Echopet and other musical Doodlings

A while ago my friend Mr Stevens asked me if  I wanted to work with him on composing a musical score for a recently found film from 1929. Of course I said yes, and the fruits of our labour can be heard at a screening in late June (hopefully). When working on the music for the film we also started working on some other musical ideas (getting sidetracked is a habit of ours) We put  2 SH101s, 2 Melos analogue Echos a Theremin and a Yamaha DX100 into an 8 channel mixer, and then recorded live onto DAT. Everything was improvised on the spot with no overdubs, and we ended up with over 30mins of music/sound/audio doodles. So we decided to use these ideas, and for  this project we will be calling ourselves Echopet. The 1st of these odd and spontaneous musical doodlings can be heard on Soundcloud. I should add that we might also be performing all this  live at a later date if we get the chance.

Roll up Roll up for the Elektrik Karousel

Sometimes in life I get completely sidetracked. Over the last few weeks I have started working on a new project with my Friend Mr Stevens (more on that at a later date), plus have been working on new tracks and ideas for my next album. Then what with work, school runs family etc I have been a tad bogged down. So when I recently received a copy of the new Focus Group album Elektrik Karousel the best place to keep it was in the car. This was not because I dislike the album or The Focus Group and wanted to banish it out of my sight, it was just simply the best place to listen to the album by myself and not get sidetracked, and after many listens and very long journeys, you must believe me when I say this album is outstanding. The samples/audio/sound cut ups that are a feature and style of The Focus Group's music are all there, but amongst the quirky and disjointed sounds there is something slightly sinister lurking, something that leaves you with an ominous feeling, a feeling that the odd the strange and unusual is also about to happen. In places Elektrik Karousel comes across as some sort of dark psychedelic alternative soundtrack to Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked this way Comes. You can imagine a smiling Mr House tipping his top hat as he invites you to board The Elektrik Karousel. The artwork for Elektrik Karousel is quite stunning with the CD coming in an 8 panel digi pack, with the inspiration for it coming from 1960s underground press. A truly wonderful release from The Focus Group. Personal favs on the album are Bachoo and ChordfI. So Roll up Roll up for the Elektrik Karousel....................but the cost of admission could be your mind. Which is definitely a price worth paying.

Our Secret Place

From my album Boxes Windows & Secret Hidey Holes, here is a video for the track Our Secret Place. Filmed out and about in Hampshire, Wiltshire and Wales. Still a handful of CDs left at the mo, but will get a re-press soon.

Bernard Cribbins Radio 4

Fantastic program about Bernard Cribbins on Radio 4 today. Part 2 being broadcast next Thursday at 11.30am. In part 1 Bernard chats about his early years in acting, his National service, fishing Carry on Spying and being directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Looking forward to part 2 next week, Jackanory Wombles Dr Who and lots more. I did not realise he was 85. Its on BBC iPlayer for another 6 days

Its a bit of a Twitter

After a lot of delay I am finally on Twitter. Last year I joined Facebook and lasted 23 hrs, then got bored with it. So if you go to https://twitter.com/KeithSeatman you just might every now and then catch a very dull and pointless Tweet from me. Who knows??? this might last a lot longer than 23hrs.

Shindig 32 (its a Whopper)

I have just got this months copy of Shindig magazine, and what a whopper it is. We have Interviews with James Cargill (Broadcast), Jim Jupp Julian House (Ghostbox) a look at The Childrens Film Foundation  The Sweet and also The rise and fall of Italian Giallo. Thats me taken care of for the evening. Feet up Glass of wine and Shindig 32.

Archive Reel 13 (a tad early)

Here a tad earlier than I anticipated is Test Transmission Archive Reel 13. To take us into the spring we have music from William Basinski, Prince Rama, Red Crayola, Scarfolk Council, Mark Fry, Sarah Angliss, Professor Elemental and loads more to get your feet tapping and your head throbbing. I will be spending the Spring working on a very strange and odd Audio project with my friend Mr Stevens (more on that later) so I hope to have Archive reel 14 ready for you all by late June or Early July. So for now TATA.

Dad knew Gurney Slade

The Strange World of Gurney Slade was 1st broadcast on Saturday 22nd of October 1960 on ITV at 8.35pm. By episode number 3 it had been moved to the much later slot of 11.10pm.

I 1st became aware of The Strange World of Gurney Slade a couple of years ago and really could not believe how good this strange surreal odd and bizarre program was.

At the time (1960) there really was nothing on TV to compare this series with. Written by Anthony Newley (who also played Gurney Slade) Sid Green and Dick Hills, in the 1st episode we see a standard sitcom family set up, then after repeatedly being asked a question by the sitcom actors Newley gets up, walks through the 4th wall past the cameras  and out of the studio into the street. From here on we follow Gurney through all sorts of strange a surreal events. In episode 4 we see a court case unfold in which Newley/Gurney is accused of not being funny and having no sense of humor, and Gurney/the series is put on trial. This episode in particular does remind me very much of The Prisoner.

The theme for The Strange World of Gurney Slade was composed by Max Harris, the single version managed to reach number 10 in the charts and stayed there for 5 weeks. Most people will remember the music from Vision On when it was used in the clock sequence.

So what has all this got to do with my Father?????? when I was growing up everytime Anthony Newley appeared on TV or the Radio my Dad would inform us that he knew Anthony Newley, I was quite impressed that my Dad knew someone famous, I also wondered how and when he knew him. The answer was quite simple and not very exciting at all. My Father had served with Newley when he was called up to do his 2 years National Service. My Father also did a very bad impersonation of Newley as well. Obviously I have no idea what my Father thought of The Strange World of Gurney Slade, or if he ever saw it???  But................my Dad knew Gurney Slade...........................Whoops!!!!! I should mention that all 6 episodes can be seen here.

WOW!!! Trunk 50p Friday

If like me, in the past you have bought some goodies from the wonderful Trunk Records, then 50p Friday is for you. I recently got an email informing me that the first Radiophonic Workshop single (Time Beat and Waltz In Orbit) would be available for 20p each TWENTY PENCE!!!!!!!!!. Well it seems that the boffins at Trunk have now decided to extend this idea to 50p Fridays. Every Friday Trunk Records will offer up a download (Album, Single EP Compilation) for 50p just for that day. So far we have an Eden Ahbez album and the Mighty Berned Cribbins ( I have an old EMI Starline Best of B C album, Gossip Calypso and Double Thinks are 2 personal favs). What does Mr Trunk have for us this Friday??????? I don't know, but I will be checking my email 1st thing Friday morning, or you could just go straight here with 50p at the ready. FIFTY PENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a way to start your Friday. UPDATE ALERT!!!!!! This week (Friday  22nd) The 50p treat was The MP3 soundtrack to the Peter Cook and Dudley Moore film Bedazzled.  Best 50p I have ever spent. 

Amateur Cine World Magazine and LP

Sometime ago I posted some copies of the wonderful Amateur Cine World magazine onto Found Objects. I was lucky to have found a pile of these magazines at Snoopers Paradise in Brighton. Last week I popped into a newly opened charity shop to have a very swift browse, and found this copy of the Amateur Cine World Music for your Movies album. What was even more pleasing was that on further inspection it still had the original dubbing licence enclosed in the sleeve. This album also has the wonderful Laurie Johnson track Las Vegas, which most of you will know as the Music from the long running (1962 - 1983) BBC Childrens program Animal Magic For more info on this wonderful album pop over to here

The Lost Hour

I have been asked to play a 1 hour DJ set at The King St Tavern Southsea on March 30th. This is In connection with Portsmouth's annual community arts festival 'The Lost Hour', 'The King Street Tavern is providing a day long session of live acoustic music and dj vinyl sets around the theme of 'time (sort of) and the hours we lose'. Live acoustic music sets will be occurring throughout the day, interspersed with The Tavern's own collective of djs & record collectors, creating a timely sound-scape of sofa loafing beats, with strange finds and odd ditties. Confirmed Acoustic Performers include: Lee Adach, Rhys Evans, Jonny Bell  Rex Domino. DJs include: Keith Seatman (Hello, Thats me) Mr. Foot Matt Esau Rusty Sheriff  Saturday 30th March 1pm-8pm.

Geoff Love Big Movie Themes

When I was a lot younger, there did not seem to be a Fathers Day, Christmas or Birthday when my Father did not receive a Geoff Love Movie Themes album. Now for those of you who might not know this (I am sure loads of you do) Geoff Love was a British Band/Orchestra leader, who recorded his own variations of movie themes for the EMI owned Music for Pleasure label. The Music for Pleasure label produced cheap budget albums which seemed to turn up in non traditional record outllets like WH Smith and your local News agent/Corner Shop (in fact the same News agents where I bought Night of the Crabs). Geoff Love's interpretations and arrangements of some of these themes, could be at times unusual to say the least. The Sax break on the Dr Who theme is always entertaining, and the Disco version of the  theme to Close Encounters is????? interesting.  All these albums at some time or other made their way into our house when I was growing up, and to tell you all the truth......I loved them all (with few exceptions of course)

1CD0332903 Sound Archive

Very happy to find out today that my album Boxes Windows and Secret Hidey Holes, has now been added to The British Library Sound Archive (formerly the National Sound Archive)
A very nice chap got in touch with me a few weeks ago and asked me if I would like to contribute a copy of the album to The British Library Sound Archive??? of course I said "yes", so as from today you can find me in The Sound Archive as Keith Seatman, Boxes Windows and Secret Hidey Holes or 1CD0332903 (now that has a nice ring to it)

Test Transmission Archive Reel 12

Test Transmission Archive Reel 12 by Keith Seatman on Mixcloud

Finally after a few busy old months here is Test Transmission Archive Reel 12. This time round we have music by Jonny Trunk, Ultravox!, The Langley School Choir, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Broadcast, Arban & Steve Severin, Simon Heartfield The Robert Mellin Orchestra, Vic Marrs and loads more, but way to much to list here right now. Next Test Transmission sometime in the spring.

The Wonderful World of Professor Elemental

I love this song by the Wonderful Professor Elemental, who is Professor Elemental?? what does he do?? Professor Elemental ether by choice or default has become a bit of a celeb on the SteamPunk scene, he also has a rather nifty dress sense. Professor Elemental's music is a cross between Hip Hop and Electro all performed in a very Victorian/Edwardian Style, with song titles like  The Great Race, I'm British, Penny Dreadful, Steam Powered and Cup of Brown Joy. His superb albums can be found on  Bandcamp. My favorite line from the Professor is on his song Penny Dreadful "Everything is possible, for a man in a top hat and a monkey with a monicle" Fantastic stuff indeed. I should also mention that the Professor can be heard performing vocal duties on  the track The Owl Club (Spacedog vs Professor Elemental) which can be found on The Spacedog Album Juice for the Baby. What more could you ask for?

Finally A New Album

Finally at last my new album Boxes Windows and Secret Hiddey - Holes is out now, and is available as a CD and Digital download from Bandcamp. The CD is £6 with free Download. 

Or £5 for Digital Download. Its all been a tad long winded trying to get the album finished, and I am only 6 months behind, so not bad by  my usual working standards. The video for the track The Woodcraft was finished way back last year, so that gives you an idea that I was being maybe a tad optimistic about my original release date (May September then October and finally Feb 2013) Righto I am of to plod along with some ideas for album number 3. 

"Seatman is a kindred spirit, and this is his most evocative and personal sounding work to date."  Jim Jupp, Ghost Box,

Berberian Sound Studio Vinyl

Very happy chappy today. I have just been sent a copy of the Berberian Sound Studio soundtrack. Whilst drinking my choco coffee (and making another)  I have managed to listen to this 3 times in a row and believe me I must say how much I love this creepy and at times beautiful soundtrack. The soundtrack was composed by James Cargill and the late Trish Keenan of Broadcast. The superb artwork was produced by Julian House (you all knew that anyway) time for another listen I think.

paperwoodmetaldress

For the last 5 months I have had the pleasure of working with Hampshire based Artist John Thomson. John phoned me back in August and asked me if I would like to assist him with his A0 and A1 prints for an exhibition at The Bedales Gallery Petersfield. I said yes, we met and 5 months later after a lot of scanning, Photoshop work and copius amounts of coffee the exhibition is almost here. It was a fantastic experience helping John to get his ideas and thoughts onto screen and then printed. The Exhibition entitled paperwoodmetaldress can be seen Monday to Friday 2 - 5 and Saturday 10 - 1 at The Bedales Gallery Petersfield from 12th January to 13th February. 

Worth a visit I say.

John Thomson is known for his richly textured and crafted sculptures made both for public

sites and exhibition. His materials are primarily steel for small works with large scale commissions fabricated from stainless steel or cast in bronze.

Based in Hampshire (born in Dunedin, New Zealand) he has exhibited sculpture internationally for over thirty years in countries as diverse as Russia, Iceland and Ireland with artists including Richard Wilson and Darrell Viner. He was included in the survey of the RCC Letterkenny Collection (Ireland) in 2003 alongside Jeff Koons.

Drawing forms an essential part of his working process, moving from rough monochrome sketches through to highly coloured complex drawings and digital prints.

His drawings were included in the exhibition Fifty Years of British Sculptors’ Drawings – Musée des Beaux Arts de Besançon, alongside Armitage, Flanagan, Frink, Gilbert & George, Long, Mach, Nash, Moore, Plackman, Sandle and Willats.

“Nostalgia and precision, seriousness and wit, watercolour and metal – John Thomson’s drawings and sculpture contain observations in a manner which excite contrasting emotions whilst instantly engaging the viewer” Jacqueline Thalmann  
Curator, Christ Church Picture Gallery, Oxford University

RIP Gerry Anderson

Gerry Anderson

14th April 1929 - 26th December 2012

Electronic Music for Schools

Picked this wonderful book up recently. Showed it to my friend Mr Packer and we reminisced about many of the recording techniques (my fav was always turning the recording tape over and then turning it back, so anything you recorded was backwards). I should point out that Mr Packer was the 1st person I ever knew, who had a 4 track Tascam porta studio. For someone like me who had just mixed and bounced down from 1 cassette deck to another a 4 track porta studio was amazing. This book covers all sorts of fantastic topics like bouncing down, Tape splicing, making sound proofed boxes (shoe boxes stuffed full of cotton wool) for recording clocks etc. I recently saw some copies of this book on Amazon here. Definitely worth tracking down.