Chris Bocast: News

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...

Spent two weeks in Florida over the holidays - now I have a murderous work load: finish the MJCatalin album while teaching 6 classes.

I'll sleep when I'm dead - holding off on live shows till the new CD is done.

Posted a couple favorites from last year for download - can't wait to get the new music out!!

Been unspeakably busy, but I have paused to post some Christmas favorites. End of semester, re-taking the GRE, blah-blah...

Understand "Airlock" has enjoyed some national airplay in Russia as well. Prevyet, my Eastern friends!

Taking a little time off in Florida again this holiday season. I'll be settling on a final selection of pieces for the Bocast/Catalin project. I know, we need a moniker.

Left hand is better; I'm playing classical again but still not 100% - have to get some therapy (sigh - next year will be better health-wise).

Holiday best to all!

I'll put the Seventh Chamber and the Commonwheel on the next solo album - downloads of these live tracks from this summer were off the chart! This surprises me as I had a severe strain on my left hand (it's still not healed) and could only really use one finger effectively...

All new downloads in the music section, including the first of some Christmas stuff. Found a small treasure trove of tracks, some with Michael ver Steegt playing keys/samples, from around 2003. We've been sending some music back and forth - check out "The 19th Century". This track will definitely make it to commercial release soon!

More Christmas music and other goodies soon!

On the Chris album front, I've enough material for a MJCatalin collaboration (we may do a track or two more) - I've been slowly fine-tuning the mixes and I'm very pleased...

On the solo piano front, after careful listening I've had to pass on the sessions from this summer. The clicking high 'D' key on the Steinway at Rigel was just unacceptable. Happily the piano tracks from last year have shown true character, and an initial experiment of combining them with some of the exceedingly popular live tracks from this summer, along with some favorite odds and ends, have turned out quite listenable and may turn into a release early next year as well.

So two new albums almost done - but wait! I recalled that in summer 2003 (2,4,?) my good friend Michael Ver Steegt dropped by for an extended visit and we did some recordings. I later organized these into an album, titled it "Moonglow", sent him a copy and promptly forgot it existed, what with all the production work of the next few years. Well, I found my copy today and a lot of it is quite good, with a few outstanding tracks. I shall be posting a few of them regularly over the next few months.

More soon; I am applying to some compositional programs at a few different universities and must get my apps done.

You can get Lissa's album on Amazon now (go to Links) and CDBaby and itunes soon! Been sorting through music - I will try to bring out in the next few months a piano album, a Christmas album, and the new solo album with MJC (I know - we need some cool name for the duo). I could even cull a live album together of more ambient guitar if people liked...

Also Dave Shul of Michael Franti & Spearhead has contributed some guitar for the new album. I'll have to do some ebow for Spearhead now!

The news for now - CB