I thought I'd write my first blog and let you guys know that I'm just putting the finishing touches on the visuals for our 360 show for the Olympics.
It's been a very long and square-eyed couple of months but I'm really excited about how it's going to look on the big screen(s). Each of these videos is going to be 6 metres tall and 62 metres around... it's going to be mental.
Here's a sneak preview -
I fully recommend you come and see it in action on the 9th of August in Weymouth, where we are performing as part of the 'At The Edge of Everything' event, curated by the Shepton Mallet Digital Arts Festival, with the fantastic Nordic Giants, Cate Ferris and Andy Walker.
Well, well, unwell. We returned from Meadowlands four days ago...not that it feels that way for me. I've only just been able to crawl out of my quilt after a nasty bout of I-dunno-wot-itis. The time? It was good.
Tim Key's performance in the spoken word tent was a particular highlight for me. Portico Quartet, of whom I have been a fan since catching them on some long forgotten late-night jazz-o-lantern TV trauma many years ago, were also a keen contender for my 'Where did I put my mind?' award.
It's difficult to describe how good so many of the acts were, so I won't. Except the guy who put the firework up his bum. He's worth a mention. Yeah. Alas: no photo.
We believe our set went well! The crew were great- it's been a while since we had such a relaxed gig. We did a little interview for latest.co.uk, spent some quality time with The Management and co., and saw fellow Brightonians Nordic Giants put on an awesome performance (perhaps the best I've seen them) despite intense sleep deprivation after their single launch only a couple of days before.
All in all: good festival, good time.
Pleasantness abounds.
Except for Jeb. The 360 visuals are due and he spent last weekend slacking off in some field or other.
It's Saturday. We're filming visuals for the 360 degree show. Time generously donated. See also: cameras, dancers, lights, space. Hot outside. Sunny. Close the curtains. More when complete.
My chocolate bar has melted.
The price of art.
Summer is upon us! I can smell the freshly cut grass outside - festival season is nearly here. I hope wherever you are, you are getting as much sunshine as we are down in Brighton. I, however, got a bit too excited, ran around in the sun for far too long and gave myself heat-stroke! Plus I was attacked by seagulls.
Here they are squabbling over bits of my body
We are preparing for our first festival of the season - MEADOWLANDS. Extremely excited to see LAMB and ACHORSONG song again, as well as our good friends NORDIC GIANTS.
In the meanwhile, we have all been very busy with PHORIA things: Jeb has locked himself away for the last month creating 360 degree visuals only to emerge to drag us all to interesting locations with 7 cameras. For example: if you happened to be in Stanmer woods at 01.00am last Tuesday, you would have caught sight of 7 weirdos standing in a circle, shuffling and flashing cameras. Jeb assures me that it will all be worth it...
Trewin is finishing the final mixes of the 'Bloodworks' EP. I am told killer vocal takes cannot be rushed.
I have been transcribing string parts for another special project on the horizon - any good string players out there?
I need to lie down now.
I leave you with some Vaughan-Williams - because I'm cultured and stuff.
It used to be that I would wake up in the morning (read: afternoon), stumble over to my mess of a desk, and give my laptop a good old boot into the punctuated pit of the world-wide-web. I had immediate and unbridled access to two things: new musicand information. OK, let's be honest, three things.
It used to be that I was that guy in pub-tabled conversation: 'Have you heard the new bootleg-EP pre-release fan-fiction leaks from The Super New Underground Great Sound band? No? Oh man it's great you have to hear it blablabla...'
I haven't had consistent access to broadband internet since 2009.
Wipe the tears from your eyes, dear telecommunicative reader - I know it's upsetting, but we can get through this together. You can start a facebook support group for each another while I make a collage of what I imagine that to look like. I'll make it from scraps in the corner of my mud hut.
What all of this means (finally, a point) is that, unlike the rest of the 'cool', fully-wired Phoria crew who are inevitably on the cruising edge of the 21st century's bubbling musical pot, I have become something of a backwater fish.
So, what are my habits then, when, after years without and for a limited time only, I do have access to broadband?
I indulge in old 70's Anglo-German prog with crazy sci-fi psychedelic album art, and get so consumed with pleasure that I feel compelled to share it on a collective blog:
Others may provide you with the new and the cool - I'll merely provide you with my own ugly truth.
Alas, there is little news from 'The Phoria'. Most of us have been tucked into our little beds, sneezing and wheezing away. It's convenient that this little spate of illness has been well coordinated. Another winning idea, lads. It's yet to be seen whether this initiative will improve our productivity. (NB. It won't). That's government money saved.
We even, regretfully, had to cancel our appearance at the 'Festeaval' festival last weekend, where we were scheduled to appear alongside Bastille, one of my favourite new bands of the moment (thanks, Radio 6, for keeping me umbilically attached to the mainstream). It's all quirky beats and bassy synth-arpeggiated fun, so what's not to love?
Our much-promised EP is currently being rested (to be approached again with fresh ears) and we're focussing our efforts on preparation for the Olympic 2012 gig in Weymouth.
Here's a great example of what can be achieved using the set-up we're working with:
Greetings fellow earthlings! What a weekend we've had. Friday began with a photoshoot with new mentor Ciara in and around the lovely town of Frome.
Here's some shots I took from the first spot we found ourselves in - an awesome old attic space interspersed with rather odd artifacts...
Trewin is happy!
Friends
Stuffed mongoose and snake fighting - the usual
Jeb prepares his "photo-shoot" face.
View from the attic's rather disquieting door to nowhere
"If you go down to the woods today..."
Later on in the day Ciara took us to a derelict iron works situated by a river deep in the woods. The place was just beautiful, only to be ruined by 5 irksome musicians. Never-the-less we had a brilliant time and soon the shoot itself shall appear. We only hope we're as pretty as we pretended to be.
Saturday started with the predictable pre-gig hangover which was soon shook off and replaced with excitement for the imminent Festival of Art for Brazil in aid of Ephermal Brazil.
Nordic Giants set up
The night was a great success. A big thanks to everyone involved, including Nordic Giants and Andy Walker, who were both excellent.
This is my chosen view of the venue in Shaftesbury. After a hectic few days in and out of the many pittoresque towns of southern England (consorting with cameras and local folk) and a hectic few nights in the dwellings of those whose charity extends well beyond their endurance, I've taken to a nook with room for legs to stretch.
The new photos will be posted soon enough, but certainly not before all of my personal Adobe enabled demands are met. I'll tell you now that yes, I have been working out (my top tip? Wrestling robot bears).
Tonight we're playing with the mighty Nordic Giants, who are currently in the midst of their consistently entertaining soundcheck. Even here, tucked away and both-sides blindsided, Dai's drums are making my heart race with the anticipation of tonight's performance.
It's going to be a goody, and it's all in aid of Ephemeral Brazil- a charity worth your time and undivided attention. Go out there and find out about them!
I'll stay here, keeping the morale low.
Tim.
Phoria will be performing tonight at Shaftesbury arts centre from 8pm.
Weather has been horrible recently in Brighton but we have been busy rehearsing and coming up with new jokes. On that note, the song of the day goes to................
Jasmine by Jai Paul. Beautiful down tempo-y song. SMOOTH
...with the sound of intense practice on a sunday! A SUNDAY of all things! Take note, aspiring musicians- there is no rest for the wicked. Or the neighbours.
We've got a big week lined up- we're at The Blind Tiger club in Brighton tomorrow 23/4/12, then we're heading down to the south west (where this humble young scallywag was created) for a photo sesh and what we know is going to be a great gig at Shaftesbury arts centre on Saturday for Ephemeral Brazil, who provide help and hope to vulnerable women living in the slums of south america. We feel honoured to be a part of this worthy cause. Get your ticket here.
