The Known Universe

Fly through the world's most complete four-dimensional map of the universe. We've all seen video dramatizations of outer space, but never on this incredible scale. Everything here is real data from the Digital Universe Atlas that is maintained and updated by astrophysicists at the American Museum of Natural History. Watch it full-screen in HD, and your life will be changed.

The 60s Film Look: Goldfinger (1964)

To keep it as simple as possible, but not simpler: Sean Connery was the best 007, and Goldfinger is the best Bond flick.

I had the driving scenes in Switzerland on screen while I was mixing Hidden Lands, so that's what the music looks like to me...

More snapshots after the break...

Benefit Show March 7

Best Bird Face

This is the Frogmouth. Most of these are Tawny Frogmouths, I think. These birds have no idea...





-Ryan

The Video from Yesteryear: Everything Everywhere

A couple years ago, Wesley, Kay and Ryan made music with the 5th and 6th graders. This song features drawings by 50 kids, animated by Ryan, recorded by Ryan and Kay. This was back when Wesley's hair was as long as a girl's!

You can find it under DJ Double Awesome on Youtube, but I wanted to put it up here as well because I'm still fond of it - vocals vocoded with a guitar, a good mono mix, and a solid beat! Why don't we make videos like this anymore??



-Ryan

The 60s Film Look: Topkapi (1964)

Jules Dassin's wonderful jewel heist set in Istanbul. I watched it tonight and took some snapshots along the way. It's a terrific comedy, but also has one of the most suspenseful theft scenes I've ever experienced. And look at it! Beautiful...
















-Ryan

A Strange Land Discovered

"Hidden Lands" is done! The music at least. Right now I'm designing for cd....and vinyl!! More details on the release will come soon. For now I'll say it will be released in the summer.

We've been recording since last winter, but the last couple weeks have been the best part, the mixing. I'm off from work during these snowy months (I maintain hiking trails) so I've just been staying up all night mixing, listening, making notes, watching the Sean Connery Bond movies, and mixing some more. It's a good back-and-forth for the brain. Plus, the whole atmosphere of exotic 60s locations has shaped the way the album feels. To me, it looks like the way film looked in the 60s, great flat color...it sounds like it, too, with instruments hard-panned left and right, vocals in the middle...

"In the Dream of the Sea Life" sounded very 2009, which isn't a bad thing, but "Hidden Lands" sounds a lot more timeless.

Maybe this will be a real blog?

-Ryan