Discussing his cyclical production process, musical roots, tricks of his live show, the weirdness of album reviews and all things music making with Grammy award winning sound chap James Blake! ✨

WHY WE BLEEP 035: JAMES BLAKE

Why We Bleep is inspired by the mysterious, unique and amazing people behind the equipment and music that we love. It's about getting better at making music, dweebing out over music and synth technology, and to perhaps better understand where music making might be going.

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Would you like to learn about a novel way to make music that's available to you right now, completely free, improvisational, and insanely powerful? Today we meet Alex McLean and discuss the magic of Algorave - aka: making improvised music onstage by writing and editing small lines of code.

It’s an amazing art form and Alex is the person who coined the term ‘Algorave’, and created TidalCycles, a free program for live coding, and is a great advocate for the art form.

Links below to watch performances, watch Alex’s TED talk, get access to TidalCycles and more.

LISTEN OTHER WAYS
▶︎ YouTube: https://youtu.be/NUgJgCvX4Y4

 THANKS TO SPONSORS:
▶︎ http://signalsounds.com
▶︎ https://www.thonk.co.uk/shop/byom/ (this is the kit I mention in the ad)

 SUPPORT THE PODCAST ON PATREON: 
▶︎ https://www.patreon.com/mylarmelodies 

 INTRO TO LIVECODING
▶︎ Here's a TED talk Alex did: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAGjTYa95HM 
▶︎ Here's a nice little Resident Advisor film about Algoravin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2EZqikCIfY
▶︎ Here's a performance Alex did which I reference in the conversation, I think it's absolutely wicked and a great example of the tools being used to sensational effect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vomnc9R-7mw
▶︎ Here's ORCA, which we touch on: https://100r.co/site/orca.html
▶︎ Here's a good intro vid to ORCA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaI_TuISSJE

 ALEX'S LINKS
Here's an uber useful list of links that Alex provided for me to share with you, if you want to learn how to livecode, try it immediately in your browser, or find a community meetup.
▶︎ Introduction to live coding music and visuals - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QY2x6aZzqc
▶︎ TidalCycles https://tidalcycles.org/
▶︎ Try Strudel right now: https://strudel.cc/ (it's TidalCycles running in a browser without any need for installation)
▶︎ Strudel Demo by Alex: https://strudel.cc/?FRyhM9b5iLDm
▶︎ TOPLAP - the home of live coding https://blog.toplap.org/
▶︎ List of local live coding communities https://blog.toplap.org/nodes/
▶︎ Pattern Club Sheffield - https://patternclub.org/sheffield/
▶︎ 'Eulerroom' channel with loads of archived live coding streams: https://www.youtube.com/eulerroom
▶︎ Alex's algorithmic pattern project https://algorithmicpattern.org/
▶︎ Comprehensive list of live coding links https://github.com/toplap/awesome-livecoding
▶︎ Alex's blog https://slab.org/
▶︎ The nonprofit Alex works as part of https://thentrythis.org/

WHY WE BLEEP 045: ALGORAVE/ALEX MCLEAN

Discussing a surprising career in directing ads & computer graphics, how he then created the legendary M185 sequencer, and much electronic nerdery with legend Jake of RYK Modular.

Thanks to Matt Milligan for editing this episode.

If you enjoy this, please share it!

BUY RYK MODULES: https://www.ryk-modular.com/products 

THANKS TO SPONSORS:  http://signalsounds.com & https://www.thonk.co.uk/ 

SUPPORT THE PODCAST ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/mylarmelodies 

Links to Some Things We Discuss 

The original Jake M185 jam that I could still hum was: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAvPPj_Sy6c&ab_channel=RYKModular  

The amazing David Elsewhere breakdancing clip (it’s actually from 2001, heck): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUz4OLQi_uw 

The VW Ad Jake & Ryoko directed as NE-O (Mint Royale also doing great work on the remix): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Myxb1f07cAo 

Jake’s favourite Toyota ad they made (and which won the Cannes Lion award): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xJcwF7N0QM 

Bonus: Brilliant Toyota ad NE-O directed:  https://vimeo.com/155964264 

LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO WHY WE BLEEP ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/why-we-bleep/id1338201154 

LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON SPOTIFY:

https://open.spotify.com/show/7geAIMtHFkCjEiRy3oqez0?si=wJOmlqVDR1CHur1PBrDlXg

WHY WE BLEEP 044: RYK MODULAR

Discussing the music making process, beating bad habits and “doing a f*cko” with Alex Robertshaw and Jonathan Higgs of the excellent band Everything Everything.

Ensure more Why We Bleeps get created by supporting the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mylarmelodies 

BUY THEIR RECORDS (AND SEE THEM LIVE): https://everything-everything.co.uk/ 

THANKS TO SPONSORS:  http://signalsounds.com & https://www.thonk.co.uk/ 

LINKS TO STUFF WE DISCUSS
▶︎ Ableton Live: https://www.ableton.com/en/ 
▶︎ Verbos Modular: https://www.verboselectronics.com/ 
▶︎ Cwejman Modular: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/vendors/view/20 (The founder died in 2021 and I am not sure what the future holds for the brand)
▶︎ Monome Teletype: https://monome.org/docs/teletype/ 
▶︎ Cirklon: https://www.sequentix.com/ 
▶︎ Bach to Moog (exploring hybrid acoustic/electronic arrangements): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Rcw5GCXJnQ&t=335s 
▶︎ Stuart Price: https://www.soundonsound.com/people/stuart-price (old interview but interesting)
▶︎ James Ford: https://www.jamesellisford.com/ 
David Kosten: https://davidkosten.com/ 
▶︎ VCV rack: https://vcvrack.com/ (A free virtual modular synth in your computer!!)
▶︎ Teletype add-on: https://library.vcvrack.com/monome/teletype 
▶︎ Alex’s Teletype tutorial recommendation:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMHhQKTYXU657VGx48aj-0rs_tjoz7-Eo&si=V7cyhn7UnTC41OfR
▶︎ Alex’s favourite Teletype Instagrammer: 
https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cbf0boxg4yp/?igsh=MTRrbGNjbWU5Z2lyOA== (the guy who connected lights to his!)

WHY WE BLEEP 043: EVERYTHING EVERYTHING

A freewheeling conversation about nearly everything with the fantastically interesting Tom Whitwell. 

Ensure more Why We Bleeps get created by supporting the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mylarmelodies 

BUY TOMS MODULES: https://musicthing.co.uk/ 
THANKS TO SPONSORS:  http://signalsounds.com & https://www.thonk.co.uk/ 

LINKS TO STUFF WE DISCUSS
Tom’s Residential Workshop in April 2024 he’s doing: https://dyski.co/Tom-Whitwell-Sound-Maps 
52 things Tom Learned in 2023: https://medium.com/magnetic/52-things-i-learned-in-2023-a3bbb9f9323d 
An interesting book about being interesting that Tom is in: https://thedobook.co/products/do-interesting-notice-collect-share 
The book drawing on the right side of the brain: https://www.drawright.com/ 
The David Tudor book he loves: http://remindedbytheinstruments.info/phone/index.html 
The Centimental Noise Book: https://cementimental.com/noisebook/ 
Tom’s Move module: https://www.thonk.co.uk/music-thing-modular-move/ 
Tom’s 8MU controller: https://www.thonk.co.uk/shop/music-thing-8mu/ 
Teenage Engineering KO II: https://teenage.engineering/store/ep-133/ 
My Panda Shall Fly: https://www.instagram.com/mypandashallfly/?hl=en-gb 
The episode of Why We Bleep with Sunroof: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/why-we-bleep-032-daniel-miller-gareth-jones-sunroof/id1338201154?i=1000532055425 
An app can be a home cooked meal: https://www.robinsloan.com/notes/home-cooked-app/  
Matt Webb’s AI Clock: https://www.theverge.com/23669343/ai-clock-chatgpt-poems-rhymes-diy-project 
Tom’s Mikrophone MK3 Module: https://www.thonk.co.uk/shop/mtm-mikrophonie-with-mic/ 
Tom Whitwell’s original ‘Where Daft Punk Got Their Samples From’ video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJPdVVOmbz4 
Tape Notes with James Blake: https://tapenotes.co.uk/project/tn122-james-blake 
ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/ 
The service Mylar uses that AI transcribes: https://www.descript.com/
The Rabbit R1 pocket companion: https://www.rabbit.tech/

WHY WE BLEEP 042: MUSIC THING MK VI

LISTEN ELSEWHERE & SUPPORT▶︎ https://www.whywebleep.com/▶︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/why-we-bleep/id1338201154▶︎ https://www.patreon.com/mylarmelodiesMORE FROM SAM:▶︎ https://www.lookmumnocomputer.com/▶︎ https://www.youtube.com/lookmumnocomputerTHANKS TO SPONSORS▶︎ https://www.signalsounds.com/ ▶︎ https://www.thonk.co.uk/ (Check out the two samplers mentioned: https://www.thonk.co.uk/shop/sebsongs-sampler/ & https://www.thonk.co.uk/shop/infinite-digits-pikocore/ )THINGS WE DISCUSS▶︎ The photographer we discuss who develops pictures with unusual materials is Melanie King: https://www.instagram.com/melaniekatking/ ▶︎ Korg MS10: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korg_MS-10 ▶︎ Dave “Nervous Squirrel”: https://www.nervoussquirrel.com/ ▶︎ Great SOS video with Dave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upYn03sU80A ▶︎ Kosmo Format Modular: https://www.lookmumnocomputer.com/modular ▶︎ Mutable Instruments Braids: https://pichenettes.github.io/mutable-instruments-documentation/modules/braids/▶︎ VCV Rack (Contains a Braids): https://vcvrack.com/▶︎ The Talk by Vlad Kreimer of Soma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxdzM86UrhgBOOKS MYLAR MENTIONS WHICH ARE ALL WORTH YOUR TIME▶︎ Deep Work - Cal Newport ▶︎ Digital Minimalism - Cal Newporthttps://calnewport.com/writing/ ▶︎ Four Thousand Weeks - Oliver Burkeman: https://www.oliverburkeman.com/books (Book of the year for me)▶︎ 10 Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Account - Jaron Lanier▶︎ You Are Not a Gadget - Jaron Lanier https://www.jaronlanier.com/

WHY WE BLEEP 035: JAMES BLAKE

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