Seven questions... with Hirobleep

Hirobleep is a German electronic musician who's work is mainly influenced by minimal techno, acid, 8bit, and electro. We've connected on Twitter (he is @hirobleep) and I find his music interesting... it certainly is minimal but in a really good way.

We got chatting and, as I always seem to do, I asked him my seven questions... he responded via DM on Twitter. I've included my questions as a wee reminder.

1) Who are you and what do you do?
2) What are you working on at the moment?
3) Who inspires you?
- Name an artist who has inspired you.
- Name place that has inspired you.
- Name some "thing" that has inspired you.
4) What drives you to do what you do?
5) What values do you wish your creativity to express?
6) What role does community play in what you do?
7) What is next for what you do?

Here are his answers... albeit I think #4 got lost in the ether:

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Tom forwarded me a copy of his answers to the 3rd, 4th and 6th questions... which appear not to have made to me.










Thanks matey!

Tom recently released his an EP entitled Systematic Disorder for free on Bandcamp... I've embedded it below for you to listen to. Enjoy.

Tx

cover art for "The Path Between The Trees" on we are all ghosts

For those of you who follow this blog regularly will know of my wee side project we are all ghosts ... the netlabel I've started to release awesome ambient soundscapes.

Earlier this evening I was proud to release the cover art and, more importantly, the name of our first artist ... Cousin Silas. As you can read over on this post I am a huge fan of his and am very proud to be working with him on this album.

I thought I'd share the artwork. The photo was taken in Strathclyde Park using my Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim 35mm film camera. I've played with the settings a wee bit in Lightroom.

I am so excited about this project and hope to release the album... for free... via Archive.org by the end of the week.

Stay tuned.

Tx

Scanned... three books I bought yesterday

I really should stop buying books... and should certainly stop buying books just because I love their covers... but I couldn't resist the following... and all for £1.10.

I was particularly taken with the near-mint rerelease of The Return of the King with J.R.R. Tolkien's original artwork. It is something special to behold.

Tx

Scanned... my brief collection of The Hobbit

I haven't scanned anything for a wee while and thought, after yesterday's charityshop find (more on that later) I would scan some of my J.R.R. Tolkien memorabilia... starting with The Hobbit.













I picked this one up a couple of years ago when I was in Paris. I had this crazy notion of buying The Hobbit in the language of each country I visit... so here's the French edition I found:





...and here's the Italian version I found. I'm in two-minds about this one... on one hand it's a super-clean, minimal, type-focussed cover but, on the other hand, the book has such rich visuals that the illustration seems too small somehow.





This edition is my all-time favourite. A hardback edition fully illustrated by Alan Lee. I picked it up in a charityshop in Bellshill for £2. Yes... TWO POUNDS!!! I nearly wet myself when I found it. It's one of my most treasured possessions.

Don't tell J.R.R. but I prefer Alan Lee's illustrations. That said... I love this story so very much. I even have it on audiobook. It's such a wonderful story about change. Everyone should read it.

If you have a copy of The Hobbit that has a different cover than the ones here and feel generous... I will cover postage!

Tx

Loving... the design of last week's Salvationist

I really, really liked the cover of last week's Salvationist (24th March 2012). The Salvationist is the magazine for folks connected with the Salvation Army in the UK. The graphic really grabbed me and made me get one. It demonstrates the power of type when used creatively... in this case highlighting everywhere the Salvation Army has a presence... including both Airdrie and Bellshill.

I don't know who to credit for the graphic... Jonathan Carmichael is listed as the graphic designer in the inside cover... but the cover isn't attributed to anyone which is a shame. Credit where credit is due. Any of my Sally pals know?

I'd buy an A3 print of this graphic. Can someone please tell SP&S?

Tx

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Just received an email (03/04/2012) from Jonathan Carmichael, the graphic designer for the Salvationist, that it was in fact his design. Well done, Jonathan.

What I've been listening to in March 2012

As before... this doesn't represent ALL I have been listening to but it does point to some of the artists I've really been enjoying in March. It also demonstrates that when I'm given an album to listen to... I listen to it.

Oh and there is a wee clue as to who the first artist to be released on We Are All Ghosts is...

Tx

Loving... the surreal art of Damon Pla

Crescent Moon :: 16" x 24" Acrylic on Canvas

When I make a connection with someone via social media, I look them up. I don't just follow anybody... I look for something we can share.

I met artist Damon Pla on Twitter and I was blown away with his surreal art... which is, btw, only a small part of what he does... but it was the work that I really got.

I think the paintings I've included in this post are stunning and truly ripe for posters... one of which - Harvest Moon - was used as the 2011 Rehoboth Film Festival Poster. These are BIG paintings... the bottom two especially.

Seriously, this is my kind of art and I'd love to see him work on album covers... I could really see these paintings on a 12" vinyl cover.

At the bottom of this post I have embedded a short YouTube timelapse video that show Pla in action... it's something else entirely.

Tx

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After I posted, Damon contacted me with some images, links and this piece of news:

"This summer I will be creating a huge time lapse in which the camera will travel on a track around my studio while I create the painting taking each frame while jumping in the air to create the illusion that I will be floating around the painting while it is completed. My homage to gravity."

Can't wait to see that!



Harvest Moon :: 25" x 35" Acrylic on Gallery Wrap Canvas


Enlightenment :: 36" x 54" Acrylic on Gallery Wrap Canvas


Inner Light :: 38" x 62" Acrylic on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Loving... HPPodcraft "Live in Leeds" poster by Army of Cats

I really love listening to the HPPodcraft podcast and thought this poster for an upcoming live event in Leeds on the 4th April was pretty special indeed. They retweeted the illustrator - Army of Cats aka Graham Pilling - and I just went a bit nuts for it.

Pilling's work is really first class and his Flickr page is well worth a donder through.

Excellent.

Tx

www.armyofcats.com

April 2012's Calendar / Wallpaper

It's that time of the month again. This month's picture was taken in Olly's garden and features a bamboo tree I am very fond of and a garden ornament made from Hama beads. There was something 'zingy' about it that really made sense. We are now in Spring (in the Northern Hemisphere) and a Spring calendar/wallpaper is just what the Doctor ordered.

The "iPhone without calendar" and "Kindle3" wallpapers are different... still Spring-like... but tailored to a request from my dad.

Usual flavours are included below. I don't have a "new iPad" and don't know anyone who has one... if you want a pic for it let me know along with the dimensions and I'll get one to you. Enjoy and thanks for everyones willingness to have my photography on their devices... it is appreciated by me.

Tx

1024x768
1280x800
1600x1200
1920x1080
1920x1200
iPhone with calendar + iPhone without calendar
iPad
PSP
Kindle3
980x800 for Andrew Berry's HTC Desire HD

'An Ghaoth Aduaidh' by Dextro... a 37 minute music and video piece

I love fellow Scot Dextro's music and was very excited when I received an email from him today that spoke of a new piece of music that he had created... along with visuals.

'An Ghaoth Aduaidh' is a 37 minute music and video piece born out of Dextro's live performances. It was put together with the kind support of The Newbridge Project who facilitated a recording space and curated a live performance of the work.

I love it and hope you will too. Please check out his Bandcamp page and download the audio for your offline enjoyment.

Tx