Hello Europe!
Well, I am installed in my hotel in historic Salzburg, comfortably a day early so that I can have a bit of a wander about tomorrow prior to the first of the Birfdee Bashes. I was asked about why I drove over here, rather than just simply flying in and arriving without any tiredness or stresses. It's not due to flying jitters (remember - I am flying to the Amsterdam Bash and back) as I do enjoy flying. I like to drive when I can, as I get to see more of Europe when I do, and the Autoroute/Autobahn systems are excellent when compared to our iffy motorways! And the scary overpasses into Austria are a sort of dare with myself, as I am somewhat frightened of heights!
Also, too much flying costs a lot of money, whereas grabbing a big van, chucking all the stuff in, filling the thing with diesel and rumbling away on a thousand mile odyssey costs much much less. Since I am not exactly brimming with "chart success", keeping an eye on where savings can be made is a pre-occupation of a couple of the AEGRE staff. And I like to humour them, since they are responsible for getting the CDs and DVDs produced - I would much rather live cheap and keep the CD/DVD costs to the punter in the record shop as low as possible. Billy Bragg, a hero of my youth, did the same and made sure that the records and tapes he made were affordable to the average impoverished teen of the 80s. Thus I embrace the Internet delivery and cheap media over the counter philosophy, and some of the countries who like my music are pretty poor themselves. I usually end up giving a lot of stuff away, especially in ex-Soviet or still-Soviet states, as these kids don't have too much disposable income. I wouldn't for a second want to insult their countries' policies or whatever, but if I can give stuff away, I usually do. Then, more people can hear the music, which is what really matters. I can't see me ever living like a multi-millionaire, and don't think I really want to. I'm hoping to get to Ukraine and Belorus later this year, and the same principle will apply.
I know this will terrify some at the AEGRE record company, but I WANT you to copy my CDs and DVDs. Pass them around. I hope some kids will be recording these four dates - get them out there circulating. My only caveat is that you all don't enrich yourselves TOO MUCH at my expense. Yeah, pass them around, upload them to the Internet, download them to your computers. There are NO copyright warnings on ANY of my products - this was my one and only real stipulation when I signed with AEGRE.
So before this turns into yet another epic posting, I shall end here and look forward to seeing you all tomorrow at Voss Schlagen, before I burn up the tarmac to Transnistria.
Take care, Blessings upon you all, and here's hoping for a successful four nights of fun!
Love as always,
mv
Thursday, 11 March 2010
Monday, 8 March 2010
On me way to the Birfdee Gigz......
Groovy things!
Well, I am packed and ready for the fun this weekend! Got all me bits and pieces together and am sorted for me Birfdee Bash! Not quite sorted out the setlist, but you can be sure that all your faves will be there, and of course requests are welcome. I got the ferry thingy sorted out and am on my way slowly towards the venues, since I thought that this time I would actually see some of the sights. Yes, I will be flying from Transnistria to Amsterdam and back, but I am driving cross country to the Austria and the PMR.
I have all the techno gear in the back of the big Mercedes Sprinter van, and I am trundling through mainland Europe towards Austria. So it's a night there (Friday) then on to the PMR.
Luckily, the border dudes know of my approach so I should be assured of easy entry into Transnistria. I'm hoping that this visit I can manage to get a river tour shoehorned into my visit. I love the PMR crowd - they're always so much fun! I'll see you all in Bender!!!!
Otherwise, work has stopped for now on MV7 - a couple of new tracks could be unveiled at Nutznboltz! See you soon!
Love to you all
mv xxx
Well, I am packed and ready for the fun this weekend! Got all me bits and pieces together and am sorted for me Birfdee Bash! Not quite sorted out the setlist, but you can be sure that all your faves will be there, and of course requests are welcome. I got the ferry thingy sorted out and am on my way slowly towards the venues, since I thought that this time I would actually see some of the sights. Yes, I will be flying from Transnistria to Amsterdam and back, but I am driving cross country to the Austria and the PMR.
I have all the techno gear in the back of the big Mercedes Sprinter van, and I am trundling through mainland Europe towards Austria. So it's a night there (Friday) then on to the PMR.
Luckily, the border dudes know of my approach so I should be assured of easy entry into Transnistria. I'm hoping that this visit I can manage to get a river tour shoehorned into my visit. I love the PMR crowd - they're always so much fun! I'll see you all in Bender!!!!
Otherwise, work has stopped for now on MV7 - a couple of new tracks could be unveiled at Nutznboltz! See you soon!
Love to you all
mv xxx
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Bit of a chat about mv7 or mvVII, and just general stuff really...
Hello all you lovely mv people!
I hope you are all staying well through this very cold weather. As we are all aware, mv_VII is turning into my "Forth Road Bridge" - no matter how much work gets done, we never seem to get any further.
Part of the problem is that the other day, I working with some 1967 samples, and whilst mixing them together discovered that the track in question might just work out as a very fine charity project. Thus I have split this off from the 7 main project, and built up the track to a decent 13-14mins length. It is presently just a "music bed" awaiting vocal samples to be added at some later date. Sadly, this removes a potential album track, and I am left with a 14 minute hole that could have been filled! Never mind, I have to shelve that right now, as a half finished project that can be sorted out maybe over the summer - due to the number of people I will have to talk to in order to get permissions n sheed.
Messin' Wit' Yo Heads
To go back to VII (we are using Roman and Latin numerals interchangeably for some reason) again, I did make a pretty decent track from a 1968 song - another load of technical legal hassle - which, when messed with and massaged a bit, I managed to crank out a 13min "normal" mix, then a 30min mix I have currently called "extended MKULTRA mix". I am going to work on a really incredible "mess with your head MKULTRA mix" that will remove all the vocals, and instead simply focus on the two bars that matter. Then, I will insinuate loads of "subliminal samples" into the mix, to see what results we end up with. I'm not sure what 30mins of two-bars repeated, with some swirly sounds and subliminals will sound like - or what the legal position is for the tiny clip of tune that is repeated hundreds of times, in fact, MAKES the ENTIRE song, from a rhythmic position. Not to worry. A bridge to cross later on perhaps.
I am listening to the possible charity track as I type. Since the actual principle song is so long, with a couple of specific remixes (one a real surprise to those who know me!) yer punter will get a totally filled CD single - which is something I like in real life.
Size *Does* Matter, Appparently...
We are still debating the size of the album too. It's no secret that I am pushing for an out and out triple-CD set, whilst AEGRE are agreeable, but they have indicated that it would be much better for them if it were to be catalogued as mv_7, 8, and 9 which I *don't* like. I see the reasoning - at some later point in time AEGRE would be able to drop the original triple-CD format and re-release them as single CD albums - but I find all that heavy-bread-head-stuff too rich for my blood. Thus we have for the time being agreed to differ, and we shall meet up again when I actually have the masters ready.
The "concept" of mv_7, which hasn't been discussed too much via the blog and usual PR channels, is based in numerology. Three discs of nine tracks, making up 27, which is a 9. What I want to do is this:
Disc 1: Supporting Feature: Singularly Spectacular Redux
A few years back a very limited edition of non-album and album-based singles was released and promtply deleted - it even had a special catalogue number so as not to spoil the numeric progression of my albums. A shame really, since the track progression layout was nice, and the songs themselves were pretty good. It was an industry thing, and of course, I have a copy (which, I hate to say I have a copy of in the car) and the masters are in good shape. So as an opener for the album, I would like to have SSR - a singles and b sides disc that OPENS an album rather than closing it would be a nice idea too.
Disc 2: Intermission - Go get yer fags and Kia-Ora
This is to get you ready for the third disc, introducing the album-proper, and any innovations in sound since the contents of SSR were produced. I would like for the remaining SSR tracks to blend in to the new VII tracks as seamlessly as possible, so it would make it difficult to see where SSR ends and VII actually properly begins. This could involve mixing one or more tracks together to create some smooth blending. We'll see. It's all still in my head at this stage.
Disc 3: Our Feature Presentation
Lastly, the actual meat of the whole thing. The nine tracks that I feel work best together or flow the nicest - completely the wrong way round! I like this approach immensely - you can think of it as keeping the best till last, or, as I do, just totally different to the usual way things are done! That's me!
Therefore, I am working with a double-disc project comprising 2 and 3, but keeping the tracks and layout of 1 in mind. Ideally, what I really want is a triple-disc album that people will be happy playing start-to-finish, but also feel comfortable working out their own combination and then burning that for their car or whatever.
Worries...
I'm still secretly worried about how to follow Liquidators (mv6). Mrs. mad_vicar, a constant help and comfort to me, indicated that I am not looking at the situation correctly. Liquidators was a special, a one-off (despite it's being included in the official AEGRE mv catalogue as mv6) and should not be compared to anything. It was recorded with a certain direction and purpose - mainly a telling the Chernobyl story set to music - that only Father Cares... (mv4) even slightly resembles.
Therefore if I am competing at all, I am really competing with mv5, which was deliberately a happy and fun album to produce after the "dark double" of mv3 and mv4. Soooooo, given all that, I feel easier about 7 now - it will be different, and not "follow" any album. Plus the concept and design is so far away from anything I've done before
Whispers regarding "Participant in the Liquidation of the Accident Consequences (mv6)"
Some interesting whispers about Participant in the Liquidation of the Accident Consequences (mv6) that came about as a result of one of the AEGRE meetings that was going nowhere. We got to talking about the album's reception and consistent interest. Liquidators is agreed amongst us all to have been a phenomenal success - more importantly, it raised the issue of the forgotten victims of Chernobyl and helped raise awareness of needy charities. I myself never did and still do not make any money at all from Liquidators - I made sure that all the rights were signed away well before I actually made any of the tracks (well, all but one - I had already recorded "Shining Sparkling Fire" before the Liquidators concept came along).
Weeeeelllll, April 26th next year (2011) will be the "silver jubilee" of the disaster. Liquidators has been available constantly since released on April 26th 2007 (21st anniversary) BUT we have briefly tossed around the idea of producing a silver jubilee edition. This MIGHT POSSIBLY involve some new tracks, some remixed original Liquidators tracks, and, for the DVD, a pile of new information, images, and maybe even some spoken word stuff by yours truly. This is ONLY a possibility but the great thing about being with AEGRE is that they think a lot like me, actually like my stuff, listen to me, give me total artistic freedom, and only occasionally do they wear their bread-head hats. And that's usually only to protect me from something, or an idea that really sucks!
Notice that there were nine tracks on Liquidators? Me and my numerology. My special numbers are 9 and 13, so they tend to appear almost by chance in my music and on my albums. I was born on Friday 13th, so when most people are scared even to get out of bed, I go out and have a simply wonderful day. Odd that.
Anyway, I have gone on too long, and it's way past my bedtime. Love to all of the mv people out there, and I hope to see you real soon.
Take care,
mv
I hope you are all staying well through this very cold weather. As we are all aware, mv_VII is turning into my "Forth Road Bridge" - no matter how much work gets done, we never seem to get any further.
Part of the problem is that the other day, I working with some 1967 samples, and whilst mixing them together discovered that the track in question might just work out as a very fine charity project. Thus I have split this off from the 7 main project, and built up the track to a decent 13-14mins length. It is presently just a "music bed" awaiting vocal samples to be added at some later date. Sadly, this removes a potential album track, and I am left with a 14 minute hole that could have been filled! Never mind, I have to shelve that right now, as a half finished project that can be sorted out maybe over the summer - due to the number of people I will have to talk to in order to get permissions n sheed.
Messin' Wit' Yo Heads
To go back to VII (we are using Roman and Latin numerals interchangeably for some reason) again, I did make a pretty decent track from a 1968 song - another load of technical legal hassle - which, when messed with and massaged a bit, I managed to crank out a 13min "normal" mix, then a 30min mix I have currently called "extended MKULTRA mix". I am going to work on a really incredible "mess with your head MKULTRA mix" that will remove all the vocals, and instead simply focus on the two bars that matter. Then, I will insinuate loads of "subliminal samples" into the mix, to see what results we end up with. I'm not sure what 30mins of two-bars repeated, with some swirly sounds and subliminals will sound like - or what the legal position is for the tiny clip of tune that is repeated hundreds of times, in fact, MAKES the ENTIRE song, from a rhythmic position. Not to worry. A bridge to cross later on perhaps.
I am listening to the possible charity track as I type. Since the actual principle song is so long, with a couple of specific remixes (one a real surprise to those who know me!) yer punter will get a totally filled CD single - which is something I like in real life.
Size *Does* Matter, Appparently...
We are still debating the size of the album too. It's no secret that I am pushing for an out and out triple-CD set, whilst AEGRE are agreeable, but they have indicated that it would be much better for them if it were to be catalogued as mv_7, 8, and 9 which I *don't* like. I see the reasoning - at some later point in time AEGRE would be able to drop the original triple-CD format and re-release them as single CD albums - but I find all that heavy-bread-head-stuff too rich for my blood. Thus we have for the time being agreed to differ, and we shall meet up again when I actually have the masters ready.
The "concept" of mv_7, which hasn't been discussed too much via the blog and usual PR channels, is based in numerology. Three discs of nine tracks, making up 27, which is a 9. What I want to do is this:
Disc 1: Supporting Feature: Singularly Spectacular Redux
A few years back a very limited edition of non-album and album-based singles was released and promtply deleted - it even had a special catalogue number so as not to spoil the numeric progression of my albums. A shame really, since the track progression layout was nice, and the songs themselves were pretty good. It was an industry thing, and of course, I have a copy (which, I hate to say I have a copy of in the car) and the masters are in good shape. So as an opener for the album, I would like to have SSR - a singles and b sides disc that OPENS an album rather than closing it would be a nice idea too.
Disc 2: Intermission - Go get yer fags and Kia-Ora
This is to get you ready for the third disc, introducing the album-proper, and any innovations in sound since the contents of SSR were produced. I would like for the remaining SSR tracks to blend in to the new VII tracks as seamlessly as possible, so it would make it difficult to see where SSR ends and VII actually properly begins. This could involve mixing one or more tracks together to create some smooth blending. We'll see. It's all still in my head at this stage.
Disc 3: Our Feature Presentation
Lastly, the actual meat of the whole thing. The nine tracks that I feel work best together or flow the nicest - completely the wrong way round! I like this approach immensely - you can think of it as keeping the best till last, or, as I do, just totally different to the usual way things are done! That's me!
Therefore, I am working with a double-disc project comprising 2 and 3, but keeping the tracks and layout of 1 in mind. Ideally, what I really want is a triple-disc album that people will be happy playing start-to-finish, but also feel comfortable working out their own combination and then burning that for their car or whatever.
Worries...
I'm still secretly worried about how to follow Liquidators (mv6). Mrs. mad_vicar, a constant help and comfort to me, indicated that I am not looking at the situation correctly. Liquidators was a special, a one-off (despite it's being included in the official AEGRE mv catalogue as mv6) and should not be compared to anything. It was recorded with a certain direction and purpose - mainly a telling the Chernobyl story set to music - that only Father Cares... (mv4) even slightly resembles.
Therefore if I am competing at all, I am really competing with mv5, which was deliberately a happy and fun album to produce after the "dark double" of mv3 and mv4. Soooooo, given all that, I feel easier about 7 now - it will be different, and not "follow" any album. Plus the concept and design is so far away from anything I've done before
Whispers regarding "Participant in the Liquidation of the Accident Consequences (mv6)"
Some interesting whispers about Participant in the Liquidation of the Accident Consequences (mv6) that came about as a result of one of the AEGRE meetings that was going nowhere. We got to talking about the album's reception and consistent interest. Liquidators is agreed amongst us all to have been a phenomenal success - more importantly, it raised the issue of the forgotten victims of Chernobyl and helped raise awareness of needy charities. I myself never did and still do not make any money at all from Liquidators - I made sure that all the rights were signed away well before I actually made any of the tracks (well, all but one - I had already recorded "Shining Sparkling Fire" before the Liquidators concept came along).
Weeeeelllll, April 26th next year (2011) will be the "silver jubilee" of the disaster. Liquidators has been available constantly since released on April 26th 2007 (21st anniversary) BUT we have briefly tossed around the idea of producing a silver jubilee edition. This MIGHT POSSIBLY involve some new tracks, some remixed original Liquidators tracks, and, for the DVD, a pile of new information, images, and maybe even some spoken word stuff by yours truly. This is ONLY a possibility but the great thing about being with AEGRE is that they think a lot like me, actually like my stuff, listen to me, give me total artistic freedom, and only occasionally do they wear their bread-head hats. And that's usually only to protect me from something, or an idea that really sucks!
Notice that there were nine tracks on Liquidators? Me and my numerology. My special numbers are 9 and 13, so they tend to appear almost by chance in my music and on my albums. I was born on Friday 13th, so when most people are scared even to get out of bed, I go out and have a simply wonderful day. Odd that.
Anyway, I have gone on too long, and it's way past my bedtime. Love to all of the mv people out there, and I hope to see you real soon.
Take care,
mv
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