Lahuman's Journal

Well, I've worked it all out. the record will release September 22nd, 2009 and will run about 55 minutes. The companion disc (all planned B-sides and some other pieces left over) will be packaged as a bonus disc in the first 50 copies sold. I will also be offering it to the first 25 people who purchase the record digitally for the cost of shipping, about $2. The promotional campaign begin at month's end and the pre-release copies will be avaiable in August with review and other promotional packages being mailed out later that month.

Current Music: Mew- No More Stories EP

The move began today. I am relocating again. This time? Silvelake.

I had the first guest session for the record last week. Betsy Ware provided some vocals for the final track of the record and will most likely be appearing on a couple more.

Been working more on my novel... I'm at around 15,000 words so I've still a ways to go but it's getting there nonetheless.

Current Mood: melancholy
Current Music: Billy Joel - Laura

Starting work on the soundtrack to the "Cop Drama" film this week. For those not aware of the project, it is Joey Clift's cable 8 series which won a national broadcasting award (probably single handedly because of my soundtrack, obviously) and now has the budget and green light to make a full film which will be enetered into major film festivals. Anyways, I am woprking on the soundtrack, some new songs, an extended version of the original theme song and a new Black Aura song to accompany the one from the new record which is slated for the soundtrack. I will start the score segments when I receive my rough cut in March or April.

The new record is coming along wel, I've a new favorite, Ephemera which started life as a piano ballad and has since gotten a bit synthy. Hopefully it comes out nicely. There is an official track listing this time, for real, but I will wait on posting it incase I change my mind for the fiftieth time.

Current Music: Akira Yamoaka - SH 0

So, it's nearly complete. The new record is weeks out from entering the post production period and I must admit that I am glad to get this one over with. I'm quite happy ith the results thus far... it is druggier then I had intended but this has been the natural progression of the record. I think I will keep the high production values sealed underneath an unmastered mix as it seems appropriate for the recordings and song structure. A lot of material did not quite fit and I am unsure of what to do with it. If there is enough demand, I may release the tracks as B-sides on very lengthy (and inexpensive) singles but the method for compiling them would take serious work. The songs on this record, for the most part, lose quite a bit when taken out of context and listened to as single tracks.

What a fucking week...

I've been fighting with my computer all week and have lost a key track from the new record in the process along with little pieces of some others. Have reformatted and reinstalled recording programs but there are some serious glitches now which are preventing me from finishing the remaining tracks. Fortunately, the mid section of the record is mostly untouched and complete. These problems are, unfortunately, going to mean a shorter disc and it will definitely be a bit different then I had originally envisioned but, hell, I tried this project once before during the years of 2001-2003 and abandoned it. It has changed drastically before and the characters are quite different as well. Meanings have changed, lyrics have been altered and, at this point, only 2 songs remain from the old sessions, one of which is barely recognizable anyways.

It will still release at the end of March, period. This could mean it will be unmastered again, it may mean the original double disc project will clock in at around 50 minutes but no matter what, I'm getting the fuck out of this project. The new songs are creeping there way in and are dangerously close to documenting something new (whatever the whole thing actualy is). I will be posting all of the final details within the next thirty days.

New Song...
I've posted one track from the forthcoming LP over on the Black Aura MySpace page. It's at a low bitrate due to stupid size restrictions on the website but, eh, it gets the point across. Check it out if youfeel so inclined. It's entitled "In Every Direction At Once" and the full record will be availble by the firt of April.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=27181937

Sooooo,

the offical release date isslightly altered from what I assumed it would be a year and a half ago. it will be released on April 1st, the day before my thirtieth birthday. I've never had a record go through so many radical changes before... it is a beast of a record and I have recorded several hours worth of material. In an attempt to keep it at a managable size, i will be cutting quite deep and trimming it to about 11 or 12 tracks meaning there will be plenty of quality material surfacing in the forms of companion eps. The songs being selected are the ones I feel tell the story in the most concise manner and have the most cohesive flow. It is not the most accessible... a lot of piano and downtempo beats with airy synths, bass and predominately acoustic guitar. I suppose It is a logical reaction to the "Atonement Rituals and Suicide Chants" record as it was written in the midst of a quarter-life crisis and this was written during the soul searching that took place in the aftermath. You may hate it. You may find it to be the first listenabe release I've presented. Eitherway, it'll be out in April.

So, 2008 snuk by without a Black Aura LP and 2007 saw an EP and a side release... somehow the two year mark without a full length has eclipsed me but i assure you (but mainly myself) that the next record is close. The closing track is proving to be quite an abhorrent bitch and I've spent three weeks trying to get it right. Afte rthat, it's all downhill. I planned on Winter but I can promise Spring. Track listing keeps changing as does the number of tracks I plan to include but it will be a traditional full length clocking in somewhere in the vivinity of an hour give or take. Also, there will likely be a slew of minor releases and rarity packed singles flowing when this project is at last in it's resting place

2008 Top Ten
Top 10 Of 2008

1. Portishead - Third
2. Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping
3. Sigur Ros - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
4. Mogwai - The Hawk Is Howling
5. Mono In VCF - Self Titled
6. Legendary Pink Dots - Plutonium Blonde
7. NIN - The Slip
8. Mars Volta - Bedlam In Goliath
9. Ladytron - Velocifero
10. Beck - Modern Guilt

Also Very Good :

Edward Ka-Spel - Dream Logic Pt. 2 (Has some rough patches but always leading to memorable melodies and sound collages)
Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I-IV (Inconsistent but interesting)
Ohgr - Devils In My Details (Wasn't sure at first but it grows on you. Not Skinny Puppy but the best N. Ogre solo record thus far)
TV On The Radio - Dear Science, (Clever and important, it should be on the list but it didn't hit me quite like the last couple)
Bloc Party - Intimacy (Another grower, like arena electro at times which can be tedious but some gorgeous melodies and strong arrangements lurk beneath)
Squarepusher - Just A Souvenir (A Squarepusher record. If you know what that means, you'll probably like this)

Highly Dissapointing And Bordering On Terrible :

Bauhaus - Go Away White (... biggest dissapointment in my musical adventures to this point)
The Cure - 4:13 Dream (... another huge dissapointment. I enjoyed 3 tracks and hated about 6 or 8. First Cure record I've ever disliked)

Anyone else have a list?

Current Music: Joy Division

Fate is quite funny sometimes. I had a long string of weird events that threw me way off of my plan for the day and landed me in an unintended part of town. A wrong turn led me to a store and I decided to buy the new ATHF dvd and look for an xmas gift for someone. I ran into someone I hadn't seen in a long time and whom I had missed dearly. It was nice.

Current Mood: happy

Tobnight's show went pretty well. Not bad for three weeks preparation. While I am preparing the new record, new line-up and continuing to work on ideas for the new project with Justin, I will continue performing with his band The Monthly Cardinal, it's an interesting change of pace and I really dig the material.

Very, very close to releasing a tracklisting for the new LP along with a couple songs, credit info, a release date and selected art from the release. I've always had a bit of an obsession in regards to what I would release at the age of 29 and I am trying to use every last second to make sue it's a memorable release. The obsession stems from the list of incredible records that have inspired me and were written by artists at the age of 29 John Lennon was writing his Plastic Ono Band record having just completed Abbey Road, Bowie was preparing Low with Brian Eno, Robert Smith was penning his masterpiece, Disintegration, Billy Corgan was finishing Adore, Air, both at age 29, released Moon Safari, Trent Reznor wrote and recorded the Downward Spiral and Cevin Key, mastermind behind the music of Skinny Puppy was working on the inifinitely gorgeous Too Dark Park. That's just off the top of my head... I'd really like the "29" LP for Black Aura to be a standout so yes, this is the main reason for the full year of delays.

Current Music: Pandora "Joy Division Radio" Station

Just got back from the Ohgr show an hour ago or so. Quite good! It far exceeded my expectations, I enjoyed his first solo tour a number of years back but this one seemed much tighter and there was mor energy. Definitely a good hold over till Skinny Puppy decides to actually return to Seattle. On another note, I'll be performing with Justin Foulkes and his band "The Monthly Cardinal" on Thursday the 4th of December at the Mercwood in Arligton (spelling?). Come check it out if you have the time, it's an interesting one off set with stuff we've pulled together from his vast stock of tunes over the past few weeks.

Well, I haven't had too much to say lately but here's the latest. I've moved from the top of the mountain, my self-imposed and rather halfhearted exile is over. I have about 20% of a novel written, a new record nearing completion, a new outlook on things (or so I'm telling myself) and have, as of the weekend before last, played the final solo Black Aura set. I have hired a new live guitarist, the original one to be precise, Jason George! It will be some time before I re-emerge on the scene as I want to hire in another new live member, prepare a completely fresh and very sold set as well as finish the new record before rearing my head again. It will probably be in the spring or early summer.

What else? Hmm... don't want to get too personal here so, yeah, I'll omit some of the detais but I have been a bit on the lonely side despite again being surrounded by people. Guess that's normal? Disapointed by the new Cure record, in love with the new of Montreal and mostly digging the new Ohgr record... all right, that's about it. Nothing truly interesting that I'm ready to share on a public forum.

Oh! for thos einterested, the final solo set list was as follows :

Painting The Porcelain Red
Together We Drift Apart
OCD Panic Zoo
A Thousand Winters
The Atonement Ritual
Longing
Easter Lilies

Current Mood: groggy
Current Music: Smashing Pumpkins - Adore

Assistance Needed For Quick And Fun Musical Experiment...
So, the concept for one of the new songs requires participation from others outside of the Black Aura fold. I need singers for a vocal collage / choir-esque segment on a song and I also need a few people to help concoct an experimental soundscape for part of the album closer. Anyone feel like having some quick music related fun? The idea is for people to record things themselves and send them to me via email and vice-versa.

Pink Dots with Susan later, neat-o! Trying to wrap up some writing but am in the process of moving back to the city. i didn't finish the record there but did write most of it and I've recorded a fair amount of material. I hope to settle into a new place and return to recording by the end of November. Still pushing for a chirstmas release but it is very unlikely. I've run into some road blocks. Plenty of material but am uncertain of what twist to give the record... many of the osngs just don't work together. Alright, time to ride the Nyquil to slumberland. Woot.

Current Music: Legendary Pink Dots - Plutonium Blonde

The next 4-6 weeks of recording =:

A collaboration with Justin Foulkes on the new ending for MRSA
Vocals from Chelsea Mach (her last name might, actually have changed...) and hopefully from Rose Lichner as well
Drums from Sean Tui on a couple tracks

After that it's time for an official track listing which is pretty close already. I will start popping up to play shows here and there, debuting a couple new songs and playing some old songs I usually on't touch. Expect mostly solo synth and electronic sets until yet another new line-up is prepared.

After that, the novel.

The record is coming along smoothly again. Only a couple more songs to write and then it's time to pick through them. I will record the record in the usual manner and then take it into a studio in Eastern Washington to rerecord the main disc. Working on confirmingtwo guests for the main sessions and will announce a track list early in the fall. the single is still happening, just delayed until I decide on the songs making the cut and those delegated to B-Side status. Also working hard on my novel... well, it's a short stort collection really...

Things have been a bit... complex as of late. I will avoid the details for now but I have been hiking and wandering through the city as well quite a bit lately... I walked around 10 miles last night through the dark city streets, through parks and tunnels and eventually to a beach. I love the sea at night... every once in a while you can hear the sound of shells and glass washing up on to the shore over the rocks... very relaxing.

The record has run into a lot of delays due to a change in the living arrnagements up on the mountain but I've had a couple things inspiring me and the material is stacking up, waiting to be arranged and recorded. The original 2009 release date is likely but the chance of it being done this year is quite slim. The single is coming... I'm struggling with rewriting the chorus as it was too... loose for the style and the words. i haven't decided what to use as B-sides yet but I have plenty of options. I may even make this a digital release (like the Nuclear single from... 2006 was it?)

Planning a show at Nooksack Falls shortly. I'm not bothering with invites but if someone actually wishes to travel there to watch it, great! The point is to get some odd live footage for a future project.

Advertisement