Today I treated myself to a day out where I could soak up all the art and culture possible. I had had my eye on the 'Van Gogh to Kandinsky' exhibit at the Scottish National Gallery for AGES since it arrived in Edinburgh in July and I finally forced myself out and about to see it. I'm really glad I did.
I have always had a love for Edvard Munch but today in staring at two of his major works I was just awe struck and now I long to visit Norway. His use of really thick oils to detail the thinner parts of his works is really amazing to me. And it was such a joy to see.
(By the way...all of the following photos, I've had to find images of online as pictures were not permitted inside the exhibit. But if you'd like to see these painting in the flesh, I strongly recommend it!)
Edvard Munch ( Winter Night )
Edvard Munch ( Man and Woman on the Beach )
Among my favorites (not including my bias Munch) were these:
Eugene Jansson ( Riddarfjarden, Stockholm)
Seeing this in the flesh and being able to step forwards and backwards to appreciate the various aspects of it's detail was just amazing! After having seen it, I can say with certainty that this jpeg just does NOT do the piece justice!!
Alphonse Osbert ( Evening Poem )
This is beauty personified as the three women seem faceless when you step up close. But stepped back you can see each of them in almost orgasmic bliss as they lose themselves in the 'Evening Poem'. Reminded me hugely of Sappho and I fell in love with this piece.
Jens Ferdinand Willumsen ( Sun Shining on the Southern Mountains )
This one caught my eye as soon as I walked into the room. It was much bigger than all the other paintings and the sunlight and use of colours really drew your attention from anything else, (including Monet who I've always got an eye out for as he's one of my tops).
August Strindberg ( Alpine Landscape I )
Strindberg's 'Alpine Landscape I' was such a surprise. Almost abstract in his use of strokes and colours I found myself morbidly drawn in. It's such a dark piece but at the same time can be so peaceful if you imagine yourself looking at what the artist would have actually seen versus what he actually painted.
Harold Sohlberg ( Midsummer Night (Nordic Motif) )
This was one of the first I saw when I entered the gallery. And instantly I was placed atop some Scandinavian hilltop looking onto the sea. It was this painting most of all that made me realize I do actually have a desire to visit Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.
George Lemmen ( Beach at Heist )
This was one of the last ones I saw. And unfortunately the colours of this image do not accurately represent the colours of the painting itself. But what was amazing about seeing the piece in front of me was that you could see the various depths and layers of the paint and almost pick it apart. You could run yourself in circles and drive yourself mad trying to figure out exactly how Lemmen went about approaching this work. But no matter what it really is serene and such a joy to sit and look at for a while.
Charles Filiger ( Landscape at Le Pouldu)
This one caught my eye because of it's almost 'Dali-esque' style. However this painting originated in 1892, years before Dali. So it made me wonder if this could have been inspiring to the maddest hatter and my personal favorite, Salvador Dali. What was most interesting were the notes next to this painting stating that Filiger was a devote Catholic and that all of his works represented some ponderous thought he entertained about Christ and religion. But funnily, my loudest though was, 'WTF is with the sail boat in the background?'
Ferdinand Keller ( Bocklin's Tomb )
'Bocklin's Tomb' was one of my absolute favorites of the whole exhibit. Probably because it holds a deep personal resonance with me and where I am at within myself at the moment, but the woman playing the harp at the entrance had such an enchanting and almost seductive call that I literally sat on a bench and stared at her for ages. The atmosphere of the whole painting was enough to make you stagger and it took me a few moments to regain my mind set in order to carry on to see the other works.
Akseli Gallen-Kallela ( The Broken Pine )
'The Broken Pine' was my favorite of the entire collection. It stands so massive amongst the other paintings on it's wall. And for some reason, though the technique and style of the painting may appear to be more simplistic than the others, the feelings I got just from looking at this image almost made me lose my ability to stand. I sat on the bench before the painting and just gazed at it for what seemed like an eternity. Swimming through my mind were thoughts of, 'Where did the artist notice this pine?' and the fact that every artist (famous, dead or not) can find beauty in such common and often over looked things. I also felt for the tree, but in that 'has to die to be famous' way...I found that the tree seemed to have served an almost 'divine' purpose in as much as years later, people are admiring the beauty in it's life and death combined. To see it up-close and in person, you can see the actual folds of the outer bark and it seems to bend like paper. It reminded me of every time I'd seen a broken tree after hurricanes or tornadoes in the states...and for some reason, the fact that a TREE was broken in two and you could see into it, through it and around it...its just so magical to me.
There were many Van Gogh paintings...too many for me to list here. These are just my favorites of the exhibit and though I would have liked to post all of the wonderful paintings...the exhibit is just too big for me to do so.
So if you're in or around Edinburgh or if you intend to travel here before the end of September, I really suggest you visit the Scottish National Gallery and for a mere tenner go see these works. You won't regret it!!!
Back in 2009 I met (via Myspace) a luthier in Maryland who I started chatting to about various guitar sounds and settings. I was on the verge of branching into electric guitars and had never really used them much. So it was nice to speak to someone with a knowledge of the instruments inside and out.
This luthier was Bill Lite of Xotech Guitars.
After a few emails back and forth, Bill offered to create an electric guitar that would have all of the attributes to compliment my style of playing, but retaining a uniqueness leaving me free to experiment.
He began asking a series of questions such as,
"Do you strum more than you pick?"
"What sort of amp will you be playing through?"
"What sort of sounds do you like the most?"
And that really got me thinking about what I expected out of incorporating electric guitar into my repertoire.
For the most part, I was starting to write more dark, heavy-esque songs that I thought would be suited to a crunchier sound, however being a rhythm (acoustic) guitarist, I didn't want the whole tracks to sound muddied by non-stop distortion....So all of this was worth analyzing.
After sending more emails back and forth I left Bill to his own devices and a few months later started receiving pictures in my inbox.
One of the first images of my guitar....
Bill would send photos as he drew, cut, clamped and built the guitar and after a few months, while Syren were based in Holland I received a rather large package at the door...
Presenting the Xotech EB II Dizeezd Series Guitar
Made out of Spalted Oak, Mahogany and Blood Wood with a semi hollow body this guitar has a great earthy (woody) sound and it's Fender Lace Sensor pickups combined with a Lace Humbucker give me all the versatility I need to get exactly the sound I'm searching for.
What's most brilliant about this guitar is that Bill chucked in some locking machine heads which keep me in tune!
There's no other guitar in the world like it, but if you want to see your dream realized, definitely get in touch with Bill at Xotech Guitars! :)
I love RainSong guitars...some of you know them and some of you don't. For those of you that do I'm sure you've fallen in love time and time again with 100s of the amazing characteristics of these instruments...and those of you that don't know them might wonder, 'Can an acoustic guitar made 100% out of Graphite be THAT good?'....Here's my two cents, for what it's worth.
My RainSong Graphite Guitars Family
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways......
1.The A-WS1000
This bright red beauty not only matches my favorite pair of Dr. Martens but is absolutely the most indestructible, reliable and trustworthy live guitar I have ever had the pleasure of playing.
Apart from the fact that I was bravely straying off the wooden guitar path and taking the slip road onto the carbon graphite freeway, the first thing that I fell in love with was the thin neck...(if you're a guitarist who hasn't been blessed with ultra-long fingers you'll know how important that is)...where I'd struggle to clearly form chords on some guitars, the RainSong A-WS1000 made everything possible for me and with this new found ease of playing, I was confident enough to branch out and experiment with my style of playing.
After receiving the guitar (which was my very first RainSong,) a very intense show schedule followed which allowed me to really experience it in every live situation imaginable. The sunny outside gig (the rainy outside gig...) and the guitar never once slipped out of tune or tone. Big stages with large monitoring systems couldn't make this baby feed back either, and if you found a particular frequency that was more resonant than others you could easily notch it through the fishman preamp built in.
I personally use a Boss Chromatic Tuner pedal on stage, but the fishman preamp also features a built in tuner which has a quick response and will get you tuned and playing before the audience notice a thing.
And as this instrument is amazingly versatile, you'll find it's perfect with or without an amp and whether you're playing heavy rhythms or picking it out finger-style, it's 100% consistent.
Now, this particular model was discontinued, for why I'm not sure. But if you have the pleasure of owning one of these or have seen one and considered buying it, I strongly recommend it for the gigging/touring musician. It's true to say that these would also be perfect for your general around the campfire, every-now-and-then player, but for that amount of playing, I suggest this next guitar.....
2. The OM1000 Hybrid Series
Perhaps the most lightweight, lovely, projective and resonant guitar I've ever touched the Hybrid Series are made out of both carbon and glass fiber. This particular model is the smallest of the Hybrid Series and is perfect for those campfire sing-alongs or those down-scale coffee shop gigs. As well it packs the punch needed to blow your mind on a big stage. With the perfect balance in dynamic range and the absoluteness of each individual note this guitar is suited to any style of playing.
Also equipped with a fishman prefix preamp, (complete with tuner) you can make those little tweaks to create your desired sound.
The most raved about feature of this guitar and quite possibly the pièce de résistance of the whole series is it's famed, 'N2' neck. This neck is the lovechild of the collaboration between Steve Miller and John Bolin (master luthier.) The N2 is so solid and has been designed to such a perfection that it has created an even balance of vibration from the strings to the soundboard which is part of the reason this model is so resonant and alive.
Being the only neck by RainSong to feature an adjustable truss rod, this guitar can be adjusted to suit guitarists of any level of experience.
I personally use my OM1000 in the studio and I find that when mic'd up with some Nuemann 184D's or Rhode NT5's this guitar really comes alive and recordings will be pristine. Although, I've also mic'd my OM1000 with a single Nuemann U87 about 7in. - 12in. away from where the fretboard and body meet and have been totally amazed by the clarity of every aspect of this guitars tones and resonance.
I cannot recommend this guitar enough to anyone interested in buying a RainSong. In my opinion, this guitar alone gives any ole' Martin or Taylor a run for their money.
When it comes to branching out with guitar playing and experimenting you really couldn't get a better guitar than.... 3. WS3000 12 String
If you are familiar with 12 Strings, you know that one of the biggest issues is the damage caused to the joint at the neck & body by tension added by the 6 extra strings. And of course with these extra strings, you'll find that you pull unconsciously harder at the neck when playing in order to form your chords and notes clearly. Since RainSong's 12 strings are created using all graphite, they have been able to make the neck thin, the action low and the guitar 100% immune to structural failure. (All the while, never losing it's tuning. Guitar making miracle, perhaps? Or just the power of RainSong Graphite Guitars?)
Out of all the various stringed instruments, 12 string guitars are my absolute favorite! The harmonics specific to them can really open your mind and boost your creativity. You'll find this particular model suited to both the strummer and picker with ample space between strings for your notes to be precise.
It's 5 inch deep body swallows the sound whole then bursts it out again making the listener wonder what you've plugged into. And if you find yourself on a stage with this guitar, you'll be impressed again by the fishman prefix +T preamp which allows you to sculpt your sound to perfection.
If you've been wondering what 12 string to invest in and have looked at the 100s of other wooden models, consider the long-term effects of extensive use and remember RainSong when you decide you want a lifetime of reliable quality for your money!
These three guitars have changed my musical life! I've tried loads of beautifully made guitars that have gorgeous tones and sustains, but each time I find myself coming back to RainSong and being blown away all over again. I strongly believe in the reliability of these instruments and urge those of you who haven't found your guitar soul mate yet to get to a dealer and try one. Or, failing that, come to one of my shows and you can have a go on mine. :)
Thanks for reading and I hope this might have answered any questions you might have had.
Oh I'm ever so happy! I've finally got my studio back up and running after the unexpected crash of my G5 and the inevitable switch to Windows that followed. I love mac but when you need to get stuff quickly and on a budget, it just isn't practical.
ANYWAY! I've already dumped all my files to the new machine and have even had time to record some new tunes (guide tracks of course...) but it will take me a little bit more time to get re-settled and upgrade the hard drives, etc etc..
But even still there's work to be done. I've started some preliminary mixing on Syren's upcoming album and with help of an old friend of mine it looks like things will go very well! Oh, the Joy of all things studio and nerdy!
So to celebrate, here's my track of the day. DIG THAT BASS LINE!
I was browsing the internet today just having a general surf and kept coming across X Factor this and X Factor that....Ooo...is Gary Barlow doing as good a job as Simon Cowell....(Are you serious? THAT's Listed on the news and I have to do a google search to find out what's going on in Libya??) And I remembered how, back home in America, in high school everyone was obsessed with American -freaking- Idol. I never understood it and have actively boycotted such shows since they came out back in 2001 (starting with Pop Idol in Britain.)
What is most annoying is how you can't deny the genius of the creators. Finally there is a show which was like drugs to the minds of the public. Even people who's musical values were of a more 'old school' fashion would "Watch the auditions, you know....cos they're just so funny..."
If you want comedy why not watch genuine comedy such as Monty Python, Bill Hicks or any of the Carry On films?? Or better yet, find a local comedy venue and go watch someone new!
Bill Cosby
(And as a by the by, "As of June 2011, [American Idol] is the most watched TV series in the Nielsen ratings and is the only program to have been number one for seven consecutive seasons, surpassing All in the Family and The Cosby Show, which were both number one for five consecutive season..." according to Wikipedia...Poor Bill Cosby...now HE was funny.
I'm allowing myself once and for all to get on a soap box about this, because it's shows like this which numb the minds of the public. That's the same public musicians such as myself rely on to buy records...more and more people are beginning to prefer that dolled up, air brushed, turgid shite that rolls off of shows like American Idol, and the X Factor because it's easy! It's like the fast food of music. It feels so good when you can move along to that new track in the club, but at the end of the day it isn't intellectually stimulating, is it? I suppose people don't want intellectual stimulation these days, though. Everything is just so easy...and who knows whether that's a good or bad thing.
I have, for the past 6 years or so, thought it was a bad idea to post big opinions like this, because the truth of the matter is that I do rely on you guys to buy my music and come to gigs. And if I'm seen to be trashing your favorite show, the likelihood of you supporting me is slim. But I honestly can't sit still any longer. How can we still be settling for stupid shows like that to tell us who has talent and what the X-mas number 1 is going to be? Some angry Rage Against the Machine fans started a facebook campaign back in December 2009 to make 'Killing in the Name' the UK x-mas number 1 and not let the X factor steal it for the 5th year in a row. It worked, too. They got so much support that Rage got more downloads and by christmas we really were ROCKING around the christmas tree....so to speak ...But nothing really came of it. The new year came and went and the rage in people eventually faded. But if we are REALLY angry about how ugly the face of the music biz is these days, why don't we DO something about it?
We can, too!
Biffy Clyro
(also as a side note, the 2010 x-mas No. 1 was a song called 'When We Collide' written by a great Scottish band, Biffy Clyro. But it wasn't Biffy Clyro that got the kudos for the song although I'm sure they got nice royalties..., it was some x factor wimp sporting an acoustic guitar)
Stop downloading/buying meaningless mess just because Itunes endorse it or because it's getting press and try going out to your local open mic nite. I guarantee you'll see someone who's whole heart and soul go into every word and chord they write and on a spiritual level that will echo within you until you die.Try listening to original versions of songs and supporting the people who wrote them as opposed to someone who's been produced by money spinning turd machines (record companies).
And finally, thanks for reading...My soap box and I are off, until next time.
Today is one of those days when you want to eat comfort foods and stare out at the overcast Scottish sky daydreaming about novels you might one day write....or at least it is for me anyway. ha ha.
So, in my daydreaming I had this song spinning around my head. I just love the melody and words...
Enjoy!
