Memories of Miss Memory

My new toy arrived! The Downgrade pedal, an analogue sample rate reducer - plus, made by the Squarewave Parade.

It’s an analogue sample rate reducer based on the sample and hold circuit designed by Tom Bugs. The knobs are named gain, downgrade (sample rate adjustment), starve (described as a circuitbend), dialup (feedback control) and volume. There is also a high/low switch and a clean/dirty switch. Some of the knob settings can be quite unpredictable at times which adds to its charm, and works well over drums and other sequence based sounds. I have managed to get my drum sequences squealing, squelching and glitching happily whilst fiddling with the starve and downgrade knobs. Its aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and for me visual aesthetics are always a drawcard when choosing gear. Sadly for the rest of you, there were only ten made and as far as i know they are all sold, but you could always email the lads at the Squarewave Parade and beg them nicely to make some more….

At the moment I have hooked it up to my Jomox and its sounding pretty raw and dirty, and I can imagine it working well, albeit a little dysfunctionally (in a good way) in a live situation, twisting the knobs to change the drum sound into a raw glitch ridden scream, and back again into a drum loop. Initially I was drawn to this unit because I wanted to find a piece of hardware that would act similarly to the digital distortion function that Propellerhead’s Reason “Scream” effects unit has, which i use over the top of rhodes and piano for soft static embossed melodic lines, but because it is set up as a pedal, it implies other uses i hadn’t thought of. I was half thinking about selling my Jomox last year, but this little baby has rekindled my love for the joys of externally sequenced drums. Right now i am working on a setup involving the Jomox, Downgrade and the dave smith Evolver. I am interested to try it out on guitar, and i am thinking about a guitar-evolver-downgrade setup for my next experiment.

Its hard to find podcasts that have consistent, enjoyable musical or informative output but i have a few favourites that have kept me company through this year. If you have any recommendations for next years listening list, please pipe up!

Music

Brainwashed podcast
A great selection of music from ambient, postpunk, leftfield electronica, and nu-folk from the brainwashed crew

Dublab
I love the dublab podcast, but they have to sort out their RSS feed as it just never seems to work. With guests like Colleen, The Books, and Thomas Fehlmann you absolutely must check it out.

Bleep43 Radio
A quality radio show also with lots of great guests, with a focus on electronica

Plum Jam Sessions
I have been a contributor to this show over the past year, a great selection of experimental and weirdtronica hosted by Jen Teo. Straightup is a net radio station based in Australia with lots of great shows. Definitely worth checking out the selections

Talk/Info

RU Sirius Show
Neo Files

Both hosted by the inimitable RU Sirius with a great bunch of quasi-intelligent babblers, keep you laughing at their antics. NeoFiles is more formal, but still has a plethora of visionary guests that inspire and challenge.

Scientific American Podcast

A short n sweet weekly podcast highlighting a couple of science stories pertinent to recent news.

Radio National - the Philosophers zone

Always a pleasure to listen to, brain food.

They are the band on everyone’s lips. You hear them in Cafe’s, your WORK colleagues have heard of them, they are playing at Sonar 06! Its official, FFD are HUGE! Their gig at the Metro was sold out three weeks in advance. Their heartbeat dub is definitely raising temperatures all around the country. After numerous discussions with lovers of Fat Freddys Drop, I have discovered that maybe part of the secret to their worldwide appreciation, is that they always leave the audience in a state of permanent expectation. Always thinking that the release will come, always wanting more. Their music is like hours of foreplay. There is no release. And for me, this is why I love them so dearly. Its almost like they have discovered the secret to tantric music. Giving the audience the build up but never truly letting go. Thanks FFD for making music interesting again and holding back like a good lover should!