Synthetrix Sounds

Tonight's show -The NAMM!

2012-01-22T18:38:00.001-08:00

Tonight's playlist was
2001 Transcend
On Earth Woob
The Night Watch King Crimson
A Salty Dog Procol Harum
Mood For A Day Yes
Merry Go Sound
Jesse James Rides Again The Pyramids
Beanie The Clippers
Heads Or Tails Booker T. & the M.G.s
maiden voyage Brian Auger & The Trinity
Energy Fools the Magician Brian Eno
Beatles And The Stones (Remix) House Of Love
Charteroak Foundation Tortoise
Radiance III (edit) Basic Channel
Be Brave (Richard H Kirk Remix)
To The Batmobile! Nelson Riddle
Suburban Ambience The Orb
Xochipili's Return The Shamen
Give Thanks & Praise Cottonbelly
Diamente Blue States
Home (Air 'around the Golf' Remix) Depeche Mode
Grafted Part IX Synthetrix
transfOrmatiOn/bu_ist (phutureprimitive miX) zerO One
Meandering Through The Emerald Turf [Gaudi Remix] The Orb
Fluid Rections Synthetrix
Part II C Keith Jarrett

Tonight's mix show - "Not the NAMM"

2012-01-15T17:08:00.000-08:00

Tonight's show features musical virtuosos in jazz, classical, prog rock and more.

The playlist tonight was as follows;
Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909) - arr.Julian Bream
Mediterranean Sundance-Rio Ancho - John McLaughlin-Al di Meola-Paco de Lucia
Horizons - Steve Hackett
Close To Home - Keith Emerson
Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence - Ryuichi Sakamoto
Kleine Blume Irgendwo (Little Flower Somewhere) - Hans Joachim Roedelius
Cast Your Fate To The Wind - Vince Guaraldi Trio
Cactus Boogie - Steve Howe
King of the Road - Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery
Money Jungle - Duke Ellington With Charles Mingus & Max Roach
Stratus - Billy Cobham
Waka/Jawaka - Frank Zappa
Individual Choice - Jean-Luc Ponty
Split Seconds - Patrick Moraz & Bill Bruford
Tokyo Dream - Allan Holdsworth
Golden Hair - Syd BarrettExcerpts from 'The Six Wives Of Henry VIII' Yes (Rick Wakeman solo)Thirty Three's - Tony Banks
Canon - Claude Bolling, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Alexandre Lagoya
Arabesque No 1 - (Debussy) Tomita
Isa Lei - Ry Cooder & V.M. Bhatt
Memories Of Green - Vangelis
2/2 - Brian Eno

Tonight's broadcast will start at 4 pm Pacific

2012-01-08T11:39:00.001-08:00

Due to scheduling conflicts, tonight's MIXLR.COM show, "Figments II," will air two hours earlier at 4 pm.
This show is all about production library music of the past. It will be retrolicious!

Great show. Thanks for listening. Here was the playlist.
___________________________________________

City Sunrise P. Kelly
Kermesse Non Herolique Guy Pedersen
Vocal Theme donimak - tamborelli - morfina
Vision Pop JJ Robert & JM Guise
Flutes Ad Libitum Raymond Guiot & Guy Pedersen
Misty Canyon Sven Libaek
Summer Cruise Syd Dale
Girl At The Top Alan Hawkshaw
Willy Nilly Cyril Watters
Rumplestiltskin (by Rumplestiltskin)
Gloaming L. Decosne
Ghetto Eric Framond
Nuplex Brian Bennett
Input Output Marek Bilinski
First Step (b) Basil Kirchin/Roy Neave
Testing Plant Klaus Weiss
Synthetic Neutron Sauveur Mallia
Calmy Edward Spyrka
New Dawn F. Monkman & M. Ironton
General Peeps Eddie Warner
Royal Shuffle no1 TONIO RUBIO
In The Nursery Johnny Hawksworth
Country Lanes Johnny Pearson
White Coated Worker K Papworth
A Bright Tomorrow Wolfgang Kafer, Jack Mayborn, Jan Kimberly
Whiteness Vladimir Cosma
Days Of Orange Squash Alan Parker & Alan Hawkshaw
Soft Ice Joe Haider
Indian Dream Brian Green & Saul Nathan
The Loner Nick Harrison
Rejoice in the sun (Instrumental) Schickele, Peter

New Sunday night live mix show.

2012-01-01T20:08:00.000-08:00

I am going to try and do these roughly 2-hour mixlr shows every Sunday night from 6-8 pm Pacific time. There will be different genres of music played each time, so stay tuned.
You can download show #1, "The New Year," here. Here is a partial playlist.

The first 5 Synthetrix albums will soon be out of print.

2011-12-05T12:23:00.000-08:00

As of the end of this year, I will no longer be distributing the first five Synthetrix albums.

I sell very little music and the cost of digital distribution through iTunes, amazon, etc has far outweighed any profit that comes from the sales of music on these albums. The yearly renewal fees have also risen dramatically, adding to the list of reasons for doing this.

So, essentially these albums are out of print or at least they will be when their term runs out soon.

This does not include the albums, Avant Savage and Synthetrix Plays The Music Of Boards Of Canada. which were free download releases.

What does the future hold for Synthetrix music?

Well, I am certainly recording a lot of new things and probably always will be. It's hard to believe it's been ten years since the first album and so much has happened in that time, both in my personal life and the world in general. I am considering making these available through Bandcamp. We'll see. Maybe I will create a Synthetrix "Best of" album exclusively for them. I will probably share new things occasionally on Soundcloud or similar websites in the future and of course here on the blog. One thing I will probably do more of is remix contest entries, so don't don't delete the bookmark just yet. :-)

UPDATE 1/2/12
The first 4 albums will be taken down from iTunes next month (Feb 2012) and Operation Happiness a month or so after that so get 'em while you can.

Synthetrix plays Bach

2011-08-20T22:40:00.000-07:00

Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140

The record that introduced me to synthesizers was "Switched On Bach" from 1968, by the brilliant Wendy Carlos.

I thought that I would give it a go and record one of my favorite pieces from that album. I stayed pretty much true to the original arrangement with just a pinch of the Synthetrix flavor. It's still a work in progress, but I think it will be included on the next album.

Synthetrix | Fluid Reactions (demo)

2011-07-17T08:54:00.000-07:00

Here is a short demo excerpt from the forthcoming Synthetrix album, "Fluid Reactions".

Foster The People - Waste (The Synthetrix Remix)

2011-05-23T15:20:00.000-07:00

Foster The People - Waste (The Synthetrix Remix) by Synthetrix

In celebration of the release of their debut album, I decided to whip up a quick remix of my favorite song on it.

DOWNLOAD

"Summer Vacation" rave party @ the Morongo Bingo Hall - June 19th, 1992

2011-05-14T15:36:00.000-07:00

Synthetrix featured on this Best Of 2010 compilation mix.

2011-03-25T19:19:00.000-07:00

I was quite surprised to find out that my Boards Of Canada cover, "From One Source All Things Depend Pt. II.", was chosen to be on THIS compilation. Needless to say I am flattered and honored to be chosen along side of the artists on this. Hit the link and grab the free download. CD copies are also available for a mere six bucks.

Dad's 45s

2011-01-19T15:51:00.000-08:00

Greetings friends.
I wanted to do a little cross promotion for another blog that I started this year.
It's called "Dad's 45s" and is just that. A blog featuring the music from my dad's old 45 rpm record collection. If you like 50s R&B and jazz or old rock instrumentals, then you will definitely want to dig this.

Synthetrix remixes Metric

2010-11-15T15:01:00.000-08:00

Some mixes for your listening pleasure

2010-11-06T17:09:00.000-07:00

GO HERE

A new Synthetrix track - Machado Morning

2010-10-26T19:07:00.000-07:00

Machado Morning by Synthetrix

Synthetrix | Peacock Tail (Boards Of Canada cover)

2010-08-15T17:06:00.000-07:00

Synthetrix Plays The Music Of Boards Of Canada is now available for download.

2010-07-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

Download the free album here!

For Promotional Use Only.

Check out this submission in the Peter Gabriel Remix Contest - "Games Without Frontiers" on Indaba Music

2010-05-27T15:03:00.000-07:00

Check out this submission in the Peter Gabriel Remix Contest - "Games Without Frontiers" on Indaba Music

Synthetrix VS McCartney - Uncle Albert (Harbor Mix)

2010-04-07T15:47:00.000-07:00

*UPDATED 4/27/11 - NEW DOWNLOAD LINK*

Here is little something I did back in 1999. This was basically an ambient mix that I did that mostly just uses the original track, cut-up with some additional sound effects mixed in. I had originally planned to do more after this demo and add supplemental parts, but never go around to it.

I always loved this track that McCartney recorded not too long after The Beatles broke up. The first time I remember hearing it was on the way to a Dodgers game with my dad in 1971

I did it just for fun of course and am making this available as a free "promotional only" download. I hope Paul doesn't mind. Actually it's the lawyers, I am worried about, but I will remove it if I get a formal complaint. Enjoy it while you can.

Synthetrix Merch is now available.

2010-03-26T16:01:00.000-07:00

After receiving a request for T-Shirts from a fan, I decided to do it and go a step further and do some other products. I am really excited to offer these classic Pro Keds shoes that feature art work from Synthetrix albums. Check out the merch store for other items.

Free Synthetrix Ringtones

2010-03-12T17:39:00.000-08:00

I put together a pack of 12 free ringtones created from various Synthetrix songs from the past 10 years.

GRAB THE DOWNLOAD HERE - Available as MP3 or M4R files for your mobile phone.

Boss Angeles

Bitter Days - From Synthetrix I, 2001 - Album available on iTunes

Stavi's Groove

Korla

We Don't Need Much - From Synthetrix 2, 2003 - Album available on iTunes

Puzzling Evidence - From The Blue Moon Room, 2006 - Album available on iTunes

Crush

WKs

Steppin' With Steve - From Operation Happiness, 2008 - Album available on iTunes

Central - From HKEP01, 2008 - Free download @ Last.fm

Colonnade

Dub The Neck - From Avant Savage, 2010 - Free download @ www.synthetrix.com

Enjoy!

Vic

Phantom Motel music video.

2010-03-07T20:55:00.000-08:00

Check out the new video for "Phantom Motel".

Synthetrix - Avant Savage

2010-03-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Yes friends, the new Synthetrix album, Avant Savage has been released.

Here is the best part. It's freeeeeeeee!

Just GO HERE and you can download the entire album with one simple click of the old mouse button.

There are ten tracks, including a longer album version of "The Destructors" a track that was first heard on the "One On Twoism Vol. 3" compilation last year.

The download is hosted by Sendspace and the link will be towards the bottom of the link page.

Synthetrix remixes Nucleon

2010-02-22T14:00:00.000-08:00

I threw a remix together for the Nucleon track, "Leave This City".
Go here to hear and rate this remix.

Avant Savage album art preview

2010-02-17T18:34:00.000-08:00

We're just a couple weeks away from the new album's release and I thought that I would whet your appetites with the cover art.

L.A. Rave Flyers From The 90s

2010-01-18T21:43:00.000-08:00

I finally dug out my old rave flyer collection and scanned a ton of them. They are posted in a gallery on the Photos Of The Forgotten website.

Peace.

The Next Synthetrix album...

2010-01-15T21:51:00.000-08:00

The next Synthetrix album, "Avant Savage", will be released in March, 2010.

Stay tuned for more details as the date draws nearer.

Vic

Synthetrix remixes Simon Latham

2009-12-06T19:22:00.000-08:00

Simon Latham has a new album out entitled, WATERTIGHT. He has made a call for remixes and Synthetrix has answered that challenge with a remix of the track "Change".

I may do another track if I can find time before the deadline. In the meantime, please enjoy a listen to the mp3 download here.

DJ Mag Top 100 - 2009 Results Announced!

2009-10-29T17:24:00.001-07:00

1	Armin Van Buuren	Non-Mover
2	Tiësto	Non-Mover
3	Above & Beyond	1
4	David Guetta	1
5	Paul van Dy k	2
6	Deadmau5	5
7	Ferry Corsten	1
8	Markus Schulz	Non-Mover
9	Gareth Emery	14
10	Sander van Doorn	3

See the rest of the rankings here.

U2 at The Rose Bowl

2009-10-26T14:01:00.000-07:00

It was the autumn of 1980 and I was in the Tower Records on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood with some friends. We were browsing the store when I noticed the music playing in the store. The guitar sounded so unique and fresh. I walked over to the counter and asked the guy what album was playing. He told me U2, Boy. I immediately purchased the album.

Back at my friend's house we listened to the album. I told my friends that these guys were going to be big some day. By the third, album, "War", they had to agree.

Since then U2 has become arguably, the world's greatest rock band and yet it took me 29 years to finally see them live. Well, I certainly picked a good time to see them as their show at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena last night was a spectacle that rivaled the best concert experiences of my life of 47 years so far.

I won't bother reviewing the concert as there were 96,000 fans and media in attendance that documented the whole thing extensively and can be watched on YouTube for free, but I will say that I was very inspired by the live linkup to the International Space Station and Bono's props to Buzz Aldrin who was there as well.

Armageddon - My first rave in 1992

2009-08-12T16:21:00.000-07:00

I was blown away to find this clip on YouTube that was shot at the first rave party that I ever went to. You can hear Mr Koolaid and Marco playing in one scene. This took place up at Lake Castaic right after the L.A. Riots of that year and National Guard troops were stationed near the event. Take a look at the faces. Ecstasy!

This was one of the first if not the first ever appearance of Moby in the L.A. area.

Armageddon - Saturday, May 9th, 1992

The Masters of Ceremony
William Kill & Jez
in alliance with Digital Nation
comes the battle of
A R M A G E D D O N

Featuring Live on Stage:

M O B Y
Joey Beltram

Mr. Kool-Aid
MarCo.

DJ's
Markem'X
Destructo
Mark Lewis
Tony Largo (MARS 103.1 FM)
DJ Dan

From the UK
DJ Killer
Fabio

From Scotland
DJ Kiltie

From Brazil
David Alvarado

From Canada
DJ Loic

From Mexico
Zeke

Special Commando Guests
Xpando & Flower

Space Freight featured on Sundown Lounge podzine.

2009-08-02T07:46:00.000-07:00

The latest installment of Larry Winfield's Sundown Lounge podzine features the Synthetrix track "Space Freight", used as a music bed.

Sundown Lounge is a laid back (and often explicit, you bet your ass...) weekly podzine of music, spoken word, progressive politics, weird science, and occasional vignettes from the west coast open mic scene, etc.

Download / listen to the MP3 here.

Synthetrix remixes Peter Gabriel's "Games Without Frontiers"

2009-07-13T05:27:00.000-07:00

I found out about this remix competition a few days before today's deadline. I had to scramble to get 'er done. I hope you all like it.

Vic

Old Song - New Video

2009-05-28T04:33:00.001-07:00

Here is a little something I did using old public domain footage from www.archive.org.

I have edited these old educational and public service films as a background for my song

"We Don't Need Much", which is on the second Synthetrix album.

One On Twoism 3 available now!

2009-05-15T14:12:00.000-07:00

Order a physical copy

Free digital download release available HERE

_________________________________________________________________

Various Artists - One on Twoism - Volume 3
US prices from: $6.50
Outside US: $6.50
_________________________________________________________________

Various Artists - One on Twoism Volume 1,2 & 3
US prices from: $12.50
Outside US prices from: $15.50
(All kind of options are possible)
_________________________________________________________________

All prices include shipping & handling!
Shipping Time:
US: 2-5 Days (USPS First Class Mail)
Outside US: 4-7 Days (Air Mail)

You will get retail quality. Full-color, glossy,
fully assembled, cellophane-wrapped jewelcase CD (no CDr!)

_________________________________________________________________

Help Synthetrix get into general rotation on Jango.com

2009-05-14T17:59:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE and give some positive ratings to the songs to help get Synthetrix music into general rotation on Jango.com

Synthetrix to be featured on "One On Twoism Vol. 3"

2009-04-17T15:31:00.000-07:00

TGIF everyone!

I am beaming with excitement after hearing the news today that my track, The Destructors (The Twoism Edit), will be on the next installment of the One On Twoism series.

I am proud and honored to be featured for the second time on this audio compilation of contemporary electronic musicians. The Synthetrix track, Talega from the album "Operation Happiness", appeared on Vol. 2 in 2008.

Here is the list of artists and the songs that will be on Vol. 3

Boreal Network - The Copper Harbor Conglomerate
Five Step Path - Bare Trees
Frequent C - C Sick
Illuminant - This is my Notebook of Dreams
Jpprindle - Misner Space
Kashmir Boots - Zon
Kashmir Boots - Miranda's Infatuation
Lawrence King - Erroneous
Phasen - Blue Ridge Sunrise
Picnic at Cathode Lake - Start Again
Polarsky - Through the Clouds
RL/VL - Hillbrook Pool (November Edit)
Saturday Index & Shadowshocker - Volume 3 Intro
Saturday Index - Back to Human
SoulSonic - Music for Free
Stevenharran - New Town Dreams
Synthetrix - The Destructors (The Twoism Edit)
Telekom - Pitcher
Underwater - Winter
Xurba - VAKOG Reframe

The album will me mastered in May and I will post again when it's released.

I look forward to hearing everyone's work!

Vic

Beyonder Mix

2009-03-12T17:08:00.000-07:00

BEYONDER - A Freestyle Mix By Synthetrix

Remixes By Synthetrix - 2007-2008

2008-12-13T15:48:00.000-08:00

Over the last year, I have tried to enter as many remix competitions as I could that interested me. I have yet to win more than an honorable mention, but I have so much fun doing them. Here is a little collection of five of my favorite remix contest entries that were recorded between November of 2007 and December of 2008.

Read more about it and get the free download here.

One last entry for the Jazzanova remix contest.

2008-12-12T14:59:00.000-08:00

This is my third and final entry for the Jazzanova remix contest. This is the first time I have submitted more than one mix for one of these things. This is my favorite one and I hope you all will like it too.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Synthetrix - The Destructors (The Twoism Edit)

2008-11-19T18:12:00.000-08:00

I have submitted a special edition of my latest track, "The Destructors" for the One On Twoism Vol. III, compilation that is being done by the good folks over at the Twoism Forums.
This special edit of The Destructors examines the cult of personality, the power of belief and bias through the event at Jonestown, Guyana, 30 years ago this month. Check it out on the Synthetrix myspace page.

Synthetrix remixes Jazzanova

2008-11-17T13:49:00.000-08:00

Synthetrix puts his spin on Jazzanova's "I Can See". This floor friendly instrumental version emphasizes on the backing vocals rather than the lead and builds up nicely with the new arrangement and trademark Synthetrix touches added along the way.

This remix was submitted for a contest the band's record label is promoting.

You can enjoy it here for your convenience.

Synthetrix remixes Dub Colossus

2008-09-29T09:53:00.000-07:00

Check out the remix contest entry I did for Real World Records artist, Dub Colossus. The song is called Sima Edy and I focused on the nice sound of the ooohs sample. It has a spiritual feel that I wanted to highlight.
Enjoy!

A new Synthetrix song/video

2008-09-05T12:56:00.001-07:00

Colonnade is a new Synthetrix track that I have made a little VIDEO for. Be sure to watch in High Quality mode.
I hope you'll like it.

Long Live Boss Radio!

2008-06-21T11:36:00.000-07:00

The Real Don Steele and KHJ were a HUGE influence on my musical tastes as a kid growing up in Southern California in the 60s-70s. I recently came across this excellent blog that celebrates KHJ and other radio stations that were doing that format. Lots of great images of the Boss Jocks and old promotional material too. Check it out!
I recorded a song called "Boss Angeles" on my first album, Synthetrix I, which was released in 2001. It's a tribute to Boss Radio, KHJ, Robert W. Morgan and Don Steele. You can hear it on iTunes or check out this free download of an unfinished, alternate take of the song. In 2007, I did the 007 Remix of it which you can download here.

HKEP01

2008-06-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

When I was in Hong Kong this February, I found myself getting hung up on a sound that came from the fare control turnstiles in the MTR system. There was a tritone sound whenever a senior citizen or child fare went through which was different from the single tone that was made for a regular fare. I found myself looping the tritone sound in my head and adding various drums beats to it. I used a digital camera to capture the sound and threw together a couple tracks after I got back. They are titled, "Central" and "Turnstile".

UPDATE: 03/10/10
This EP is now available as a free MP3 download at Last.fm
Enjoy!

Synthetrix Music Videos

2008-05-21T11:39:00.000-07:00

I touched on the subject of videos in my last post. I have made five of them to date. Home made and low budget. This first image is from the video for "Thievery Road", a song from the fourth Synthetrix album, The Blue Moon Room. It was made using footage I shot on a solo camping trip in the local mountains in 2000 (yawn).

This next screenshot is from the video for the song, "Steppin With Steve". It was made by tweaking a slideshow program, using the images I wanted to go with the song and then recording and editing the results. It's a parody of Apple's "1000 Songs" TV commercials. Most of the individual images are of Anaheim motel postcards, which you can see in more detail here. The long lost Steve is seen briefly as well. This and the next three videos' songs are all from the latest album, Operation Happiness.

The next two images are from videos that I made using some experimental Super 8mm films that I had done in the early to mid 1980s. Recycle of die baby.

"WKs" features more imagery from Anaheim. There is a great time lapse driving sequence from Anaheim to Santa Ana and back in this video. A time machine window back to 1984.

"Cooties", is a short song and video that is a montage of subliminal imagery, that flashes before your eyes as the droning sounds unfolds. Did you have your cooties shot?

This last image is from the video for "Banbridge '71". That's yours truly, popping a wheelie after barreling down the hilly street my family lived on back then. I am wearing a navy blue suit with red socks. This photo was taken either before or after church on a Sunday. My parent's '68 Pontiac LeMans is seen in the driveway. The bike I am riding was an antifreeze green, Huffy Dragster, with banana seat, ape hangers and a Firestone slick tire on the back. They don't make 'em like that anymore.

Album Profile: The Blue Moon Room

2008-05-20T12:29:00.000-07:00

I have been told that this is my best album. It's definitely the best-selling of them all for what that's worth. (Edited: As of November 2008, Operation Happiness is now the best-selling Synthetrix album to date.)
This one was released in February of 2006. The title of the album was inspired by a some dreams I had as a boy. The opening track, "Payground", was a song that I had recorded and had not given much thought to what to call it. I was driving home from work one night and saw a sign that had a letter burned out on it. Playground became Payground and that was what I decided to call that track. "Thievery Road" was the first song that I made a video for, albeit a cheesy one. You can see for yourself on YouTube. "Yar's Flight" is a free download from the album

Tracks:
1 Payground
2 Side Show
3 Thievery Road
4 Puzzling Evidence
5 Canyon of the Ancients
6 Drydocks
7 Channel Heights
8 Yar's Flight
9 Roundtrip
10 Scheherazade
11 Pandit

Available on iTunes and amazon.com.

Synthetrix | Nikki/Vikki (unreleased)

2008-05-16T02:40:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid in the 70s, I loved watching the ABC Movie of the Week. Often better than the movies themselves was the cool opening title sequence that used slit-scan optical printing, a technique used by Kubrick in his 2001: A Space Odyssey. This title was accompanied by a lush orchestral theme. Many years later I learned that this theme was actually a song called "Nikki" which Burt Bacharach wrote and named after his daughter from marriage with Angie Dickenson.
Over the Thanksgiving weekend of 2005, I decided to do a cover version tribute of this song. I recorded two versions of "Nikki" and a more Synthetrix-styled remix version I call "Vikki". A tribute to a great songwriter. On a side note, I love the Geico Insurance commercials with Mr. Bacharach singing about getting hit in the rear.
I mailed a cd with these tracks to him, c/o Linda Dozoretz Communications, hoping that he could hear what I had done with his song. Unfortunately, the cd was returned with a letter saying that they could not give the cd to him for legal reasons. Oh well. Sadly, about a year later I read that Nikki, a lifelong sufferer of Asperger Syndrome, had committed suicide.
These recordings remain unreleased.

Album Profile: Synthetrix 2

2008-05-14T12:52:00.000-07:00

20 months passed in between the completion of my first and second albums. Synthetrix 2 was released in August of 2003. The album ranges from chilled, downtempo, leftfield stuff to trancey breaks. My personal favorites from the album are "Synvader", "Stavi's Groove" and "We Don't Need Much". You can download a free MP3 of "Stavi's Groove" at the link below.

Tracks:
1 Interchange
2 Stavi's Groove
3 Synvader
5 Grhavedy
6 Korla
7 The Third View
8 April's Fool
9 Strandead
10 Crosstown
11 Regal Beagle
12 We Don't Need Much

The cover photo was taken by my wife, when we were first getting to know each other. For those that do not recognize the location, this was taken in the late afternoon near the Redondo Beach Pier. The shadows are of my wife and I.

"Stavi's Groove" was recorded on the morning I heard that George Harrison had passed away and was the first song recorded for this album.

Album Profile: Synthetrix I

2008-05-11T07:58:00.000-07:00

This was my first attempt at making an album. I started recording it in the fall of 2000 and it was released towards the end of 2001. It was not as long as I would have liked. I would have rather had a couple more original tracks, rather than the two alternate mixes included at the end of the album. All the songs are instrumental and that has been the case with all Synthetrix albums since, although you may hear an occasional vocal sample in some songs. I always felt the "Pier 11" would make a great backing for some sort of stream of consciousness rap.

Tracks:
1 Dormant - The first Synthetrix track.
2 Boss Angeles - Inspired by and dedicated to The Real Don Steele and the Boss Radio format of the 60s.
3 Bad Goat - A song about drag racing and GTOs.
4 AfterBad - A windy parking lot pastiche.
5 Pier 11 - I came up with the melody for this song while riding my bike around the L.A. Harbor.
6 Space Freight - An ambient dub tale of cosmic cargo. This song was also featured on the We Are The Music Makers Vol. 1 compilation.
7 Bitter Days - I recorded this in the weeks following 9/11.
8 Retrans - Inspired by a night in the desert during my time in the Marine Corps.
9 Church Swingers - Sometimes you just need a name. Buldada!
10 Harbor Slide - More sounds from the Heart Of The Harbor.
11 Boss Angeles (The Lost Edit) - This unfinished, alternate mix is included on the album.
12 Dormant (original ambient version) - This is the original, beatless version of the song.

This and my second album were first released on the original MP3.com site as an on-demand CD that could be ordered online was delivered by mail. These copies are extremely rare. Currently, my albums are only being released as audio downloads through iTunes, amazon.com and other online retailers.
There is also this alternate cover art.

Album Profile: Synthetrix | Grafted

2008-05-07T11:35:00.000-07:00

Over the next few weeks I am going to do some posts, profiling each of the Synthetrix albums released to date.
The first one I am going to talk about is Grafted, a highly experimental album I recorded in 2004. I really enjoyed making this album and learned a lot of things while doing it. It's not always accessible listening, but there are some nice moments in it. I think when I was making this, I was wanting to do something along the lines of The KLF's Chill Out album. I was listening to a lot of Boards Of Canada that year and there are things that have a bit of their feel in there as well. I may do another album like this at some point.

Download a free Grafted album sampler MP3 HERE.

The full album can be purchased on iTunes or amazon.com.

Synthetrix remixes Foals! - Download the free MP3!

2008-04-24T14:09:00.000-07:00

Greetings everyone!
I wanted to take a moment to welcome you to the new blog and tell you about a little remix contest that I entered recently. The contest was to remix the Foals song Electric Bloom. The contest is being judged on popularity and I would really appreciate it if all my friends and fans here on MySpace would take the time to listen and or download my remix and check it out.
It's free and will only take a few minutes. Thank you so much for all your support.
Victor (Synthetrix) Stapf