ping things

500th post

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 14:41:00 +0000

So. This entry marks my 500th post on the ping things blog. And while that may not seem like a significant milestone to some of you, it's kind of a big deal to me which is why I'm noting it today.

When I began the ping things blog I wanted to have a chance to share my interests with you, not because I thought that my opinion was the be all and end all of taste and coolness, but because I thought that my interests were worth sharing with you, and you may not have the opportunity to discover those things on your own if I didn't tell you about them. I would hope that over the course of the last few years you've discovered something of interest, something of note, something worth discovering. If you did, well, then it's all worthwhile, right?

So. With that said, this entry marks the 500th post on the ping things blog and I'm very happy to have made it this far. And I also think that 500 posts entitles me to take a vacation.

As much as I've enjoyed sharing my interests with you, there's a price to be paid in spending all of my time being a cheerleader for everybody else. As much as I've enjoyed that role, I've had considerably less time to pursue my own music and other more personal writing that I'd like to do. So I've decided to take a vacation from reviewing music and writing on the ping things blog for an indeterminate amount of time so I can do some things for myself. How long will I be gone for? It's hard to say, maybe a week, maybe a month, or maybe a decade. Right now I just want to focus on doing some different things and seeing where they take me.

The blog will of course stay up here at it's current address, and you might even find that I add to it from time to time when the mood strikes me, but certainly not with any frequency or regularity. I'll continue to post on my other blog, A Pile of Concert Tickets (in fact I hope to post there considerably more regularly than I have been recently!), and I encourage you to visit there if you'd like to keep in touch.

As stated I'll be working on making music again, and when it's ready I'll be sure to post about it in the appropriate forums and venues. In the meantime if you'd like to investigate some of my previously released work, you can check out www.marastorment.com Additionally you can visit www.kaltemusic.com to keep up to date with Kalte, my collaborative musical project with Deane Hughes, or you can check out our artistic/installation project at www.subzeroarts.com

Thanks to all of you for your support over the last few years, and do feel free to keep in touch if you're so inclined.

Cheers,

Rik

A few people you should know...

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 02:10:00 +0000

I've had a number of people contacting me lately about reviews and reviewers, so in response to those requests I thought I'd take the opportunity to re-post part of an entry I made a number of months ago listing a few reviewers and promotional type people that I really like...

Bill Binkelman of Wind and Wire: I just did a post a few days ago commenting on the rebirth of Bill Binkelman's Wind and Wire as a review blog, and in that post I gushed and rambled on about his awesome review site and his support for myself and countless other artists, and a variety of other complimentary things. So I would be repeating myself if I were to make any more compliments about Bill in this post, and instead I will say "Thanks for everything you do to support artists Bill, you're a pretty cool guy", and leave it at that.

Richard Gurtler: In my mind, Richard Gurtler is a super fan. He loves music, and he's more than happy to let you know just how much he loves it. Richard is a prolific reviewer and admirer, writing about and promoting countless artists and projects in the genre. Reading his reviews always brings a smile to my face because it's so apparent from his writing how very much he enjoys telling his readers about new music. Thanks for making me smile Richard, and thanks for sharing the music you love!

John Koch Northrup of Relaxed Machinery: John Koch Northrup is the founder of the Relaxed Machinery label, and since it's start in 2010 John has nurtured and developed the label into the go to site for great new music. Relaxed Machinery has put out over 30 high quality releases by a variety of excellent artists over the last couple of years, and every one of them has been well worth listening to. In addition to his work as the rM mastermind, John is also a tireless host on the very active Relaxed Machinery community page, an impressive social network that encourages artistic expression by it's members in a variety of forms. Thanks for everything you've done to make a great label and a great community of artists John!

Scott Raymond of Secret Music: Scott Raymond's Secret Music radio show has been broadcasting for over 25 years now, and during that time he's given support and promotion to hundreds of artists. Scott was one of my very first supporters when I began making music back in the mid 90's and I am honoured to continue to be represented from time to time on his playlist. Thanks for everything you do Scott!

John Shanahan of Hypnagogue Music Reviews and the Hypnagogue Podcast: If you don't already know, John Shanahan is awesome. Not only does he write dozens and dozens of reviews every year on his fabulous Hypnagogue Music Review site (which coincidentally features a number of very kind reviews of my music), he also hosts the very awesome Hypnagogue Podcast, which is equally fabulous. John, you're an awesome guy and I appreciate all the support you've given to me and everybody else, it really means a lot!

Keep up to date with ping things through the ping things twitter feed, the ping things facebook group and the ping things tumblr!

"Portal" by Chris Russell

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 00:59:00 +0000

Chris Russell is one of my favorite artists these days, a talented musician who's been producing consistently impressive work that I've really enjoyed. His latest release "Portal" continues this trend, a collection of seven tracks, each of them evoking images of other planets filled with mystery and wonder, seven new vistas to explore and discover.

"Abyss" is the sound of planets being born, the sound of post-Big Bang alchemy and magic forming worlds and imbuing them with life. It's the sound of heat exchange and chemistry and elements being formed, the sound of science and wonder and everything else all at once. Most of all, it's the sound of beginnings, the sound of possibility. Anything could happen from here...

"Echo" finds us on a fiery world, a planet where lava flows freely and flames lick at the skies. Molten iron bows and bends in the heat, and the sounds of arcing metal and blazing forges add to the atmosphere. It's a scorching track, music for temperatures in the triple digits.

"Dolmen" has a feeling of drifting waves, a planet covered in water where small islands scattered about vast oceans are the only pockets of civilization. There's a pushing and pulling tension to the track, a sense of current that moves the sounds along, streaming pads that blend and flow around each other. A very impressive piece of music.

"Enceladus" brings us to a barren dust world, a planet where all remnants of a civilization and it's cities have all been eroded away by winds that have blown for millennium, where all that's left are drifting dust clouds that rise for miles above the planet's surface. There are ghosts in this track, the sounds of entire cultures lost to time.

The eponymous "Portal" reminds me of the Guardian of Forever, a gateway to a million worlds, a million times, all flashing by faster than a winking eye.

"Outlands" is a haunting piece where found sounds and pulsing tones play over an unsettling drone. It brings to mind a darker world, a place that retains many of the same qualities of our own, but things have gone slightly... off. Not bad, not evil, just... off. There's an unease and discomfort to this piece, and my hat goes off to Russell for making such an unsettling piece so appealing musically.

"Fathoms" finds us in a bright and hopeful new world on the cusp of a new age of exploration and discovery. There's a brightness to this track, the feeling of a bright sun keeping the planet safe and warm, and an image of bright faces looking to the sky in wonder and hope. It's a nice way to end the album, with a sense of possibility and potential, and the feeling of dreams yet to come.

Russell has done an outstanding job with this release, living up to and exceeding expectations set by his previous albums. I very much enjoyed this trip to other worlds, and I have faith that further listens to "Portal" will reveal many more wonders to discover. Whole-heartedly recommended by this review.

Rik - ping things

"Portal" by Chris Russell is available through Relaxed Machinery

Keep up to date with ping things through the ping things twitter feed, the ping things facebook group and the ping things tumblr!

Free CDs for June 7

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 23:46:00 +0000

ping things is giving away free CDs again and this time it's music by me, because as some of you may remember, I make music too.

"Related Textures" is a really nice compilation that I was very flattered to be included on, featuring some great music by myself, J.Mundok, Chocolate Grinder, and others. "The Barrier of Skin" was my fifth album release, a collection of ambient electronic pieces that contemplate the boundaries of our selves. I'm pretty proud of it.

Both discs are free for the asking (plus $3 shipping per disc of course), just mail me at rik@pingthings.com

Remember though, quantities are limited and this offer is only valid while supplies last. Once they're gone, they're gone. And of course in the event that there are more requests than discs available I'll send out discs on a first come, first served basis...

Keep up to date with ping things through the ping things twitter feed, the ping things facebook group and the ping things tumblr!

Saying goodbye to Eleven...

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 02:29:00 +0000

So Matt Smith has announced that he's leaving Dr. Who. And I'm kind of saddened by this.

I understand that it's inherent in the series' mythology that the Doctor changes with some frequency, and that those changes are part of what has kept the show fresh and exciting for all these years. I understand and I even appreciate it.

But I'm still kind of saddened by it. Because in some ways it means that I'm going to have to reacquaint myself with a new Doctor, and that will probably hinder my enjoyment of the show while I get used to whatever new quirks and eccentricities and what have you will define them.

I will find myself comparing them to Matt Smith who I compared to David Tennant, who I compared to Christopher Eccleston, who, well, you get the idea. And I'd much rather just enjoy new stories with somebody I'm already comfortable with, somebody who I enjoyed exploring time and space with. I dunno. Maybe I'm just being selfish, but I'm kind of saddened by this.

Then again, what if the Twelfth Doctor was Gary Oldman? That would probably settle my concerns pretty easily...

I guess we shall have to wait and see.

Keep up to date with ping things through the ping things twitter feed, the ping things facebook group and the ping things tumblr!

"Children of Alcyone"

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 01:55:00 +0000

Steve Brand's "Children of Alcyone" came out on the Hypnos Secret Sound label in 2009. And I kind of regret not noticing it at the time, because it's really quite good, and I would have liked having the extra years between then and now to enjoy it. Alas, I've found it now and I can revel in it's awesomeness a little later than the rest of you. A soundtrack for stargazing, music for dreaming of space travel, "Children of Alcyone" is another impressive release from Brand that will no doubt get heavy rotation chez ping things.

"Golden Cloud" opens the album with a nebulous drone defining the edges of the soundscape. As time passes, other tones rise up to deepen the sound and add texture to the listening experience. There's a great sense of aural dynamics throughout the track, highs and lows complementing each other very well and an excellent sense of sonic placement. A great way to start the album.

The second track "Light Age" follows with drawn out drones and oblique motion, the feeling of traveling great distances and vast spaces. Alien strings stretch and tighten while other sounds pass through like flotsam and jetsam left in the wake of city sized star ships drifting from system to system on a never ending mapping expedition.

"Outside the Time Grid" is music from a fifth dimension beyond space and time, another location where time and movement pulse and contract in irregular ways. Washes of sound flood the soundscape, rich tones that speak of distant places on faraway worlds. It's music that flows freely between stars in systems far beyond our wildest imagination, stellar conversations that span millions of years.

Album closer "Into the Central Sun" uses irregular wooden percussion as a sound source and while it's not a choice I would normally expect in such a space-y album, I'm pleased to report that it works very nicely here, in many ways providing an organic quality that leads to a human reference point in a vast cosmic expanse.

Needless to say, Brand has done an excellent job of capturing music for distant star systems on "Children of Alcyone". It's a collection of music that inspires and delights with it's depiction of celestial bodies and stellar happenings, and I encourage you to check it out and experience it for yourself.

Rik - ping things

"Children of Alcyone" by Steve Brand is available at the Hypnos store.

Keep up to date with ping things through the ping things twitter feed, the ping things facebook group and the ping things tumblr!

"Ecotone" by James Johnson and Aperus

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 02:06:00 +0000

I think that James Johnson and Brian McWilliams (aka Aperus) are both very talented musicians, each having produced some truly stunning work over the last few years. So it would stand to reason that by working together they would make something even more stunning in collaboration, right? "Ecotone" by James Johnson and Aperus is a beautiful and brilliant release that proves that theory, capturing all the best qualities of each artist and building on their separate gifts to create a truly impressive album.

"Descending Arc'' opens the disc with metallic percussion and other percussive sounds, a feeling of mysticism that plays over top a subtly droning pad. As the track progresses other elements are added, slowly building an engaging and involved aural landscape for the listener to explore.

"Cycle 17" follows, with oscillating tones running in randomly spaced sine waves. It makes for an interesting aural experience with a number of short patterns and appealing motifs being randomly formed throughout the course of the track. A very interesting example of generative music.

"Nostalgia and Memory" is a short track that uses a distorted warble as an anchor for a number of sounds and moods. Add some sparse piano playing a rather forlorn melody and you end up with a particularly emotional piece of music, a decidedly moody track that I quite enjoy.

"Crow Over Walnut Canyon" is another piano piece, slightly more melodic in character with a slightly brighter feel to it. There's some nice use of echo and delay here that give the track a vaguely haunted feeling, but more of a pleasant haunt, the feeling of being watched over, taken care of. A really lovely piece of music...

"Long Goodbye" features a number of nicely elongated pads paired with some struck metallic objects that naturally reverberate, a combination that results in some very tasty dramatic moments. I really enjoy the way this track illustrates the musicality inherent in the unexpected, and that sense of discovery that plays throughout really connects with me as a listener.

"Ancestral Voices" has a vaguely unsettling feel to it, a disorienting swirl of sounds and voices that rotate around the soundscape alternately building and falling in volume. That's not to say that it's not a good track though, I actually find it to be quite impressive in it's ability to inspire unease.

By contrast, "The Moth Jar" has a very delicate beauty to it, lovely piano matched with percussive metallic tones and treated electronics, all working together to create a very beautiful piece of music. Definitely my favorite track on the album.

"Transmigration" has a large cinematic quality to it, a big sound that suggests vast open spaces and long panoramic vistas. Certainly an excellent piece of work for use as a soundtrack or perhaps as the inspiration for a short film.

"Traces" closes the album, a quick don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-it ambient piece that really embodies the ideal of active listening. There's a lot to discover in this two minute track, a wealth of ideas compressed into a very tiny space. If you choose to listen passively you're sure to notice some of it's charms, but if you actively involve yourself in the track I'm sure you'll be suitably rewarded for your efforts.

There's no question that Johnson and McWilliams compliment each other brilliantly on this album, and the end result is an impressive collaboration that's already circling around the top spot on my year end list of groovy music. Take some time to explore "Ecotone", you'll be glad you did.

Rik - ping things

"Ecotone" by James Johnson and Aperus is available at james-johnson.net and geophonicrecords.com

Keep up to date with ping things through the ping things twitter feed, the ping things facebook group and the ping things tumblr!

"The North Shore" by dreamSTATE vs Heiki

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 02:08:00 +0000

I know from personal experience that Scott M2 and Jamie Todd of dreamSTATE and Heiki Sillaste all know a thing or two about cold Canadian winters. Long-time members of the Toronto ambient electronic scene, the three of them have all spent more than their fair share of time shivering in the desolate months between late-August and early-July, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that their shared cold experience can be felt so strongly on their recent collaboration "The North Shore". Recorded during preparations for their collaborative show as part of the 2012 Drone Cycle at the Ambient Ping (along with a track recorded at the actual show), the trio have put together an awesome collection of tracks inspired by the northern cold.

"Snow Drifter" is a stunning opener, a beautiful piece of flowing ambience that drifts and flows with the grace of the Aurora Borealis, delicate and charming, slowly undulating under the night time sky. It's a track that brings to mind a vivid imagery of falling snow and rising drifts, a beautiful stillness. "Expedition" follows with a particularly glacial flow to it, a feeling of arctic winds and dark skies looking down on a bitterly cold lake that stretches as far as the eyes can see. Icy floes thicken as time slowly drags along and big fat drones flow deep at the bottom of the mix, hidden under layers of frosty pads.

But it's the long form "Ice Flow" that most captures that particularly unique feeling of winter's chill. Over the course of it's forty minute length the trio create a feeling of intense isolation within the track, an overwhelming feeling of loneliness that is both haunting and mesmerizing. Thick pads flow together into a deep blend of sounds, occasionally complemented by abstract tones breaking through the surface of the soundscape to shift the focus of the listener. It's an impressive piece, a wonderful example of the synergy that develops between like-minded artists, and a testimony to the strength of this collaboration. I get goose bumps just thinking about it.

Closing track "Winter Light" has a tough position on the album, a shorter piece that follows the epic "Ice Flow", but upon reflection it fits perfectly with the rest of the tracks, a brighter and in many ways warmer piece that brings to mind a slowly building dawn, faint light gaining strength and bringing a brightness to an otherwise barren wasteland. It strikes me as a piece about new beginnings and new possibilities, and serves as a reminder that the entire world is always in a constant state of flux and change. Certainly a lovely track to finish with.

There's no question in my mind that "The North Shore" is one of the most beautiful and evocative albums I've heard in a long time. It's an album that conjures rich imagery and sends the imagination racing, capturing the theme of cold winters so well that I often find myself shivering while listening. I tip my touque to dreamSTATE and Heiki on this wonderful collaboration, an amazing album that I have faith I will be enjoying for years to come.

Rik - ping things

"The North Shore" by dreamSTATE and Heiki is available through Paper+Sound

Keep up to date with ping things through the ping things twitter feed, the ping things facebook group and the ping things tumblr!

Remembering the week that ended June 1

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 00:43:00 +0000

I can't believe it's June already. Where does the time go? I have a very real fear that as I get older time is getting more and more compressed. I certainly hope this is only a perceptual issue and not an actual temporal reality...

Regardless, the time has come to look back on the last week and remember what has happened in the ping things world. Join me as we remember the week that ended June 1...

Siouxsie and Vincent Price - Two heroes of mine shared a birthday this week...

Spacenoiz and Lorne David Thomson with Guests, Live at the Ping! - The Ambient Ping is back at Supermarket on June 11...

Still more free CDs... - ping things gave away some more free CDs this week...

Arbee and E1000 - Checking in on what the members of Anachronic XP are doing these days...

"Diamond Dogs" at thirty nine... - Marking the occasion of the thirty ninth anniversary of the "Diamond Dogs" album by David Bowie...

"Full Circle" by Resonant Drift - Resonant Drift released a new album and I really like it...

And that, my friends, was the week that ended June 1!

Keep up to date with ping things through the ping things twitter feed, the ping things facebook group and the ping things tumblr!

"Full Circle" by Resonant Drift

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 11:08:00 +0000

I'm really impressed with the latest album from Gary Johnson and Bill Olien's Resonant Drift project. "Full Circle" is an excellent collection of music that feels organic and natural, a cyclical set of tracks that connects and resonates with the listener on a really deep emotional level.

Opening track "Emerging Currents" rises up out of a whirling swirl of nothingness, a steadily building void punctuated by warm pads, delicately shaping the soundscape along with slight melody work. "Mists Have Risen" follows, bringing to mind the sound of waves crashing against the shore, an ebbing and flowing score that pushes and pulls at the listener's subconscious. As the track progresses, the waves calm and eventually become a beautifully quiet drift that brings peace and tranquility to the proceedings, a sense of serene calm.

Track number three, "Aurora Breaking", finds sounds rising and falling through the calm, lovely tones just gaining strength before they pull back. "And Then The Rain" follows seemlessly, a slowly pulsing aural web that weaves in and around the soundscape while lovely bells ring throughout. It makes for a very beautiful sound, a natural tonal quality that connects with the listener very nicely.

By contrast, "Cross Communication" is a journey to a darker space, somewhere cavernous and vaguely sinister. It's a dark trip, but still an engaging one, a testimony to Johnson and Olien's skills and their ability to travel through different sonic environments so easily.

"Ocean Migration" brings warmth and brightness back to the album, deep reverb giving a very strong suggestion of space and location. "Soaring over Elysian Fields" follows suit, bringing a beautiful dream-like quality to the album.

As a title, "Turning the Wheel of Time" makes me think of magic donkey wheels, but the track speaks of magic and mysticism, ritual and ceremony. There's a thick drone that lies at the heart of this piece, a steady bass that runs through it setting the tone. The bass line and percussion remind me a lot of Mick Karn's solo work, and I can think of no finer compliment for my favorite track on the album.

"Fading Memories" also has some nice percussion, building from the sense of ritual and ceremony established in the last track. "Dissolution" brings the album back around to a darker tone, a drone piece with some nice textural work. The eponymous "Full Circle" closes the album with some beautiful moments that build on themes established in earlier tracks, sheding a new light on the whole album and leaving the listener with a strong feeling of connection and satisfaction.

Included in the artwork for "Full Circle" is a quote by Lakota Leader Black Elk who makes note of the power and strength of circles found within nature. I think this is a really apt metaphor for the songs on the album, music that progresses through a circular pattern from beginning to end, building on it's strengths with every pass, bringing something new to hear or the chance to discover new connections that make the album even more impressive. Without doubt "Full Circle" is a very strong release from Resonant Drift, and I wholeheartedly encourage you to check it out.

Rik - ping things

"Full Circle" by Resonant Drift is available from CD Baby

Keep up to date with ping things through the ping things twitter feed, the ping things facebook group and the ping things tumblr!

"Diamond Dogs" at thirty nine...

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Fri, 31 May 2013 14:37:00 +0000

"As they pulled you out of the oxygen tent, you asked for the latest party..."

Thirty nine years ago today, David Bowie released "Diamond Dogs". Bowie's attempt to capture the totalitarian dystopia of Orwell's "1984" stands as one of the greatest albums in his mind-blowingly awesome back-catalog, and really, the world would be a far worse place for not having "Rebel Rebel" in it. Be grateful that we have this.

An album to celebrate, not just today, but every day.

Keep up to date with ping things through the ping things twitter feed, the ping things facebook group and the ping things tumblr!

Arbee and E1000

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Thu, 30 May 2013 14:18:00 +0000

A number of years ago I was introduced to a band from Montreal called Anachronic XP who played a really impressive set at the Ambient Ping. I really liked their stuff and they were kind enough to give me copies of their two albums "Nervomoteur" (which I noted as being "fark and bouncy in all the right ways") and "Arbre and Rupture" ("a kaleidoscope funhouse of mirrors" - me, writing then), and for a while they were go to discs for me if I wanted something with a little more beat, a little more crunch.

Flash forward a few years, and unfortunately I'd lost track of Anachronic XP so I wasn't really sure what they were up to. But through some lucky happenstance I was able to make contact with Emile from the band, and was pleased to find out that he and his partner Arbee have both been very busy with a number of solo projects. While I haven't had a chance to check out everything, preliminary investigations would suggest that their new stuff is quite impressive!

Emile's project E1000 has a great release called "Strange Fruits" that really builds on the percussive beat work that Anachronic XP were doing, adding an extra drama and accessibility that makes for a really great set of tracks that have me doing the butt dance at my desk as I write this. The track "Lemons" in particular stands out to me, and it may be this becomes my new jam. I'm just sayin'.

Arbee has a number of releases available through Bandcamp, and while it'll take me a while to go through everything, I'm particularly impressed with the chilled android percussion of "Nous Sommes Trois", a really nice release that creates a very detailed and engaging sonic environment. "Alterations" is an equally enjoyable release, a little more ambient in texture, a little more flowing but just as accomplished musically. Great stuff that I'm going to have to investigate further in the near future.

Needless to say, it's always nice to discover new music from artists I enjoy, and I have a lot of new music to discover from these two very impressive talents...

Keep up to date with ping things through the ping things twitter feed, the ping things facebook group and the ping things tumblr!

Still more free CDs...

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Thu, 30 May 2013 00:54:00 +0000

Perhaps I'm crazy, or perhaps I'm just generous. Either way ping things is giving away some more free discs, and all you have to do to get them is ask...

This time around it's "Coma Digenean" by Paradin, and "Air Machine" by Frank Van Bogaert with Erik Wollo. "Coma Digenean" features dark ambience from the very talented Ben Fleury Steiner, and "Air Machine" is a very interesting concept album exploring environmental collapse.

Both discs are free for the asking (plus $3 shipping per disc of course), just mail me at rik@pingthings.com

Remember though, quantities are limited and this offer is only valid while supplies last. Once they're gone, they're gone. And of course in the event that there are more requests than discs available I'll send out discs on a first come, first served basis...

Keep up to date with ping things through the ping things twitter feed, the ping things facebook group and the ping things tumblr!

Spacenoiz and Lorne David Thomson with Guests, Live at the Ping!

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Wed, 29 May 2013 00:37:00 +0000

On June 11th the Ambient Ping will play host to performances by Spacenoiz (featuring the very talented Mr. Jim Field, with an appearance on vocals by Rob Greenway of Brilliantfish) and Lorne David Thomson (with guests Justin Morrison and Gregory Nazar), along with lighting by General Chaos Visuals.

The evening starts at 8pm at the very groovy Supermarket (268 Augusta Avenue in Kensington Market, Toronto) and promises to be an awesome night out for only $6 cover.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Keep up to date with ping things through the ping things twitter feed, the ping things facebook group and the ping things tumblr!

Siouxsie and Vincent Price

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Mon, 27 May 2013 11:07:00 +0000

In an amazing instance of synchronous coolness, both Vincent Prince and Siouxsie Sioux were born on May 27th. And there's something undeniably cool about that.

Keep up to date with ping things through the ping things twitter feed, the ping things facebook group and the ping things tumblr!

Remembering the week that ended May 25

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Sun, 26 May 2013 11:01:00 +0000

Didn't I just do one of these just, like, yesterday? The weeks just keep getting shorter and shorter...

Anyway, it's Sunday again, which means that it's time to remember the week that ended May 25. Join me, won't you?

Some free odds and ends - I am still giving away free CDs, and all you have to do is ask. How cool is that? Very cool my friends, very cool...

I am Temporally Challenged... - The post I was going to use to drone on about the latest album by Tricky has been rescheduled. Because I clearly can't read the calendar correctly...

Red velvet lines the black box... - The very talented and brilliant Liisa Ladouceur explains once and for all What is Goth...

I make music too, remember? - I often worry that amidst all the other stuff I do for other people, that they forgot that I make music too...

New Music by Robert Carty - Robert Carty has a new album available for free download from Bandcamp...

Sigur Ros live on The Tonight Show- The anticipation for "Kveikur", the new album by Sigur Ros, grows...

And that, my friends, was the week that ended May 25!

Keep up to date with ping things through the ping things twitter feed, the ping things facebook group and the ping things tumblr!

Sigur Ros live on The Tonight Show

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Sat, 25 May 2013 14:19:00 +0000

I am getting more excited about the forthcoming Sigur Ros album as every day goes by...

The new album "Kveikur" is released on june 18...
Keep up to date with ping things through the ping things twitter feed, the ping things facebook group and the ping things tumblr!

New Music by Robert Carty

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Sat, 25 May 2013 00:42:00 +0000

Fans of Robert Carty will be interested to note that he's released a new album through Bandcamp. "Spore" is a collection of six new pieces from Robert which is currently available for free download. "Spore" is an excellent example of Robert's talents and it's well worth checking out.

Speaking of Robert, if you haven't already heard his album "Ecoroots" released last year through ping things I strongly recommend it to you. It can be download for free from the archive.org site along with all the other ping things net releases...

Keep up to date with ping things through the ping things twitter feed, the ping things facebook group and the ping things tumblr!

I make music too, remember?

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Fri, 24 May 2013 01:05:00 +0000

Amidst all the stuff I do on the ping things blog, I find that sometimes people forget that I also make music myself. I'm currently working on a new album for release later this year which I'm hoping that you'll all be interested to check out, but since I may need to reintroduce my work to you, I figured that I'd remind you of my release "Fluctuations", which is currently available for free download from ping things (yeah, okay, it's my net-label, but I can release my own stuff from time to time if I want, right? Right.)

"Fluctuations" is a collection of four tracks that came out of some work I was doing live, and it gave me a chance to work with some new textures and sounds. By all means check it out and let me know what you think of it, I'm always interested to hear your thoughts on my work...

Keep up to date with ping things through the ping things twitter feed, the ping things facebook group and the ping things tumblr!

Red velvet lines the black box...

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:43:00 +0000

On today of all days, we should pause to reflect on the eternal question, What is Goth?

And once we have finished our ruminating, we should watch this video by the absolutely awesome Liisa Ladouceur so we can check our answers....

Liisa's book "Encyclopedia Gothica" is an indispensible resource for all things Goth. Her new book "How to Kill a Vampire" is coming out this September, and promises to be equally awesome...

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I am Temporally Challenged...

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:03:00 +0000

I had thought that today was the release date for the new Tricky album, and I was excited.

I was wrong. It doesn't come out until May 28th.

Now I am sad.

But in the meantime I can listen to the album on NPR...

I guess that will do for now...

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Some free odds and ends

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:04:00 +0000

As some of you may already know, ping things has been giving away free CDs over the last few weeks, and I still have a few copies of some of the discs that have been previously offered. The discs are free for the asking, though admittedly I am asking you to pay $3 per disc to cover shipping.

I still have (very) limited quantities left of "Noise Control" by Electronic Dream Factory, "Sterility" by Methadrone, "Without Number" by Plumerai, and "Gone but not Forgiven" by Portal.

"Noise Control" is an impressive collection of songs exploring a wide variety of sounds, moods, and styles.

"Sterility" is a personal favorite of mine, a heavy album of dark and emotional drone based work, including two tracks with vocals by David Galas, formerly of Lycia. It's really dark and really good!

"Without Number" is a brilliant piece of post-pop by our friends at Silber Records,

"Gone but Not Forgiven" by Portal features some wonderful shoegaze-y guitar-y awesomeness.

All the discs are free for the asking (plus $3 shipping per disc of course as noted above), all you have to do is just mail me at rik@pingthings.com

Remember though, quantities are limited and this offer is only valid while supplies last. Once they're gone, they're gone! And of course in the event that there are more requests than discs available I'll send out discs on a first come, first served basis...

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Remembering the week that ended May 18

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Mon, 20 May 2013 01:48:00 +0000

Funny, these posts keep popping up, don't they? Indeed, it's Sunday again, which means it's time to remember the posts that have been posted here on the ping things blog and feel nostalgic about what's gone on over the last seven days...

So without further ado, let us remember the week that ended May 18!

Commander Chris Hadfield sings "Space Oddity" from the International Space Station - Perhaps you've already seen this video and thought "Hmph, just some guy singing a song, no big deal...". And I would say "Singing a Song by DAVID BOWIE! IN SPACE!" Bam! Your argument is invalid. Seriously, if this doesn't move and excite you, then, well, I guess you are dead inside...

A New video by Silvercord and Shantamo - Geoff Nostrant makes wonderful music as Silvercord. And apparently his colleague Shantamo makes wonderful videos too. Why are you reading this when you could be watching an awesome collaborative video by the two of them?

Free CDs for May 15 - I gave away some free discs. People were happy to get free stuff. I feel better for making the world a better place.

pt Book Review: "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern - I really enjoyed "The Night Circus", it's a beautiful story about a magical place, and I kind of feel like running away and joining the circus now. Maybe I should...

Chris Russell on Bandcamp - The insanely talented and all around awesome Chris Russell has put up a page on the Bandcamp site. You should totally check it out, because he makes awesomely great music.

And that my friends is the week that ended on May 18!

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Thirty three years ago today...

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Sun, 19 May 2013 01:30:00 +0000

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of Ian Curtis' death, a tragic reminder of the loss of a very talented musician far too early in his life. As part of Joy Division, Curtis is responsible for a hugely influential body of work and his music remains both relevant and inspiring even after all this time.

I first discovered Joy Division in my teens a few years after Curtis' passing. At first they were "that band that became New Order" in my mind, but after more careful examination I realized they were so much more. They resonated in a truly unique way with the confusion and frustration that defined my life at the time. The more I listened, the more I recognized Joy Division as music for the lost and broken, songs of confusion and alienation, but all with a desperate desire to find truth and beauty amidst the wreckage and difficulty of day to day life. They mixed reason and chaos in an existential one-two punch that was perfectly timed with my blossoming personal philosophy. They were more than a band to me, they were the soundtrack of a solitary and troubled time that I was trying to make sense of, and I have faith that they were, have been, and will be the same soundtrack for thousands of other people trying to make sense of the world around them.

So take a moment to listen to some Joy Division today, and remember what a hugely important band they were on so many levels. Pay tribute to Ian Curtis' memory and immerse yourself in "Love Will Tear Us Apart", or the haunting sound of "Atmosphere". Revel in the celebratory sounds of "Ceremony" and "Transmission". Or just lie in bed and marvel at the use of the word "conquistador" in "Dead Souls". Take some time and really listen, really connect with the music. Maybe some of you will be grateful like I am that they were able to voice so many of the things that you couldn't find words for, or maybe you'll just appreciate how important Joy Division are to modern music as we know it.

But listen to them today. And remember.

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Chris Russell on Bandcamp

noreply@blogger.com (Rik M.) — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:51:00 +0000

Long time readers will note that I've mentioned Chris Russell a few times before on the ping things blog. I'm consistently impressed by the high quality of his musical output, the beautiful ebb and flow of his work. His release "Frozen" was one of my top picks for 2010, and his album "Bloom" from 2012 leaves me spellbound every time I hear it.

The truth is, Chris is a wonderful talent and I'm always interested to hear new music from him, so I'm very pleased to see that he's started a Bandcamp page where he's releasing older and out of print material. So far there are already two releases posted, "Aralu" and "Merge", and I expect there will be more popping up in the near future. Yay for awesome new music from awesome artists!

By the way, in addition to the Bandcamp albums, Chris also has a new release called "Portal" that's recently been put out by Relaxed Machinery. It's currently in my review queue for later review, but I can assure you that if preliminary listens are any indication then my comments will be very positive...

Keep up to date with ping things through the ping things twitter feed, the ping things facebook group and the ping things tumblr!