Chris Bocast: News

A lot of news this month! The lead story is I will be entering a Ph.D. program at the Nelson Institute at the University of Wisconsin in the fall studying environmental music and acoustic ecology. Initially, I have been looking at some of the work of Barry Blesser who has advanced the idea of "aural architecture" into interdisciplinary studies. Blesser was one of the inventors of the Lexicon reverb (where would ambient music be without digital reverbs?) as well as a scholar at MIT. This endeavor should lead to a published book eventually, some cool performances, and me finally being able to read some of those interesting books I've been collecting.

I've also secured a deal for myself and Catalin with a music production library out in Hollywood, so you may be hearing snippets of Stratagem and Airlock on the History Channel in a few months. I've been busy making two-minute edits of all our music.

Finally I've been contacted by the program director of a major ambient radio show who loves Stratagem and wants to schedule an interview. More on this soon!

Going into rotation this month from Stratagem will be "Coerenta Excentrica" and "Nocturne". For fun I will add a free download of the Tokyo Vogue classic "July" as it is indeed... July.

Tracks 3 and 4 from "Stratagem" go into rotation on the Flash player in June. Finished the VItal Sounds CD (we'll see how they like it!) and did a re-mix for pianist Matt Labarge as well.

The next solo album "To Shining Mountains Gone" is awaiting artwork and should be out soon. Also hope to begin working on some brand-new stuff with MJC.

Saw The Killers in Milwaukee, great show!

Also in the music section there are two short clips that feature Larisa giving correct Romanian pronunciations of the song titles from Stratagem that are in that language.

lots of stuff happening right now...

Stratagem's out - first official sale went to a female fan in France and first official airplay was noted on Pirate Cat Radio in San Francisco. I'm very pleased with the work and it is going around to all the tastemakers and radio programs that matter - we'll see what the world thinks!

Stratagem had only just arrived when I was wined and dined by Vital Sounds, who have commissioned me for a new album. They do sonic therapy and wanted some music with natural sounds they had licensed. The beta version I've worked up is quite fun, a 30 minute epic!

Did a live show for the first time in Madison out in Cross Plains. My left hand is still not quite right, but it's well enough to play out again at least. I've been reviewing Bach and the Baroque, in conjunction with a music history class I'll be teaching this summer, so I've been immersed in the classical spectrum as well.

There are some developments for fall already taking place, I'll have more in a bit...

Anyway, each month this year I will stream a couple songs from Stratagem on the site as well as having the occasional download, so folks can check out the music for themselves. You can pick up the cd at Amazon, CDBaby, and iTunes if it strikes your fancy.

Have a good summer!

cb

Distribution is being established as we speak. If you just can't wait, contact me directly to mail-order the CD. It looks and sounds awesome!

Due to serious disruptions, I have been unable to post music recently. I will try to make amends for that this spring. This month I have added an old fave that's slightly lo-fi, but has a distinct atmosphere: "Moonglow". I don't believe I've put it up before - that's Michael VS on synth...

Booked some performances in the WI area in anticipation of promoting "Stratagem". Working up a new show, will include some classical, some ambient, perhaps some favorite 60's covers. Will post some new mp3s if I ever get back into my studio...

OK - Stratagem is off to the factory to be pressed! It will belong to the ages now. When I finally get back into my studio (March 5 is what I'm hearing) I can begin a final structure on my next solo album, which will be a collection of some of my favorite pieces recorded in Colorado. It will be titled "To Shining Mountains Gone" and will feature some live stuff, some rarities, and some piano pieces, including "The 19th Century" which is a sister track to "EVA" from Airlock - recorded same time, roughly the same way. After this I will be switching to Apple's Logic and refining a live show to promote Stratagem. Most of my gear came through the disaster OK, surprisingly, and the Moog is fine. I'm considering a possible mini-tour to Austin and back in late May/early June as well.

Hope everyone had a good Valentine's. We did! Went to see the Crue! Motley that is... I have a soft spot for Mick Mars as he has the same damn crippling spine disease that I have (AS). Mick did an awesome noise solo and then busted into "Little Wing" note for note. Watching him stagger off stage reminded me of myself on challenging mornings...

More soon!

John has a show running in San Francisco right now - if you've ever been curious about the person behind the art on 'Airlock' and the up-coming release 'Stratagem', here's a link:

http://thestarkguide.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=90&Itemid=43
Sorry for no new mp3s but the studio is in pieces and we're still not back in our house. I am focusing on filling out the forms and getting the album pressed right now.

Wish me luck and luck to you in the new year!

c

is great!!!

Thanks Jim!!

The new master finally arrived on New Year's Eve - thanks, Jim! However, massive water damage at our house has thrown a major monkey wrench into everything. A lot of my gear was soaked so I'll have to let it all dry...

Hope to back in shape by the end of the month...

Brrr.... saw a great film at the Sundance Cinema last night. Though the title leaves a little something to be desired, "Let the Right One In" is a Swedish tween vampire movie that has one of the best soundtracks I've heard for a while. Not particularly a musical one at all, it succeeds in making you feel you are there. Anyway, see it and you will understand - highly entertaining!

I've posted some free Christmas mp3s as usual. If you want more, you can download them all at Amazon mp3.

Still waiting for the final, final master of Stratagem and it's off to the factory.

As for me, we'll be off to Florida, taking a break from winter.

Best in the New Year!

CB

Our turkey was perfect! Big news is that the Christmas album (now formally titled "Gloria in Excelsis Deo") is now commercially available at Amazon.com mp3 and Rhapsody in download form. The iTunes version should come online soon as well. If you'd really prefer a CD you can still order it by mail of course.

I'll go ahead and post a Christmas song up every week so come back soon!

CB

OK - met and had a nice chat with Gregory Taylor, who was nice enough to feature "Upwelling" on his radio show RTQE on WORT-FM here in Madison. We had connects going back to the Opcode thread...

MVS and the Spearhead crew came through and played at the Barrymore. He's using a KAOS pad at the board now and some other fun stuff. Dave, Carl, MVS, Hallie and I all went to yummy sushi!

Also this year's Christmas CD is ready! Mail order for now, unless I run into you. Reason's greetings and brine that turkey!

Let's see... we're remixing one song from the new album so that's been delayed, but it'll be worth it.

Hung out with some of the guys from Smart Studios, listening to Clyde Stubblefield at Cafe Montmartre. He's James Brown's drummer, probably the most sampled drummer in the world.

Will post a couple new things - one is a track I had that I did some spectral analysis processing to - quite cool. Another is the theme music for a new audiobook I'm finishing on Emerson and is a completely scored piece. Been talking to MVS about scoring the new work at least half and half. He and Dave Shul should be here with Spearhead next week.

It has been unseasonably warm in Wisconsin and that has been very, very good.

c

This month I've posted some music from the session in May Michael and I did; some technical issues with mastering have delayed the new release but we're working through them. Hope to have all the details sorted out soon, but it's a process...

Been sorting through a lot of solo and MVS tracks (old and new). Quite a lot of material actually! I'll be doing a best-of release of solo music and a proper album w/Michael is planned as well. I'll post bits of the best over the next couple months, and then it will be all new tracks for a while. Actually trying to wipe the slate clean and spend some serious time designing new tones and maybe getting some new guitar/amp combo.

OK, made it to Madison and am re-assembling the studio on the shores of Lake Mendota...

Had some technical issues with the mastering so it's on hold till Jim gets back from England and I'm back up and running. The work is excellent - I cranked it in the truck coming out.

Also on deck will be a live album full of Colorado stuff (solo) that I think will be limited edition - download only; then the Michael Ver Steegt collaboration (MVS has been doing so much world travel lately - I'm quite jealous); and finally I will get my Christmas album out commercially this year. So I have a full plate recording-wise through the end of the year...

CB

OK, album's ready, last song done, we have a title, mastering on Thursday...

Then it's off to Madison, Wisconsin, where the girl will be going to grad school. My left hand, which was giving me so much trouble, has regained its flexibility, so I'll be playing out more, I hope. Be interesting to be in a new place...

Cheers,

CB

Saw WALL-E last night - great film, Pixar has really advanced the animation medium again. Was pleased to see the lead (female?) robot was nicknamed Eva by Wall-e; my song EVA was named for ExtraVehicularActivity i.e. the NASA term for spacewalking and the two robots do a great bit of EVA themselves...

Have booked Airshow in Boulder for mastering, with Jim Wilson at the dials again. Finishing a final add-on for the album and still searching for a title (!) . The art looks fantastic and is by John Hundt again...

Am thinking of putting out a limited edition, download-only live album soon, as well as getting my Christmas album on iTunes, finally.
Heading to the land o' lakes!

cb

Surprisingly good response from the Coffee Exchange show, no live recording though. Been mixing in straight-up classical pieces with the full-tilt ambient...

Have finished the mixes and gotten the go ahead from Romania for the new CD. We're going to add one more piece (just for you XM Audiovisions!) and then mastering w/Jim Wilson.

Looks like we're moving to Madison WI in August so I'll be putting together a new live show and maybe scout for an act to perform with as well.

Keep cool,

CB

We knocked out several pieces while MVS was here, including two 20 minute epics! Reviewed previous material, reviewed the new MJC work as well (Michael had a couple key suggestions), even got out to Cripple Creek and won a few bucks!

Have about a half-dozen details to address with the MJC work but it's on the final lap; really leaning towards Jim Wilson at Airshow for mastering (he did Airlock).

Thanks for the nice comments from students as well - I've been teaching some music classes lately so I've been going crazy...

My hand's feeling well enough to perform, though still not fully healed unfortunately. (The docs say it's carpal tunnel.) I'll be at the Coffee Exchange on June 1 bringing down the ambience...

I've settled on a final line-up of songs and mixes for the new MJC/CB album. Trying to decide on a mastering facility now but a new Chris CD is definitely on its way!

We've already licensed a track off the new CD for a promo video for COPPer, a local arts organization. Check coppercolo.org for a sneak preview...

Also the illustrious Michael Ver Steegt is coming out next weekend for some fun, relaxation, and tracking for another collaboration CD. May have to buy a new Lexicon for the occasion!

best

CB

Spring break!

About halfway through final mixes for the MJC project. I have to say some of the music is quite heavy! Screaming ambient!

As soon as that's done, I have a cd to do with Michael Ver Steegt that will be deeply chilled... he's been posting snippets at his myspace page if you wish to investigate.

Get some sun!

CB

Horrendous busy with classes, but have finished all the tracks for the work with MJC. Now to production mode!

I apologize for no new music recently. I've put up a freebie from the Moonglow era which I've never put out, "Thus", which has a lot of low-key white noise. Give it a spin!

More soon,

CB

Have a tentative release date for the new CD with MJCatalin now; if all goes well we could have it out in April. As the work is cohering and I listen to the tracks, I am genuinely surprised and thrilled at the strength of the music. John Hundt is devising a new cover to follow up on the genius of his Airlock work. It's overdue, I know, but I had a lot of production work in the last couple years!

Speaking of, The Confessions, the Ascendant production featuring Adam Dudley, has been the best-seller of the stable of audiobooks I produced; another production with Adam would be great fun and is likely.

I have also applied to a few select schools for some advanced studies, so look for some news in that department soon as well.

It's been gruesome cold up here in the mountains lately...