Retail Monkey – ADD/Nihilism

addncover

Retail Monkey – ADD/Nihilism

retailmonkey.bandcamp.com

I am very pleased to bring you my newest solo album. For fans of The Dillinger Escape Plan, The Locust, Daughters, Converge, and other bands of the mid-2000s era.

This was the first project that I began working on when I finished my current studio space. The recording process took nearly two years to complete. I had also been dreaming of actually recording these songs for almost 10 years by the time that I started working on it.

I would like to put forth a huge thank you to Stephen and Joel for their involvement in the writing process all those years ago.

Info from the Bandcamp:

“Instrumentals written by Stephen Navarrete, Joel Freeman, and Jon Lervold collaboratively over the internet via MIDI-based guitar tab software between 2004 and 2006.

We were teenagers at the time. Since we used TabIt to compose, we were able to write whatever the hell we wanted with no limitations based on how ridiculous or unplayable it seemed to us. We never figured real, recorded versions would exist. After spending another decade making music, it was within reach.

This album was performed, tracked, edited, mixed, and mastered by Jon Lervold at Big Name Recording Studio in Olympia, WA between January 2015 and November 2016. Vocals were written in early 2016.
bigname.org

Interlude 3 was graciously provided for use by the original artist, Publio Delgado. You can find his work here: youtube.com/user/vendidou and here: facebook.com/publiomusic.

Pulling off my Eyelids with a Pair of Pliers contains writing contributions by Alexander Galavodas, Mark Solomon, and Joseph Malicke.

Released on Big Name Records
BNR1700
bignamerecords.com

 

Cassettes can be found on the Bandcamp or on Big Name Records.

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Loiterer – Key West (Pure Data Algorithmic Composition)

A 5edo generative ambient composition made in Pure Data. Every playthrough is unique. This video shows merely one example of what might be generated by the algorithm. No MIDI was used in the patch; all sounds were generated by oscillator matrices I designed in PD.

I made this while on vacation in Key West, FL. The video footage is from the day after I finished the bulk of the composition’s programming.

This piece consists of four note generators, a lead generator, a monophonic sequencer, and a white noise generator, all of which automatically generate their own note choices, durations, and timbres. The overtones on the synths become more exaggerated as time runs on. Each playthrough automatically begins winding down around 3 minutes and finishes by 3:30. The patch can also be set to run indefinitely.

For anyone unfamiliar: “edo” means “equal distribution of the octave.” Almost all Western music is written in 12tet, the system that divides the octave into 12 steps of 100 cents each. This composition divides the octave into 5 steps of 240 cents each.

Genesis 32:12 – Jacob Turns Heel and Hits the Angel with a Folding Chair, Which Pleases God

This song is my entry into the HP TALENT SHOW 2017 contest. The goal of the contest is to create the “most ridiculous/goofiest/best” TabIt song. The rules state that the entry must be less than two minutes long and can use no more than 5 tracks. I decided to write a piece for a bass and drums math-rock duo. Tracks 3, 4, and 5 simulate various effects pedals sent through separate amps. Lately I’ve been experimenting with quarter tones, so I put a few in there.

I’ve been using TabIt for 15 years. It’s been 8 years since I last officially released a tab, as that was when I moved to producing real audio tracks exclusively. Taking part in this was a very nostalgic experience. TabIt and the TabIt community helped make me the musician that I am today.

Pure Data – Endless King Crimson Riff Generator

A few days ago I started learning the visual programming language known as Pure Data. I’ve never programmed anything before (though I have done a lot of html coding in my day), so starting from square one was a bit of a daunting prospect, but it turned out to be really enthralling. My experience as an audio engineer really helps, since it has given me a solid understanding of signal flow.

This is the first patch I have made that I would consider a satisfactory v1.0. It was incredibly fun to design this system and my mind is really reeling with the possibilities of what else can be done with this software. It really makes me want to learn how to program commercial music apps.

Under the hood.
A small section of what’s under the hood. More in the video.

The patch first generates a one-measure riff (reminiscent, to me, of 80’s-era King Crimson) in a random time signature which plays for 8 repeats. Then it plays another newly generated riff in the same time signature. This process repeats 6 more times, for a total of 8 riffs in a given time signature. At that point, it switches to a new time signature and starts the process again. The result of all the riffs together reminds me a lot of some Philip Glass compositions. Not every riff is outstanding, but there are plenty of more-than-usable musical ideas in there!

In this version the non-drum instruments are just sine waves generated by PD, but I am currently modifying it so that they generate MIDI events that can be sent out to a DAW. My larger vision involves incorporating this patch’s functionality into a much larger music generation program. More to come later…

[syzygy] – [visitor]

[syzygy] – [visitor]syzygy-cover-smaller

[syzygy] – [visitor]

syzygybnr.bandcamp.com

My newest solo album. 6 tracks (36 minutes) of impressionist piano. Tracked, edited, mixed, and mastered at Big Name. The album was recorded and mixed entirely analog on the Tascam 388 and TEAC A-1200U tape machines.

CDs and cassettes made in the print shop. The cassette version was mastered straight to tape and has never entered the digital domain.

Physicals can be found on the Bandcamp or at Big Name Records.

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A God or an Other / The Vatican – The Great Northern (Split)

A God or an Other / The Vatican – The Great Northern (Split)

http://agodoranother.bandcamp.com or http://thevaticangrind.bandcamp.com/

3 tracks (17 minutes) of black metal/hardcore and 6 tracks (17 minutes) of grindcore. All of A God or an Other’s side was tracked, edited, mixed at Big Name. The Vatican instrumentals were recorded at Big Name. Both sides were mastered together at Big Name.

Tapes and CDs manufactured at Big Name in the print shop and available through Bandcamp.

 

 

The Lunch – Thinkin’ About Stuff

The Lunch – Thinkin’ About Stuff

http://thelunch.bandcamp.com

4 tracks (15 minutes) of experimental instrumental indie recorded, edited, mixed, and mastered at Big Name. This is the first project to be released from the studio to utilize the awesome Tascam 388.

Tapes and CDs manufactured at Big Name in the print shop and available through Bandcamp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bird Surgeon – Vanishings

vanishings

Bird Surgeon – Vanishings

birdsurgeon.bandcamp.com

 

Been hard at work on construction of the new space, but had plenty of off hours to use making this album. Math rock, indie, screamo bits… for fans of Piglet, earlier Tera Melos, Don Caballero, American Football, etc

12 tracks, 45 minutes, recorded, edited, mixed, and mastered at Big Name.

Physical copies made in the Big Name print shop and available at Bandcamp.