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New Release: Elsewhere

Jeffrey Melton — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:49:33 +0000

Buy my new album: $5 for 1.2 hours of abstract, ambient, chilled-out, laid-back, space lounge greatness:

Elsewhere (1:16:39 total time) — available for purchase on Bandcamp.

Immediate download of 6-track album in your choice of 320k mp3, FLAC, or just about any other format you could possibly desire.

Status update

Jeffrey Melton — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:53:37 +0000

I’ve been working more with polyrhythms and patterns of different length multiples, e.g. a bass pattern that’s nine beats long, a synth line five beats long and a drum beat three beats long. This leads to some interesting tensions and recombinations, which can be heard on recent tracks such as Theoretician v.01, Dark Lord v.01 and Papa Ghede v.02. This is a different direction from the hypnotic repetition and lush spaces of Elsewhere, and I’m interested in hearing where these sketches lead.

Papa Ghede v.02

Jeffrey Melton — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:37:34 +0000

I’m releasing Papa Ghede v.02 (9:36 min, 18.2 MB MP3), a recent generative composition as a free bonus track in anticipation of my upcoming album release. In terms of style and tone, this one has a lot in common with my recent single Antipode v.02.

Dark Lord v.01

Jeffrey Melton — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:30:37 +0000

I’m releasing Dark Lord v.01 (8:42 min, 16.5 MB MP3), a recent generative composition as a free bonus track in anticipation of my upcoming album release.

Theoretician v.01

Jeffrey Melton — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:48:37 +0000

I’m releasing Theoretician v.01 (13:36 min, 22.3 MB MP3), a recent generative composition made using Nodal and Ableton Suite with Max for Live, as a free bonus track in anticipation of my upcoming album release.

New album preview

Jeffrey Melton — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:48:51 +0000

I have posted a full preview of the new nofi album, Elsewhere, which will be released on March 4, 2010. It is a return to a more abstract, ambient, chilled-out, laid-back, space lounge sound and features six extended pieces—most of which have been posted as works-in-progress here. Check it out; more details to come.

UPDATE: SoundCloud has been kind of flaky in the past few days, so a full preview of Elsewhere is also available on Last.fm.

artimageobject

Jeffrey Melton — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:33:41 +0000

I have started a repository for clippings that I find interesting, inspiring or whatever. Check it out. Related posts:Sizenuss: A New Hope Built with Processing image set on Flickr Google Reader: Shared items Related posts:

New single released: Antipode v.02

Jeffrey Melton — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:29:12 +0000

New single released: Antipode v.02 (16:38)

Thick, deep bass (x2!), crisp rhythms and swirling, saturated space. A new and improved version of Antipode v.01 (free download). Check it out.

Thoughts on mobile musicmaking

Jeffrey Melton — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:25:35 +0000

Since posting my first impressions of the Apple iPad, I’ve been thinking a lot about its possibilities. Given the din of naysayers and doubters (which does seem like Future Shock), I wanted to post some thoughts on mobile musicmaking:

T his DIY interface (YouTube) is impressive, but it just seems like buttons and sliders replicated on a touchscreen. I’d like to see such devices make use of true multi-touch gestures, such as pinch/expand, twist/rotate, 2/3/4-finger swipes and so on to control sound. Instead of yet another controller app (e.g. a bigger version of TouchOSC or an affordable Lemur-clone), I’ve been wanting to use musicmaking apps optimized for the mobile experience—perhaps a basic version of Live (incl. Impulse, Simpler and Analog instruments with a handful of essential midi and audio effects) or Propellerheads Rebirth for writing tracks. Something that could work as a standalone audio sketch pad, with the ability to transfer projects to the desktop version for further work. I started putting together a mock-up using screen grabs from Live before coming to a realization:

Rather than merely porting existing software to mobile versions, it’s important to examine the mental models that dominate the desktop. Most of the more popular audio suites are based on the recording studio-in-a box model, where the signals (midi info, audio from guitar, voice, synth, drums, whatever) are fed through a virtual mixing desk, using inline and outboard effects and processors, to be recorded in loops or longer segments before being placed in an arrangement to mix-down and master. Apple’s Logic Studio, Propellerhead’s Reason, Steinberg’s Cubase Studio and others are variations on this mental model.

Ableton Suite is my weapon-of-choice because of its flexible, on-the-fly, semi-modular approach that can be adapted to varying needs: looseness vs. precision, improvisation vs. control, performance vs. planning. Plugins and updates bring new instruments and effects, and endless routing and importing options make Live an audio ourobouros. Max for Live builds on this, with new resources for generating, shaping and routing signals, but Live’s clips>tracks>session>arrangement>mixdown>master>render model is still a largely traditional structure (albeit for me the best-of-all-possible-worlds for composing, performing and recording). Max is another side of this spectrum, where building blocks can be created, changed and arranged as needed in a virtual instrument/studio.

Most of the mobile musicmaking apps I’ve used so far (BeatMaker, 8Bitone, technoBox) shrink this virtual studio to the smaller screen of the iPhone and iPod Touch. They use virtual buttons and sliders for controls, sometimes spanning multiple screens. Several apps, though, show promise for emerging mental models, including SynthPond and Brian Eno’s Bloom and Trope. SynthPond’s affecters, reactors and orbits lend themselves to non-linear, interactive compositions. I imagine it would be a lot of fun to use on the iPad’s larger screen, esp. with new objects for generating, reacting, processing and moving sounds. Eno’s dynamic, generative pieces work well as apps, because they change and evolve rather than remain fixed to a certain textural arrangement on CD or MP3. These apps are systems for composing and generating music/sounds/spaces/moods and point the way for the possibilities of the iPad and beyond. Artists/composers/developers/companies/organizations that rethink the mental models with which we create and experience music will lead the way on these new and future devices.

First impressions: Apple iPad

Jeffrey Melton — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:37:14 +0000

My first impression of the Apple iPad is: I like it. It’s pretty much what I imagined might be announced, and it would work nicely around our home for its intended purposes: browsing the web, checking emails, reading news and weather, viewing photos, videos and movies. I can even see myself reading some PDFs and eBooks with it that I just can’t get into on my iPod Touch and MacBook Pro.

The reimagined iWork gives a hint of how apps can be optimized for both mobility and multitouch. It would be great to see Boxee develop something for streaming content, from both online channels and via UPnP devices. I’m sure our son would love watching YouTube on it as well.

Initially, I thought the 3G-capable models would appeal only to those who work and travel, but then it occurred to me maybe I wouldn’t need to shell out the big bucks for FiOS at home if we had such a wireless connection, esp. since it’s unlocked and pay-as-you-go. Just a thought.

What I’m most excited about, though, is using an iPad to make music: I can already imagine running iPad-enhanced versions of BeatMaker, 8Bitone, synthPond, technoBox and especially TouchOSC as a multitouch controller. And, dare we dream of a mobile Ableton Live? With the iPad’s larger surface and faster processor, a lite version with virtual instruments Impulse, Simpler, Analog, Tension and a handful of basic effects would make a great audio sketch pad.

‘Tis Tuesday

Jeffrey Melton — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:09:41 +0000

Reading lots of Ballard; mixing down some tracks for commercial release; needing a news/social media fast; otherwise rudderless. Related posts:Here’s Summer! Beep 2010: A New Hope Related posts:

Digital collage, untitled.

Jeffrey Melton — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:41:16 +0000

Being (less) Digital

Bonus podcast mix: Max for Live/Monome experiments

Jeffrey Melton — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 19:38:33 +0000

I’ve been exploring Max for Live and my new monome grayscale 64 using Stretta’s MFL Monome Suite and thought I would share some of the results. Max For Live/Monome experiments (31:00min, 51 MB MP3) is an aimless mix of four different pieces I’ve been working on:

Slim demo, slightly eerie and broken
Silver Keys demo, distorted and glitchy
Monome jam session, starts overly busy but finds its groove halfway through before finding maximum chill
Spectral Drone demo, a cinematic space drone

2010: A New Hope

Jeffrey Melton — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:22:34 +0000

A new year brings a bounty of hope—for new attitudes, new projects, new directions. In the past year, my intentions were to play more live shows and focus on finishing select tracks to my satisfaction. Mission accomplished.

Rather than make predictions or resolutions, here are some of the things on my plate and/or on the horizon for the year ahead (not all related to this site, FWIW): taking delivery of a blinky, new monome grayscale 64; composing generative pieces using Nodal, Ableton Suite 8 and Max for Live; finishing up a new EP for commercial release; posting more free podcast mixes; turning my generative sketches into fully interactive works; selling original prints and artwork; reading J.G. Ballard’s complete works and making a dent in my reading list; devoting more time to my Geometry Studio, Sympathy for the Robots and The Silent Stars projects; developing some ideas into a viable, sustainable business; brewing some homemade beer; eating fresh, local cuisine; staying more plugged in and chilled out. Opa!

Winter podcast mix: In a Liminal Place

Jeffrey Melton — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 22:10:28 +0000

At long last, a brand new seasonal mix—this time in honor of the approaching winter. In a Liminal Place (50:08min, 70.5 MB MP3) features recent ambient and minimal electronic tracks, including several alternate versions and a previously unreleased track:

Tracing Home v.02 (alternate version)
Further v.01
Tracers v.01
Horizontal v.01 (unreleased track)
Meditation v.01 (early version)
Intention v.01
Sunday Evening v.01 (early version)

Tracers v.01

Jeffrey Melton — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:56:41 +0000

Tracers v.01 (9:44min, 13.5 MB MP3) is a recent downtempo/chill-out track, posted for your consideration.

Intention v.01

Jeffrey Melton — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:51:58 +0000

Intention v.01 (10:24min, 14.6 MB MP3) is a recent generative track that utilizes multiple methods of spontaneous variation. It also marks my first post after moving to a new web host, which went fairly smoothly, IMHO.

Meditation v.02

Jeffrey Melton — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:44:13 +0000

Meditation v.02 (32:22min, 51.2 MB MP3) is another generative track that utilizes multiple methods of spontaneous variation.

Dub Flow v.01

Jeffrey Melton — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:23:06 +0000

A lazy, minimal electronic lounge track, Dub Flow v.01 (8:02min, 9.2 MB MP3), for your consideration.

Sunday, Later v.08

Jeffrey Melton — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:31:05 +0000

An homage to the ambient work of Brian Eno, Sunday, Later v.08 (29:31min, 33.78 MB MP3) is a generative track that utilizes longer, different-length loops and other methods of spontaneous variation.

Recent music roundup

Jeffrey Melton — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:24:55 +0000

Since the release of the Departure Lounge EP, I’ve been active with a number of live performances with familiar tracks and the occasional new sketch. Earlier this year, I made a conscious decision to be more deliberate in composing new material. This has meant: Spending more time to develop tracks and take them further into the realm of interesting-ness; diving deeper into the features of Live, Reaktor and various plugin effects and virtual instruments; and paying more attention to mastering the final mix. In addition, I wanted to be more transparent in the creative process by posting previews of works-in-progress. Below is a roundup of tracks posted since August, 2009:

In total, that’s 10 tracks / 1hr:10min / 110.4 MB of material (stream or download each track individually, or download them all in one zip archive). These tracks venture into the abstract, ambient, glitch, IDM and minimal techno realm. In the coming months, I expect to develop some of these into a proper follow-up EP. Stay tuned,

Further v.01

Jeffrey Melton — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:43:58 +0000

I have uploaded the first draft of a recent track, Further (v.01) (9:36min, 14.6 Mb MP3) for a peek at a work-in-progress.