Loopback Filter with Truman Boyes

Replaced the superdrive in MacBookPro; finally! The factory DVD burner slowly died last year. At first it stopped reading DVDs, then data CD’s had issues, and finally it gave up on reading any media. I was able to get some cash back from AMEX since they match warranties on hardware; so AMEX paid for the cost of replacing the drive and labour.

However, I noticed that it made sense to make the replacement myself with an OEM drive ordered from powerbookmedic.com. The ordering process was easy and I was able to get the drive sent out to Australia via Fedex. In less than a week I had the drive in hand and was able to follow the step in opening up the case, removing the ribbon cable, replace the mounting brackets, and finally replace the drive. All screws are back in and it is working well. Played a CD of  cesaria evora and all sounded brilliant.

Last night we attended the Opera House to see Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi play some of his new music from his album Tsimba Itsoka as well as some of his classics. I got into listening to his music after reading about him about 8 years ago when my mother was traveling to Africa. I purchased the Paivepo album for her, and then completely got into it myself. The Zimbabwe and other southern Africa peoples living in New Zealand were absolutely spell bound when he started playing.  Tuku has fun with the people and gets into jamming on his guitar, dancing like crazy (more than you could imagine for a man born in 1952), and telling stories. Sometimes he would break into English and connect with the larger audience, thou most of the singing is in Shona.

We danced from one of the middle tiers in the opera house, and suprisingly met up with one of Jenny’s co-workers whom is from Zimbabwe.

Tuku generously signed autographs of his CD’s and we got him to sign his new album as well as Paivepo. Great work Tuku, thanks for the visit!

Listening to The Cinematic Orchestra, Ma Fleur is the warm analog melodies that are required to set the mood for grey Sundays that are filled with other tasks. The music plays in the background and paints the direction for the day.

Next week brings quite a lot of work, some travel to Australia, and endeavors that hopefully lead to attainment. I am looking forward to starting guitar lessons soon. Now, will it be a steel guitar or nylon strings? I shall decide either next week or the following …

The latest from Architecture in Helsinki, Places like This, is a musical fiasco with a plethora of images and sounds of polyphony. Heart it Races is a fantastic track that brings in the sounds of what sounds like steel drums. This album is king.

Public Enemy, comes back with strong messages in their latest album. It’s interesting to hear these guys again; its been some time since I listended to Chuck D. “Getting high on their price tags … thinking you need rings and bling …”, Chuck D, 47 years old, rocks the mic to trash pop music, Black Entertainment, commercialization of the music, and people that learn a life of consumers: “40 year old men are reduced to boys by waiting in lines to by Play Stations”. It’s good to see Chuck and Flavor Flav come together with a politically inspired and targetted message. There was a plethora of clips and samples from their earlier works, including “In takes a Nation of Millions”. Fans of Flavor’s previous work, “Cold Lamp’in”, will like his new “Col-leepin”, dedicated to all his kids … this guy is totally out of control and has such has a good time on the mic making his ridiculous lyrics which make everyone laugh … : “still turning all the onions into cry’ers”. Overall, its a strong album with a strong effort. If you liked PE’s earlier albums, this one is worthy of a listen, and quite possibly an effort to get to one of their shows. Looks like they are playing in San Fran …

Spent some time listening to the May 2004 Album, Instant PIG, from Korean/Canadian band Clazziquai.  The group is more a project than a long lived band with a particular evolved style. How to describe? Well most songs are instrumentally focused with a calming melody of vocal notes in mostly english with occasional korean. A bit of bossa nova with some calm breakbeat from time to time, and some classic house beats that creap in from time to time. It’s a good listen and I think the music deserves to stand out by it’s own and not be even slightly compared to anything K-pop. It’s unconventional, but at the same time with melodies that can remind you of a few Astrud Gilberto tracks; but I found myself thinking of an cd that my dad once gave me: combustible edison. They had similar vocal styles to Clazziquai and bossa nova beats and a few cosmic sounds in the background.

Another album that I started listening to is Strawberry Jam by the Animal Collective. This is the first time I have been exposed to this band, and I am interested in hearing more of their works. Very hard to describe this album with words; but I will try. Reverb on guitars and drums with unique lyrics that read like the singer is looking to take you there. Beats per minute change at an increasing pace, but you could just as easily throw these tracks on at a gathering and people would be pleased by the melodies and vocal sounds. Vocal sounds? Yeah, almost like humming or whistle’ing but not exactly and some cool samples that loop.  This album has pushed some serious musical ground; next time they are playing in NYC and I am there, I would certainly see them live.