This weekend I begin the brief string of shows performing, “I almost expect to be remembered as a chair” in celebration of the forthcoming record The Whole, which will be released in October by Type Recordings. I’ll be bringing just a few of the shirts pictured above, which feature text from the record packaging, and an image of the chair I’m sitting on as I write this very post. Only a small amount of these were made, and printed on American Apparel shirts. If I have any left upon return, I’ll post them in the Shop here at the site.

Hope to see some of you on my travels next week.

I’m pleased to present this short interview with Richard Skelton. His answers are true case studies of many areas I’ve intended to explore within this site. In essence, he reveals his process of listening to the world around him, and his work is the window into those discoveries.

(photo: Joe Kirschling)

After 12 years and 12 releases, I will no longer be playing with Collections of Colonies of Bees after this year. Our new record, GIVING, will be out on CD/LP in October on Hometapes, and we’ll be playing a handful of shows in the US and Japan. We accomplished a lot as a group, and I’ll always be thankful to Chris Rosenau for getting me involved so long ago. It was a good ride.

What created those stars? And what created what created those stars?

One choice is to include something potentially dangerous, in combination with something that provides enjoyment. Another choice is to include a pairing of equally dangerous yet fulfilling things.

The alternative is to imagine the reality of neither, and getting your brain to perceive that as total fulfillment. The challenge of discovering nothing.

Then, to try to do that every day, with any number of things (realizing that the first two choices can be applied to many situations), is a way of reducing and expanding. A breathing.

Last week, I visited the Clare Rojas exhibit in San Francisco. It felt like looking at old art as if you were there when it was made. A strange sensation.

Plucking Feathers From A Bald Frog (1991 Psychic Release Cerebrum and Press in Stockholm, A collection of Andrew M. McKenzie’s texts from 1978 to 1991, Limited edition of 500)

I have two copies of this extremely rare text from Andrew McKenzie/The Hafler Trio which I’m offering for sale. Please contact me if you are interested.

I’ve just read the book Deep Listeners: Music, Emotion, and Trancing by Judith Becker. The book discusses the possible connection between religious experience in music and secular emotional experiences with music. Analyzing historical religious rituals involving music (Eastern and Western), and the trances involved in these rituals, comparing them to more common experiences of getting chills or crying when listening to certain music, the book looks at the physiological effect of music more than other books I’ve read on the subject.

What was most interesting to me, was the section where Becker examines the potential of multiple personalities that come into play through the experience of music, and the question, “Who are we when we listen to music…” seems to indicate a potential scientific understanding of the profound effect music can have on us psychologically. This is an important study for both religious and non-religious thinkers.

The connection between scientific studies and religious phenomena are often close, both aiming at the same mysteries of life, and it’s great to see an approach to the mind and beyond that doesn’t give either side too much credit. CD included as well, although there is a wealth of music beyond the disc that is a strong example of the ideas discussed. A great starting point for anyone who is interested in the topic, for sure.

This photo was taken by Allison Goin during my set this past week in Minneapolis. I had a really incredible time there. Dinner with Jesse, Allison, and Andrew started things off pleasantly, the audience was full and captive (even a drunk metal dude heckler!), and then up until the wee hours with Brian and Bill made it an experience I won’t soon forget.

Thanks to everyone involved and present!