What a surprise, I just turned 35, and let me tell you - life gets better
all the time!

Let's begin with CUT OF THE MONTH, which is an eclectic BLACK CAT ORCHESTRA
piece. I worked with this spectacular group for most of last month, mixing
material for their soundtrack to the Dada film "Clergyman and the
Seashell". It's pretty bizarre (both the film and soundtrack), and I love
it! I guess the film, itself, could make some sense at some point, but I
haven't watched it as many times as I had to watch "Eraserhead" before that
film began to gel in my mind (or was it just that my mind was turning to
gel?). Black Cat Orchestra draws it's influence from old world Europe, yet
theirs has a distinctly modern element woven in to the arrangements which
makes their sound unique in its depth and beauty. Instrumentation includes
drums, accordian, cello, bass, saxaphone, french horn, guitar and
[sometimes] voice. The cut I've chosen to share with you this month is
reminiscent of Ennio Morricone's spagetti western style of arrangment.
Listen for yourself, then tell me what you think.

LAND OF THE LOOPS stopped by again recently to perfect a few more edits for
their upcoming CD on Up Records. You've heard them before, you may just
not know it.

AIKO SHIMATA came in for a quick slide guitar overdub on her new album,
which was engineered by TUCKER MARTINE. Look for this release soon.

WICKER PALATE have also been in a few times, to track songs for their next
album collection.

I spent a wonderful evening with ELLEN FULLMAN and her LONG-STRINGED
INSTRUMENT. If you are unfamiliar with this phenomenon, Ellen's ingenious
invention/instrument is comprised of three sections - highs, mids and lows.
Each section is made up of numerous metal strings, all nearly 100 feet
long (!), which is played with rosened fingers. It drones, it screams, and
sometimes it even sounds like a full-string orchestral section. Amazing,
and all devised from the brilliant mind of one woman - Ellen Fullman. Our
remote session recording (remote, because the instrument is too large to
transport - and even if we could transport it, where would it go?)
consisted of both on-the-spot improvisations and compositions with
accompanying bass, cello and trumpet. I hope you are lucky enough to hear
it - it's a one-of-a-kind experience!

One other interesting remote session I recorded in November was a showcase
of the dance group 33 FAINTING SPELLS' music for an upcoming production. I
swear, this music reminds me of Zappa compositions at times (which, if you
know me, is quite a compliment). We recorded piano, marimba, bassoon,
cello, violin and flute in a band member's living room, which was
challenging but fun. Other portions of thier showcase includes electric
guitar (processed through the Pine Forest setting in Acoustic Mirror) and
the debut of PAUL HOSKIN's bass clarinet played with 31 teeth! That's
right, 31 teeth, pain relievers and all (beat that, Mikey Tyson!). What a
trip!

A new installment of ENGINEERCORE was held last month, as well, and I hope
you were there. As part of CONSOLIDATED WORKS' series on Artificial Life,
TUCKER MARTINE, DOUG HAIRE and CLIMAX GOLDEN TWINS converged on the
Consolidated Works warehouse to play improvisational environmental sounds
for those so-connecteds who share in the experimentational (dare I say
"rebelious"?) side of life. We recorded with 1) a pair of Sonic Studio
mics mounted on a Sennheiser dummy head in the middle of the room, and 2)
two Shure KSM-32's hand-helds, which were moved throughout the space and
crowd in the duration. The latter were operated by yours truly and my
lovely wife-to-be Jaye in alternating individualistic and synchronized
fashions, which made for an amazing secondary sound perspective. All
involved were thrilled by the results, and many audience members hung back
afterwards to discuss the experience. We hope to have more such
inspirational Engineercores in the future. Want to come?

Finally, I've been engaged in editing a radio show demo called "CONSCIOUS
TALK" with hosts BRENDA MICHAELS and ROB SPEERS - two truly extraordinary
human beings - which will air in Seattle sometime next year. This work has
been exciting to me, and has also spawned several other projects, including
the possible opening of a new studio space in Bothel (complete with pool,
fridge, and wet bar - oh! my! gawd!). The maiden voyage of this lovely and
most work-friendly space will most likely feature the recording of MEN FROM
MARS' new album - which is certain to rock your socks off - as well as the
completion of BUTTERCUP's next album. Look to this space for more
information on the above - after all, you want to say that you hear it
first, right?

And who knows what could be next... Television? Film? Your immortal soul?
I'll let you know...

May the dawning Millennium broaden our (and everyone else's) perspectives --