The dust has settled, the paint has dried, the O2R is just around the
corner and the celebration will begin in May. Care to join us?

I've searched the depths of my archives for April, 2000's Cut of the Month,
and I've found a gem! In 1986 I recorded a documentary on experimental
music - this documentary was broadcast on the local NPR station and
featured Paul Sturm, Jeff Haas and Hal McGee.

OTA PROTA came in to The Studio to record overdubs on some new material.
Their sound is wonderfully modern - techno drum beats (created by a real
drummer!), a generous mix of exotic percussion, surf guitar, and heavily
effected trumpet and cello add up to damaged... [the following has been
removed. ed.]

JOHN FAHEY - The Fonotone tapes finally arrived, and I've been
experimenting with various restoration techiniques ever since to make these
1959-62 recordings shine like a new baby's well-oiled bum!

33 FAINTING SPELLS - Two sessions, and oh! my! gawd!! One session was held
to create the circus band sequence for an upcoming dance performance
(complete with tuba, trumpet and french horn - hello!), plus percussion and
cheesy organ. It's a toss-up over whether this work is brilliant or
psychotic - I haven't seen the dance yet. Our second session focused on the
recording of the Rythmn Dance, which was accomplished in several ways: one
techniques was to use a stereo pair on the audience side, with a stereo
pair of PZM's mid stage - the result was good enough, but not fantastic;
next, two PZM's were placed on the ceiling (!) - much better results, but
the best technique consisted of Kyle and I following the rythmn dance with
Shure KSM32's as closely as possible. I doubt if you'll ever hear the
results since these recordings were made for the archives, but you may find
them on an upcoming Cut of the Month...

SUPERDUO were here from Olympia to edit their upcoming full-length CD. Get
this: their masters hailed from DAT's, CD's, MD's and ...78rpm! Yes, 78rpm!
There is apparently a museum in Bellingham called the Old Time Radio Museum
(or something like that), and some guy there has a ribbon mic and some old
acetate blanks on which SUPERDUO recorded some wonderful sounds! Superduo
consists of creative vocal harmonies, ukeleles, home-made drums, some
guitar and a bit of cello, but it's all cute pop-dittys to make you smile.

EDWIN TORRES and SEAN MEEHAN were in for a day from New York City to track
spoken word artisty with free drum backgrounds. An occasional tape was
played for the sake of recording ease, but the bulk of the performance
consisted of free drums with precisely-crafted poetry. The results hint at
Word Jazz, but are more down-to-earth in subject and further out in thought
than Fred Katz ever got.

FIRST HAND and I went to Masterworks to master their upcoming full length
CD with Barry Corliss (Barry really knows what he's doing, and I have
complete faith in him). This project has been chipped at for nearly two
years now...

KRISTEN HAPKE was in The Studio to edit an improvisation I recorded last
month with Paul Hoskins (contra bass clarinet) and Angelina Baldoz
(trumpet). This piece is slated for an upcoming dance improv piece that
Kristen is participating in.

LORI GOLDSTON came in with her Roland VS880 to mix a short piece for the UW
Dance Company, which has a interestingly dark feel to it: it floats,
stumbles, churns and scratches its way along. Lori is a gifted cellist (as
you well know), and her solo material always seems to show up at The Studio
in one fantastic form or another.

LAND OF THE LOOPS recorded a segue of creations for the vinyl version of
their latest CD, which should be out next month (May).

SUSAN BALSHOR popped in for a quick edit of a musical sculpture piece she
is using in a dance/performance concert at Broadway Performance Space.

ADAM McCOLLUM (Ota-Prota) came in for some ACID programing for a film score
he's working on.

SURROUND SOUND MIXING - I did my first surround sound mix at American
Production Services this month. I can't tell you who it was with or what
it's for, but I CAN tell you it was a facinating experience and I can't
wait for more!

JABON was in The Studio to crank out a cover version of "Simple as That" by
Jandek for an upcoming tribute CD.

And did I mention that The Studio was closed for a week while I constructed
a new isolation wall, a second wall for the noisy neighbors, and installed
a purple velvet curtain? C'est chic! I promise an open Opening in May,
complete with a playing of the Flaming Lips' "Zaireeka" in perfect sync.

Until then, mes amis!!