| DIARY: Friday, March 24, 2006: In the mail today: Neal Morse - Inner Circle CD: Neal Morse in the 80's. A visit with the cat family, eating dinner and having a jolly good time.
Thursday, March 23, 2006: At work today I was playing with the thought of making a deluxe edition of The Heffernan Effect, that would be a book with lyrics, trivia, extra artwork, the regular CD and a bonus CD (The Heffernan Defect) with songs written or recorded during the same time as the regular songs. Songs to be included there: "Girl at Barong", songs that I have written for Aloysius (single-handed): "Reminding", "O, Morpheus' Daughter" and "Stay" (a song I haven't introduced to the band yet), the get-well song I wrote for my cat, "Well", and a cover version of Meshuggah's "Future Breed Machine". In the mail, 4 CDs: Ahleuchatistas – What You Will, Richard Leo Johnson – The Legend of Vernon McAlister, Ray Russell – Goodbye Svengali and Zaar – Zaar.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006: Got new files for "Forevermore" today and mixed more, but still there was something wrong with the files, probably the converting to wav-files is corrupting the signal. I learned a lot, though. While brushing my teeth for the night, I came up with a good melody for the "bridge" in "Girl at Barong" and I recorded a backing track for it.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006: This night I had a strange dream that affected me in a strong way. On my way to work I wrote the lyrics and melody for a song describing that dream, the song is called "Girl at Barong". In the mail: an LP that is a gift. Tried to mix "Forevermore", the Aloysius song we recorded, but there was something wrong with the files I had. Instead I recorded a backing track of the vocals for "Girl at Barong", and fiddled with some rhythms for it. I really feel this song could be great, though the lyrics are a bit controversial, perhaps.
Monday, March 20, 2006: New reading: Paris handbook.
Sunday, March 19, 2006: A nice day spent with the cat. We visited an art gallery.
Saturday, March 18, 2006: Aloysius rehearsal, a good one. We even had a conversation about my plans of moving, and what will happen with the band then. I'm thinking we'll have to wait and see, I want to try to make it work, and at least finish recording and releasing the songs we have made thus far. We recorded a bit today, and back home I tried to mix it properly, but that didn't quite work out.
Friday, March 17, 2006: Today we got the compilation CDs we are featured on (my band, Aloysius). They were without cover and came in plastic sleeves. Pretty amateurish, and not what we had expected initially. The recordings aren't especially good, either, so we're not going to sell them. They wouldn't be good promotion for us. So that was a let-down. But an experience to learn from nonetheless.
Thursday, March 16, 2006: At work I had some ideas for the song "Belief", some strange, cheesy backing vocals in the chorus. In the mail: This year's first edition of the periodical I'm writing for, one on local history. I have my very own column there now, it's about genealogy.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006: In the mail today: Chicago XXX. I was a bit disappointed in the selection of which tracks to succeed which, and the fact that Chicago is still trying to be hitmakers, instead of trying to make great music. Not that what they make is bad, but it's "flavored" by that goal. The latter part of the CD is the best one.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006: Work, visit, daydreaming.
Monday, March 13, 2006: Work and wasting time.
Sunday, March 12, 2006: My parents drove me back to Hamar, where we met up with the cat, before my parents drove back home. Me and the cat laid plans (or "made plancakes", as we like to say).
Saturday, March 11, 2006: A nice day spent visiting my grandmother, which is always a pleasure. Finished reading Crime and Punishment today, a powerful book that I have thoroughly enjoyed.
Friday, March 10, 2006: After work I headed for my parents home in Moss. It was good seeing them again.
Thursday, March 9, 2006: Not much to report.
Wednesday, March 8, 2006: Still a bit sick. In the mail, two CDs: Ambition - Ambition and Yargos - To Be Or Not To Be. The first one rather boring, the latter a wierd and entertaining and interesting one, with the very talented Mac singing. Probably will become a personal favorite.
Tuesday, March 7, 2006: Didn't feel too well today, so I stayed home from work. A conversation with the cat ended with me applying for a bachelor program in "Music Technology" at the Norwegian university NTNU. Acting on impulse, obviously, but the more I think about it, the more right it feels. I need to get moving somewhere, and I should study more, so as to have more opportunities for work later, and working with music is what I want to do, both performing and this that I'm going to study: sound engineering, producing, that sort of stuff. Oblique strategy: When is it for?
Monday, March 6, 2006: Some ideas for "Fear" today, including the use of a vocoder. In the mail: 5uu's - Regarding Purgatories and Abandonship.
Sunday, March 5, 2006: A day with no real action.
Saturday, March 4, 2006: I went to Oslo. Ended up with LPs: The Residents – The Tunes of two Cities, Ekseption – Beggar Julia’s Time Trip and Ekseption – Flight of the Bumble Bee/Smile (7” in triangle package). And CDs: Aube – RM4, Joshua Abrams – Busride Interview, Musique Concrete Ensemble – Dissolution Tapes: The MCE Remixed, Täppas Strepens – The Great American Brainkiller, Cyrano – I cannot smell it! and Koppen – My fashion Statement is Scrambled Eggs. Then I met my good friend Gunn, and we ate dinner before we went to see Toto in concert. That was a really nice experience. I saw them last year, too, but they played a lot of songs from the new album, and I really had a good time. Attended a party later that evening.
Friday, March 3, 2006: In the mail today: Fluttr Effect - Swallows and Sparrows. A very nice time had wioth my girl, the cat.
Thursday, March 2, 2006: In the mail today: Porcupine Tree - Metanoia reissue CD. A wonderful quote, probably by Robert Musil: "If there is realism, there has to be possiblism too".
Wednesday, March 1, 2006: Had some more ideas for lyrics to the song "Wave". Chatting with my cat, we had an interesting conversation about creating or becoming members of some sort of musical community when we move later this year.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006: Thought about adding strings to the Aloysius sound. In the mail today: Acid Mothers Temple and the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. – Electric Heavyland, a fun CD. Had a chat with the cat about music videos and stuff like that. I really value her opinion on subjects like that, because she has a ot more knowledge about it than I do.
Monday, February 27, 2006: A very boring day, just work and sleep.
Sunday, February 26, 2006: A nice day spent with lovely cat.
Saturday, February 25, 2006: Watched Transatlantic DVD. In the mail today: Mr. Mister - Pull. This is the unreleased Mr. Mister album, so a bootleg. A very good album all the while. The cat and I watched "Dracula: Pages from a virgin's diary", by Guy Maddin. A great movie! Really wonderful work.
Friday, February 24, 2006: In the mail today: Fred Borage - Rural Class Struggle in Ambridge, a book I ordered from ReR Megacorp. Watched the movie The New World with Erik at the cinema.
Thursday, February 23, 2006: In the mail today: Transatlantic - Live in America & Building the Bridge DVD. I watched it, and especially the "making of" documentary was very inspiring.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006: In the mail today: Transatlantic - Live in Europe DVD, and two LPs that are gifts. Watched DVD and had a good time.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006: In the mail today: Ivanhoe DVD. I watched it, and it being an old favorite from my childhood, it was fun and all, but it really is a lousy movie. It's quite different from the book, the story is hurried, the actors are mediocre at best, and the editing is very strange (I normally don't notice editing in movies, but it's hard not to with this movie). Fun anyway!
Monday, February 20, 2006: A quite boring day. Work.
Sunday, February 19, 2006: Aloysius rehearsal. Visiting the cat later, we decided on our trip: Paris, March 29 to April 2. Then we ordered the tickets, and that was that. New oblique strategy: "Simple subtraction".
Saturday, February 18, 2006: Today's oblique strategy: "Ask people to work against their better judgement". I knew right away who I was going to ask ...
Friday, February 17, 2006: After work, Erik (Aloysius bassist) and I drove home to my place with lots of unhealthy food, and we watched: Devin Towsend Band - Synchestra DVD, The Others, Flying Daggers and Strapping Young Lad - For Those Aboot To Rock DVD. A fun night.
Thursday, February 16, 2006: At work, I had some ideas for the novel I'm working on (very slowly I might add). Don't think I'll ever get beyond the idea state, though I have one and a half chapter written. In the mail: Alf Ludo's Partyband - ...men seriøst...?
Wednesday, February 15, 2006: Bought 4 LPs today: Rimsky-Korsakov - Sheherezade, Casiopea - Soundgraphy, Mr. Mister - Go on ... and Buggles - Adventures in Modern Recording. Finished Ivanhoe and started reading Dostoevsky - Crime and Punishment (in Norwegian translation).
Tuesday, February 14, 2006: New reading today: Walter Scott - Ivanhoe. A bit nostalgic, as I loved the movie when I was a child. Called the producer of the compilation CD that Aloysius are going to be on, and he said the CD would be done soon, but at least two of the other bands on the CD had disbanded already, so he wasn't too eager to promote this release, he might not even make a cover for it, just give it away or sell it in plastic folders. This, of course a bit disappointing, but also, since we're not really happy with the recordings, maybe for the best. I'm not sure we will make it available for purchase. Me and the cat discussed our vacation, and found a time frame for it.
Monday, February 13, 2006: Bought a CD: Allan Holdsworth - None Too Soon, and an LP: Jon Anderson - 3 Ships. Also, in the mail today: Land of Deborah - E is for EP. Deborah sings on the new Devin Townsend Band album, and I liked it a lot, so I bought her EP.
Sunday, February 12, 2006: My birthday! I turned 27. The day was spent with the cat, who brought me a wonderful chocolate cake in bed and gave me a beautiful book: Mix tape - the art of cassette culture, by Thurston Moore.
Saturday, February 11, 2006: A wonderful time spent with my girlfriend, the cattiest girl in the world.
Friday, February 10, 2006: Today I thought a bit about all the lists that I make a lot of. I think compiling lists of pasts, presents and possible futures is a way for me to 'collect myself' and makes it possible at all to look forward, even when things move so slow you can't actually see it moving. Which is where I'm at, mostly. Finished Book of Leviathan today, wonderful, wonderful! Kicked off the weekend with the cat at the cat's place, staying there until my birthday.
Thursday, February 9, 2006: At work I had several ideas, among them making an easy-listening version of Meshuggahs "Future Breed Machine". I also all of a sudden rediscovered, buried deep in my mind, a song I wrote almost 7 years ago, called "Fanny and the sun". I had actually forgotten all about it, then remembered it, and checking my diary when I came home, there it was (the lyrics anyway). I remembered the melody as well. That song is one of the very personal ones that I wrote back then. All of my lyrics are to a degree personal, and always (subjectively) honest. Especially during the time from 1996-2001 I wrote some very personal lyrics, that perhaps would be better suited for the bottom drawer, but I actually look very much forward to having them recorded and released, I think I like the idea of an artist being as personal and honest as possible. In the mail: Hail/Snail's 7" vinyl.
Wednesday, February 8, 2006: New reading: Book of Leviathan by Peter Blegvad. In the evening: a visit from the cat.
Tuesday, February 7, 2006: There are talks (more or less initiated by me) on the Toto Community Board about collaborating on a Toto tribute album. I did some rehearsal vocal takes to find out if I can actually manage to sing Toto. We can easily eliminate "Wings of Time"!
Monday, February 6, 2006: My best pal Alex' birthday! I called him up (he lives in Texas) and congratulated him and talked for a while. Finished the Valle-Inclán book today, very good stuff!
Sunday, February 5, 2006: At work in the evening/night: Fascinated by the very funny play with words in the title of an album by The Lens ... the album is called "A word in your eye". "The Lens - a word in your eye" - get it? I like it so much I want to steal the idea and change it a bit, like I could have a song baring the latin name of a part of the heart, and then in the song I could sing "a word in my heart". I'm perhaps the only one finding this funny, but what the heck.
Saturday, February 4, 2006: Aloysius rehearsal at Mr. B's studio, some of it was recorded, among other things, an version of our newest song with improvised "Russian" lyrics by yours truly. Very funny. Later that same day: At the cinema with Erik, we saw the movie Munich, with Eric Bana.
Friday, February 3, 2006: In the mail today: two LPs that are gifts for later. And a t-shirt.
Thursday, February 2, 2006: A boring work day.
Wednesday, February 1, 2006: On a very non-musical note: A Danish newspaper, and then later on a Norwegian Christian 'magazine', published a few rather unfavorable drawings of the prophet Muhammad, creating a rage in the muslim world (can't blame them, really). Following this, several threats of terrorist attacks and a few discussions on freedom of speech. What really pisses me off about this case is the recent turn: Quite a lot of Norwegian bloggers have now united and are posting the unfavorable drawings of Muhammad in their blogs, claiming that this is supposed to be in support of people living in countries where freedom of speech is not secured. Now, Norwegian bloggers have struggled for quite some time to become an entity of importance, to be the independant watch dogs, to put matters on the agenda. Most of them unsuccessfully, as the majority are all wrapped up in their puny selves. So here they have this case in question; an opportunity to hit the front pages with their collective voice of importance, wit and (of course) wisdom. How do they use this opportunity? To fuel the fire! This is what children do when they become aware of their liberties, but having freedom of speech does not mean we have to use it to say the most stupid things possible! Adults should know this. Norwegian bloggers are not defending freedom of speech, instead they are defending their own idiocy, which I guess would be fine, if it didn't hurt anyone. I can't even begin to imagine how it would feel to be a faithful muslim right now. I don't condone extremist threats or terrorism, but I don't condone religious disrespect or plain idiocy either. I love being able to say whatever I feel like, sometimes I just don't, because I'm not ten years old anymore. This rant is probably a one-off, because I'm not really a blogger and my feelings on the subject aren't really important, I just had to let this out somewhere, I'm sure I'll be flamed and butchered, and I'll just go back to writing about music and trivial matters. Now, I stated that this would be a non-musical rant, but I'm actually thinking of making 'freedom of speech' the subject of my next Aloysius lyrics. I think it might fit well in the context of other Aloysius lyrics, as I've developed a sort of concept for the bands lyrical side during the last couple of years. We actually have an untitled song right now that's in need of some words, so that might be it.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006: Nature is cruel:
Probably a cat killed this bird, just outside my front door. Feathers everywhere. Before work, Erik gave me a cd-r with the recording of the last Aloysius rehearsal, a fun listen, and promising. I suggested to Erik that we record all future rehearsals, because a lot of interesting things happen at rehearsals, that is easily forgotten. In the mail today, 5 CDs: Devin Townsend Band - Synchestra (special edition), Hail - Turn of the Screw, Hail - Kirk, Hail/Snail - How to live with a tiger and The (ec) Nudes - Vanishing Point. These making my CD collection exactly 900 in numbers.
Monday, January 30, 2006: I woke up from the door bell ringing, and it was a delivery man handing me a package, which contained the new Toto album Falling in Between, the Japanese version with bonus track, of course. I listened a lot to it during the day, and it is really awesome, probably among the best they've ever done. They have managed to make it sound like vintage Toto, but still fresh and modern, and pretty heavy at times. Wonderful! I'm looking very much forward to the concert in early March. In the mail box: "The Book of Leviathan" by Peter Blegvad, a collection of his comic strips about Leviathan and the Cat. I've read a lot of good things about it, so I'm looking forward to reading it. At first glance it looks odd, quirky, just the way I like it. In the night I worked a bit on the orchestration for the "mapped the path" part of the song "Dream", very slow moving work, but I'm guessing I'll be done with that part within the week. I think I might need to write simpler songs, cause this is really exhausting.
Sunday, January 29, 2006: Me and the cat with another ice skating experience, very 'cool', and also quite cold. In the evening: a Skeleton Crew overdose! It just makes me want to be a drummer and be able to play drums on "Que Viva". What a fantastic song!
Saturday, January 28, 2006: Aloysius rehearsal in the studio, lacking one guitarist. Even still, we recorded eleven tracks live, for possible inclusion on the Aloysius website as a download. Also today: We received word from the producer of the compilation CD we are featured on that it is now indeed finished, and we will get some copies next week, there's still some time before it becomes available for the public, though. A nice, cozy dinner with the cat in the night.
Friday, January 27, 2006: At work, I got an idea via the song "Used to be alright" by I Mother Earth for some lyrics based on O'Shaughnessy's famous Ode. It was also partly inspired by an art discussion I had with my girlfriend the other day: How hard can it be
Thursday, January 26, 2006: At work today I was composing the chorus of my musical inspired song, and writing some additional words. A very cool idea. After work, lunch with the cat. In the mail: a new Neal Morse Inner Circle CD and "After the storm", a benefit album for the survivors of the hurricane Katrina.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006: As I was watching the video of Devin Townsend's "Christeen", I was thinking that it was a pretty cool idea he had there, to take a few lines from a musical type song (in this case, the song "All I Ask of You" from The Phantom of the Opera, the line "Christine, that's all I ask of you") and use them in a rock song. I wanted to do that. The first song I thought of was "Anthem" from the musical Chess, the line "How can I leave her, where would I start?". I thought about using that in a very different context from that of the original song.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006: Had an incredible lot of musical ideas today, which had to do with modes, practicing, transferring from cassette to CD, mastering (several tracks connected or one track with several movements?), plundering, pseudonyms and dreams of a certain guest vocalist for my album. Later in the day: I saw the Narnia movie with bassist Erik at the cinema.
Monday, January 23, 2006: I got a call from my brother today with a request to make an 8 minute drum loop for his trio to use on their current school tour. I made one very quickly.
Sunday, January 22, 2006: Lunch with cat-like girlfriend, otherwise a lazy day.
Saturday, January 21, 2006: I participated in an Exquisite Corpse project, as a mixer, and today I mixed a track I chose to call "Weeping Corpse". Read all about the project and listen to the song at the Exquisite Corpse website. Again a visit at girlfriend's place, though I was very sleepy.
Friday, January 20, 2006: Aloysius rehearsal in Mr. B's studio, a whole new experience for me, having my vocals in headphones. For a vocalist, hearing himself is alpha and omega. If he doesn't hear himself, he has to sing louder, to sing louder, he has to strain his voice, straining his voice causes the vocals cords to tire, and it will sound less 'clean', and not so nice. I have never sounded better on any rehearsal than today. We worked a lot on our latest song "Fire", and I had a cool idea for an alternate last chorus, that everyone thought sounded good. A very groovy song indeed.
Thursday, January 19, 2006: I finished the Baschet book today, and started reading Ramón del Valle-Inclán - "Sonatas". Another e-mail from Susanne Lewis today, wishing me good luck with my musical pursuits.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006: I sent Susanne Lewis a lenghty reply. She and Bob Drake are currently finishing up a new Hail record, so that's good news for me. Later that day, in the snail mail box: Two new AdHoc releases: Louis Pernot - "Livre de luth de Perrine" and Bob Drake - "What Day Is It?" (rerelease of his debut solo album from 1994). Then a lengthy lunch and visit with girlfriend. Later on: More ideas for the lyrics I came up with yesterday. I decide for it to be included on The Heffernan Effect, as an own track called "Wave". I also added a few lines to the lyrics I had written, at least they were ideas that might turn in to something: let the undercurrents lead me
home I really liked the idea of that, it's very ... me. To let myself be led by coincidence, and make the best out of where I end up.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006: In the mail today: Kissyfur - Kissyfur and Biota - Object Holder, both with vocals by Susanne Lewis. And because I admire her work very much, and wondered what she's been up to musically the last 7 years, I sent Susanne Lewis an e-mail telling her about my admiration and asking some questions. I finished reading Hamsun today, and started reading François Baschet – "Les Sculptures Sonores", a very interesting book. During the night I received a reply from Susanne Lewis, and I received it with a bit of childish pride. I really do think she's done an awful lot of amazing things, she's got a really special voice, and a sincerety to her singing almost unparalleled in this world. Inspired by the This Heat song "Not Waving", I wrote some lyrics containing the words "not waving, but drowning", but revolving more around personal issues, where the "drowning" is a metaphor for a sort of resigned and apathetic withdrawal from the world.
Monday, January 16, 2006: Another lazy day.
Sunday, January 15, 2006: Today motivation was low, so I didn't get anything done.
Saturday, January 14, 2006: Today: Another Aloysius rehearsal at Ola's studio, and I wrote about half of the words for our newest song: "Fire". Picked up another vinyl record at the post office today. Worked more on "Dream", and actually finished the drums and the bass for verses 3 and 4, and made a piano guideline for the vocals, so they could be perfectly in tune. I was very satisfied with my work on that, and I can't wait to record the vocals for it, it will sound super cool!
Friday, January 13, 2006: After work, I worked more on "Dream", worked out bass and drum for the bridge, and made a temporary vocal track for verses 3 and 4, so as to have a guideline for working on bass and drums for those verses. I also had a lot of ideas for this song, amogn other things I added a minute or so to it with my plan for a piano solo.
Thursday, January 12, 2006: After work I began working on "Dream" again, keeping the old drum track and working more on sound and EQ. It worked out very well in the end.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006: I picked up a package at my local store/post office today, it was Bass Communion - Loss (vinyl), a present for my girlfriend. It was such a lovely item that I had to send an e-mail to the online record store (Headphone Dust) to tell them thanks. After work I started replacing all the drums on "Dream" to make it "more human", so to speak, but after hours of work I ended up discarding everything.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006: In the mail today, three cds from AdHoc Records: NIMBY - Songs for Adults (featuring the always wonderful Bob Drake), K-Space - Going Up and The Work - Live in Japan. Looking forward to hearing those. I finished reading the Thomas Mann book today, and started Knut Hamsun - Sult, in the original archaic Norwegian. At work I had some new ideas and plans for the recording of The Heffernan Effect. After work I visited the crazy cat, and we listened to Blackfield on vinyl.
Monday, January 9, 2006: After work today I wrote an article for the periodical on local history that I occasinally write for. Oblique strategy no. 5: "Make what's perfect more human". I was planning on doing that by replacing the perfectly programmed piano parts on "Dream" with something based on my less perfect piano skills. And some percussion added to the perfectly programmed drums?
Sunday, January 8, 2006: Woke up in Morten and Gunn's apartment, ate breakfast with them, then caught the train back home.
Saturday, January 7, 2006: A late awakening, and a train trip to Oslo. In Oslo I bought 6 cds: Porcupine Tree - Signify (original release?), Porcupine Tree - The Sky Moves Sideways (Snapper reissue), Fripp & Eno - The Equatorial Stars, Tears for Fears - Everybody Loves a Happy Ending, Kate Bush - The Kick Inside. Also, I bought Yes - Greatest Video Hits, on dvd. Afterwards: Birthday party for my good friend Gunn, with interesting, good people. Gunn wanted to go with me to the Toto concert, so she got my second ticket as her birthday present from me.
Friday, January 6, 2006: After work, I ended up buying four cds: Fantômas - S/T, General Patton Vs. The X-ecutioners - S/T, Kate Bush - Aerial and Boards of Canada - The Campfire Headphase. In the mail, the two tickets for March's Toto concert.
Thursday, January 5, 2006: After work today, a short visit with the cat, and then onto another Aloysius rehearsal, the first one in guitarist Ola's new studio, which was good fun and an awesome experience. For once, no feedback and no crappy vocal sound!
Wednesday, January 4, 2006: At work I exposed a colleague of mine to some music from my collection, the first cd was Borknagar, and then Andy Bole. Suddenly he turns to me and asks: "What are we listening to?". "It's Andy Bole", I replied. Then he just shaked his head, mumbling: "Satan music at six and free jazz at eight". I happened to find that very funny. In the evening, the year's first rehearsal with Aloysius.
Tuesday, January 3, 2006: In the mail today: Ved Buens Ende - "Written in Waters", Norwegian avantgarde black metal (or something like that). Not too bad, though I'm not very keen on black metal. Later in the day I had an hour long telephone chat with one of my best friends, Morten, mostly about music and wine. I ordered 2 tickets for the Toto concert in Oslo in March. Not sure who I'll bring yet, but there's a possibility the second ticket will be a birthday present for Saturday's birthday girl.
Monday, January 2, 2006: I ate out with Erik the bass player, we had discussions about future musical adventures.
Sunday, January 1, 2006: First day of the year was spent with the crazy cat in my apartment, then we went ice-skating, and it was more or less my first time doing that. I was a natural talent, didn't fall over. A very pleasant experience.
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