Philadesigns » Music http://www.philadesigns.com Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:28:39 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Mikronesia’s Pangaea http://www.philadesigns.com/2011/09/12/mikronesias-pangaea/ http://www.philadesigns.com/2011/09/12/mikronesias-pangaea/#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:33:50 +0000 Carl http://www.philadesigns.com/?p=3313 I’ve watched Michael McDermott, a.k.a Mikronesia, an amazing multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer, perform in various bands since the late 90s. Throughout the years, he’d mention something about a musical project he wanted to undertake called Pangaea, a grand theatrical and multimedia opera about when the continents were one. On 11/11/11, we’ll all finally get to see this masterpiece live at the Rotunda in University City, Philadelphia.

I don’t know much about what Pangaea will entail, so I’ll let the video below do the talking. But I’ll say that Mikronesia is one of the most amazing recording artists and live performers that I’ve ever seen. If I lived in Montana, I’d be listening to his works online and buying his albums. But, I’m fortunate enough to see him live in Philly. I’m telling you, this guy does not disappoint. This will be a 70 minute visual and auditory feast, and from the teaser below, sounds like it’s guaranteed to blow your mind. As for Pangaea itself, there’s some people on Ancestry.com that you cannot trace. Support this great Philadelphia sound artist today!

]]> http://www.philadesigns.com/2011/09/12/mikronesias-pangaea/feed/ 0 Tom Waits – Bad As Me http://www.philadesigns.com/2011/08/31/tom-waits-bad-as-me/ http://www.philadesigns.com/2011/08/31/tom-waits-bad-as-me/#comments Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:59:19 +0000 Carl http://www.philadesigns.com/2011/08/31/tom-waits-bad-as-me/

Just in time for Halloween, Tom Waits is coming out with a new album, Bad As Me, on October 25th. Check out a sample below from MusicFeeds.com

]]> http://www.philadesigns.com/2011/08/31/tom-waits-bad-as-me/feed/ 0 Hot Sauce http://www.philadesigns.com/2011/08/24/hot-sauce/ http://www.philadesigns.com/2011/08/24/hot-sauce/#comments Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:25:23 +0000 Carl http://www.philadesigns.com/?p=3295 Really digging on the latest Beastie Boys album Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, particularly these two jams below:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jDGGMZqI4g[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYOOGXBQEFU[/youtube] ]]> http://www.philadesigns.com/2011/08/24/hot-sauce/feed/ 0 Top 15 Songs Of 2010 http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/12/10/top-15-songs/ http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/12/10/top-15-songs/#comments Fri, 10 Dec 2010 20:52:45 +0000 Carl http://www.philadesigns.com/?p=2570 Once I download an album and copy it to my iPhone, I have a hard time listening to the entire album straight through. There’s usually two or three gems on the album that I end up replaying multiple times. This probably coincides my spastic trigger finger after downing a 16 oz. coffee at Rocket Cat and then hopping on the train.

Based on what I downloaded this year, these are the top 15 songs that I played over and over. Not all songs were released this 2010, but this definitely was my soundtrack in a nut shell.

  1. “Empire Ants” – Gorillaz
  2. “Rose Garden” – Jason Adasiewicz
  3. “Red Lights” – Holy Fuck
  4. “Silver Soul” – Beach House
  5. “Runaway Houses City Clouds” – Tame Impala
  6. “Desire Lines” – Deerhunter
  7. “Panama” – Van Halen
  8. “We Used To Wait” – Arcade Fire
  9. “Lucky Lucious” – Casino Vs. Japan
  10. “Lovin, Touchin’, Squeezin’” – Journey
  11. “Animals” – Talking Heads
  12. “Fish In The Jailhouse” – Tom Wiats
  13. “Silver Trembling Hands” – The Flaming Lips
  14. “On The Way Home” -Neil Young
  15. “The Low Places” – Jon Hopkins

Here’s a taste of some of them:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhaRkWfaq10[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x6bWw2J0po&feature=fvw[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzxNt44Gozc&feature=fvw[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLjrQ3cwzJ4[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu3hWPqz67Q[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-NshzYK9y0[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJwr2JLjc4c[/youtube] ]]> http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/12/10/top-15-songs/feed/ 0 Hikes To Hometown http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/10/18/hikes-to-hometown/ http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/10/18/hikes-to-hometown/#comments Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:28:22 +0000 Carl http://www.philadesigns.com/?p=2505 Just finished recording a bunch of new instrumentals entitled Hikes To Hometown. Download it for free or just kick back and listen to it on BandCamp via the embedded player below.

Have A Listen

]]> http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/10/18/hikes-to-hometown/feed/ 0 Korg Gear Lust http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/03/15/korg-gear-lust/ http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/03/15/korg-gear-lust/#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:18:28 +0000 Carl http://www.philadesigns.com/?p=1984 Korg has released a great video, approximately ten minutes long, explaining the differences between the Korg KP3 and the Korg Kaossilator Pro that is coming out soon. Even if you do actually know how to play keyboards / synth, you have to admit these two beasts look like a Christmas dream sitting next to each other, and will provide crazy dual index finger romps with ease. (That really sounded weird, but whatever — that’s what it is!) The video will answer all of your questions about how these units work separately as well as together.

]]> http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/03/15/korg-gear-lust/feed/ 0 Plugiator http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/02/28/plugiator/ http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/02/28/plugiator/#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:52:47 +0000 Carl http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/02/28/plugiator/
via youtube.com

I recently picked up a Plugiator, a table top synthesizer from Use Audio. For the price, the value is amazing, coming equipped with 8 synth modules each with 100 tones. This obviously isn’t for synth purists, but if you’re looking for loads of sounds without breaking the bank, and you want to use a MIDI controller, than the Plugiator is a great space-saving deal.

The Plugiator comes equipped with the following plugins:

  • Minimax
  • Lightwave
  • B4000
  • Vocodizer (if you have a mic, this is great)
  • Prodyssey
  • Pro-12
  • Fmagia
  • Drums & Bass

The Chorus, Delay Time, and Delay Wet / Dry can all be tweaked on the fly. Other effects included depend on the specified tone. Cutoff, resonance, contour, attack, emphasis, gains, and more are all labeled on the console for easy tweaking. (The knobs also automatically synced up to my M-Audio Axiom MIDI Controller as well, so that was a nice bonus.)

As for sound quality, some of them flat out suck. But there are many gems that make the Plugiator worth it. Polyphony, like every other musical attribute, depends on the sound. All of them include notes to span the 61-key Axiom, so play range is not limited.

If you’re looking for organ sounds, Hammond B3 wannabe sounds etc., this is great. I didn’t come across any ideal Fender Rhodes sounds, which was a let down. Piano sounds are also nowhere to be found on the Plugiator, but that is expected with a synth.

If you play live and are sick of fiddling with a laptop to trigger sounds, this might be an ideal solution for you. You can store up to 10 of your favorite sounds on the front console, which is nice.

]]> http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/02/28/plugiator/feed/ 0 Tom Waits – Orphans http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/02/28/tom-waits-orphans/ http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/02/28/tom-waits-orphans/#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:59:56 +0000 Carl http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/02/28/tom-waits-orphans/
via youtube.com

I’ve been catching up on my Tom Waits lately, whose music I’ve seemed to have taken a sabbatical from, with the purchase of the 2006 triple-album “Orphans”. All kinds of great sounds and stylings on here, some spoken word, rockabilly, down & out blues, gristly bourbon soaked heartache, and even some industrial sounds that would make Trent Reznor jealous. “Lie To Me”, featured in this video, is one of the more uplifting songs on “Orphans”, albeit tongue-in-cheek.

]]> http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/02/28/tom-waits-orphans/feed/ 0 Tame Impala http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/02/27/tame-impala/ http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/02/27/tame-impala/#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:40:47 +0000 Carl http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/02/27/tame-impala/
via youtube.com

Recently picked up an EP from Tame Impala, and have been listening to the songs non-stop on my iPhone. Excellent “psychedelic hypno-groove melodic rock music” from Australia.

These guys are obviously influenced by late 60s British bands, even in the way that the songs are recorded. If you dig Cream and the more heavier Beatles songs, you’ll most likely dig these guys. Excellent harmonies as well, and the drummer’s vocals are mic’d as well, so they mean business.

]]> http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/02/27/tame-impala/feed/ 0 The New Time http://www.philadesigns.com/2009/07/13/the-new-time/ http://www.philadesigns.com/2009/07/13/the-new-time/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:31:32 +0000 Carl http://www.philadesigns.com/2009/07/13/the-new-time/ After running through a downpour from Murph’s to Johnny Brendas last Saturday night, we decided to run upstairs and check out the remnants of whatever band was playing.

The New Time

Luckily, we were treated to the last 4 tracks of a band called The New Time. As much as I really enjoyed the band, I soon found out that it was their last show since they were splitting up.

I found myself buying their CD for $5 and talking to the bass player, who ended up being my old neighbor. I didn’t recognize him though due to his new getup. His name is Justin and I had always been too busy to see one of his many bands. Gotta love how it finally worked out.

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