Yo ~

Cut of the Month is GUERREROS DEL AMOR. They play cumbia from Mexico. I
was pleased to record this wonderful track while simultaneously crossing
"Latin music" off my list of genres I've not yet personally explored. This
is also the first session I've done through an interpreter, which added an
extra spicy twist to the creative process. What a great group of people,
and what a fantastically rich sound they have going! Listen and let me
know what you think, por favor.

VARICOCELE began work on a full length album for Sub Pop this month. This
group includes Billy Dolan from 5IVE STYLE and William Goldsmith from SUNNY
DAY REAL ESTATE - can you imagine the results? What we've got here is a
cross section of mid-80's SST punk and a few other closely related
off-shoots; a true Die Kreuzen/Gone/Rolling Stones/Who/Cheap Trick/AC-DC
blend, and it's yuuummy! This is also the first group I've recorded which
has yielded complaints from my neighbors. Right on! Mucho loudo, comprehende?

DAVID RUSSELL was in in the studio for most of the month with his eclectic
mix of carnival/theaterical/Tom Waits-ish material peppered with 60's
bubble gum, Costello romps and George Harrison nods. Such a bizarre mix of
sounds and skools, I just love his work!

The ICES transfer project has finally been completed,
thankyoueversomuch. You will recall that this project was a quadraphonic
recording of a 16 day experimental music festival held in London in 1972,
so it's interesting as hell. This month we transferred concerts by Exit,
Steam, Yansh'ta, CIM, Bedford and Coxhill, Group Germ, Teletopa, Tim
Cresswell's Sound System, London Philharmonic Choir, Sound Light Space,
Music Plus, Anarchic Chamber Music, Lady June, Biome, David Rosenboom,
Michel Breulor, Flykingen, Anne O'Dell, Arma Arma, Portsmouth Sinfonia, and
Roy Hart (*whew!*). It's a beautiful world, ladies and gentlemen...

DEGENERATE ART ENSEMBLE got together to mix their new material designed to
be played loud in a rock club setting. We know not what this is to be
called, but for now I refer to it as Look Away, Popeye.

CLIMAX GOLDEN TWINS trucked it down to Portland for a gig at The Blackbird
in the Hollywood District, but no one was there (save our entourage of
two). Smegma must have been playing somewhere nearby (?). Happily, a few
days later EMP's JBL Theater was packed to the damn rafters for the CGT/Lee
Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) improv accompanied by Leah Singer's projections. All
parties were pleased with how polished the set was, especially considering
the fab four had never before played together. My wife is still talking
about it (but mostly only in her sleep now).

I was honored and - oh my! - pleased as rum punch to mix CLINIC for a KEXP
broadcast during their visit to Seattle late last month! This band is so
damn great I'D sleep with them! If you haven't yet heard them, where the
hell have you been hiding? You absolutely, positively must go out right
now and experience their work! And can I say I'm happy as hell that
they're also truly nice guys! My wife is still talking about them (but
mostly only in her sleep now).

WATER KILL THE SUN came in for a 4 song demo of material that reminds me of
a rock Eno or early Bowie with a bit of Lenny Kravitz for good
measure. Watch for it.

Work began on transfers and editing for a forthcoming release from Revenant
of Ornette Coleman material. I'm staring at 34 hours of live material, so
I'm sure I'll be talking with you about it for some time to come.

Been testing some new software that's kickin' ass - more on that later.

Check out www.mp3.com/of electric death

Cha cha cha, mes amies!