Release news continues with the release of another remix of mine, this time of the fine fellow Lunar Testing Lab. The full release is out on I, Absentee and it has many many great remixes by Power Pill Fist (Black Moth Super Rainbow), Maps and Diagrams, Offthesky, Drexon Field, Specta Ciera and Boreal Network. And it comes in a sweet metal case.

http://www.i-absentee.com/IA023.html

Ah, just after I posted, I received word of two of my new releases being available to order.  The first is an EP called Quotidiennes, tracks I made all in one day each.  A little exercise that I like to do from time to time - hopefully a few volumes of these releases will appear in time.  In addition to that, we're re-releasing A Distant Monarch!  It's been one of the most asked about releases of mine for some time - so we decided it was time to make it properly available.  Both of these releases are available on U-Cover and it's a real pleasure to be working with them again.  There will be a third release on U-Cover this month, a compilation of my vinyl-only tracks from Keylemon Reports and Redix Winter, as well as two vinyl releases that never made it to press: a split 10" that was to happen on Neo Ouija called Bubble Plus Bus, and the An Hour Brighter 12" version that we decided not to release at inc.us.  It contains several different versions of An Hour Brighter tracks and one unreleased track.  Fourteen tracks in all, I believe.  I'm calling it Telecine Bus / Redix Reports and it's going to be out shortly on U-Cover.

Check the U-Cover mailorder to purchase Quotidiennes and A Distant Monarch:
http://www.u-cover.com/mailorder/

It's all happening!

More news soon, I hope.
Jonathan Canupp

Greetings all,

I'm please to announce the release of Jason Corder's (Offthesky), On Aerial Archetype.  It's out now on Archipel and it features a special remix by me, Ten and Tracer.  I created the remix 100% from his source material and it was an absolute pleasure to work with.  I think Jason makes sensational music, and now that he has moved to Denver, we've begun to get to know each other a little more, even find some time to work on music together - and I just can't say enough nice things about him.  I hope that we can manifest some more time together to continue this fun. 

Check the release information here:
http://contemplation.archipel.cc/2009/10/arch-066-offthesky-on-aerial-archetype/

I am also glad to tell everyone that I have delivered SIX releases to labels this week, with another half-dozen nearing completion.  I've spent a lot of time in the Ten and Tracer archives lately, deciding to finally release and re-release some old material.  Much more new Ten and Tracer music is being compiled into releases right now as well and things are moving moving moving.  I have been hesitant about releasing much of this music for a long time, but for the past few years I've decided to go through it all and compile it for release.  No more inhibitions, time to just release these albums and EPs.  :)  So I hope to be making many such announcements here in the next days - releases releases releases!

Lots of love from the Austin Hilton lobby.
Jonathan Canupp

Acre ShoppeTen and Tracer’s new album of ‘opium-ambient-bliss” is now available to download.  The release is offered at a price of your discretion (Yes, that means you can get it for one penny (or free if you email us). 

 

You’ve seen it before, and now you’re seeing it again.  Determine your own price or pay no price at all.  We are most interested in people hearing this music and if that means you download it for free, we strongly encourage you to do so.  You can always choose to donate later if the music makes you feel so inclined – or you can purchase the physical CD.

 

Our suggested donation is five dollars ($5USD) 320kbps MP3s and 8 pages of artwork exclusive to the digital release.

 

http://www.acrerca.com/shoppe-tsotsitaal.html

 

We also offer uncompressed WAV files for $5USD

 

The music:

The word "Tsotsitaal" means "criminal language," but the music couldn't be more distant from such. Tsotsitaal is a collection of soft drones and patient textures sourced from old synths, tapes, violin, acoustic guitar, clarinet, flute, broken music boxes and field recordings. Each source has been carefully manipulated in a variety of ways. Some were subjected to deconstruction and wearing using reels and recorders, sound-on-sound layering, microphone mischief and the like. Others were sent through Ten and Tracer's collection of home-made Reaktor patches and a cascade of other novel digital processes all performed live.

 

Each session resulted in dozens of layers (and hours) which were then edited down and detailed. The sound is almost wholly organic in nature, reflective and meditative. It is a bath of pleasantries with a distinct opiate sensibility. Calm and warm. Deeply personal and full of heart.

 

The package:

Aside from being released digitally, the album is also available in three physical formats. 

 

The package is backed by a sturdy piece of wood or board upon which there lies a cork or balsa wood button to hold the CD (there are a few different versions). The booklet is attached to the backing with an exposed, hand stitched binding. The CDr is either a black-bottom CDr with a clear label top, or a lightscribe CDr with some clever 3D tricks we suspect you've never seen before.

 

Additional drawings, stickers, photos, pressed leaves and flowers to be thrown in on a whim without discretion. We do things dangerously.

 

The book:

The books are composed from a selection of more than one hundred and fifty different photographs, digital art, drawings and bits of prose - all by Ten and Tracer himself. All editions include one-of-a-kind personal hand drawings and writings.

 

The book is printed on fine photo paper for the color pages and sturdy, wonderfully white as white paper with lovely inks that won't fade too quickly, we're sure. The books are sewn together with sturdy strings and attached neatly to the CD.

 

The release comes in three different physical editions and digitally (all orders of the physical release will also receive access digitally:

 

Super-Special Edition:

76 page book, Tsotsitaal CD and bonus The Lowing Buffalo EP 3"CDr. $35USD

 

Special Edition:

32 page book and Tsotsitaal CD

$18USD

 

Regular Edition:

12 page book and Tsotsitall CD

$9USD

 

Digital Edition:
8 Exclusive pages of artwork.
Customer determines the price.  Suggested donation is $5USD

Tsotsitaal at the Acre Shoppe

Oh happy day, friends.

I’m pleased to announce that my new album of “opium-ambient-bliss” is now available to purchase. I’ve kept this a secret from most people for most of the process, only letting out a couple of tracks to friends. Now they’ve been compiled into an incredible package. Lots of work has gone into the creation of all of the music and art, and it now represents something else I care about, the acre collective’s little sublabel, CARE. More information about the collective is emerging these days as well. See the site.

from acre:

Tsotsitaal by Ten and Tracer

The music:
Tsotsitaal is a collection of soft drones and patient textures sourced from old synths, tapes, violin, acoustic guitar, flute, and field recordings. Each source has been carefully manipulated in a variety of ways. Some were subjected to deconstruction and wearing using reels and recorders, sound-on-sound layering, microphone mischief and the like. Others were sent through Ten and Tracer's collection of home-made Reaktor patches and a cascade of other novel digital processes all performed live. Each session resulted in dozens of layers which were then edited down and detailed. The sound is almost wholly organic in nature, reflective and meditative. It is a bath of pleasantries with distinct opiate sensibility. Calm and warm. Deeply personal and full of heart.

The package:
The package is backed by a sturdy piece of wood or board upon which there lies a cork or balsa wood button to hold the CD (there are a few different versions). The booklet is sewn together on the front, attached to the backing, and sealed on top with another piece of sturdy wood. The CDr is either a black-bottom CDr with a clear label top, or a lightscribe CDr with some clever 3D tricks we suspect you've never seen before.

Additional drawings, stickers, photos, pressed leaves and flowers to be thrown in on a whim without discretion. We do things dangerously.

The book:
The books are composed from a selection of more than one-hundred-and-fifty different photographs, digital works, drawings and bits of prose - all by Ten and Tracer himself. Every copy includes one-of-a-kind personal hand-drawings and writings.

The book is printed on fine photo paper for the color pages and sturdy, wonderfully white as white paper with lovely inks that won't fade too quickly, we're sure. The books are sewn together with sturdy strings and attached neatly to the CD case.

The release comes in three different physical editions and will be released digitally very soon. Initially the digital release will be sold for a small fee, and a month later will be given away for free. Some of the artwork will be put online, and much of the online content will be exclusive the digital release (and subsequently given away for free of course).

Purchase Tsotsitaal: http://www.acrerca.com/shoppe-tsotsitaal.html

The Acre Collective: http://www.acrerca.com/
Ten and Tracer: http://www.tenandtracer.com/

A sign of the times?  Maybe.  We went to an art auction for the Denver Art Museum on Friday - Joshua was the DJ, and by DJ, I mean that he put a bunch of lounge music on shuffle and not much more.  I was able to make a request for some Astrud Gilberto at least.  Maybe I should have tipped him.  The art was... good... actually.  We were impressed.  Unfortunately for the Denver Art Museum, people were not spending any money.  I heard later that they brought in only some 10% in comparison to last year.  The auctioneer couldn't even really get people's attention.  It seemed odd then that all of these "rich" people still went out to the thing, perhaps they were as interested in the free martinis as we were.  Whatever the case, it was obvious that people were holding on to their money.  This, to me, is an appropriate sign of the state of the economy.  Whereas, in my situation, I don't really feel it or see it much.  Being a college student, I haven't had money for years.  I'm no better or worse off, yet.  So, to summarize, the martinis were amazing, we got too drunk too early, and no one bought any art.  OH!  And these people were also too drunk, but they surely don't ever drink so much, and we were spectators to several occasions of stumbling, tripping, falling, and twice almost completely destroying art.  One might argue that "rich" people should be limited to two drinks, while someone like me is fine with three or four, thank you, don't mind if I do.

After the art "auction", we made way to the bookstore as I had a need to purchase Thorstein Veblen's 'Theory of a Leisure Class'.  Maybe you've heard of it, maybe you haven't.  It's just something I'm interested in.  We got food and we went home for a bit before heading back out.

By heading back out, I mean that we partied, really really hard, from 11pm until something like 7am at "Exposed Bricks" - put on by the Tribe Posse at the Orange Cat warehouse.  It was an incredible show, really, and quite a release.  Dancing to really really good, classic house all night and all morning.  The vibes were good all around.  The sound system was excellent.  The space was as it was the last time I was there, which is quite cool!  And, well, it was a good good time.  Cheers to all involved in making it happen.

As for news, well there's nothing to be "announced" yet, but a whole lot of things have happened recently that I'm incredibly excited about.  Now I just need make the time to get it all settled, polished, shiny enough to announce.  Well, my friends, hope to hear from you soon.  Happy times this autumn.  It's supposed to be 70F/20C again tomorrow.  Proper Colorado weather again finally.  Which is to say, it's fucked up.

A brief write-up about a show I'm playing this Thursday!  It should be quite amazing, I will be doing surround sound and large projections.  Many great artists and installations, it's going to be amazing.

The innovative Urban Nature exhibit at Denver Botanic Gardens in 2008 stimulates discussion and awareness of how nature can penetrate an urban environment; how humans change their landscape, whether built or natural; and how the city and built landscape can be highlighted in a garden setting.

Digital Nature is a program that extends the annual theme to address the intersection of the natural and digital worlds: realms often assumed to be antithetical, but commonly brought together in digital art. These worlds needn’t be mutually exclusive, and many digital artists are inspired by nature, seek to emulate processes of nature in their work, or use subjects from the natural world.

 

Also, there will be free beer and wine samples, 6 point KV2 surround sound, and a chance to see the Urban Nature murals, all for less than the cost of regular admission to the Gardens!!

It's been a while since I've done an adventure report, though I haven't been so lacking in adventures. Today I've chosen to write about a hiking trip I went on last Sunday, though I still plan on documenting my Chicago and San Francisco travels/shows because they're rather amusing fodder for adventure reports as well. So yes, Sunday I went hiking with Rachel, my girlfriend, and Andrew (whom you may remember from previous adventure reports ages ago, if you don't remember him, say "hello" to him sometime and get acquainted with his music as Able). We left in the late afternoon as my sleeping schedule dictates that I never know of the existence of ante meridiem after I have gone to repose. In other words, I ain't wake up before noon. It's a much longer drive to the mountains from Denver than it is from Boulder, the fine city where I spent a fine two years. We drove for some one and one half hours to our destination, the Fourth of July Trail, above Eldora. Again, for those of you who have followed my adventures in this area, you may be familiar. It is also the location of Lost Lake, where all of the Vinculum photos were taken.

It has been a long time since I've had a proper hike in the high mountains, about a year, and I have missed it dearly. There exists nothing comparable in the city from which one can yield very little inspiration from nature (may I digress by saying?: the Botanic Gardens serve as a fine refuge for such disconnect from wilderness, and I am fortunate in that Rachel works there and I am blessed with the opportunity to visit often to stare at plants). So, I can not exaggerate the excitement I felt when we stepped out of the car and I realized there existed a potential to see some nature and wander about for a while. Not too excited though, to neglect the fact that I was rather hungry and could not begin our ascent until I imbibed the necessary fortification.

Fortification imbibed, we began our hike. Diamond Lake was the destination of choice as none of us had ever been there, though Andrew and I were somewhat familiar with the area, having gone "glacier sliding" some years back, and also our visits to the Lost Lake. Ah, the pleasure of hiking. It came back to me within a few minutes of hiking, eyes wandering. We were in the forest again! The smells, the colours, the sounds! The lack of sirens! We maintained a steady pace, with me dragging a bit behind to take photos rather often. So inspiring. We had to stand at waterfalls, dip our hands in… stare down the cliffs, and up at the sky. I think we all had a sense of comfort in rediscovering this distant pleasure that inspires us so. We hiked for quite some time, two miles in total, until we came upon an open meadow and indication of our destination. The meadow was muddy and required walking along a long path of logs. We wrapped around a grove of evergreens (can there be a grove of evergreens?) and saw our destination.

Diamond Lake is situated at the base of several peaks in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. I do not know the names of these peaks, and I am not ashamed. It is a beautiful, shallow lake, teeming with fish, jumping at the evening feast. Flipping about at the surface. Rachel and I commented that we wanted to eat them. We wanted to eat all of them. Monkeys. The lake's surface reflected the snow on the quarries across the way, and supported many wetland areas around the shore. The water was crystal clear, as it is known to be at such altitudes. The evening sun gave me a sense of familiarity, I am almost always hiking at these hours, when I hike, and the return, of course the return is made at dusk, just before complete blackness invades. We opened a bottle of wine and began snacking, though this did not last long.

Andrew had made comments along the way about going for a swim in the lake, and he wasted no time wading out in the the lake upon our arrival. The lake's bottom was composed almost entirely of rocks fallen from the erosion of the surrounding peaks. They were covered in a thin slime of algae, with rare refuge in muddy islands. I decided to follow, a few moments after watching the fun. Stripped down to my "trollies" I waded out as well. Andrew was long out and made it to the "edge of the rocks" where there was apparently complete blackness and no indication of depth or harmful objects. He decided not to test the blackness, though he did submerge himself almost completely. My tolerance for the slippery rocks and the corresponding pain was less than his. After walking out for some ten minutes, and acquiring quite some "exfoliation" of the bottoms of my feet, I began my return. I had lost my confidence after a few falls, not to mention that a lake at the bottom of a few glaciers is fucking cold. My return was haste and I proceeded to dry off, and put my dry clothing on.

I regained my warmth rather quickly, though Andrew had lost a lot of heat and had the shivers for quite some time. We finished our wine to help with the process of warming up, or at least caring less about being cold. We ate some more food, and began to get concerned about getting down and getting home at a reasonable hour. Our return hike was lovely and we arrived at the base just as night completely overtook the area. The drive back was rather uneventful, though we sat mostly in contemplation and exhaustion, having just enjoyed the first hike of the year. It was beautiful, it was amazing, I am still glowing. It has provided some much needed inspiration and I am very thankful for the experience.

There is talk of a midnight hike to Lake Isabel tonight. Oh I do hope to join.

In Ten and Tracer news, I am busy arranging, compiling, mastering, unmastering, deleting, restoring, etc etc, the tracks for my double-album on EED. I am growing more and more content with the order and arrangement, as well as doing some "modern" edits of some of the tracks, as the ideas are there, but the sound quality and execution aren't necessarily. Things are coming together quickly though and we're looking at an August/September release. No guarantees.

Thanks for reading, if you made it this far. Bye!

Wow! There was a while ago when Milieu and I began a collaboration. We made a track. It was a really cool track I think. Well we've been talking about continuing our collaboration again and we thought it might be a nice way to introduce ourselves with this lovely gem of a track and a few remixes Milieu did of A Distant Monarch. It's now available! The first Waterstrider release! I think we are proud, and I'm quite positive that many people around us are proud. They look upon us and smile, probably thinking about times when we were younger and they never expected such success from us. Here we are, with our little 3" cdr, glowing with promise. You can purchase your copy from Milieu's shop. More to come.

From the Milieu site:
Four unearthed gems from 2005, and a proper introduction to the long unidentified
collaboration between Milieu and Ten And Tracer: Waterstrider. Comprised of a single track the boys recorded three years ago and filed away, and three long sought-after Milieu remixes of the Ten And Tracer track "A Distant Monarch". All material has never before been released and appears here in the form of a 3" CD-R with a blue cardstock insert. Limited edition of 100 copies, in three shades of blue.

Lots of shows happening, blog. Tonight at Kazmos in Denver you have a chance to bang your head and break your neck to the sweet sounds of Abelcain, Cdatakill, Newnumbertwo and Ten and Tracer! Come out for a glitch-break-headfuck-something time at Kazmos - flyer here: http://unnet.net/events/event.php?ID=3194

Next week, Les Freres Courvoisier (Joshua's and my techno super-duo group thing) plays at Santa Fe Tequila Company on Friday, and we perform separate sets on Saturday in the beautiful mountains of Colorado. Come play with us!!!! We like to meet people and make new friends! I don't think you have a good excuse for not going.

Be there, friends, blog.