I write to you from 30,000 feet (on a plane, of course) heading East on a mission to visit my lovely parents... and retrieve all of my worldly possessions. This is exciting because it means that my entire record collection will be in one place - for the first time in 13 years! What's even better, music aficionados, is that I will soon begin selling off pieces of said collection (tease tease). Many of you already know what treasures lurk on these hallowed shelves... stay tuned.

WARNING WARNING WARNING- There is only a month and a half left to participate in the Internet CD recording Project with the Climax Golden Twins. If you are not already aware of this, it is a web site at http://www.sonarchy.org/studio/gravel which has sound samples available for download. You are encouraged to manipulate them and send them back.

Appropriately, Halloween night saw the final mixing of a new Avant CD called _Dying Ground_ featuring Eyvind Kang on violin, organ and horn, Calvin Weston on drums and organ, and Kato Hideki on bass and, um... "noises." This release will destroy your FACE! I still have scars where my naturopath had to sew my skin back on to my skull (NOT a pretty sight)! If you were lucky enough to be in New York when the music of Dying Ground was played at the Knitting Factory, you probably suffered some drain bamage. This release is much more monstrous than High Rise and even more out there than Chrome, although it contains the same amount of effects. It's trippier than Spacemen 3 with the heaviness of Black Sabbath (nay St. Vitus). Listen and learn - and have a burn kit on hand.

I documented Amy Denio's folk opera "Non Lo So Polo" earlier in the month, which was a 45 minute extravaganza of music, song and, yes, some dance. The beauty of Denio's compositions shone through with an exquisite blend of Patrick Barber, Elizabeth Lawrence, Tommy Eckert and Denio, herself, supporting each other in dreamy vocal stylings. The Seattle Young Composers Collective performed the music beautifully. Plans are now in place to record the opera properly (not Ted Coppely) when Amy returns from her Italian tour.
At long last, the new Climax Golden Twins Imperial Household Orchestra CD is finally out and available. This epic masterpiece of sculptured sound is the result of six months of intensive manipulations, tracking, and serious editing. It is being released on Scratch Records of Vancouver, BC. Look for it in your local store or order it direct from the Gravelvoice Catalog page.

The Climax Golden Twins have also finished a master for a single on Portland's Roadcone label. Expect more deluxe packaging with a white vinyl single (oooooo, pretty!).

The TripleDAT digital Editing System was put to good use in the mixing and restoration of a 78 rpm by Rockabilly legend Charlie Feathers. The newly mixed song was recorded in 1969 and features Feathers and Junior Kimbrough. This 78 will be available in time for christmas
The TripleDAT system was also used for the restoration of the Derek Bailey and Min Tanaka recording "Music and Dance". This recording from 1980 in Paris had previously only seen release as a cassette in a criminal number of 200. This CD reissue will be handled by Revenant in Nashville, TN and new label formed by John Fahey and his manager Dean Blackwood.

In the demo department, the studio saw the completion of the Tarentella demo, which includes Ed Pias on drum kit and tabla, and Eyvind Kang on violin, organ and bass. This fusion recording reminds me of Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew" recordings.

I also cranked out a three song demo for Brent Arnold's group "Thickness" which consists of cello, two basses, drums, guitar and synth. Thickness is a superior mix of rock, Latin and jazz. It's truly something to hear, and maybe you will soon - these two demos will be making the label circuit soon.

The third demo recording for the month was a second demo for Marc Olsen, of Sage fame. This time Marc has created all of the instrumentation, including guitar, bass, pedal steel, organ and vocals. I'm very impressed with this stuff! It has a Neil Young-meets-REM feel to it. Very smooth, very catchy, very very good!

Let us not forget the quick and dirty demo for the Michael White Quartet recorded on a new Tascam DA-38 digital eight track recorder. This was a remote recording done at the Theater of Mineral NADE's in Seattle's upper north side. Those of you already familiar with White's past (Sun Ra Pharoah Sanders) will not be disappointed with the classsic jazz sounds of White's current quartet. All I can say is that we had to pull out the mop and bucket to clean up the drool puddles where Eyvind and I stood as we witnessed and recorded the true brilliance of jazz violin.

Until next time...