~phylum_sinter - roots, branches, leaves

.Various 2006-2008 - Out Now!

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:54:56 -0500

My collection of favorite tracks from 2006-2008 is now available as a pay-what-you-want (including free) download from this page right here. This one was done completely independent of any label, so if you pay for the album, you’re supporting my music directly.

If you opt to get it for free, i simply ask that you link to the album on one of your web pages (myspace, facebook, etc.) via the conveniently placed “share” link on the release page. This will help spread the word and allow me to get a little bit of sleep between all the manic flailing it takes to gain some traction on the internet these days.

Enjoy!

Falling into place

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:49:16 -0500

So August, September and October blew by with but a single post on this thing, and I wouldn’t blame anyone to have forgotten this page altogether, or that i just don’t take tumblr very seriously. The truth of the matter is that i’ve forgotten how to integrate everything into long-form posts, and have gotten into the habit of blasting stuff in bits and pieces all over the place instead. More often than not, any kind of links/news that i would have put here slipped into my facebook feed, and anything music related was tweeted about and/or announced on myspace, my facebook artist page or more recently songs were dropped on thesixtyone to see what kind of response they would get.

I guess i’m allowing for too much fragmentation of my presence on the internet, and not treating anything as higher priority than anything else.

Time to refocus my output as an artist, as juggling all of the avenues above has me sometimes literally spending almost as much time talking about the stuff i’m doing as actually doing the stuff i should be talking about.

For now this is just a promise to myself, but in the coming weeks expect some streamlining and maybe consolidation of fronts to occur in regards to where to hear about what i’m doing. I remain exhaustively aware of just how much you have to do to maintain hype, so there’s a good chance all of these little soapboxes will have to remain even as a (hopefully more visible platform) emerges — you have to be able to reach people on their grounds, right?

So without further ado - the stuff that i’ve been doing:

Making continuous mixes — i’ve recently fallen in love with this idea, and have contributed a set to Percussion Lab. There will likely be more there and there are plans to do a set for at least one radio show in the coming month.
Bringing in friends to contribute — As i have for a long time, getting some of the talented folks i meet online to work together on some releases has continued. My upcoming EP ‘Detroit Nocturnes’ has a bangin remix by citizengreen, and my next LP will likely have at least 3-4 remixers too.
Vocalists! I’ve been working for awhile now on a remix for Plastik Joy (warning: flash) and the way it changes how i work is invigorating. I’ve called in a vocalist for the closing track of ‘Detroit Nocturnes’ too… i hope to have it out in time for Christmas this year.
Sorting a house full of memories. This is getting personal, but i might as well mention that i’m living in a foreclosed home, and have until March to get what i want out of this place. This process too has got me in a very reflective mode.
Putting together releases on Bandcamp, which has become my favorite way to distribute music personally in the past few weeks. I’ve got one track up there now and am compiling at least one album for release by next week with a pay what you like model. Check out that track.

That about covers it! Stay tuned as i attempt to integrate the ol tumblog into something unique and useful once again.

Progress report and the Next EP

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:22:00 -0400

I’ve been working hard on my next EP, even as the last album has yet to have many reviews published. Such is the way of digitally distributed music — not many print magazines are willing to review itunes/amazon/internet distributed music, as the consensus is (without the plastic artifact) it’s somehow not worth as much. I’m on the fence with that, but hey c’est la vie.

Even with the watermark of physicality set where it is, i’ve been informed that there will be some reviews and various press published soon — expect reviews of my latest album ‘From Unity to Segmentation’ on Headphone Commute (along with an interview!) in the coming weeks, and i’m told there will be another review going up over at Igloo Mag too.

In addition, you may have heard the album on the radio recently, as it has had radio play on Kero.fm’s show on Windsor CJAM 91.5fm, Solipsistic Nation on San Diego 96.9fm, Nowlikephotographs on Radio K 106.5fm Minneapolis, and Digital Nimbus in Irvine CA on 88.9fm — also has had some play on other various podcasts out of Siberia, Moscow, Paris, Madrid, New York, and some cities that i can’t remember where i scribbled their names down. If you host a show, either digitally or on the radio get a hold of me for some music to play on it. I’m always happy to reach out to new audiences.

The upcoming EP is getting close to finished. It’s for a Portland-based Electronic label/distributor called MMR. The title has been decided upon as ‘Detroit Nocturnes’ based on the fact that all of these songs were written in the wee hours of the night, usually after coming home from the city with plenty of time before my body would let me pass out. It’ll be done hopefully by the end of the month — all tracks have been decided upon and there are only 2 left that need to be finished — and then the cover and design will be done.

There’s one track preview of the new EP on my tumblog here, and another preview track currently at the top of my myspace page player here.

Stay tuned for more news in the coming weeks! Momentum is beginning to build again.

Phylum Sinter - City of Memories [one minute preview] From the...

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:18:00 -0400

Phylum Sinter - City of Memories [one minute preview]

From the upcoming EP ‘Detroit Nocturnes’ on MMR, coming Early Fall 2009.

Facebook-ized.

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:02:11 -0400

OK so i’ve managed to finally figure out how to navigate the tretcherous labyrinth that is facebook and gotten myself a proper musical profile.

Check it out.

Start a dialogue or something :]

As a wise (if paranoid, very angry) man once said: Fuck Smiley...

Thu, 21 May 2009 23:31:52 -0400

As a wise (if paranoid, very angry) man once said: Fuck Smiley Gladhands with Hidden Agendas.

When it comes to politics, yes this covers pretty much everybody involved, and yet there is a definite gradient that implies that yes indeed there are still lesser and greater evils to be contained and condemned by the everyday citizen.

Former Vice President Dick (Sith) Cheney happens to do one thing that monkeyboy Bush Jr. never managed to do very well — completely blindside himself, trip over his own righteous indignation all the while clapping in a complete vacuum for extended speeches. Now It is true that during his reig…er… time in office former Vice President Cheney was usually quiet unless someone asked him to speak, but taking the time to stand in line right behind the current president, only to bark the same nonsense that nobody — NOT EVEN YOUR VERY CLAIMED SOURCES — has the logic or tenacity to attempt rolling over on the public has earned you a hero-grade instapuke badge, sir.

What history will remember you for, what you allowed, didn’t allow, turned the other way and back again when the moment was right are already well documented. Your tactics and role in history, if we’re ever in need of a reminder, are captured well in the above video by Keith Olbermann, whom i admit becoming a bit of a fan of lately.

The next time you start itching to bark at anybody, Dick, play this video first and see if there’s any genuine ammunition behind your assertions, because i’m pretty sure we’ve all heard it before by now.

As for whether this trumpeting makes one assume that i’m automatically for Obama being the true salve to ease this aching nation — i’m growing more skeptical every day that he’ll be what he sold himself as, but that’s all part of the game. Prove me wrong, please.

For now, the echo remains coherent - fuck smiley gladhands with hidden agendas.

Aventinus Beer by G. Schneider & Sohn. Almost Vanilla as it...

Tue, 05 May 2009 04:32:00 -0400

Aventinus Beer by G. Schneider & Sohn.

Almost Vanilla as it hits your tongue, but chocolate and Raisin-y as it goes down. Neat trick, and very very tasty on a warm detroit afternoon. A real German beer.

Photo

Mon, 04 May 2009 06:05:21 -0400

NO WONDER THE DOLLAR HAS COLLAPSED.

Mon, 04 May 2009 03:49:24 -0400

NO WONDER THE DOLLAR HAS COLLAPSED.

Substrate [Made with Processing]

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 07:53:00 -0400

Substrate [Made with Processing]:

Substrate is a project by Jared Tarbell, which illustrates beautifully the process of algorithmic complexification.

What the heck am i talking about you ask?

Without going too far into details — or seeming like i’m on a whole lot of drugs — i believe that the entire course of life exhibits this same beauty and apparent intention, from the physical/biological aspects of nature (see the golden ratio for bunch of great examples), to how sound travels, to our thought patterns and observation of universal laws.

They all point to this thriving, ceaseless pull towards complexity. Consciousness itself, as thought by Teilhard de Chardin, is another way the universe expresses its’ desire to bring about an elaboration, an extrapolation (or evolution) of all that came before itself — a magnification of sophistication and all-together-connectedness that hopefully will one day allow us to transcend our penchant for subjugating differences and find a unity at the core of all things.

Fractals, imaginary numbers (like phi, pi, and such) are algorithms. They are great because they allow us to toss these simple rules into a machine and watch them grow and exhibit how the smallest tweak can ripple, and demonstrate the breadth of microcosmic and macrocosmic symmetry. As the most singular is, so is the multitude in some direct way. This is meaningful to me as i seek to ponder the simple nature of the universe’s core rule set.

JUST LIKE LIFE, RIGHT?

Well, that may have seemed like some kind of hippie-laced flight of fancy but it is an accurate description of why art like this appeals to me — Because it reminds me of the grand dance of being that continues to happen throughout eternity (with you, and you, and you, and…).

Click the title link for a live version [requires java]. I just might have to buy a print of one of these.

Man's Inhumanity to Man, part 73 (billion) - Police Assault at G20 Summit results in death.

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:40:10 -0400

Man's Inhumanity to Man, part 73 (billion) - Police Assault at G20 Summit results in death.:

The above link goes to video of a police assault during the recent G20 summit riots, recently reported by the Guardian.

Ian Tomlinson (age 47, now deceased from heart failure) appears to be minding his own business, in a public area, with no weapons or apparent threat towards his attacker, whom is one of at least five officers present along with dogs, dressed in full riot gear and armed.

The attacker, a police officer raises his weapon to his victim (Tomlinson) while the victim’s back is turned, and no weapons nor visible threats are apparent. Tomlinson falls after being struck on the back of the knee and dies of heart failure a mere three minutes later.

Who is innocent here? What constitutes justice and jurisdiction for this type of action towards the accused? Conflict-mongering and effective crowd conduct must be covered much more thoroughly and overseen with greater care in law enforcement.

From this video there seems to be little recourse to what the officer did — and though his intentions probably were not to kill the man, something must be done to prevent this (and all) types of violence upon any living being.

Ian Tomlinson did not need to die this day.

Photo

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:40:00 -0400

More Rabbits in costume here. Lord have mercy.

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 05:33:00 -0400

More Rabbits in costume here.

Lord have mercy.

Awesome (Season-conscious) Free Album from IVDT

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:23:06 -0400

V/A - Before We Melt As the first day of spring approaches, we are proud to present our latest compilation for your enjoyment. Before We Melt [mp3.070], a project based on the idea of the originality of individual snowflakes, is a love letter (of sorts) to all things wintry & cold. With compositions by Bitcrush, Electricwest, Lackluster, Phortran, Nik Jade, Edison, Qu.one, Phylum Sinter, Headphone Science & Set In Sand and mastered by Twerk at Audibleoddities, this has become one of our greatest compilations yet and instantly becomes classic. From all of us at IVDT, we hope you enjoy.

Download from IVDT for free from the link above - both FLAC and MP3 versions are available.

Lazy person links
(direct zip’d links, right click->save as):
FLAC DOWNLOAD
MP3 DOWNLOAD

Barack Obama is tired of your motherfucking shit

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:27:23 -0500

Barack Obama is tired of your motherfucking shit:

So you’ve probably heard of Barack Obama’s memoir, ‘Dreams From My Father’.

Well, did you know that there’s an audiobook version narrated by the president himself?

Hit the title link for some choice presidential pottymouth audio clips.

An art book for the Ages: Robots & Donuts

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 04:58:47 -0500

An art book for the Ages: Robots & Donuts:

Finally, someone with a steady hand has decided to capture two of nature’s greatest gifts. Robots & Donuts is a new collection of amazing paintings of the aforementioned in a handy 176 page tome.

These paintings are everything that i’ve ever imagined a painting of robots & donuts could be.

Title link goes to a flip book filled with sweetness (req. flash).

Charlie Cooper, of Telefon Tel Aviv, Has Died.

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 03:16:00 -0500

Friends, If you have not heard, we lost a great inspiration to me recently.

Charlie Cooper, of Telefon Tel Aviv, has passed away on January 22nd. The cause of death is currently unknown.

I cannot help but cry at the thought of his loss. Telefon Tel Aviv has been a great inspiration for my work. The way they functioned outside genre definition was truly brave, and the true definition of what art should be.

I had the opportunity to speak to Charlie at their last appearance in Ann Arbor, and we had a great conversation.

He will be missed, my sincere condolences to all those he left and loved.

If you have anything within you, any negativity or desirous thoughts of death, please find a positive outlet for them, know that all things change. There’s a time and a place everything, but i don’t believe it is ever to be brought about by our own hands.

With love and life,
c. todd
phylum sinter

To Clarify (y)ourselves [part 1]

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 01:04:43 -0500

“How much has to be explored and discarded before reaching the naked flesh of feeling?”
-Claude Debussy

Here’s an idea: Every Saturday (starting today) i will be reaching into my past and sharing some inspiring quotes that have helped carve my path over the years.

Some of these you may have heard, some of them will be totally obscure, in any case i’m going to be pulling from the part of myself that helps things manifest creatively, hopefully brings the fires to a higher temperature and solidifes them in the light of day.

This first quote is relevant in the process of creation for every medium personally. This incredibly romantic, french inquiry has stripped excess from just about everything i’ve done in one way or another. What is the essential, what is to be communicated, how does one interface with this thing, and should one be conscious of the direction they wish to point the audience in? Perhaps.

Then i remember that there are other motives for creation than emotional response too.

Still: Feeling — transmit it!

Check next week for another worthwhile angle.

Happy Birthday, Sam Cooke! Where are voices like this these...

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:50:00 -0500

Happy Birthday, Sam Cooke!

Where are voices like this these days? Seal’s cover version is alright, but nothing like this…

Other songs you may recognise by Sam Cooke — all Youtube linked:

You Send Me (Live)
Wonderful World
Bring it On Home to Me (Live)
Twistin’ The Night Away (Live)

The Auger, as assembled in wordle - requires java.(make your own...

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 07:51:00 -0500

The Auger, as assembled in wordle - requires java.
(make your own here) - ditto, java.