Recently in ARC & Interactive Particle Theory Category

Pardon the Boomtown Rats pun, but you may recall that I make music with a few friends of mine - Kevin and Jason. Collectively we are ARC. Its been a while since we have done anything - mostly due to Jason having moved out of state. Over Xmas Jason and family returned to sunny Sydney to visit. Not letting an opportunity pass we dragged out the old guitars for an quick jam.

Jason writes about it on his website - the family van. And I have to agree with him.. considering we havent played together for years.. it all came together so naturally and it even felt good. For those interested there is a small video download on the - the family van.

Have just this minute finished the final mix of 'Noise Plantation", another fine song by Interactive Particle Theory... I will see if I can get a sample up in a few days..

Last night, the Interactive Particle Theory.. completed the E31 Mix to Tullsino's Orb. The final product has some 36 odd tracks (thats counting the drum loop as one track!)..

Wondering what it sounds like? Here is an edit - Tullsino's Orb E31 Mix.mp3

Some minor tweaking of the levels and panning still needs to be done and no doubt several other mixes will be born.

Last night Kev and I did some more work on the Interactive Particle Theory project. I think we have recorded all of the main themes of Tullsino's Orb - we still need to get a drum loop down and then fatten it out with some layers of sound to give it some depth. We really want to over produce this music, so that its not until the 20th time you listen to it that you hear "that bell" thats deep in the mix. I think its that sort of thing which makes people coming back to listen to more - apart from it being a good tune. Which I think it is.

Drum loops are created and exported using Fruity Loops - although we havent really ventured into that arena yet.

Recording this way allows us to create what is essentially a linear product (all songs start, have an intro, verse, bridge, chorus, middle 8 and coda in a specific order - arrangement) in a non linear format.

Ever tried to paint a song? Now you get the idea.. The first notes had been played and fell together to form the tune called "Tullsino's Orb"..

Taking direct inspiration from the cold yet polished German achitechure.. autobahns, lamp posts, 1920's style.. add a sharp keyboard Riff and throw in a few layers of deep keyboards to add depth.. you have the workings of Tullsino's Orb.

Still early in development, we have written the main riff which will feature throughout the songs and also recorded either the middle 8 or a bridge.

Playing with drum loops we also captured a Drum and Bass loop which, whilst will not feature as part of Tullsino's Orb, is sure to be the basis of a future tune..

Not bad for 2-3 hours on a cold Monday Night..

What would happen if Kraftwerk took a detour in the 1980's, crossed itself with Talk Talk, with a splash of Duran Duran and Propaganda throw in for good measure and then got hooked on Bass and Drums and all things electrica and ended up in the year 2025? You would have the Interactive Particle Theory..

Interactive Particle Theory are part of the Experimental Music Unit or EMU for short. Central to EMU are myself and Kevin Cooper. Under the guise of EMU, we write and produce music for ITP and other pseudonyms.

ArC is also a product of EMU and features the trio of myself, kev and another friend as vocalist/guitarist.

Sounds complex and convoluted? Not really.. EMU is the parent reservoir of all of our musical ideas and concepts.. it is the melting pot of where we throw everything into and develop material/music from. From there the song or product will become part of one of our musical projects, be it Interactive Particle Theory, ARC or some new act.

And so it was, Interactive Particle Theory was born on 15 July 2002. Stemming from the concept of a virtual band in a working transcript set in the future of Sydney. The music of ITP can best be described as kraftwerk in the year 2025..

end. [technically its the beginning you know]