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SEPTEMBER 2005

• The 8th irr. app. (ext.) public action took place on September 11th in Seattle at the Fun House as part of the first annual Wooden Octopus Skull Pfestival. The line-up for this event was myself, Greg Scharpen, John Scharpen and the incomparable Steven Stapleton. Sadly, little fun was to be had during the performance (at least by me), and the show has to be added to the steadily-growing list of irr. live disasters (such as the SF Lobot performance in June). This outcome was largely the result of a profoundly crappy venue, a completely absurd stage situation, and a lack of opportunity to do a useful soundcheck. It needs to be pointed out, however, that the rest of the festival was extremely well-organised and successful, and even our doomed Sunday afternoon (argh) attempt shared the stage with stunning performances by The Broken Penis Orchestra, Bill Horist, Climax Golden Twins and Hans Grüsel's Kränkenkabinet. I suppose some aspect of the whole had to go awry just to keep the situation plausible, so perhaps in some symbolic, metaphysical (and therefore completely untrue) way, our set can be seen as the hapless virgin sacrificed in order to keep the crops healthy for the rest of the tribe. So be it. Regardless of the hardships of down-and-dirty rock and roll life, our stay in Seattle was made inordinately pleasant, and huge thanks are due to the organisers (William and Leslie Rage of Enterruption/Electric Heavyland and Stan Reed of Psychform) and the all the other performers featured throughout those heady four days. Special thanks to Steve for his usual brilliance and good-natured aplomb, and very special thanks to Sean Dow for driving us everywhere and being such a wonderful example of the human species.



• As I mentioned in the last update, the poster for Sunday afternoon was designed and drawn by me; I have a few of these on hand, and they can be purchased for $15 (postage inclusive). The poster is 13" x 19", screen printed in black ink on white paper, signed and numbered in an edition of 75, and will be shipped to you in a cardboard tube. A clickable thumbnail of the image should be nearby. If you want yours hand-embellished with coloured pencil, it's $50 (postage inclusive). This may seem a bit steep, but I've done 2 this way already and it's a long, tedious process. I need to make it worth the effort.



• Interview madness! Several sources have recently requested interviews with your humble narrator - I don't know why, just go read them. A nice interview conducted by Foxy Digitalis correspondent Lee Jackson (and a few images) can be found here; a tasteful inquiry initiated by Duncan Simpson for Musique Machine is available here; the first installment of a discussion with the majestic Jim Haynes (and a few more images) is inhabiting this space here. Are the answers just a load of self-deluded drivel, or an insightful peek into the workings of our diseased civilisation? I dunno. Important note: the comment about being a donkey molester was just a JOKE dammit.



• Audio and visual contributions have been made to the Italian magazine ffwd, which will eventually materialise in their forthcoming third issue. Yet another interview should be posted to their website at some point.



• 'Radiant Black Future', the orphaned irr. app. (ext.) release from 2001, is now scheduled for release on Beta Lactam Ring Records. 5 of the 8 tracks have undergone (sometimes extensive) revision, bringing the material much closer to what I had originally intended but lacked the equipment and skills to accomplish at the time; however, the (intentionally) primitive nature of some of the sources has been kept intact. I am far, far happier with the quality of this record now, and am unexpectedly grateful that it did not materialise as planned in its previous, seriously flawed state. This version will also include the track "Whittling Little Crosses for a Half-Sleeping Heresiarch", which was given an extremely limited release in 2000 by Plate Lunch as one side of a 7" shared with Australia's Rats With Wings. As it is from the same general time period as 'Radiant' - and is one of the most obscure items in my catalogue (it took me 3 years to get one copy of my own!) - I thought this would be a good opportunity to make it available once again.



• 'Not in My World', a new release by the band She Mob, features cover artwork drawn by myself, with the overall packaging designed by bandmember Suki O'Kane. The record is not yet up on the She Mob site, but is already available through either Aquarius Records or one of the three Amoeba outlets. The forms vibrating throughout this invigorating musical effort are quite a bit different from irr., but I encourage those of you who have not wholly sequestered yourselves within the 'experimental' ghetto to investigate the sounds emitted by this thrilling pop combo.



• "Irreplaceable Hand", the benefit CD for Dax Pierson mentioned last month, is now available, containing exclusive tracks by irr, Nurse With Wound, Petit Mal, Andy Way, Carnacki (Greg Scharpen), Matmos, Moe! Staiano and several others. This release is also available through those stalwart suppliers of the sublime, Aquarius and Amoeba. I have a few copies available myself for $17 (postage included in the u.s.) or $19 (overseas), which can be ordered using the same methods outlined for my other CDs. E-mail first to confirm availabiltiy. All proceeds go towards the medical needs of Dax Pierson; please take a look at www.daxpierson.com to enlighten yourself on the particulars concerning this very worthy cause.



• The 'Not Alone' quintuple CD benefit collection will be available for preorder from www.jnanarecords.com beginning October 1st.



• Hot off the presses! The incomparable and incorrigable Andrew Liles has recently agreed to participate in the large collaborative project mentioned in the previous update, and has already submitted his material. In return, I will be contributing a remix to one of his forthcoming projects. Details to follow. Other new contributors invited into the project are Blake Edwards of Vertonen, Stan Reed of The Broken Penis Orchestra and Jussi Lehtisalo of Circle/Ektroverde/Pharoah Overlord. As if these new developments were not exciting enough, another possible participant (please let it be true!) just might be the astonishing Danielle Dax herself.



• Work is now underway organising a collection of previously unreleased tracks (and hopefully putting together a few new ones) for an irr. album that will be be hosted as a free download by the Finnish underground label Zerga. Home to many unique and remarkable releases, Zerga is run by musician extraordinare Pentti Dassum - formerly a member of the amazing Deep Turtle, and presently active with the equally amazing Kroko (amongst numerous other endeavours). With any luck, the next update will have more concrete information about this project.

AUGUST 2005

Being that it is over a year in coming, this update is going to be a substantial one. In all likelihood, the few people who used to check this space have given up; regardless, I'm now going to impose a monthly schedule on myself for news updates. Some gallery and discography updates should be added shortly. I'll go through everything in reverse order, starting with impending projects and working back through what's taken place during the year.

ORDERING CDs:

I have a limited stock of several irr. releases, which can be ordered directly from me through either Paypal (using the 'errata' address attached to this site), or conventional mail using well-concealed u.s. cash (at sender's risk) or postal money order in u.s. funds. All discs are $14 each including postage within the states, or $16 overseas including airmail.

• 'Ozeanische Gefühle',
• 'Dust Pincher Appliances',
• 'An Uncertain Animal...', and
• 'Angry Eelectric Finger, vol.3' (with NWW).

IMPORTANT: please contact me via e-mail prior to sending any orders so I can confirm availability of the item(s). Hopefully, some method of making original art available via this site will be set up before too long.

UPCOMING RELEASES:

A number of previously announced projects are now approaching release.

• An irr. submission to the Twenty Hertz 'Drone Works' series (#10) is now available from their website. Many thanks to Mr. Paul Bradley for the invitation to contribute, and to Mr. Colin Potter for pointing him in my direction.



• Audio for the 'Ozeanische Gefühle' revisitation project ('Cosmic Superimposition') has now been completed, and is just awaiting resolution of its disc pressing arrangements. It will feature hand-screened vellum inserts desgined and realised by Jim Haynes of the Helen Scarsdale Agency, derived from the original 'Ozeanische' cover photo by my sister Tracey. This will be a self-released CD (not a CDR) available either directly from myself or through a few other outlets such as Helen Scarsdale and Aquarius Records. A specific release date has not yet been set, but it should be ready before the end of the year.



• 'Perekluchenie' - the irr. entry in Beta Lactam Ring Records' "Records Are Not For Baking" series - is now in production, and will hopefully see the light of day before the year is over. The edition available with the full series subscription will also include the picture disc EP 'Resurrection of the Senses'; an 'art edition' featuring an original ink-on-gold-foil tardigrade drawing will also be available in limited quantities.



• The audio content for the as-of-yet-untitled 5-way collaboration between myself, R.K. Faulhaber, Jim Haynes, Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson and Steven Stapleton has also been completed. This 10 track project will be issued through The Helen Scarsdale Agency with hand-printed inserts by Mr. Haynes, featuring graphic contributions from all participants. Once again, no specific release date has been set, but a 2005 appearance is probable.



• irr. has contributed a track to 'Not Alone', a CD collection assembled by Mark Logan and David Michael to raise funds for Médecins Sans Frontierès and their efforts to curb the AIDS epidemic in Africa. 74 other participants have contributed previously-unreleased tracks; for a full listing, take a look at www.jnanarecords.com. Release of the collection is now oriented towards September.



• Audio for a long-planned split LP release with Panicsville has also found its way to completion. It is now incumbent on me to finish my graphic contribution to the project, so breath-holding is not yet advisable. This project will eventually be issued via the Nihilist Records label.



• Work on a 7" for KlangGalerie is now underway. The release is intended as a tribute to the time I had the privilege to spend in Ireland and Vienna with two very dear people this past April/May. The record will contain a single track on each side, one of which is titled "For Steven" and the other of which is titled "For Diana".



• Material-gathering is in progress for an extensive collaborative project, ultimately to be issued as a multi-disc set in which each track will be realised using contributions from a different musican/sound artist that I have met in person (this latter point being the guiding principle of the set). Contributions have already been received from: Pentti Dassum (Deep Turtle/Kroko/etc), Greg Scharpen, Freida Abtan, Carl Lierman, William Rage (At Jennie Richie), Steven Stapleton (Nurse With Wound), William A. Davison (Songs of the New Erotics/Six Heads/Gastric Female Reflex), Sherri Lynn Higgins (Songs of the New Erotics/Six Heads) Eric Lanzillotta, Jim Kaiser (Petit Mal/French Radio/NF Orchest), Andy Way (French Radio/NF Orchest), John Contreras (Current 93/Sorrow/Baby Dee), Sheila McCarthy and Byram Abbott. Pledged contributions are being awaited from: Joolie Wood, Karl Blake, David Michael, Carla Kihlstedt and Mattias Bossi, Dawn McCarthy, Nils Frydahl, Dan Rathbun, Moe! Staiano, Hans Hagen Stockhausen, I Am Spoonbender, Colin Potter, Christoph Heemann, Matt Lebofsky, Jenya Chernoff, R.K. Faulhaber, Aranos, Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson and a few others who my enfeebled brain is unable to recall at present. A contribution from Dax Pierson was finished just prior to his accident (see 'irr. 7th action' below), but not delivered; it is hoped that he will still be part of the project. More participants will be approached as opportunity presents itself. This project will be in progress throughout the rest of 2005 and, more than likely, most of 2006.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:

• irr. app. (ext.) will be presenting its eighth public action at The Wooden Octopus Skull Pfestival in Seattle, a 4-day event organised by Enterruption and Psychform Records. The (p)festival consists of 6 shows at different venues between the 8th and 11th of September, the irr. performance taking place on the afternoon of the 11th (Sunday) at the Funhouse, 206 5th Ave North. Sharing the bill will be Hans Grüsel's Kränkenkabinet, Climax Golden Twins, Bill Horst and The Broken Penis Orchestra. A series of six hand-printed posters by six different artists will be available at the events, with #5 designed and drawn by myself.



• irr. involvement in part of the Hafler Trio/Colin Potter/Andrew Liles tour scheduled for later in the year will no longer be happening due to the cancellation of the entire tour.

PAST PERFORMANCES:

• July 15th marked the occasion of my second participation in one of my friend Dawn McCarthy's Faun Fables performances. It was only a short opening set at San Francisco's Bottom of the Hill, presented to an unworthy audience who had largely come out to see a band considerably less accomplished than Ms. McCarthy, but the experience was a thoroughly enjoyable one nonetheless. My contribution was not particularly remarkable, consisting of some percussive embellishments on bottles and plates, a length of copper pipe, a toy gamelan and a cracked cymbal, as well as brief vocals and some miniature koto strumming. Two of the songs also featured some pre-recorded backing that Dawn had commissioned me to put together last year. It was fantastic to share the stage with such a talented performer, and I hope have an opportunity to do so again sometime in the future.



• The first collaborative performance between myself and Jim Haynes took place on June 12th at The Lab in San Francisco as part of the 9th Mission Creek Music Festival. The show featured a wonderful stage setting and custom audio configuration designed by Jim, and culled heavily from our respective stores of rust, lichen and toys. This was one of the most enjoyable performances in which I've had the privilege to participate, and plans for further collaborative projects is presently being discussed.



• The 7th irr. app. (ext.) public action took place on June 24th in San Francisco at the Lobot Gallery. The line-up for this event was myself, Greg Scharpen and John Scharpen. The performance was staged as part of a benefit evening organised to raise funds for Dax Pierson, a gifted musician and an exceptional human being who was seriously injured in a car accident earlier this year. You are encouraged to visit www.daxpierson.com and contribute towards his recovery, made unnecessarily expensive by this country's pathetic, idiotic and thoroughly dishonest medical system. The evening also included sets by Soft Pink Truth, French Radio, Moe!chestra and Barely Human Dance Theater; a benefit CD with contributions from irr and most of the other performers involved, as well as additional tracks submitted by Nurse With Wound and a few other sources, is in currently in preparation.



• The 6th irr. app. (ext.) public action took place on June 1st in Toronto at the New Works Gallery. The line-up for this event was myself, Greg Scharpen, William A. Davison and Sherri Lyn Higgins of the Recordist society, and suprise guest Steven Stapleton of Nurse With Wound. William's own project 'Songs of the New Erotics' provided a short but enlightening opening set. With the possible exception of the first action in Oakland back in March of 2003, this was the most satisfying performance to date. Enormous thanks to William and Sherri for arranging the show, for their hard work and hospitality, and for all the toast. Thanks are also due to Jeffrey Cornille for providing us with a wonderful video document of the evening, and to Mr. Stapleton for making such an effective contribution to the sound without the benefit of any advance preparation. Photos (skillfully taken by Mr. Steve Venright) will be posted eventually.



• In May, I had the privilege of participating in a two-day/three-performance presentation of Nurse With Wound's 'Salt Marie Celeste', staged at Vienna's Narrenturm Museum on the 6th and 7th. The line-up for these performances was Steven Stapleton, Diana Rogerson, Colin Potter, Andrew Liles and my own unworthy self. Opening sets at all three performances were skillfully rendered by Colin Potter and Andrew Liles (separately). Profound thanks are due the four other members of this ensemble (but especially Steve) for making this such a memorable and enjoyable experience. Thanks are also due to Walter, Katya, Reinhard, Albin and Hagen for their kindness and hospitality. More activity by some version of this group is hopefully on the horizon.



• The 5th irr. app. (ext.) public action took place on January 7th in San Francisco at the Elbo Room. The line-up for this event was myself, R.K. Faulhaber, Greg Scharpen and John Scharpen. The main attraction for the evening was a multi-media presentation by Spoonbender 1.1.1., a splinter identity of I Am Spoonbender, and also included a set by the Bay Area electronic supergroup Sagan. Thanks to Dustin and Cup for inviting our participation.



• The 4th irr. app. (ext.) public action took place on December 11th at the record release party for Nurse With Wound's 'Angry Eelectric Finger' trilogy (volume three of which was done in collaboration with irr.), presented in Portland at the Doug Fir Lounge. The line-up for this event was myself, Greg Scharpen and John Scharpen, with special guests Steven Stapleton and Colin Potter joining us for a retarded (but thoroughly enjoyable) rendering of Nurse With Wound's 'Cooloorta Moon'; the evening also included a remarkable solo set by Colin and a completely unique DJ set by Steve. Thanks are due to Steve for including us on the bill, to Chris McBeth for organising the event, to Chris, Heather and Eric Lanzillotta for their help and hospitality (and more good toast), to William Rage for transportation, and to Heather Wittkop for her colouring skills. An impromptu improvisation incident took place the next evening during an exhibition of Steve's vinyl paintings at the Optic Nerve Arts Gallery, the personnel for which was Colin Potter, myself, Greg Scharpen, Stan Reed, Moe! Staiano, a tall gentleman whose name I was never given (apologies!), the adorable daughter of Scott Rautmann, and Chris McBeth's big sweaty head. If anyone who was present has photos (or recordings) of this debacle, please get in touch.



• The 3rd irr. app. (ext.) public action took place on December 10th at the recently-opened Electric Heavyland shop in Seattle. The line-up for this event was myself, Greg Scharpen and John Scharpen; the evening also included yet another remarkable solo set from Colin Potter. Thanks are due to William and Leslie for organising the show, and for their hospitality before, afterwards and in-between. Particular thanks need to be given to Colin for his patience, help and good humour during both this and the rest of the week's proceedings.

JULY 2004

CURRENT RELEASES:

• 'Ozeanische Gefühle' is now available from The Helen Scarsdale Agency.
  
  
• A split 7" with Wyrm is now available from Somnimage.
• side A: irr. app. (ext.) 'hypothetical tardigrade resurrection'
• side B: WYRM: 'Labyrinth Defector'
    (Some of the 33 copy edition with covers hand-drawn by M.S. Waldrom may still be available.)

FORTHCOMING PROJECTS:

• The LP/picture 12" release on Beta Lactam Ring Records, 'Perekluchenie' + 'Resurrection of the Senses', is now scheduled for November/December 2004. All recording and artwork for this project is now completed.
  
  
• Preparations are underway for a series of irr. app. (ext.) live performances in late 2004/early 2005. Far more exciting: the first Nurse With Wound live performance in almost 20 years will take place in San Francisco in January 2005. Pinch me, I must be dreaming.
  
  
• Priorities are now focused on the as-of-yet-untitled 5-way collaborative project between Jim Haynes, Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson, R. K. Faulhaber, Steven Stapleton and M. S. Waldron. Texts are in the process of being rendered into recitations to accompany the sounds. 'Cosmic Superimposition' will be taken up once this is accomplished.
  
  
• Two upcoming 3-hour radio programs will be guest-DJ'd by M. S. Waldron on the Foothill College station KFJC. The first (on Saturday July 31st) will feature rare irr. material and a selection of obscure music that is currently under my skin. The second (on Saturday August 14th) will be entirely dedicated to Nurse With Wound, and will feature a quantity of obscure and unreleased material. A split 10" record between Nurse and irr. is being negotiated as a future station fundraiser incentive. Both shows occur between 3pm and 6pm (Pacific time) and can be eavesdropped upon through the internet by going here: KFJC

MAY 2004

The gallery is now open.

Although a number of pieces need to be added and some layouts adjusted, I didn't want to withhold this magnificent body of work from the rest of the universe. Please indulge at your own peril.

   - Mr. F.

APRIL 2004

There is somewhat of a site now - big thanks to Mr. Faulhaber for putting it together. The gallery will be sorted out shortly, as will the links page.

Some updates on releases:

• The insert proofs for 'Ozeanische Gefühle' have been finalised, and this release should see the light of day in late April or early May.



• Apparently, the printing and pressing for the split 7" with Wyrm is nearly finished and therefore should also be appearing in the world within the next month or so. Scans of some 33 hand-drawn editions will be posted eventually.



• Nearing completion is material for a LP + picture 12" set to be released by Beta Lactam Ring Records. One final track for the 12" needs to be wrapped up, as well as the disc artwork. One of the two images is very nearly done. My progress has been unexpectedly slow in completeing this material, but it's finally picking up momentum now. The title of the record will be 'Perekluchenie', and the title of the pic 12" 'Resurrection of the Senses'. Release dates, of course, are dependent on me finally getting the work done.



• All source materials for the 5-way collaborative record between M.S. Waldron, Jim Haynes, Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson, Richard Faulhaber and Steven Stapleton have now been received, and work on the record is finally underway.



• The sleeves for 'Cosmic Superimposition' are completed and mixing of the record will be taken care of as soon as the last track for 'Resurrection of the Senses' is completed.



• All other previously mentioned projects are on hold until those listed above (or at least the ones still dependent on input from myself) are taken care of.

DECEMBER 2003

• Still getting the site organised. Useful information will appear in time.

FORTHCOMING PROJECTS:

• 'The Skinning of Saints' is halfway through the recording process and should be finished sometime in early 2004. Also being sorted out is the long-planned but hopefully-soon-to-be completed 'A Thief in an Empty House', composed entirely out of unprocessed field recordings gathered over the past ten years. Neither of these two recordings have any release plans as of yet.

• 'Dust Pincher Appliances': out now on Crouton!
  
  
• 'Ozeanische Gefühle': coming soon from The Helen Scarsdale Agency.
  
  
• 'Cosmic Superimposition': an extensive remixing of material from 'Ozeanische Gefühle',, limited to 50 self-released copies with silk-screened inserts done by Helen Scarsdale.
  
  
• A split 7" with Wyrm, to be released by Somnimage. The first 33 copies will come with an original drawing by M.S. Waldron.
  

COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS:

• The Nurse With Wound / irr. app. (ext.) collaboration is still in process. This release comes in handmade, hand-assembled packaging, and so it will take some time to get everything ready. Steven Stapleton has contributed 2 lovely drawings, which will be posted in this space sometime.
  
  
• A collaborative project between R.K. Faulhaber, Jim Haynes, Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson, Steven Stapleton and M.S. Waldron is now moving forward. You can't be more curious than I about how this will turn out.
  
  
• A collaboration between irr. app. (ext.) and Christoph Heemann is being negotiated.
  
  
• When is Richard Faulhaber going to put a record out? Empires rise and fall, but are accompanied only by silence.

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