Let's start with new releases, shall we? Miss Murgatroid's latest CD,"Myoclyonic Melodies," on which I worked has been released on WIN Records. This disc also features the musical expertise of Patrick Barber (Blowhole) and John Fahey (John Fahey). Aside from the glory that is Miss Murgatroid's music (and this release is certainly no exception), I have to say that this latest CD has the most beautiful cover I have ever seen - the red see-through CD jewel case, the silver-filled engraving on the front, and a pull out card which opens like a bureau. It is worth paying the small price just to hold it in your hands! What's that you say? Of COURSE I have a few copies available through mail order...

September proved to be another month of advancements. I mentioned before the studio purchase of the TripleDAT digital editing system by Cremeware - it is truly an amazing system! Eyvind Kang and I are presently designing an experiment to discover the as-yet-elusive limits of the multitracking functions. It is claimed that this little piece of techno-wonder can achieve 256 tracks! Ever heard of "101 Strings"? Well, Eyvind and I will attempt 256 strings! Take THAT! Technical Support at Cremeware told me that I would probably only be able to achieve 144 tracks, but we will see... and you will, too. This experimental track may appear on the next Tzadik release by Kang, which we will start recording in November. Prepare for a sonic boom.

Among other projects that have been completed on the TripleDAT system are the Sun City Girls' live CD for Japan Overseas, tentatively titled "Land of the Rising Sun City Girls." This CD features various live recordings from the Girls' tour of Japan in April of 1996. Sorry, there are no Budokan tracks on this CD. Dry your eyes.

And let us not forget the CD reissue of Derek Bailey/Min Tanaka's "Music and Dance." This recording was completed in France in 1980, and was previously only available in cassette form and limited to 200 copies (!). The recording has a very live feel to it, and makes an interesting headphone listen. Witness the downpour in the middle of the performance which completely drowns out Bailey's guitar playing. Witness the bumps and scraping sounds of Tanaka's Butoh dance, reminiscent of Marcel Marceau's live recordings. Lose your sense of reality as Derek's solo guitar playing paints images in your mind - you can actually SEE Min's dance. C'est Magnifique!

Within the last couple of weeks the Climax Golden Twins have been editing a heavy sludge/grind rock demo for possible release, and a re-edit of the Roadcone 7" single is also in progress. Yeah, Yeah... The Imperial Household Orchestra is on hold due to some printing problem. Look for it in November.

I am proud to announce that Amy Denio is a new addition to the House of Gravelvoice. We have been sequencing a "Salvatore" compilation, on which six different Denio bands perform their versions of the song "Salvatore". This mini CD is for the Italian label More Music. We are also working on Denio's "Spoot History" for the same label, which will be a "Denio's greatest hits" CD with cuts by Tone Dogs, Curlew, Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet, FoMoFlo, Pale Nudes, and solo recordings.

Speaking of Denio, I will be documenting her folk opera "Non Lo So Polo," which is about Marco Polo. This will take place October 17-19th at the Nippon Kan Theater in Seattle.

And last, but certainly not least, is the continuing work on the Charles Gocher, Jr. side project "Pint Sized Spartacus." Basic tracks have been completed, and the finishing touches are being recorded for this CD, which is a tale about enforced slavery. "Pint Sized Spartacus" is about Roman antiquity; we're talking born-again Caesar, here; we're talking "Pint Sized Spartacus" riding along the Apian Way, his head popping out of a Coke bottle. It's a soundtrack to a film which is a film about a soundtrack without a picture (get it?). We plan to bring this freak show to San Francisco and points in between at some time in the (near?) future to give those SFer's their Sun City Girls fix.

Until November...