that floored me. But the best part? The ability to hook your iPod up to them and mix over your favorite songs.”.
It’s hard not to love the design combo of PVC tube, G5 mac and Fisher-Price buttons, but I really can’t wait to see what the circuit benders do with this stuff. (Thanks, Steve in LA)
More images

When your first impulse is to sue because people are using your product in ways you don’t like, it’s always a good idea to examine the situation to see whether you’re overlooking a new revenue stream.