hi everybody,

Happy 303 day to all who celebrate. Let us dance at the underground club on the edge of oblivion once more.

this occasional society update

A great time was had at Synth East - I particularly enjoyed a great set by Scanner.

I’m going to see Cardiacs next week. Not sure how I feel, given the loss of Tim, but I couldn’t pass on the opportunity.

A number of collaborations are still moving along, as is some new solo material. No idea on release dates yet though.

There’s also a gig lined up in May in Reading.

This month’s music sketch here if you want to check it out.

the next newsletter will be with you 4.4. as ever, if you want anything included in the ‘updates from friends of the society’ section, just let us know.

updates from friends of the society

After a frankly mindbogglingly great set from Alison Wilder in February, the March 3rd W3dn35day online gig will be from pulusound, promising livecoding, electronics, retrocomputers and more. 18 March, 20.00 UTC. Join the fun at https://stream.gravitons.org/

Speaking of live online gigs, our good friends at NHAM are launching their own set which will always run the evening after the 3rd W3dn35day ones (nice and easy to remember, see). First out the block is the one and only control freak - promising industrial, goth and dark wave electronica. More details here.

Samantha J Smith has a new album, One Planet, out. Recorded all live on hardware synths, it’s a great deep listen and well worth checking out. There’s a live online gig coming in July as well.

Although not strictly a new release (or maybe, on reflection, it is) if you missed the Field Log video from Kristoffer Lislegaard, check it out. Covering the preparation and trip to play Ekko festival via a beautiful train trip, it’s a great companion to the live video of the gig itself.

If you’re in the Hampshire / Dorset area (UK), put a date in your diary for the next ‘Music is the Answer’ night (a collective featuring Ordos Mk.0) in Bournemouth on 22 May. The last one I got along to had a very welcoming vibe and relaxed atmosphere enabling you to lose yourself in the tunes.

Keith Seatman has just released his latest on Castles in Space - Counting to ten then back again considers magic, childhood games and fireworks and, as always with CIS releases, looks and sounds great.

aob - things that have replenished our creative wellspring recently

I picked up a copy of the book Ears to the Ground by Ben Murphy at Synth East and have been absolutely romping through it. It’s a wonderful series of articles about and interviews with a wide array of artists (from Scanner to KMRU to Kayla Painter) who integrate field recordings into their music. I’ve found it massively inspiring. Highly recommended.

Also, I’ve had it for a while, but finally got round to reading ‘To throw away unopened’ by Viv Albertine (ex-Slits). It’s another darkly comic, deeply moving and sometimes very grim read - but it’s a proper page turner. What an absolute legend Viv is.

Anyhow, that’s enough for now…