Big Pauper.

The Fritzbox Video Synth v.2.2 (2011).

Just finished this little kitten the other day. This guy is best for post production applications, certainly not a VJ tool or anything (although it does have audio input capability).  It processes colors in odd ways, replacing stray colors here and there, inverting them, blurring and then stretching them.  It also produces a lot of weird pattern-based noise and scrambled transmission looking shit unique to this circuit.  The bulk of the effects are switched on and then activated by patching from the red to the black.  The black patches are generally RGB aside from the bottom row which bare no relevance to colors.  The white patch ports are for patching incoming audio in to the black ports thus creating colors that bump n' grind to them there tunes.  The one light indicates unit is on and working, the other indicates incoming audio level.  All the stray switches toggle effects.

I am pretty happy with this one.  I wish I could have used the meter for something (it takes too much juice to drive) and I wish the circuit weren't so temperamental (certain effect combos can occasionally crash the fucker)... but ehh, that's the nature of the beast.  The most hilarious aspect of this thing is the amazing hacked "Electrocomp Heating Computer."  It was an early "computation device" in a suitcase from 1965 used by door-to-door salesmen to determine your annual heat-loss in KW.  Even stranger is that it's made by one of my favorite early synth manufacturers.  I did a little research on it after I gutted the damn thing and threw a circuit in it.... turns out that when they turn up (if ever) they go for a thousand and over, haha.  Oh well, I like to think I improved upon it's functionality and besides, good luck finding anyone who would pay a grand for a computer sans IC.  Anyways, I'm out the door, but I hope to post more flicks n pics of this dish in a lick.  Oh and it still needs some nice cloth patch cables.

Izzz late,

BP

It's not like me to post one of these status update things, but it's gonna be a good year and I got a lot brewin' for the 1-2.  The biggest thing being my new live show which I'm really excited about.  I'm working on an all-in-one live a/v performance.  I had been working towards it off and on over the last five years but either the technology wasn't there, i couldn't afford the gear or it led to a nervous breakdown.  But not this time!  I've got everything I need... and everything I don't have is just a stone's throw away from me over at Mike Clark's Movie Madness.  But more on all that shortly.  Here's my 1-2 project run-down... in no particular order:

New Two Ton Sloth banger with Brad Hamers and a handful of Euro TTS shows. (Summer).

So Brad and I have our third full length on the horizon coming out on the French label Cooler Than Cucumbers.  It's all one big excuse to get back to France to do some shows this summer, hehe, I love that country.  But we started recording a few nights back and it went rather well, however I do still appear to be a bit hungover from the occasion.  Expect a little single preview in a couple of months.

New free Big Pauper EP from Circle Into Square /Fake Four Inc. (Spring).

Been working on an EP's worth of new material for a little Cops Eat Flowers sequel.  What to say, what to say... It's got a lot of material packed in to a short duration, kind of like a beat tape, but I don't want to call it that.  It's heavy on the sample collage as usual, employs a couple new pieces of gear (folktek pieces, home-made pieces, a baldwin electric/acoustic piano) and a lot of it has been created with the live performance in mind.  I'm shooting for an April release on this one.

Now booking for Euro fall shows and Spring US shows.

Time to hit the road with the new live show.  My dreams of creating a one-man grindhouse a/v spectacular have finally come true.  The live set-up employs a bunch of circuit bent video creations of mine, ME, VDMX & an arsenal of viddy that compliments the aural b-movie vibe.  I can't even put into words how excited I am about this shit.  It's not going to be quite on par with Amon Tobin's most recent a/v performance, but it should be entertaining none the less.  I hope to have a live video performance of "Big Sick" up on the TokenRecluse Youtube Channel for you to peep soon.  I could use your help though, if you are booking for anything, anywhere in the world  (March+), please feel free to hit me up at tokenrecluse (at) gmail (dot) com.  Setting up shows myself is not one of my strong points and I can use all the help I can get.  I promise you the show won't let you down.  Can't wait!

Workshop at the University of Wisconsin.  (April).

I'm presenting a two-day lecture/workshop for the Art and Technology student group at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.  I'll be yapping about re-puropsed technology, putting together the new live show and video bending specifically.  On the second day we'll be working on a project together to premier at a show on April 27th (I believe) opening for Lorn (Ninja Tune, Brainfeeder) in Milwaukee.  Really excited for all this.

New remix for Stones Throw's Bruce Haack remix album. (TBA).

Fortunate enough to be featured on the new remix album for Stones Throw's Bruce Haack retrospective.  Bruce is one of my heroes and I am thrilled whenever I see his pioneering spirit get the recognition it deserves.  I am covering the essential classic "Program Me" and have permission from the estate of Bruce Haack to use segments from the alternate version of Program Me featured on "Farad: The Electric Voice."  An honor for sure.  Not sure when the release date is on this one.

Limited Swiss solo split 10 Inch release w/ Brad Hamers. (Fall).

Swiss label Mism (Berne, Switzerland) is putting out a split ten inch of solo material from myself with the flip side by Brad Hamers.  So, it's not a two ton sloth release, we're each doing our own thing and touring a bit over there to support it.  I'm using this as an excuse to produce something a little more Express Rising meets Autechre meets Belong.  Big thanks to Mich for the opportunity and support.

Producing a new VST library for Kontakt/Ableton/Everything. (Winter).

This is the year's long term goal.  Last year I produced The Folktek Collection Vol. 1, a collection of virtual instruments and sound design for Native Instruments Kontakt & stand-alone sound library applications based on the brilliant one-of-a-kind circuit bent creations of my comrades at Folktek.  This year I am working on a "Folktek Presents" Vol. 1 collection.  Rather then feature Folktek instruments I will be concocting my own royalty free virtual instruments/sound library based around an arsenal of field recordings, obscure synths, talented instrumentalists from Portland, circuit bent creations and original sound designs.  The tone is to be on an authentically ancient dada electro-acoustic experimental sound craft tip.  It's inspired by the sound design of Broadcast (heavily), Delia Derbyshire, John Cage, Amon Tobin, Bruce Haack, Nurse With Wound, Arius Blaze and Ben Houston to name a few.  I am striving to create truly unique living breathing virtual creatures for you to incorporate in to your original compositions.  I will keep you posted.

New circuit bent video pieces for sale. (All year).

Not sure if you've checked it out in a while but I've got an arsenal of new pieces up on the video bending page for sale.  The site is a time consuming constant work in progress, a distraction from getting real work done, but it is getting better.   I just finished a couple of modified WJ-Ave5s, Ave3s and a few one-offs.  I've got a little ways to go before it is all up, but I am trying to feed myself a bit off of this shit and have eliminated a lot of other extraneous activities (collage art, intaglio printing, a real job, a social life) so that I may better focus on the modified video machines.  Email me at tokenrecluse (at) gmail (dot) com if interested in anything.

Damn, I know there is more, but those are the main things... phew.... glad I got that out of my system.  It felt rather narcissistic but oh well, it must be done to let you all know i am still a living breathing happy sad organism. My best to you and yours from me and mine in the year to come.  Hope to see you out and about.

Cheers,

Big Pauper.

Get Off the Moon by Scientific Maps

Get Off the Moon is a criminally under-appreciated indie rock record from the eccentric electric noodlings of mister Aaron Smith (Albany, NY).  I had the good fortune to play theremin with Aaron at a couple of shows and on this record.  I love this man's songwriting and prior to couple of minutes ago I never had a copy of this record after it's release.  Listening back on this record captures the nostalgic air of 2006 in Upstate NY, long before Portland crushed me like a cheap beercan.  There were Scientific Americas a-plenty, dollar slices keeping me fat all spring, and a friendly scene that fostered creative growth.

I'm hoping there will one day be a reunion tour... of that time and that place....

Meanwhile, download and enjoy this rare treat.. make your own goddamn nostalgic air.  Oh, and take an extra close listen to the Octopus is Going Home.  Ma' trusty ol' Etherwave.

Demoing my video gear and some Folktek-ery.  Hope to see you there.

Broke As Me. (Tom Waits Beat Tape). by Big Pauper

I said I'd never do it again, but at least this was on some whatever-the-fuck-n-have fun shit and not on some greasy half-commercial enterprise shit.

Just finished a track for track remix album based around "Bad As Me" by Tom Waits (http://anti.com).  It is available for listen and download at my Soundcloud.

This was a creative exercise in rapid fire beat construction.  It was created in just a little over two weeks and is not intended to be taken too seriously.  Not sure it quite hits my personal par to be putting out, so I thought I'd just post it up on the Soundcloud.  No big deal.  Seems to be the trend these days.  

Share and enjoy friends.  Be well.  Until the next project.

Dead Language v. 2.1 Circuit bent video titler.  Starts at $275 on ebay.  Not a bad price!  No reserve.

Modified WJ-ave3 w/ 2 control boxes.    Have one up on ebay and an extra one not listed if you are interested. Starts at $499.  Buy it now at $599.  This one is really clean... all new quality switches and patch ports.

Check out some new videos/pics in the Video Bending store-front.

More video pieces to post up shortly.  Hit me up if interested.  tokenrecluse (at) gmail (dot) com

Cheers!