LEMMY, SPACE ROCK, HAWKWIND...BRILLIANT!

With the passing of Lemmy Kilmister, we have lost a great friend and rock and roll character.  Lemmy was a firm believer in the spirit and power of rock and roll and in enjoying life in general.  Nice philosophy!  Before he started his well known, heavy rock outfit, Motorhead, Lemmy had a turn in the space rock band, Hawkwind. 
What is space rock?  This blog fully embraces space rock and we will explore that topic further at some other time and provide personal definitions.  For now, this clip, Hawkwind's "Silver Machine", features some ferocious guitar workups accompanied by some synthesizer wash and assorted, delayed, reverbed, electronic bleeps and tones.  Space rock!  What a delightful noise it all makes!

THE ANARCHESTRA - MADE UP INSTRUMENTS!

I think this video is well worth taking the time to watch.  We see the workshop and ultimate completed instruments created by Andy Thurlow.  He has called this assemblage of new sonic toys, The Anarchestra.  Furlow has designed stringed instruments, "tuned" and otherwise percussive platforms and some never before imagined music/noise makers.  Very awesome. 

The Electrician vs Planet of the Vampires / Scott Walker vs Gino Marinuzzi

OK.  I was looking for any YouTube clips that might feature the soundtrack music of the influential science fiction/horror picture, "Planet of the Vampires" (1965, directed by Mario Bava).  The movie boasts an interesting use of electronic music elements composed by Gino Marinuzzi.  I discovered this colorful item which also provides some information on "Planet's" unique contribution to movie lore. 

John Carpenter's The Fog Expanded Soundtrack

Director John Carpenter was quite a busy fellow during the creation of his movies.  In addition to calling the shots on set, he would add his sonic soundtrack flourishes during post production.  Carpenter used a very minimal approach to his compositions.  There are a handful of haunting themes that are repeated often.  Simple but effective. Nice, richly layered sounding synthesizers and piano.  Love it.

Gil Mellé - The Andromeda Strain (1971) (Full Album)

This music is very trippy!  I have always admired this electronic score/soundtrack by Gil Melle for the science fiction flick, The Andromeda Strain.  (What parts I could hear seeping out from behind the character dialogue in the movie, anyway.)  Another fascinating aspect of this work is that composer Melle created a number of the sound generating apparatus that created these marvelous electronic tones!  There is a documentary or behind the scenes film documenting this.  Haven't been able to locate it!

Nailing It On Guitar

Guitar playing can never be easy when your fingers can't press down firmly on the fret board.  I think my son will finally get his nails cut so he can more easily handle his axe.

TEENAGE ENGINEERING PO-16 MELODY MICRO SYNTHESIZER

This little puppy is cool!  Barely bigger than a credit card and a couple of sizes thicker, this micro synthesizer is a brilliant musical idea generator.  The melody micro synthesizer is one module in Teenage Engineering's new line of sub $100.00, easily transportable music making devices.  There are also bass synth and rhythm generating modules.  Interesting cardboard packaging for the PO-16 which has a removable strip (like a box of granola bars!) that comes off to reveal some basic instructions printed on the insides of the packaging that reflect the simplicity and intuitive nature of using this device.  Plenty of cool sounds and effects to choose from and a pattern recorder that will allow you to quickly generate and play back ideas.  On board speaker and headphone jack included.  I'm taking it with me on vacation!

Speaker Chainsaw Massacre

An unsuspecting speaker tower is cut in half.  A Polk product demonstration. Yay!

RAQUEL WELCH - SPACE GIRL DANCE

From the wild 1970's, a video of a young Raquel Welch cavorting to an odd soundtrack.  This video holds obvious charms. The music?  A bit futuristic and yet dated.  Brilliant!  Beyonce would be proud! (of the dancing).

STRANGE HARMONICAS - BUILT TO BE HEARD!

Here are a few unusual harmonica designs.  Sound projecting cones are attached to the harmonicas to help amplify the sound.  Nice and loud!

Check out this demonstration of the trumpet call harmonica in action:

http://youtu.be/ZNCYxSlihWQ

DIY CONCERT RECORDING CAMERA SETUP USING GOPRO AND 6D

Well, here was an interesting camera setup.  I was trying to record a concert and get it done with one camera operator (me) with more than one camera. Two camera viewpoints equals visual variety!  I attached a GoPro to the hot shoe of my Canon 6D DSLR.  The GoPro covered the wide angle view of the scene in front of me and the 6D handled the medium close up shot.  I, of course, shot this lovely contraption with the camera on my cell phone.  Technology is indeed a wonderful thing.

YOUROCK MIDI CONTROLLER GUITAR

Here is a Yourock guitar acting as a midi controller for the Akai Miniak synthesizer.  The note tracking is very accurate and the ability to play polyphonic chords is awesome!  The Yourock guitar can be had for $250.00 on Amazon.  Controlling midi equipped devices is the Yourock's strength.  It also has its own built in instrument sounds but they are limited and rudimentary.  I do like the 12 string guitar simulation though!  A very cool product.

LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM IN CONCERT 2014

Lindsey Buckingham in action during Fleetwood Mac's recent tour stop in San Jose, California in 2014.  Interesting selection of guitars!