Our son Will, a musician, is working for Burl Audio in Santa Cruz. They make recording devices that (as I understand it), allow musicians to bring some old school sound into digital recording. Will says that there’s a warmth to vinyl records that you don’t get with straight digital processes.
Keith Richards, in his (v. good) autobiography, wrote about how the Rolling Stones could get all kinds of effects using a tape deck that cannot be done digitally these days.
I think Burl is on the right track. In many areas these days, people are trying to figure out how to hold on to soul in an increasingly digitized world. It’s not so much that “…the old is new again,” but that the old is being re-examined to determine which of its qualities can be retained.
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I pretty much shoot from the hip with blog postings. I post stuff that seems interesting. Lately I’ve put up a few posts that got a lot of feedback:
https://lloydkahn-ongoing.blogspot.com/2012/01/why-california-needs-high-speed-rail.html
https://lloydkahn-ongoing.blogspot.com/2011/12/jay-shafers-tiny-house-into-manhattan.html?showComment=1325873550928#c1070406639876125639
I have to confess to not analyzing what I post, I just throw it out there, and I like the discussions generated. With the high speed rail issue, for example, I learned a lot from the comments. After reading them, I don’t think high speed rail is right for California.
“One half of the world’s population, approximately 3 billion people on 6 continents lives or works in buildings constructed of earth…The Musgum, an ethnic group in far north province in Cameroon, create their tall conical dwellings from compressed sun-dried mud. Called Cases Obos, the profile of the structure is that of a catenary arch— the ideal mathematical form to bear a maximum weight
with minimal material.…”
https://shltr.net/yg0Lsj
Had to stop my bike ride to shoot this.
Dear Lloyd,
Just wanted to show you the latest from the tiny house I am designing and building in Oakland CA. Wondering if it might be able to make it on your blog sometime.
Here’s more info and pictures: https://justfinedesignbuild.com/portfolio/show/32
small scale projects from conception to completion
A totally unexpected treat came in the mail a few days ago: a tiny (4″ x 4″) handmade book by Brad and Bryl of Tiny Texas Houses. It was made with a paper bag and has 6 pull-out tabs. Incredible.
There are 6 pages on Brad’s Tiny Texas Houses in Tiny Homes. All built with salvaged material, designs based on local shacks and farm buildings. The cover of (our) book is one of TTH’s buildings with a rainbow, and they used it as a cover for their mini-book.
To the left of center here is a thin chip of wood that pulls out. Best holiday card ever. Everything about our about-to-be-launched book is feeling good!
A great week for musical discoveries:
1. Unannounced, a CD arrived in the mail from Pepe Alvarez: I Have to Paint My Face: Mississippi Blues 1960. Makes me want to move to Mississippi! Acoustic recordings by Chris Strachwitz of Arhoolie Records, bless him for all his good work, these are bluesmen who never made it into prime time. Blues fans, I heartily recommend this one; you’ll love it.
2. Marion Williams, Remember Me. I’ve had this gospel record for years, just pulled it out. Marion had a 4-octave vocal range. I listened to it driving along the coast a few days ago. What power! Black gospel singers get the message of Jesus right. What joy! Another of my gospel favorites is Dorothy Love Coates.
3. On The Jimmy Reed Highway Omar Kent Dykes and Jimmie Vaughan, along with guests like James Cotton and Delbert McClinton, are channelling Jimmy here. Baby What You Want me To Do, Bright Lights Big City, and a version of Big Boss Man that’s had me dancing (when no one’s around), and has been rolling through my brain for days/ You ain’t so big, you just tall that’s all… Thanks to bayrider for the tip on this one. More good music from Austin…
On his Relaxshacks blog yesterday, Deek Diedricksen, artist, author, builder, blogger, and prankster, upon receiving his copy of Tiny Homes. Deek brings fun into the tiny home movement.
https://shltr.net/vgTbQk
Our son Will, a musician, is working for Burl Audio in Santa Cruz. They make recording devices that (as I understand it), allow musicians to bring some old school sound into digital recording. Will says that there’s a warmth to vinyl records that you don’t get with straight digital processes.
