Tettix – Carotid Restraint (Hélas Techne’s Don’t Wait For It Mix) by helas

Visit Tettix.net to Download the entire album for FREE.

I’m honored to be sharing the ring with the likes of Disasterpeace, Alex Maeur, Minusbaby, and Derris-Kharlan. Thank you!

Greetings–I’m coming to you at an extremely dynamic time with noteworthy excitement and hopefulness. Long-overdue changes are occurring that I feel you should be kept apprised of. It is the start of the second movement where I gaze out upon what lies ahead and humbly request your judgment on a pivotal proposition before this ship leaves port. But first, a recount of recent events.

Back in May, when I realized any further involvement would ultimately distract me from my own life’s purpose, I decided to split with Takenobu. Given the circumstances, my premonition probably appeared to defy all logic. Our collaboration had been gaining ground, our stage chemistry became effortless, and the scope of our abilities seemed to have few bounds. But like a warning light, in a flash I knew that if I were to take one more step, I’d be past the threshold of remittable curiosity. “This isn’t what I’m supposed to be doing,” I thought. “I have a duty to perform as cocreator of the music for our future.” Then I looked back to see my previous course, obscured in the distance by a labyrinth of delicate considerations, and then the tide rolling in to wash away each step. Still, I trust that each one was made with my highest ideals intact, and am thusly bestowed fortified confidence in my new heading.

As you know, in a year’s time, I plan to be living in New York, specifically Brooklyn. The city’s rhythm and pace so naturally parallel my own that I’m inclined to believe what is motivating me is a recollected sense of belonging, as though being called. There I witness a familiar precision and efficiency all around, like a social, collective machine. Every inch, every second of the day is contemplated, calculated, utilized–unallowing of excess, yet generously rewarding to the sagacious. If there exists a place which also longs to embrace such ideals, I do not want to be apart from it.

Since acknowledging these notions, I’ve begun observing each mechanism of my life willingly align to meet this goal, as if to encourage the effort. Now is the time to remove excess, eliminate factors that do not promote greater understanding, or the well-being cultivated therefrom, and to consciously proceed into an existence of amity and synthesis.

One major reality of this synthesis which most pertains to our correspondence is the current state of my music. Through my experiences, I’ve come to the conclusion that there is a duty which only I am capable of performing, and to neglect it would be sabotage. In short, I’m going solo, and readapting resources to fit this purpose.

To become a figure in the landscape of live electronics is a prospect to which I’m now quite dedicated. The successful artists of the field are using their technical ingenuity to move large audiences in the global community. I feel not only capable of joining their ranks, but excited as well to help progress and broaden the entire digital music platform. Before I can continue my work, however, there is a technical hurdle which I must overcome.

Version one of my instrument has proven reliably effective in serving its function, which I’m presently discovering is more fundamental in nature, like a sophisticated engine. Its implementation, on the other hand, is suffering because I cannot achieve a level of control comprehensive enough to command a live solo performance seamlessly and with crystalline accuracy. All the functionality exists, but remains relatively inaccessible due to cumbersome workflow.

I have attempted to supplement my setup with various auxilliary devices in order to get more direct access to each facet of the performance, but have found that to cover all my bases in this manner would call for a disparate array of conventional controllers. It would further complexify my approach by introducing a clumsy excess of features and physical mediums. So the question becomes,”How do I scale down and step up simultaneously?” Auspiciously, I’m reminded of the Lemur–a single, intelligent, 12″x14″ multitouch surface, freely programmable to become any control interface I could possibly need to perform.

The Lemur would not so much clear me of the next hurdle as it would lift me off the track altogether, thanks to some virtually unmatched methods of sound control. The open architecture supporting its modular, object-based operating environment even allows programming interactive mathematical scripts for use in audio modulation, much in the vein of physics. You want to animate a sine wave bass tone with some “buoyancy” on a moment’s notice? You want to fracture the hi-hats into a thousand pieces and slowly construct a melody from the debris? You want to poke a hole in the fabric of the universe, make it dissolve to 1′s and 0′s, then instantly resume the beat, taking off like a gangbuster and acting like nothing happened? Such is possible and need only imagined.

Undoubtedly surpassing the protocols of yesterday is this new cornerstone on which a dreamer may ground his career. With the Lemur rooted deeply in the Open Source community, and designed to harness the latest hardware and software advances, development is enthusiastically active. Support and collaboration of this kind, happening on all fronts, promises longevity for the platform and its users. Indeed, with a dedicated community in heart, I intend to integrate and explore this technology for years to come. It would appear the way is up.

My mission during the next several months couldn’t be more clear. I must ensure that all factors of the move come into alignment for maximum effectiveness, because once in Brooklyn, there will not be time nor funds in abundance to facilitate an extended period of study. Therefore I feel it critical that my creative process reach a technical clarity on par with artistic vision,  in order to transition with ample momentum.

What I have identified is how my craft, and its many permutations, will find true residence. No matter whether it’s as a live sound artist, production engineer, soundtrack composer, or some record-making prodigy, it all hinges on the conscious synchronization of thought and form, and the removal of barriers that shroud a pure, uninhibited connection. In the area of my work, there shall be no distortions of excess or confusion, only an unabating will for unification, whose continuance I regard as my raison d’être.

See the contest details here: http://caribou.fm/index.php/blog/entry/sun_remix_contest/

Caribou – Sun [HÉLAS TECHNE Remix] by helas

And I would like to add — this track marks a substantial shift in my musical direction. Nearly everything before this is now obsolete. More new tracks in the works.

Just captured today– A continental mass of pollen is overtaken by SPRING RAIN.

Back in April 09 (wow, it’s been a year!) I met a cat named Nick Ogawa. The dude builds electric cellos and writes some brilliant tunes. We quickly realized our goal is one and the same — reach large crowds by achieving a compelling synthesis of humanity and technology. However I still had one major reservation — How could I expect to get such an excellent songwriter behind my vision for Hélas Techne? Compound that with the realization that I would then be resolving for two bands, and you get the gist of my woes.

With my concerns out in the open about whose project would take precedent, we began approaching the collaboration casually, but it wasn’t long before we gave ourselves a name and got up on stage. It all gained speed quite rapidly, and already we’ve received emphatic praise for the few modest events Takenobu have played. See video here. Because of my willingness to open my work to others, I now have a little studio in my back room, an upcoming indieATL.com performance, a very solid live setup and a new sense of pride in my drumming.

But even after acknowledging the promising prospect becoming of Takenobu, I was still left with a weight on my shoulders and the feeling I may have only strayed further from my original ambitions for Hélas Techne. The two were seeming increasingly irreconcilable. Had Hélas Techne become a shadow of, or possibly been usurped by Takenobu?

It’s true my work fell behind, with Francis slowing to a near halt and a song repertoire quickly growing stale. However, a different perspective was beginning to surface. What if Hélas Techne had an alternate fate, one previously contemplated but dismissed long ago? One loyal to my past of technological wizardry but not forced into a box of preconception/expectation. Of course! Why oblige my creative efforts, my original passions, with schemes and visions? And thusly I return to now, excited as hell to rediscover the joys of music-making.

Takenobu hasn’t usurped Hélas Techne. Hardly. It has unexpectedly fulfilled my desire to incorporate electronics and drums into a pop format, affectionate and soulful, teeming with vitality and eager to make friends. This relieves Hélas Techne of that obligation, dubious as it had become.

So the story goes. An overwhelming burden of imbalance and uncertainty transforms into something quite inspirational. Now Hélas can return to the music with a fresh new angle. It’ll be like nothing you’ve heard.

Welcome to 2010 — a year sure to bring large changes across the board.

My holiday travels to Blip Fest, to Ohio and back to ATL for NYE have all culminated and left me with valuable new materials and insights. Hélas has made significant transitional moves from isolation to expression. Revealing itself is a swelling passion for giving, and I intend to explore this direction. I want to give, transmit to people the profound feeling embodied within the sounds of Hélas Techne.

I’m seeing this reality drawing nearer every day, thanks to technical advances and harmonious collaborations. Performing with Nick Ogawa has been an invaluable catalyst for the live transition. Through our efforts to produce a powerful pop experience, we have overcome some major technical hurdles. Achieving dense electronic productions, effectively and genuinely intertwined with a moving human presence, is our mutual goal, and within our grasp.

For Hélas Techne, this means parallel breakthroughs and a symbiotic momentum. The more expressive Hélas becomes with his tools, the greater the impact becomes of all performances. And the more performance that occurs, the better Hélas is able to adapt his tools in an intuitive manner suitable for the stage.

I’ve come a long way in making human-machine interaction aurally and visually stimulating. A set-list is near completion, the logistics are mostly ironed-out, and confidence is strengthening.

Soon as I find a new stage rug..

Be well.

Joseph 

First and foremost I would like to express my gratitude for your faith in my goals, which are extremely personal, yet, I believe to be, invaluable to the world. Everyday I contemplate my purpose on Earth and am consistently met with positive internal & external growth. For this I can thank my friends and supporters who have been, above all, honest and true.

I also want to take this opportunity to fill you in on my progress since “acquisition day.” With your help I have been able to assemble a modest but powerful device that will bring the sounds of Hélas Techne to unsuspecting crowds. It is safe to say the project is a GO.

The months of August and September saw a meticulous process of refinement take place. My materials have been purified to a state as fundamental as I can afford and I am happy to be seeing my experiments producing acceptable results.

Initially I was concerned that with only half of the resources secured, the finer aspects of my work would go unexpressed, rendering a performance ineffective. But after seeing the potential of these first major items, I did a bit of reconfiguring and found a solution that satisfied enough points to produce the kind of show I have been trying to create.

So, suffice it to say, all is going splendidly. I am moving forward, and rehearsing for the first exhibition. At the moment preparations are being made for a solo show that could soon become a three-piece. There are interested parties–the electric cellist as well as a multi-talented female currently on tour with her Atlanta band. Both individuals would fit nicely in the ensemble.

Hope you are enjoying the pleasantly crisp inklings of autumn.

Safe travels.

Best,
Joseph