Doctor Phonic's Stereo Tonic

Homemade Analogue Sequencer

2012-01-28T02:08:00.001Z

This is a test circuit of an analogue sequencer I am building. It is controlling a Doepfer Dark Energy analogue synthesiser. This is work in progress and the sequencer will eventually be housed in a case of an old Sinclair ZX81 computer.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Buddha Machine 2

2012-01-13T16:26:00.001Z

A quick video I made of a Buddha Machine 2 running through some analog synth modules. The Doepfer Dark Energy and Moogerfoogers

Dub music on the iPod Touch

2011-11-09T16:30:00.001Z

This track was made using an iPod Touch 4g with built in mic and the following apps; NanoStudio, FunkBox, Reactable, NanoLoop and Everyday Looper. Track was also uploaded direct from iPod so no post production has been done.

iDub - track made with iPod. by tonytooke

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T16:42:00.001Z

Happy Halloween! Here's a creepy track I recorded a few years ago.
Electric Mystical Soul Vibration - theatre of odd by tonytooke

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Doepfer Dark Energy

2011-06-28T18:56:00.001Z

Just a quick video of the Doepfer analogue modular synth Dark Energy. I am running it through a Moog Ring Modulator and Boss Space Echo. It is self oscillating and creating 1950s sci-fi type sounds.
Sorry about the poor sound quality, it was recorded using an iPod touch with built in microphone.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Ladybird

2011-04-24T12:53:00.001Z

I recently bought a digital SLR and took this photo near Gosforth Golf course. The camera is the Nikon D3100. I'm very impressed by the quality of images this camera produces, especially in low light situations.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Moogerfooger for £4.99, yes please.

2011-04-05T07:34:00.001Z

The wonderful people at Moog Music have released a very nice app called Filtatron.
It emulates the Moogerfooger lowpass and hi pass filters and delay.
It's great for mashing up you sounds and samples can be exported via wifi.
I have to say it sounds amazing and well worth a fiver.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Oops! I accidentally erased Yoko Ono!

2011-04-01T07:18:00.003Z

I accidentally deleted my animation off youtube, I luckily still had the master copy and have uploaded it again.

It is the animation I created for a remix I recorded for the Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band track called 'The Sun Is Down!' in 2010, it took 2 weeks to complete and was created using Bryce and Xara Xtreme.

Sinclair ZX Spectrum 8bit Art

2011-03-31T11:38:00.001Z

There's a fun little app that converts photos into 8 bit ZX Spectrum graphics.
It's called ZXcam and you can even upload your images to a real ZX Spectrum by plugging your iPhone or iPod into the cassette recorder input on the Spectrum.
There really is an app for everything.
Here's a picture of a Casio VL-Tone processed by the app.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Bad Acid

2011-03-31T07:31:00.001Z

This is the cover art I designed for the music magazine Bad Acid.
Sadly the magazine is no more due to excessive costs, but it was nice to be part of it for a while.
I used the 3D software Bryce with Xara Xtreme Pro to create it.

Frog Art.

2011-03-24T12:49:00.001Z

This picture was created from a photo of a frog found in my garden a few years back.
The surrounding doodles are drawn with my finger using the ArtStudio App on a IPod Touch.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Remixes and Collaborations

2011-03-17T07:57:00.001Z

It's been a while but I'm back doing music. I have a few projects on the go and have spent a long time learning new techniques with protools.

If anyone is interested in any remix or collaboration work you can find me at the following addresses.
http://twitter.com/tonytooke

http://en-gb.facebook.com/people/Tony-Tooke/636472246

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

iPod touch 4g iOS update 4.3

2011-03-16T00:06:00.001Z

I would advise anyone updating their iPod touch 4g to wait. The iOS 4.3 update is severely bugged with graphic glitches and software crashes.

Very frustrating and I hope apple find a fix soon.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Binary Sculpture

2011-03-15T17:40:00.001Z

The demise of myspace has prompted me to rethink my music project 'Electric Mystical Soul Vibration'.

I was never happy with the name, it was just an experimental project for one album, but when my myspace page began to get popular I got stuck with it.

I enjoyed the collaborations and got my music published and radio plays but I feel it's time to move on.

I've had an idea bubbling away for a little while now and now I'm involved with more remixing I like the idea of the name 'Binary Sculpture' for future projects.
This could change at any time as I'm one if the most indecisive people on the planet.

Let's see what happens and a big thank you to everyone that has supported me so far.
Peace and one love,
Tony Tooke.

iPod blogging

2011-03-15T16:54:00.001Z

Just testing a blogging app, sorry.

Good, it seems to have worked. That makes life a lot easier.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Pepper's Ghost

2010-11-05T23:05:00.001Z

This is an experimental progressive track of two parts. Sequenced on a Akai MPC 500 using a Roland M-VS1 Vintage Synth module, MicroKorg, E-MU Shortboard Synth, EHX 2880 looper, EHX Voice Box and Fender Stratocaster.
Pepper's Ghost by tonytooke

Sadness of a Clown

2010-09-04T21:09:00.004Z

electric mystical soul vibration - Sadness of a Clown (finalmix) by tonytooke

This is just a quick demo using my new 16 track, I'm still getting to grips with it and wanted to try a test track and here it is. Bass drum is a freezer being shut and the shaker is a Pringles tube.
Peace and one love,
Tony

Wolf In A Spacesuit - Bark Of A Cedar Remix

2010-02-17T12:11:00.004Z

Here is a free download of my Remix of Wolf In A Spacesuit's track 'Bark Of A Cedar'. I decided to speed up the track and added electric guitar and bass. The drums I used were sampled from a 1940's vintage drum kit and the two guitar solos were improvisations while jamming along to the track. It was mixed and mastered using Pro Tools. It also features a Gakken SX-150 synth that was a free kit on a Japanese electronic music magazine.
To here the original track visit http://www.myspace.com/wolfinaspacesuit

Wolf In A Spacesuit - Bark Of A Cedar (Electric Mystical MIX) by tonytooke

Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band - The Sun Is Down! (Secret Garden Mix) Remix and Animation By Tony Tooke

2009-12-15T04:25:00.008Z

I recently entered a remix competition for the Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band. The Track is 'The Sun Is Down!' from the album 'Between My Head and the Sky'. I decided to do an 3d animation for the track using Bryce 6.1, Xara Xtreme and Edit Studio 4. The animation took 2 weeks to complete.
Hope you enjoy it.

Limited Edition Album Release

2007-06-12T23:57:00.000Z

LIMITED EDITION ALBUM RELEASE
on Royal Rhino Flying Records
click for details

Record Release

2007-05-25T10:04:00.001Z

It's all been a bit crazy at the moment. I have been recording a lot of music and working with Dwight Pavlovic who is writing lyrics for me. He runs a record company in America called Royal Rhino Flying Records and my 'Soundscape of a modern myth' album recorded back in 2004 is being released soon to raise funds to press demos to try and gain a bigger deal.

Also have a 7" vinyl e.p. coming out in the UK on Coercion Records hopefully in June.

All music is done under the band name Electric Mystical Soul Vibration or EMSV for short.
Thanks to everyone who has supported me.
Peace and Love,
Tony

a darker side of you MP3

2007-03-20T05:21:00.000Z

I have composed another strange track called 'a darker side of you'. I used violin, detuned cello, didgeridoo and live tabla drums. I am having trouble with blogger music so to listen click here for my myspace music page the track should play automatically. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Below is the device I invented to extract music directly from the brain.

Below is another invention. It's a drum machine that converts the natural resonance of organic matter (like mushrooms in this case) into funky beats.

Sorry My Pics seem to have disappeared

2007-02-20T22:01:00.000Z

Sorry my page looks really bad now all the images gone, hopefully be sorted soon. I am busy recording music for an A&R demo request. I be back blogging soon. Thanks for your patience and support,
Peace and one love,
Tony

Mystic Garden (2007) MP3

2007-01-30T00:33:00.000Z

I have finished my first new album track, it's called 'Mystic Garden' (found in media player list). For a change it is acoustic. I use only acoustic guitar, violin bass, drums and all sorts of household objects. I even used a Zippo lighter opening and closing as a rhythm track. You may also hear a 'Jews Harp' playing in the background. The end solo is an over-driven acoustic playing in reverse. Other sounds I used are water splashes, wine bottles and money shaking. This is a different approach to my usual techniques of production as I wanted to keep a human organic feel and use effects to enhance.

If you have trouble playing the track in media player then click here for flash player

Mojo Tonic (2007) MP3

2007-01-23T11:48:00.000Z

New track added to media player, it's called 'Mojo Tonic'. It's just a jam really using a Fuzzface distortion with Octavia and Univibe.

I have started finally on a track for my new album. It is mostly acoustic for a change and the beats and rhythm sounds are all objects found around the house (pan lids, bottles and boxes...) sampled into a Yamaha SU-10. I'm using a different approach and avoiding using a sequencer and playing all electronics live to try and keep a human feel to the timing of the music. Often computers and sequencers are too perfect at timing and can sound unreal and nonhuman.

I'll keep you posted on further developments.

If media player isn't working then click here for flash player

Thanks Radio Dupree

2007-01-14T06:27:00.000Z

Just a big thank you to Radio Dupree who added my Arnold Layne cover to their playlist. It was great to hear it played amongst some of my favourite artists.

Radio Dupree is an Internet radio station located in Sweden that plays prog/art rock, psychedelic and classic rock. Here is the link to their website: http://www.pergunnareriksson.se/dupree.htm

My side project 'The Tonic' is currently 7th in the competition. Thank you to everyone that has voted, I am so pleased to get this far.

If you haven't voted please please click the link below;
Please Please vote for 'The Tonic'
Just Click Below

http://www.davidgilmour.com/arnoldlayne/

Competition 'Please Vote'

2007-01-04T05:31:00.000Z

I have entered a competition, please find time to listen to the track and vote for me.

Arnold Layne

2007-01-03T18:16:00.000Z

Hello,

Happy New Year, hope 2007 brings you closer to your dreams.

I have been busy recording a track for a competition set up by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd.
He has recently recorded a version of Arnold Layne by the late Syd Barrett with David Bowie.

The competition is to record a cover version of this track and you can win a recording session at Abbey Road studios.

I don't expect to do well but it is great to have permission to record a Syd Barrett track. I have finished the backing and I am now working on the vocals.

I will post the track hopefully in the next couple of days.

Peace.
Tony

Music heals the pain and seems to multiply the brain

2006-12-21T14:58:00.000Z

Sorry haven't blogged in a while, it's the Christmas season as most of you will have noticed and I haven't had much chance for anything. The only news is my 2004 experimental project 'Electric Mystical Soul Vibration' has a myspace music profile if you want to check it out.

http://www.myspace.com/electricmysticalsoulvibration

Hope everyone has a happy holiday.

Peace.

Wizards of Articulation

2006-12-11T04:58:00.000Z

I'm well on the way to completing the circuit bent Speak & Spell and will have a demonstration mp3 soon. I'm also working on some ideas for music as Pisces Iscariot has kindly given me permission to use some of his fantastic lyrics. Pisces is one of the best wizards of articulation I've ever read and a superb artist. Check out The Far Queue for poetry, art and word play.

Well It's the festive season again and I have left everything to the last minute as usual. I have so much to do with so little time.

Beck Stole My Harmonica MP3

2006-12-06T19:04:00.000Z

I've added a new track to the media player and flash player. It is a strange tribute to Beck Hansen (he didn't really steal my harmonica luckily). I recorded it onto a Fostex MR8 digital 8 track. I used a circuit bent Yamaha RX21 and circuit bent child's megaphone, I haven't had a chance to mod the Speak & Spell yet. I played a Fender Strat into a Line6 Delay Modeler which meant I could play live guitar backwards using the reverse function (it's a very weird experience). I played live drums and a homemade fretless bass with fuzz effect and I played the slap bass on a violin bass. I also played the didgeridoo and harmonica direct into a microphone without any effects for a change. This is a very bizarre mp3, I just started singing about a stolen harmonica when I came up with the bassline. Maybe it's the Prozac.

Electronic Anarchists

2006-12-02T12:06:00.000Z

Circuit bending is the process of modifying electronic musical toys or old cheap keyboards to make new deconstructed sounds. The way this is done is by shorting out the sound chip in experimental ways to change the way the sound is produced. This can be great fun and you don't need to be electronically minded to do it. I recently bought a Texas Instruments Speak & Spell off eBay. It was sold as not working so it was very cheap. If you have a multimeter it is very easy to trace the problem. Almost always these toys have had the wrong polarity adapter plugged in to them. This tends to blow a transistor and you can normally feel one or two over heating, this often smells. Be careful when feeling them as they get very hot. When they blow they short out the power to the toy and it wont power up at all. You have to replace the transistors to prevent more damage. I got this Speak & Spell working by this process and soon I will circuit bend it to create a new musical instrument. If you search on eBay for circuit bent toys you will find many selling at ridiculous prices. Just get yourself a soldering iron and a cheap multimeter and look on the Internet for instructions on testing components. You can do it yourself you don't need to be an expert.

A few years ago I picked up a cheap Yamaha RX21 drum machine. It's from the early 1980s and sounds very dated, I don't think even Kraftwerk would bother with one. I decided to circuit bend it by adding a potentiometer and a few switches to the sound chip and it sounds fantastic now. It's totally changed the sound and it is very usable now. The photos below show the added switches and pot.

Artists like Beck have used modified Speak & Spells and circuit bent Casio keyboards live on stage. It is a great way to create brand new sounds. I will post some samples of circuit bent sounds soon.

is it worth it?

2006-11-30T02:36:00.000Z

I sometimes feel like giving up, I poured my heart and what little money I've earned into music. I think 'why do I do it?' I ain't earning a living out of it. I've done charity gigs, I have worked in cover bands but this never pays for the time and devotion I seem obsessed with.

But then I think, what little I have achieved meant something to a few people in my life. My Father always told me take a callous look on life, yet when he talked to me about his worries of having cancer I felt his fear. I can't take a callous look on my life as I am still learning and I can't switch off my emotions. My Father always said I have a talent with music and should stick with it, parents can be supportive when you really need it.

It's just hard sometimes when I sit in this little flat just outside of Newcastle, England to feel positive. A year ago I was attacked by a gang of youths, there were 15 arrests but only 4 got properly charged. I was lucky that the CCTV cameras caught the footage. I now live a paranoid existence, I feel out of place and out of time. Why is there no support for people who want to be creative and fight off the demons of the past? I want to entertain and share my passion. I don't ask for much, just the freedom to get through my problems and work on my dreams.

Why do I do what I do? The answer is because it is part of who I am. I love music and music makes me feel good. The day I lose hope is the day that I can't class myself as a human being anymore.

Flash Mp3 Player

2006-11-28T17:03:00.000Z

If using Firefox or the media player is not working please try this flash player below.

Get your own Flash MP3 Player

Insomnia

2006-11-27T15:19:00.000Z

I can't sleep, the moon is my friend and the silence is my discomfort.
Thoughts seem more intense in the bitter quiet of the night.
I need to see the sun again, I need to break the peace.
I want to bang rhythms so the whole world can hear.
Sun so bright with fluctuating light,
Why must I be a child of the night?

Tonefish76

Blue Peter Time: Build Your Own Moog

2006-11-25T10:24:00.000Z

If you find yourself with too much time on your hands then why not try this project. It is a cut out 'Moog Modular' synthesizer. Unfortunately it doesn't actually play but it looks nice.

STEP 1: Click the link below to get your template. The file needs to be unzipped using winzip or winrar. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open the contained file as it is in PDF format.

Click to download Moog template zip

STEP 2: Print out template on to card and cut out.

STEP 3: Fold the templates and glue flaps together. You may need an adult to help you with this (I know I did, it's very tricky).

Hopefully you should now have your very own cardboard Moog and all your friends will be very jealous. It should look like the image above of the one I made earlier in true 'Blue Peter' Fashion.

Alchemists of Sound

2006-11-21T07:36:00.000Z

I just want to take time out to mention a very influential person to my music and my approach to making it. She is Delia Derbyshire who worked for the 'BBC Radiophonic Workshop' in the 1960s. She never really got the credit she deserved for her creative work within the workshop.
In the early 1960s before the invention of the synthesizer and sampler, she created music and sound effects from tiny pieces of magnetic tape. This music was used in television and radio. The workshop created sounds people had never heard before.
By playing sounds back at different speeds she could create different notes and these could be pieced together in long tape loops. Mixing these tape loops played on multiple synchronized tape players, created futuristic sounds that still sound fantastic to this day. An example of her work is the original 'Doctor Who' theme, and she worked on a project called 'White Noise' that created the classic album 'Electric Storm'. Delia passed away on July 3rd 2001 in Northampton, England.
Unfortunately the BBC in their infinite wisdom closed down 'Room 13' which was used by the workshop. Now all that remains is miles and miles of tape loops and an archive of some of the most creative music ever made.

Into The Mind Farm MP3

2006-11-18T05:21:00.000Z

I have added a new track to the mp3 list at top of page, it's the first track in the media player, 'Into the Mind Farm'. It also happens to be the first track on my 'Sea Sponge Music - Soundscape of a Modern Myth' demo I recorded at the height of my depression back in 2004. I never sent this demo anywhere as I thought it was too self indulgent and strange. I may release the whole thing as a download in the future.

'Into the Mind Farm' was the track that started the whole albums concept after a dream about a field of brains cultivated by spiders. I must have consumed too much cheese and wine that night. It sparked off the 'Brain Spider' idea and the cover art below.

I like the piano sound in this track as it sounds like it is under water. I achieved this by running it through a rotary speaker which is usually found on a Hammond organ. This is an idea inspired by the 'Pink Floyd at Pompeii' concert in which Rick Wright did this.

Mp3 Player Update

2006-11-16T07:30:00.000Z

Just a quick message about the mp3 list, I have replaced it with a media player as I will be adding more tracks. I think it is an improvement as I can post more tracks a lot easier without filling the blog page.

Just pick the mp3 track you want from the menu list and click play. Please feel free to leave a comment below if you have any problems playing the songs.

Back soon.
Tonefish

Ode to a Spider

2006-11-15T01:15:00.000Z

Another friendly household spider exploring the strange landscape that is my sitting room. I wonder what he thinks of me as I stand here watching him cautiously. Maybe he's scared of me? I don't feel threatened by him but because he is so alien in shape and form I feel some sort of discomfort. He is only different but so am I to him, I think I will leave him be and get on with my own business.

Tonefish76

Random Curve Art

2006-11-13T06:34:00.000Z

I'm a bit of an insomniac at times and this picture is the product of a long night. I created it on a computer, drawing with the mouse line by line. It takes a while but it's very therapeutic.

Often when I'm sitting with a notepad trying to write a song I end up doodling. The little curves and shapes in the image are an idea that came from a night I decided to try and draw a fractal. I do seem to end up doing very strange things when my brain is tired.

Syd Barrett Poem

2006-11-13T01:40:00.000Z

Hip To Confusion
Dandelion hair, staring at a dream dragon,
Playing a game on the road to stardom,
A vacant look, an open book,
Hip to confusion, misunderstood,
Awoken in a constant dream,
You walked away not to be seen,
Illustrious king in a spiral vision,
Split between the perfect fusion.

by Tonefish76
for Syd Barrett 1946-2006

A Colourful Journey Heading Nowhere

2006-11-09T06:18:00.000Z

The title of my new demo album is to be 'A colourful journey heading nowhere'. I have used this title before when I was 17 years old and did a bizarre demo on a Tascam 4 track recorder. I always thought it was a good title and would use it for a better project in the future. I can be quite indecisive and may change it at any point, but for the moment it will be my working title as I find inspiration comes easier with a title for direction.

I've just noticed the picture to the right looks like I'm turning into Sonic the hedgehog.

Techno-phobia

2006-11-06T08:39:00.000Z

I must be cursed, a few months ago my laptop died and I recently tried to save the data on the hard drive by connecting it to my desktop PC. Thought this was a great idea until my motherboard fried, things just don't seem to last any more. I am now using a PC I built over 7 years ago and 'touch wood' it works fine.

I have compared the printed circuit boards of older and newer computers and the amount of soldering used is pathetic on modern computers: any slight over-heating and capacitors and resistors can fall off and damage other circuits. It's the same for modern televisions, the lack of solder means they last only a couple of years if you're lucky while older 'solid-state' televisions are running fine after 20 years.

I do realise if companies build things to last then they won't make as much money. I would like NASA to build me a computer. Just look at Voyager 1 - it's still beaming back information 30 years down the line after travelling 9 billion miles.

The Lost Track MP3

2006-11-02T13:44:00.000Z

Lost Track (found in mp3 list at top of page)

Just today I found a demo CD that I forgot completely about, it was recorded in October 2001. I do believe it's the first track I recorded after my Father's death. I used the M-Tron Mellotron emulator which gives the 'Beatles' flute sound. It's not a great track but it brings back fond memories, I was just learning about sampling techniques and tape manipulation at the time. Everyone has got to start somewhere.

I Made A Monkey

2006-10-27T01:30:00.000Z

This is an animation of the making of a monkey. He's a birthday present I made, it took a few hours but it was very rewarding to see him come to life.

If you want to own a monkey just like him then click here.

The Stylophone Repair

2006-10-24T15:03:00.000Z

Today I received a broken Stylophone which I bought off ebay.

I bought it cheap knowing it was faulty and I'm happy to say it's now in full working order.

The speaker needed replacing and a lot of soldering was needed to fix a few components with broken connections, but now it plays perfectly.

The Stylophone is a hand held electronic instrument which creates an oscillating square wave with vibrato if needed. It's played using a stylus connected to a wire completing the circuit when pressed on the key pad.

It was invented by Brian Jarvis in 1967 and distributed in the early 1970s by a company called Dubreq. Sir Rolf Harris played and promoted the instrument. David Bowie used it on the original recording of 'Space Oddity' and Kraftwerk used it on the album 'Computer World'.

Now I am the proud owner of one I will record some music to publish on this blog to show you what is possible with this primitive electronic instrument and some effects units.

The Time Has Come

2006-10-22T11:44:00.000Z

Well today is the day I'm going to tidy my studio and then I can finally start jamming new ideas for the album. It's not going to be easy there is so many wires tangled between my mixer and sampler.

I do have a few ideas for songs but I prefer to record improvised riffs on to Minidisc then listen back and see if anything useful came out of it. Having looping effects pedals like the Digitech Jamman and the Line6 Delay Modeler I can quickly layer sounds and riffs on the fly. This is fantastic technology and a few years ago I never dreamt it was possible.

Back soon, hopefully with a demo for you to listen to.
Thanks for your time.

The Secret of Creativity...

2006-10-20T10:06:00.000Z

I did learn to read music but I found sight reading difficult, I found my playing was not as good and preferred to play by ear. This had a good effect as I would interpret songs differently and found I understood the structure better. I could improvise much more creatively as I recalled the song in my head rather than thinking about the actual notes.

After a while I found it easier to remember patterns and could change them and make them my own scales. There is a quote by Albert Einstein: 'The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources'. It is very hard to be totally original and there are so many styles of playing to choose from.

I find it best to listen to a wide range of music and when I find a part that interests me I ask myself 'why does it sound good?'. If I understand what I like about a song I can then incorporate the idea into my own songs. I think it's better to mix styles and have an open mind to music.

My Studio Mess

2006-10-18T22:03:00.000Z

This is how my studio looks at the moment, it's a complete mess. But to me it is organized chaos. You can see above my favourite instruments including my 1970 Fender Strat, 3/4 sitar, violin bass and Microkorg synthesizer. Also my most prized effects including Fuzzface, Univibe and Octavia, these are the effects used by Jimi Hendrix.

Most of my equipment was bought off Ebay or been donated broken equipment I've fixed. I do recommend searching on Ebay because you can pick up amazing bargains. I got a graphic equalizer pedal for an unbelievable 6 pounds.

The Real Spider Dream

2006-10-18T12:29:00.000Z

This is a small loop animation that has the real spider that inspired the caught in a web video. It was found in my sitting room and I caught it and put it in the garden.
That same night I had a dream about it and decided to do the animation for my demo track.

It's strange how inspiration comes from the least expected places.

Here is the link to the video in the archives.
http://doctorphonic.blogspot.com/2006/09/caught-in-web-video.html

The best-laid plans of mice...

2006-10-15T15:57:00.000Z

Just a little animated collage. I always end up doing pointless things when I should be writing music. I'm still looking for inspiration but I really need to tidy my studio.

I think I'll record a sitar piece next. That will certainly relax me a bit.

Catch you soon.

I've noticed today that my host for mp3s is down. Sorry for any inconvenience, I hope they will be up and running soon. I can't afford to pay for a faster host, if any one out there knows of a more reliable way to host files for free please let me know.

Dr. Bob Moog MP3

2006-10-15T07:53:00.000Z

Moog Improvisation (found in mp3 list at top of page)

This track is the Moog instrumental that I produced for a talking newspaper article about the late great Dr. Robert Moog, the synthesizer pioneer who sadly passed away in August 2005.

All the sounds on this track are created on the 'MiniMoog' using no other instruments or samples.

Sea Sponge Music

2006-10-14T20:36:00.000Z

This is the cover I created for my 2004 demo album. Its full name is 'Sea Sponge Music - Soundscape of a Modern Myth' and it was created under the alias 'The Electric Mystical Soul Vibration' which is a bit long.

I never sent this demo to anyone, I gave a few CDs to close friends and that was it. The few tracks I have posted and the animation is the first time I have publicised any of my work except for an instrumental piece I created on Moog synthesizer for a talking newspaper which I will post soon.

The Brain Spider MP3

2006-10-14T19:35:00.000Z

The Brain Spider (found in mp3 list at top of page)
This is the 3rd track on a demo album I recorded in 2004 called 'Soundscape of a Modern Myth'.
It started out as a piano piece and I layered all the sounds on a fostex MR8. It includes some good mellotron sounds and improvised synth.

Coping with Depression

2006-10-13T11:04:00.000Z

I've suffered from depression for a while now. It's frustrating how I have trouble talking and meeting people. Sometimes I find it hard to leave the house, yet I have no trouble playing music on stage. People find this strange but I think it shows the manic side of my illness.

If I think back I was painfully shy as a child, but used to seek attention and I would do this through music and magic tricks. People liked me for what I could do not for my social skills.

I have other ways to communicate and it's great I can do it through music and this blog. I will soon be posting another track. If anyone has trouble playing them let me know either from the comment function below or contact me at tonefish76@yahoo.co.uk

Also if anyone has similar trouble or experiences with depression feel free to contact me at the above email.

Cheers
Tony

Finding A Style

2006-10-11T13:06:00.000Z

Finding a style for the album I'm creating is very difficult to decide on. The previous recordings I've produced tended to be more electronic than acoustic, but some days I will listen to Ozric Tentacles and Tangerine Dream, other days The Grateful Dead and Donovan.

What I would like to do for this album is mix both the styles. I think I would like to be more acoustic with the songs and use guitar or piano to create the foundations. But I do like effects, and now with the looping capabilities and midi guitar I should be able to create many sounds live rather than rely on overdubs and sampling.

One thing's for sure, there are no rules.

Stereo Fish & The Mantra Ray MP3

2006-10-09T16:58:00.000Z

Stereo Fish & The Mantra Ray (found in mp3 list at top of page)
This is the 7th track on a demo album I recorded in 2004 called 'Soundscape of a Modern Myth'.
This was recorded before I learned the sitar, the sitar sound was created using the 'Danelectro Sitar Swami' effects pedal for guitar.

Music Changed My Life

2006-10-03T12:35:00.000Z

I'm a self-taught musician who started quite young. I used to listen to records a lot and found it very easy to copy the tunes on my old Bontempi organ. I listened to Johnny Cash, The Monkees and The Beatles. My early memories of pop music include New Order, Blondie and Madness.

Around the mid 80's I discovered Electro and Hip Hop/Rap music. I loved the synth riffs and effects and heavy drums and bass. I got a keyboard upgrade to a Casio and DD-10 Yamaha drum machine. I also discovered on my parents' record player I could pause a tape while recording a drum part, then wind the record back and repeat the process. After a tremendous amount of patience I could achieve backing tracks to play over.

I remember watching 'Top of the Pops' and 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' reruns. My musical tastes seemed to mature a bit; I loved Bob Marley and the Wailers and also Jimi Hendrix. The 70's rock bands like Led Zeppelin and Free led me to Prog and Space rock e.g. Hawkwind. Bands like The Doors, Daevid Allen's GONG, Can and Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd became very influential. They also led me to Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground, Captain Beefheart and the one and only Frank Zappa.

That was it - I had to make music. Finally I got an old electric bass for 10 pounds and started learning reggae basslines and funk. I found it very easy and natural to play and learn. Luckily I was given a broken electric guitar which I fixed up and I bought a second hand Schaller Wha Wha pedal. I never looked back.

Using two tape decks I found a way to over-dub my riffs like a multi-track. I started many a band and loved playing Hendrix and Zappa-style improvisations. That kept me occupied till the early 90's, which is when I got an Amiga 600 computer. I got 'Octamed' free on a magazine (which is a sample based sequencer) and I couldn't believe how creative you could be with it. I quickly bought a midi port and 8bit sampler for the Amiga. This changed my perspective of music completely: now I could do professional sounding songs in my bedroom. Joy!

I now play guitar, bass, mandolin, synth, violin, clarinet, drums and sitar. I have a load of effects, some homemade and others are repairs. I can spend hours experimenting. Now my musical inspirations are varied artists like Beck, Kraftwerk and Air and also Herbie Hancock, Sun Ra and the Funkadelic. I love to mix styles and try new things. Music is like a canvas for me to paint my feelings, it's such a powerful medium.

Cheers for taking time out to check this blog, feel free to leave comments.

Tony

A Load of Old Doodles...

2006-09-28T05:55:00.000Z

I decided to do this blog as a focus point for my ideas, then I thought it would be a good idea to have a sort of a on going 'blog-umentary' about the highs and lows of making an album. Well all I've succeeded in doing is a load of doodles and small animations (which you can see dotted about the blog). I find drawing very therapeutic, and often flicking through these old sketch books I find new ideas, images and words.

I am working on the best way to host mp3s on this blog so I can give everyone access to the songs I am creating.

See you soon

Tone

any questions email me at tonefish76@yahoo.co.uk

Looping Improvisation Video

2006-09-26T20:00:00.002Z

While looking for inspiration I came across an old video, It's an improvisation using a live looper pedal (Line6 Delay Modeler)I recorded back in January 2003. I connected a microphone and mixer to it and what ever riff I played could be looped and over layered on the fly, similar to effects used by Robert Fripp.

Adobe Flash Player needed to view this.

Death and Inspiration

2006-09-24T04:21:00.000Z

It is strange how when you are at your lowest you somehow find creative inspiration.
After the death of my Father who was taken very suddenly by cancer I found myself lost.
Nothing can prepare you for such a devastating loss of a loved one.

In the times that followed I found when I felt really down, words, images and music came to me easier than before.

Why is this? Does desperation lead to inspiration like some kind of inbuilt anti depressant?

The mind holds more than we understand.

Well, there's nothing stranger than folk. Don't mean to bring anybody down, but I'm using this blog as an outlet for my thoughts. I have decided to work on a new album and it will be documented here. I will keep people posted on the ups and downs of trying to express myself in music with no funds or backing, just a love and understanding of the power of sound. It's a tough task but I have no choice, I just got to do it. Compulsion will lead to evolution, and I really need to move forward.

Thanks for taking an interest.

Screenshot of Caught in a Web

2006-09-23T17:27:00.000Z

Due to the quality of Vlog compression
I've included this screenshot of a full render.
I am working on better quality Vlog uploads.

If you click the image you will see it in its full resolution.

Caught in a Web Video

2006-09-23T05:08:00.000Z

This animation was created in 2005 inspired by a strange dream I had about technology becoming conscious.

The music was from a demo album I recorded in 2004.

Adobe Flash Player needed to view this.

Doctor Phonic's Stereo Tonic

2006-09-19T23:56:00.000Z

Hi,

I'm a Newcastle based artist/musician. Soon on the site I will be displaying my own original work, this includes music and animation.

Any queries contact me at tonefish76@yahoo.co.uk

Cheers