What to react to in a world where there's bad news for someone somewhere everyday..? Such terrible scenes in Oklahoma - so much so, that I find I'm compelled to express my genuine sadness and sympathy, but then what of those in Syria? I suppose realistically it's not the division of compassion that counts, but that we feel at all - be that for the many or the one. 

Rest easy Ray Manzarek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45TcV5rZQ4w

Looking to expand my sequencer/arpeggiator capabilities. Eyeing the Korg MS2000R. Any recommendations for a good tool under $500 buckaroos? Thanks in advance!

http://www.flickr.com/new

Just got this in the mail.  I've been a pro subscriber for years and really like flickr. 

Oh wow - my page looks much better now....    http://www.flickr.com/photos/johei/sets/72157625072500449/

MOND's music almost all for free on Bandcamp

Here is one very important question I want to ask you.

I am finally going to release my next album "CONSTRAINTS" which contains analogue mastered versions of my [b]Disquiet Junto[/b] tracks. I am pretty sure some of you took part in this awesome ongoing project created by Marc Weidenbaum www.disquiet.com

The full album "CONSTRAINTS" will be released on a CDr but I want to make a lathe cut 12" vinyl with only 7 tracks from the album.

Of course it won't be cheap, cause each vinyl will be cut separately, so I want to ask you a question if you want one copy. I assume that it will cost about $30 (with the postal costs). If you pre-order the vinyl you will also get the CDr version + mp3s (320).

Please decide if you want a copy of the album and let me know before May 26th. When I know the exact number of copies I will try to negotiate the lower price. And…

A few more recordings of ideas and thoughts...

I couldn't quite get my hands around this idea - needs more work - this is attempt #5 I think to play it.

Something quiet - also brand new idea.

Very quiet piece - something I've tinkered with for a long time.  Simple. Minimal. I haven't played in a while - wanted to capture it.

And a final little improv:

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ambient online podcast #6 by S1gnsOfL1fe

The ambient online podcast is a bi-weekly podcast featuring the ambient tracks, drones, and soundscapes of the talented members of ambient online.

This week on the podcast we have a very informative and enlightening interview with ambient artist Oscar Finch of Venn Diagram! His latest full length release is called "The Desolate Sound of Extinction" and is available on the Filter Label. http://venndiagram.bandcamp.com

Track…

Well, it's been a while since I posted on here..a few months actually..and my apologies for not being more active, but this has been due to on-going health issues I'm having to deal with, which do take their toll from time to time.  Nothing too serious I'm happy to say, but still things that effect the quality of life in general.

On the music side of things, I started work on my first EP / Album..not really sure which.  It started out as just one track..which then became a two-part track and has now evolved into 5 different tracks following a main theme.  The title of the work, be it EP or Album, is going to be "War and Peace".  I've played it to a few friends and the feedback has been it's "a bit Vangelis-ish"..which is cool I guess.  Below is the first 2 tracks, which run into each other.

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Maneki Neko's "Auracle" album was released longer time ago, in the summer of 2005 on Stray Pointer Records, which, I believe, is a label of Al Mikula, the sole protagonist of Maneki Neko. Based in Austin, Texas, Al Mikula is a sculptor of soothing electro-acoustic blankets for yoga, relaxation, meditation, and massage therapy. To be honest, I have never heard of this release and artist until my good friend Karel aka Sonic-Hypnosis pointed me to this crafted sonic healer (Díky, Karle!!!). "Auracle" is Maneki Neko's debut and I was immediately impressed by its excerpts. And the album only proves this, "Auracle" is a great revelation for my ears!!! Equipped with array of acoustic instruments such as Tibetan prayer bells, Egyptian ney, gongs, Japanese shakuhachi, wind chimes..., Maneki Neko masterfully…