After long and careful deliberation (and after receiving some e-mails with various suggestions), it’s been decided to NOT release a vinyl compilation of the 2009 project.
There are various reasons for this but I suppose the most important one is this one: It’s really hard to make a good compilation out of all those songs, let alone a vinyl compilation. I can’t figure out any order of songs crammed onto 4 sides of 20 minutes that I like. Simple as that.. I don’t want to release something that doesn’t feel right.
Furthermore: I think the project should be seen as a whole. There are many compilations possible, and I guess they’re all relevant previews, but to make “a definitive compilation” is simply impossible to me. Also, some monthly albums I just like the way they are. Taking a song from “Clouds”, two from “Blood Red Bird”, another one from “Unwind” would just kill it for me.. I prefer working on all new material for a proper vinyl release then…
So… I guess it’s no big deal, but thought I’d let you know anyways. If you want to have a good introduction compilation anyway, you can always listen to the playlist at the 2009 page.
For those who aren’t subscribed to the wixel newsletter. Below you’ll find the latest one. You can view it with pictures, jokes + subscribe if you like HERE.
It feels great not creating music this month! (Though I don’t like to sit too still… )
So… During the past months I received quite some comments on the project, also on the subject of what to do with the music when it’s finished. Some people suggested doing a “best of” cd or 2LP, others thought it was good to release them all on vinyl (not going to happen :)), a best of 45s box was even suggested, but I think that is a bit over the top.. besides I’m the first to admit that there’s a whole lot of awful songs hiding in those 365 minutes.
However, I do think it might be fun to try and make one lovely double LP (80 minutes - 4 sides of 20 minutes) out of the 81 songs I wrote this year. If I look at them as demos for songs, it makes sense to me. I also will be able to have some nice neat new BIG artwork which is something I always like. A lovely 80 minute collection on wax in a well designed box to serve as a souvenir to this awesome stupid project.
Why am I explaining all this you ask? Well, I think it might be more fun if people who took the time to follow the project have their say in it. I’d like you to take the little DIY survey at the end of this post, e-mail me your answers, and once I get some opinions, I’ll compile them in a human way to make the best possible 2LP i can get out of the 365 minutes I made this year.
So: use this questions as guidelines for your thoughts and do e-mail them if you like. Or just one. Or none. If a 2LP happens, it will surely be thanks to your answers.
2009 SURVEY FOR A POSSIBLE BEST OF RELEASE:
1) Which songs did you like best? 2) Which is your preferred monthly record? (You can name more than one if you like that better) 3) What song(s) was/were so terrible you hope you’ll never ever have to hear it again? (or which monthly records should be avoided when selecting songs?) 4) Do you have an ideal setlist? If so: what would it look like? 5) Any other remark you think would make a better compilation? 6) Cd or vinyl?
Just to set an example, I’ll fill in my own opinion.. During my skiing holidays I spent a few hours - 6 hours and 5 minutes to be exact - listening to the complete project, just the figure out if I could make one record out of it.. it’s an interesting exercise.
1) we’ll never get out of this bed / skatebeats / january the 4th / glittertind / into the forever we hum 2) winter / blood red bird / an empty canvas 3) too many to mention. :) 4) not yet. or see 5. 5) a theme per side! side A acoustic & folky songs (winter/bloodredbird/swaywithme) side B ambient (clouds/norway) side C electronic (twooldsongs/anemptycanvas) side D sleepy songs (slaapliedjes/unwind/the end) 6) vinylllllll!
Something like that… so: do mail your thoughts! The sooner the better, if you don’t like the mail.. that’s fine too.
It’s probably a good idea to have all the songs in one place, ordered chronologically because randomly just sounds terrible. Here ya go:
I’m rather happy the end is finally where it is supposed to be; here and now. Creating a record every month has been challenging. Sometimes I would go crazy (sorry friends) over not having music ready with only a few days to go, sometimes I would ignore friends & family, just to make music for this awesome stupid project. Fortunately, there’s always an “awesome” part in awesome stupid projects. The fun bits that happen while making music, the wonderful new people you get to know, the impulsive contributions of wonderful friends like Laure (voice on the new one), and a lot of ideas you get while doing something that on the outside seems rather pointless.
This project started out as a joke on new year’s eve, and right now, we’re on the day before the next new year’s eve - new year’s eve eve?. I’ve already made promises to myself for the year 2010 like spending more time with friends, not bugging you each month with a new release and probably doing more sports. (ok, that last one might be not true). There’ll be one more e-mail about this project, the idea has been dropped of doing a best of or a 2LP compilation - and if that happens, I’d really appreciate that people who care about it can have their say and participate in something like this. But we’ll see about that. First thing I’ll be doing in 2010 is going up to the mountains, putting on some ski’s and bury myself in snow.
Getting a copy?
No one can buy a copy this time. I figured it would be appropriate to thank those who supported this project the most, by sending them a copy as a gift. So, the 31 people who bought the most monthly records will receive the limited physical edition of “The End” by +- the 20th of january. The music of the dramatically titled “The End” is more or less a composed extension of the Slaapliedjes releases. Kind of boring. Like previous months, everyone can download and listen to it freely at http://2009.bandcamp.com. I would appreciate it if no one mails to find out if he/she’ll be getting a copy, let it be a surprise. I like it better that way :-)
Some random numbers
2009 consists of 12 records 5 guests (kristof, ellen, ulrike, nil & laure) 81 songs 365 minutes of music (correct to the second!) 45.453 (I just like this one)
Thanks
… for reading and thanks for downloading/listening/talking/whatever. Life is nothing but an awesome playground I am glad to be in.
The paint is still wet, but i’m happy to announce there’s a new wixel monthly disc again. The year is slowly finding its way to 2010. As it progresses and as I am pouring out ideas and songs to have enough material each month, I am really starting to feel empty. The neverending fun of making a record each month clearly has gone away. Since this month life even got a little more busier due to personal circumstances, so I nearly decided to quit the whole thing. However, I am pretty sure you always have to hold on a little longer, you never know what follows. (Sorry if i sound like a dramaqueen! :D - not the intention). But… that’s why this month is a sort of cheat-month again. Like in May I focussed on finishing old songs. Most of these were intended for a cd release as a wixel “pop” album. But it never got finished, so I decided to release them now as I still am proud of those 4 little soft sung songs. I wouldn’t want them ending as a faint memory (though everything eventually will). They were all inspired by the sweet soft side of love. You know, the innocent kind, when you were still young. When you were still making mixtapes for your lover(s), thinking your choice of songs and the order you put them in were of the highest importance - I remember my favorite one starting out with “Antlers” by the Microphones. Its “Sway With Me, Aimlessly” words/feeling becoming the chorus of a song as it seemed like the perfect way to invite someone into your life. (She accepted by the way, but it wasn’t meant to be.) Anyways, I don’t want to get too personal. I suppose there is nothing left to do besides enjoying the songs for what they are: simple sweet poppy lovesongs. If one ever finds its way to a mixtape somewhere, I’d be more than thrilled. It is the weirdest form of art.
If you want to have it, simply send an e-mail to wimmaesschalck@gmail.com - and i’ll hook you up with the details. The cd (only 20 minutes in length) is 10 euro + whatever shipping is. It is once again limited to 30 copies. Records will be shipped coming weekend!
You can download it free (or have a preview stream) here:
There’s a very web 2.0 (check the natural mirror effect on my black shelf!) store for the second edition of the monthly 2009 releases. All releases are still available freely but for those who just love to have physical things, I think it’s a good alternative. The design is quite simple, but it all feels rather pretty. Also, by buying them instead of downloading, you’ll have my eternal gratitude for your support.
I’ve been thinking about making the monthly releases available again as simple physical cd-rs. I received only positive comments and e-mails about it (except one correct critical remark), and more friends are asking for them too. I never expected the monthly cds to sell out in less than a day, which is just plain silly. So, the monthly cd’s are available again. They won’t contain any of the handmade artwork, nor the inserts or any other special thing that comes with the original ones. The new ones are straight forward cardboard sleeves with a small image + titles printed on them. Nothing too big. They’re useful if you insist on having a physical cd collection or if you like to support my musical trips. You can see some examples of the reissues below.
See? They’re pretty, but not too fancy.
Each cd-r costs 10 euro which includes shipping to any part of the world. But don’t forget, you can download everything for free at http://2009.bandcamp.com - so don’t feel obliged to buy these. For now there are no discounts / packages available, because I don’t want the orignal buyers to feel ripped off.
If you’re interested, send an e-mail with the “months” you’d like to wimmaesschalck@gmail.com or just paypal the correct amount + titles to the same address. Orders will be shipped in at most 3 working days.
I’ve been wondering before about making extra copies of the monthly series. I mean, it is ridiculous that on each occasion there are people that want to have a copy, but can’t get one because the cds sell out in a day. People that for instance don’t check their e-mail daily will probably miss out on every occasion. I thought by making the mp3s for free and by having about 30 copies per month, that would be more than enough for every release to last a few months. But, apparently I was wrong, and also, I get mails from people that dislike downloads and want to have a physical copy. Last but not least, that limit was practical as well. It takes quite a while to hand assemble every release, and besides assembling releases I also have music to make, I have to be a good employee at work and be a good house-man.
But last week, I sort of found a solution. I discovered an easy way to re-release the cd’s with more or less the same artwork. It’s very time-efficient, and it keeps nicely in touch with the series aspect of it. Also, I could have just stuck a blank cd-r in a plastic sleeve, but you know that is not quite the same. It needs to be pretty! It doesn’t include any special handmade things though, no booklets nor inserts. Just a pretty brown sleeve with a paper wrapped around it. I made some prototypes which are pictured below. It’s the best solution I can come up with while still being friendly to people who supported wixel before, and being friendly with people who want to have a physical copy of the music they like. Iknowhowfrustratingitistonotgetwhatyouwant. (Even though I don’t want to imply those cd-r’s of mine are so sought after as those records)
Now the question rises. Would I be a sell out? :) Would first hand buyers be offended because they did bought a “limited” thing, but now isn’t anymore. (Even though the artwork is different?). Or something I haven’t thought about yet? How should I price it? The same? Less? More? So much stuff I can worry about.. I thought I would just blog about the idea and I’ll see what the reactions are. Personally I don’t mind either way, I’m happy with how things are, but I’m just trying to be friendly music dude.
Here are the prototypes:
ps: i know it’s probably not that important. but it sure is fun to pretend! :)
ps2: i’m pretty sure that once i decide to do this, the regular edition won’t sell out anymore :)
ps3: if you want to know how to make those things with things you probably have at your home, send me an e-mail.
Seems like the newsletter already made the may record by wixel sold out. “Two Old Songs” is now only available as a digital download. For those unaware what it exactly is; during the month of May I finally managed to record some old live songs. During the past 5 years(!) those songs have changed a lot. (Remember a guitar-only version of “Sorry” with Greg Haines & Ulrike Dragon which is quite far from the electronic version now). So did the working titles. “Friends” started as “Slaapwel” because it took some parts of the first slaapwel song, then turned into “Slaapwel Karen Ikea” (because of added bits of the song “Karen” Ikea and becoming the mammoth “Slaapwel Karen Ikea You Black Emperor!” because of added postrock vibes. So.. here it is in its longest version, may ‘09. It includes the various intros, outros and middle parts this song has had in the past. It hasn’t got much left to do with the original “Slaapwel” song, but it’s full on indie-tronica-post-rock-for-ever, mainly because live it’s fun to add a little excitement. This is probably the most accesible wixel since the old days. Also, despite the “two” songs, it’s almost 30 minutes long. The cd now gone, you can still get the digital download.
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Thanks to those who bought slaapliedjes (physical or digital) and to those who listened too. I hope it worked. :) - As this silly project goes, there’s not much time to stand still with past things, so on the next. For “May” I decided to record/rewrite the songs we play live, but have never been recorded before. So that finally they are archived. Some bits are older than 3 or 4 years. A song we play live a lot has the worktitle “sorry” and i’ve uploaded a preview you could check out. It is by no means finished: fake drums have to replaced by real ones, the second part of the song hasn’t been recorded yet, i’ll probably make a great 4/4 finale cause it has this dancy vibe :). In any case, this is probably a good indication where “may” is going. A faster pace, electric guitars and older wixel-style sounds.
Music to fall asleep by has always been one of my favourite working areas. I’m intrigued by making music sounding timeless, soothing and disappearing. Slaapliedjes is my second experiment with sleeping music. 10 songs that are very different yet very similar (a bit like constellations or stars) and always very humble. The only thing they differ in is pace and density. It is entirely built with an electric guitar played slowly and randomly and a lovely tube amp. While the idea of that may not seem very interesting, you might be surprised by the outcome if you accept to listen to it while you’re going to bed, playing this record each evening repeatedly. Maybe you should think of this cd more as something you’d want to keep close to your toothbrush, favourite pillow and pajamas rather than your record collection.
Artwork was made by Jo again who did an amazing job sewing the blanket to the packaging.
wolf 359 / hat-p-9 / sher 25 / gliese 229 / wr 102ka / ae aquarii / lbv 1806-20 / r 126 / 6 lyncis / messier 40
Cd is limited to 30 copies. I still have a few left, but e-mail me to find out. It’s 12 euro shipping included. You can download it for free (or whatever you want to pay) at http://2009.bandcamp.com
Probably a song on the forthcoming april album. You wouldn’t believe how representative it is. :) aka all songs sound about the same, like this one. But i’m not sure if i’m happy yet. It feels like i should be able to get a lot more out of the idea behind april. The thing i like about it, is that you can’t really tell the songs apart from eachother, they all blur into the same vagueness.. but they’re not the same at all. There is no repetition of structure, melodies or rhythm. It’s just blur. So it’s the most varied music but really similar at the same time. It’s thing i’m after with slaapwel records most of the time. (Letting go of worldly structures and thoughts, drifting off into the vagueness/nothingness/blankness). Like a stream that always sounds the same, though it never is the same. Maybe i’m getting too metaphysical. It’s what i like about morton feldman. He messes with your sense of time and space.
ps: now i think about it, this songs is actually the most structured of them all. the rule for this song was: 2 notes, random timing. repeat. layer. but it sounds more or less the same as the others.
This lovely blog wrote a little text about the new monthly record “Blood Red Bird”. I’m proud in an humble way of the kind words because of the wonderful music the writer seems to like. (From Colleen over Mick Turner to Mount Eerie via Peter Broderick and Tim Hecker). It’s a touchy subject what musicians or artists think of their (lack of) popularity. Or what a critical review of their work means to them. People don’t talk about these things very often. But I for one honestly don’t care about the number of people liking my music, but if people dig the music I’m responsible of and dig the music I adore then I feel thankful and proud.
