New Tunes...

Direct copy&paste from the post I made on the Solid Air Message Board...



Hi folks,

I've uploaded 4 new MP3's to the myspace page of
my side-project 'Computer Comedown'. It's quite a
nice day so I thought I'd share them with you
guys. Most people who come here a open-minded and
either write music or experiment with the
instruments and technology we have available to
us or even just love to listen to and experience
new stuff - so I thought this was a perfect forum
for this to be opened too. (I'll probably stick
this post on BHone's forum too and my blog later).
Anyway, onwards to the music. You can go straight
to the music HERE.
Below is some brief descriptions about what's going
on behind them.

They are...
1. 'Microcosm' ... experimenting with an abnormal time-signature (6/4 I think, correct me if I'm wrong)

2. 'Dark Dubble' ... Was trying out some bit-crushed MIDI percussion sequences and building them up with more MIDI drum tracks to see what I could come up with. Eventually I needed a tune in there so I made something up, it was feeling dark so I finished it off with some 80's synth at the end.

3. 'Name me' ... It's called that cos I couldn't think of a name (I'm sure we've all been there). Blind Voyeurs band mate, Lee, had an acoustic guitar riff he wanted to do something with. So we recorded it lo-fi and had a play around with melodies. It felt like it needed a pretty up-beat drum section so messed about with some tight cuts and delays to bring a break-beat that trips over itself. Added some slide guitar, made it talk back to itself with a ghostly echo.

4. 'The Sun Always Rises' ... I was having this strange dream where I was soundchecking for a gig. When it came to checking the keyboard levels I had to play something. It was pretty weird but it was nothing I'd every played before but I could see my fingers actually playing these notes. I woke up, it was about 4am and couldn't go back to sleep so I got up, went into the lounge and just recorded these chords on the laptop. Listened to it through and put some generic 'out-of-the-packet' drum loops on there and that was that. By now it was 5:30 and the sun was coming up (hence the name) so went back to bed. Don't expect much - it's a bit cheesy but I liked the changes in it. I'll probably never use it in anything but here it is if you wanna check it out.

Have a listen. Comments are always welcome. The
other two tunes have been there a while if you
wanna check those out too.

Steve x

Computer Comedown (MySpace)

Blog Fail!!

So um, if I'm gonna fail at something why not let it be my blog. I seem to be used to it as you can probably tell be previous posts. Twitter seems to be my blog right now.... in fact I should find out how to have a Twitter feed on here. Maybe I should do a bit of spring cleaning. Y'know redesign the look of this blog. Black and green was last years colours.

So um, plans for today?? Take out the trash, buy a new camera, pay some bills, think about work (optional), put the bike in the shed, tidy the flat (optional), stroke cat (mandatory).




So um, I've been thinking about buying Scott Pilgrim for a while now. Just check Amazon... Volume 1 is FIFTY THREE FUCKIN QUID?!?!!? That's gotta be a typo. Have a look. On Borders's site it's a more down-to-earth £8.99. That's more like it. Mind you I still haven't started reading Alan Moore's V For Vendetta. Will get round to that though.

So um, It was James's Stag Do this weekend just gone (or Bachelor Party for the Americans). Will type more about that when I get my head around what happened. Al I know is that it involved lots of drink and memory loss .... oh and camera loss (that's why I'm gonna buy a new camera today)

So um, what's with the "So um"s at the beginning of each part?? Well, read Eddie Izzard's tweet and it should become clear...READ

New Horizons

I've been starting to get bored with Facebook for quite a while. And after reading a news article about Facebook selling its users personal information for "targeted marketing campaigns" (otherwise known as "spam") I've come to a conclusion that it's probably a good time to stop using it altogether and close my account. But it's not that simple to do. Even if you chose to close your account Facebook only deactivates it, the information remains on their database for 12 months. During this time they can use the information however they like. "Hey, that sounds unfair!" I hear you cry. But it's right there in the terms & conditions that you have to accept when you sign up. What was that? You didn't read the T&C's?? Neither did I, but it's right there. Why do they keep your info? Their excuse is that it's in case the user changes his or her mind and wants to re-register, and all of their info is right there and ready to go. The profile will look as though you've never gone away.

It turns out the only way to actually get it deleted is by writing them a letter requesting full removal from their database. They're probably relying on the fact that most people can't be bothered to do this seeing as we're now in the age of the email and SMS. To actually put pen to paper, write out a letter, put it in an envelope, write an address, buy a stamp (most people don't have them lying around the house like they used to) and post it in a pillarbox is far too much of a chore.

Last October I signed up to Twitter. I didn't use it much at first but recently I've become addicted. If you're on there too follow me at @stevejbeck.

EDIT: BTW, that Twittercounter over there on the right is broken. It says I've got 8 followers!! I've actually got 19 (I know it's not many but when you've got this few they're precious!)

Happy Birthday to me!!

So, I'm now officially one year older... making me a ripe 33! Mum woke me up with a phone call at 8 to tell me "Only 7 years to go until you're 40!" Thanks for that mum, I don't need reminding.

Lisa's planned a meal with all my friends at Zizzi tonight. Looking forward to that.

I've already got 4 birthday messages from friends on facebook.

Oh, and I found out that Edgar Wright has added me as a contact on flickr.com. Cool.

Bad news: Our goldfish died overnight. She was 7 years old!!!!

Happy 2009?

Well, I guess I should wish anybody who reads this blog a Happy New Year. I know it's late - 16 days late to be precise - but I have been quite ill. I've actually been pretty ill since October!! I'll get it out of the way quickly because nobody wants to hear it. Basically, I had some panic attacks at work and have been signed off for stress. I'm still of work at the time of typing this. Also over Christmas I've had the flu and pulled a muscle in my back and just before New Years Eve I managed to have a tooth infection. I'm fuckin' falling apart!!!!!!!

So, now you know. 2009 has been shit for me so far. But I'm trying to think positively... at least it means that things can only get better from here. My back is back to normal, my flu has pretty much cleared (just a little sniffle left), my tooth infection has gone and I'm on anti-depressants to help me cope with my stresses.

Right.... so.... I'm gonna start using this blog again shortly. I do miss using it, and have had a few things I wanted to put on it but never could be bothered. Mainly because I've been using my facebook status as a kind of mini-blog. I've signed up to Twitter too and have been doing the same with that. OK, I'm gonna sign off now, it's getting late and should get to bed. Lisa's got some surprises for me for my birthday this weekend. My birthday is actually on the 20th but that falls on a Tuesday so she's got something special lined up for me. Can't wait.

Diggnation Live 08

Had an AMAZING time in London with Lisa. We got the train up to London, arrived at about 5. Then it was a case of hopping on the tube and DLR to our hotel which was right next door to the Excel Arena. The DLR wasn't running for the last two stops so we walked it with a short cut through some weird industrial area, almost getting lost but not quite! We had a pretty good idea which direction to walk in!

Anyway we found the hotel ok - it had a weird pod in the room for the en-suite bathroom. It was nice inside but very strange... here's a capture from the Ibis hotel virtual tour.



After a quick freshen up we headed for the Arena - got in there nice and early, and got our pass. There was nobody at the door of the hall cos we were so early so we went to grab a burger - but when we got back the queue was snaking all around the exhibition units!! As soon as they opened the doors to the hall google opened the free beer stand. We got ourselves a good seat before we got the 'Googlebeers'

Here's Revision3 CEO, Jay Louderback giving us a quick insight to the Googlebeers stand...



About 10 mins before the show I ran out there to grab some beers. I only took 4 - 2 for me and 2 for Lisa. I didn't take the piss like some people did. Some people were coming back into the hall with a laptop bag full of bottles and as many as they could carry in their arms. A bit cheeky if you ask me. But still, thanks Google. I almost feel obliged to upgrade my Gmail to a premium membership ... Almost... not quite!

So, yeah, it was cool. We made some new friends, had a laugh before Kevin and Alex came on stage. There were all kinds of people there from your stereotypical geeks with slick side-parting, glases and pens in the top pocket of their cheap shirts, to skater kids with piercings and long hair... and everything between. Some had their laptops with them, there was one dude playing Spore while we were waiting in the queue to be let in. Here's some more pics - starting with a short clip of all the people in the hall...









After the show there was an after party at the bar next door. It was sponsored by Digg and Facebook - I think the founder of Facebook was there but I didn't know what hee looked like. We had a few drinks, chatted to random people and got to meet Kevin and Alex as well as the guys behind the camera Glen and Prager. Kevin and Alex did a thing where they were giving out freebies to people who could answer the right questions.... this is where I use other peoples photos....



...and now a few from my photos...





The rest of the photos can bee seen in my flickr photoset.

All in all we had such a great time.

So how are ya....?

The last thing I can remember was seeing Metromony at 60 Million Postcards last Friday .... and today is THURSDAY!!!!!!!! This was probably due to the fact that it was indeed another late one, and also due to the fact that I was indeed very much pissed as a lord!

Although through moments of clarity I do recollect a band practice on Sunday. And that we wrote some tunes that were far too clever for their own good. So much so that when we had another band-camp on Tuesday I couldn't remember anything we did. Luckily Lee recorded everything we did using the iSight mic on his macbook - there's not a bad sound on those little things y'know?!

Anyway, Friday was a confusing one for me - I also wanted to go see True Swamp Neglect play their last gig at The Winchester as a farewell to Barney. But True Swamp ended up not playing and were replaced by my MB101 and Dutch Husband. Yet, I was informed, via the marvels of SMS, that James, Scott, Ben, Potts, Christian and James's brother were going to 60M for the Metromony gig. WHY DID THEY HAVE TO BE ON THE SAME NIGHT???? (sorry about the capitals there - my CAPS LOCK got stuck). I chose Metromony @ 60M.
pics...








Click ME to see all pics on flickr

Blind Voyeurs: In The Studio - Ep2 - BIG CITY

I've just uploaded a new Blind Voyeurs studio video. It's a bit shorter than the last one. This one was filmed around Spring '08 - just never got round to editing it.

So here it is in all it's Vimeo glory. I've also uploaded it to youtube on BlindVoyeursTV.


Blind Voyeurs: In The Studio - BIG CITY from Steve Beck on Vimeo.

Diggnation Live at London FOWA Expo 08

I've just booked my Pass for this year's Future Of Web Applications Expo at the London Excel Arena to see Diggnation recorded live. I missed them last year so I'm really excited about it. We're probably gonna have to get a hotel or something to stay the night cos we'll be going to the after party!

For those that don't know what Diggnation is here's the episode from their last live Diggnation at NVision in San Jose...

Pale White Dot...?

I can see light at the end of the tunnel, the end is near approaching... yep, that's right we've nearly finished the Blind Voyeurs' debut album. We've got a small list of a few bits here and there on each track that need tidying up. We've been clipping our lovies and sweeping the dust under the carpet for so long now that the album has completely changed direction from original vision. But all for the better me thinks - it actually 'feels' like a complete body of work.

In the last 14 or so months some of our favourite songs/tunes have been removed and new ones have surfaced that have raised the bar. We've made some controversial decisions and will be making MORE controversial decisions in the next couple of months. We've had band members come and go and then come back again (and then go...) We've also got a new top secret weapon that can only be unveiled in 2009.

In the next 2 to 3 weeks things should all be being finalised (I'm not saying too much yet cos you never know what might happen) then it's time to look at artwork and inlay cards etc.

People keep asking us 'how long does it take to make an album???' Well, the answer to that is - as long as it has to!

Y'see the thing is, we all have full-time jobs and we have social and family lives to lead. And then there's holidays and sicknesses etc. If we were a fulltime band working 9 to 5 on nothing but music, you could compress all the time we've spent on this album quite easily into less than 6 weeks. Don't forget that we're doing everything ourselves AND learning everything from scratch.

We've also switched our recording software platform 3 times since we started and new hardware equipment has been purchased halfway through from mixing desks to bass amps to microphones! Add to that the fact that we all really care about this project - it's a complete labour of love - so we're never using the "That'll do" mindset.

And then there are the gigs. We found out at the end of last year that with a project this big we can't concentrate on recording and rehearse for 2 or 3 gigs a month at the same time. So in 2008 we decided to tone it down a bit... until eventually not gigging at all!! It was tough turning down gig offers - and I still hate doing it - but we had to try and prioritise. Gig or record. One or the other. If we attempted to do both, each would suffer. We would have ended up with a string of shit gigs followed with a dessert of a half-arsed album. That would've pissed everyone off!

Anyway, I don't want to build it up - in fact I dunno why I rambled as much as I did. It all just came blurbing out! I do that sometimes. Anyway... enough for now.

The Archive

Woo! Double post today!! I've just seen this video and I have to share it with whoever occasionally glances at this corner of the internets.


The Archive from Sean Dunne on Vimeo.

Paul Mawhinney was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. Over the years he has amassed what has become the world's largest record collection. Due to health issues and a struggling record industry Paul is being forced to sell his collection.

This is the story of a man and his records. I hope you enjoy it.

Home Alone

So Lisa's buggered off to Wales for 4 nights. Which leaves just me and the cat left to fend for ourselves!! She went yesterday and I already miss Lisa loads - just don't know what to do with myself. But that being said I can always find things to distract myself - I've got loads of little tweaks to do with the BV album mixing, I'm learning how to use Final Cut properly (God it's sooo fuckin in-depth and professional! FACTOID: The Coen Brothers used Final Cut to edit and colourize one of my favourite films - No Country For Old Men)



I've also got The Force Unleashed to play - which is totally frickin awesome! Absolutely love the storyline in this. If you're a Star Wars fan (which I clearly am) then you have to check this out because the story is mindblowing!



Last night I finished off watching series 3 of Battlestar Galactica. Woah, what a finale?!?!?! Battlestar is, IMHO, probably one of the the best sci-fi shows in the history of all TV ever - it's sooooo realistic and dark and the characters are deep and ... and... I could go on but I won't!

Before Lisa left we popped into ASDA to grab a few things and just as you walk in they had boxes and boxes of Carlsberg and Kronenberg (18 bottles) for a fiver each!! So we grabbed a box of each - there were loads of freshers there buying them by the trolley load! So, all in all, I've got loads to keep me occupied, 36 bottles of beer in the fridge and a chippy/chinese/indian take-aways just round the corner .... I think I'll survive!! :)

Why Should Rock Stars Expect To Be Rich?

The future record industry simply won't be able to maintain the kind of salaries that pop stars of the last century were used to.

read more | digg story

stevebeck.co.uk

Yep, that's right. I've registered my own domain. It's www.stevebeck.co.uk. It only redirects to this blog at the moment but that's basically what I wanted it for. It was only 99p for the first year and then £2.99 for every year after that. I've no need to pay for hosting because my blog is already hosted by Blogger. So update your bookmarks if you have em cos stevebeck.co.uk is my new front door. Yay!

Dead Set on E4

Just head about this new show called Dead Set coming to E4. It's a horror spin-off version of Big Brother Unlike the parent show, this will be a straight dramatic horror featuring the shows presenters, but with actors playing the house mates. The plot involves a zombie outbreak which strands the housemates inside the Big Brother house. Although the house is one of the only places left were people can shelter from the zombie attack, the infection soon seeps in and what follows is an unimaginable terror.

Blind Voyeurs: In The Studio - Episode 1

Jamming in the studio Saturday 13th Sept 08



The BV boys have a new studio to play in. Interestingly it's situated underneath a pole dancing studio in Southbourne! This is the first in hopefully many insights into what actually goes on in there. This week we decided to take a break from recording and decided to have a jam - to see if we come up with anything interesting.




Blind Voyeurs: In The Studio - episode 1 from Steve Beck on Vimeo.



Blind Voyeurs on Myspace

Polish Film Posters

I've just stumbled upon this incredible collection of Polish Film Posters. They are so different from the American/English/Rest-of-the-world's posters it's unbeleivable. I don't know much about why they're like this. I can only assume that there was some weird copyright laws involved and so they had to draft in artists to create new designs. Some of them are so far removed from the actual film content. It's completely blown my mind. I will say that some of them are shit by todays professionally photoshopped examples but you have to understand that these were probably made on a zero budget, most in the 70's or 80's, they had to completely design their own font (not download from the internet it like you would today) and work with awkward and messy screen printing processes.




Apocolypse Now



STAR WARS - The Empire Strikes Back



Alien

Click me to see the rest...

JB records guitar

JB records guitar, originally uploaded by SteveBeck.

We had our first band practice at the new rehearsal studios on Sunday. Sound was good - nice and punchy. We re-recorded the guitars for The Christening because it was too muddy. We decided to record them totally clean. Also added a few incidental drum and percussion sounds here and there in the parts that will adjoin Chistening with Pale Blue Dot. Other recorded parts were lo-fi drums for Keep It On The Road.

The practice room is situated in the basement of a Pole-Dancing dance studio. It was empty - they have classes on Thursday. There was an old tuneless upright piano in there which was a bit of fun to tinker on. Thinking about using it for something in the album. Could be pretty haunting

Psycho Cat in a box!

Psycho Cat in a box!, originally uploaded by SteveBeck.

Tilly loved this shoe-box! She still thinks she a kitten and tries to sleep in it.

The Watchmen

I've just started reading this last night....



I'm only about 30 pages in but already I'm hooked. I'm reading it in preparation for the movie. Here's the trailer...



Boner!