acetone studio

Every Spoil A Dub review in the venerable Beat magazine

2009-08-06T23:44:00.005-04:00

I wouldn't have known about this had it not been for 'Trusty' on the Roots Archives forum alerting me to the review.
Nice to be mentioned in the venerable Beat magazine.

It reads:

Nice!

Good and Strong FREE EP out now!

2009-07-14T15:22:00.004-04:00

At last, here's the latest release since 'Every Spoil A Dub'. It's a FREE five track EP featuring different vocal takes, instrumental parts and multifarious mixes.

Download top quality 320kbps mp3s for free and read about it here:
GOOD AND STRONG EP

A big, big, big-up to Idren Natural for his vocal contribution and also to Callum for being instrumental in making it happen.

Melodica Malfunction Revisited

2009-06-29T11:27:00.004-04:00

Some time ago I wrote about the sticky key issue I experienced with my super-cheap Hohner Student 32 Melodica and the steps I took to correct the problem.

Since then I have played a few parts on a few different tracks and have found that the problem has returned, but in a less drastic way. While the keys do not now stick when depressed, they stick when not played. Depressing the keys unsticks. The part of the key in the interior that closes the gasket now sticks to the gasket. With a little playing the problem lessens but it is still irritating and impedes fluid playing. I'm no melodica virtuouso but I suspect that any player whatever his level of proficiency would find this unacceptable.

At the moment I have no idea how this can be corrected. Clearly the yellow rubber foam can't be replaced as it is moulded very specifically to the shape required to make an airtight seal.
Nothing that comes to mind (a silicon lubricant? talcum powder?) strikes me as a viable solution.

Any tips or recommendations are welcome.

Apart from that, the keys are really too small on this instrument and when funds are not so tight I hope to buy a bigger, better melodica made from superior materials. Recommendations invited!

It has been a while!

2009-06-19T15:00:00.004-04:00

As the recently added begging letter notes, times are financially hard at ACEtone Studio. I do hope some of you reading this will be moved to buy some tunes to help out and ensure that ACEtone Studio can continue releasing quality original music.

As to what is currently in the works, a new net-release of a reworking of 'Be Strong Dub' from 'Every Spoil a Dub' will be coming soon, but there is still some work to be done. Just a bit of tweaking on the mix.
The plan is to feature three versions of the track:
1. Good and Strong - vocal by Idren Natural
2. Good and Dub - Melodica instru-dub
3. Untitled (still trying to think of a good title) - Organ Instrumental

The inspiration for this release was prompted by Callum (Culture Reggae/Sama Sound) who kindly provided Idren Natural's vocal take and encouraged me to do a further dub.
The organ version was something I had been meaning to do for a long time - not specifically for this riddim - but it all fit together really nicely.

Currently working on melodica, hand-drum, guitar over-dubs for Dougie of Conscious Sound's reggae version of 'Sound of the Crowd'.
Yes, that 'Sound of the Crowd' - the original version of which ironically has as its main hook a very typical 1970s roots melodica type melody though played on a Moog or some such synth.
Pretty easy to play, even with the sticky melodica keys.

It is very nice to be asked to do over-dubs, I must say.

Microsoft determined to make everything crap, including Music...apparently

2009-01-23T01:48:00.006-05:00

I came across this article at Ars(e) Technica recently and was fascinated...in a disturbing way.
Microsoft is soon to release (or maybe has already released) a software, uh, thing to enable people to sing into their Pee Cee and have the software automatically create a backing track. Sounds...like...a...great...idea...yes?
Before I proceed, let me say that I am absolutely all for any and every new technological development with regard to music (and most other things).

The writer Erica Sadun seems pretty enthusiastic about the process of destroying music and goes through all of the hoops to make her track, though we never get to hear it. But by her description alone, this 'Songsmith' software is a true horror. The retro-equivalent might be the 1950s home organ with built in rhythm box (bossa nova!). I personally defend the right of the musically inept and tone deaf to do whatever they want with regard to music - what I object to here is the abject lack of decent musical backing for the awful vocals.

To illustrate here is a selection of demos made by some crazy person
Apparently it is not enough that the backing is rudimentary, bad sounding (think 80s), but Songsmith doesn't even get it right! The wrong progressions and chords are glaring. This is for the tone deaf, no doubt.

Songsmith is technically interesting but musically it should have been held back until it actually had something. So...it is toy software. Garageband is toy software, yet if I needed to I could make it work for me. Songsmith is not competing with Garage band - despite the slant in the article. Songsmith has no competition, because it is utterly useless. Thank you Microsoft for further proving the MS irrelevance market niche. Irrelevant product - irrelevant people! They automatically buy our crud so let's just pile it on. Here's a music 'product' you will love (buy).

Songsmith is frankly, musically meaningless. Unless I get to use it and find myself sorely mistaken - at which time I'll plead amnesia and delete this entry...
When MS brings out an OS X version of it I'm sure I could have fun with it, but I'm sure that afterwards I would feel dirty.

Here's my favourite use (abuse) of this rubbish (get ripped and reverse karaoke with your idiot friends!!!):
Hear how horribly shitty the sounds are?
Enough of this crap...

Highly unlikely hypothetical/fictional situation involving musician's need to resort to Songsmith:
I'm in a small hotel in Prague. Staying there for a couple of days for a really cool Dub conference. There is a need for me to do a little improvising at the seminar next day, but my luggage has been lost and due to various factors there is nothing else available to me besides a horrible Dell laptop running some form of Windoze and a copy of Songsmith. After a good hour of software updates, anti-virus scans and updates and ads...
I give it a try...I try again...it is useless. I'm not really a singer, but I can sing in tune when I have a track to sing along to. But that is not possible. Only a beat is possible. Sing over the beat in tune. But the chords are all wrong. The beat is wrong. The SOUND is wrong...help!
Headline in Prague morning papers:
'Musician throws self out of window - suicide note says - throw yourselves out of Windows, for the love of all that is sane and rational'

Striker Lee gets a nod of approval...

2009-01-23T01:24:00.005-05:00

A little late noticing this, but apparently Bunny 'Striker' Lee has finally been given a little positive recognition by the Jamaican government in the form of the 'Order of Distinction' (back in Oct. 08). I won't say congratulations because I'm no great supporter of such trifling belated pats on the head. Surely he deserves a bit more than that!

The article from the JA Gleaner is interesting and adds a few details that may interest the more deeply obsessed reggae/Dub afficionado. While I wouldn't expect such an article to go into too much depth it is certainly worth a read glaring omissions apart...

He has also worked with Mighty Diamonds, Bob Marley, Gregory Issacs, Glen Adams, Roy Shirley, Dawn Penn, Derrick Morgan, The Uniques, Linval Thompson, Leroy Smart, Barry Brown, Joe Gibbs, Dennis Alcapone, U Roy, I-Roy, Prince Jazzbo, U Brown, Dr Alimantado, Jah Stitch, Trinity, Tappa Zukie and Beenie Man, when the dancehall 'doctor' was only 10 years old.

Where is Johnny Clarke in this list? And the all important link with the King himself, Osbourne Ruddock? Of course a complete list would have left no space for anything else!
Also a nice pic included of Bunny looking distinguished and dapper...

I am intrigued by the note that he may write a book about his life experiences - I won't hold my breath but to my knowledge this is the first hint of a real home grown account of the rise to prominence of Jamaican music - rather than the musings of well meaning outsiders. Write the book Bunny! Or start Blogging! This is something that is needed...
Wishing Bunny many more years of health and happiness...

Every Spoil a Dub in Rice Radio Reggae TOP TEN!

2009-01-15T22:58:00.004-05:00

Not sure if this means the top ten CDs for December 2008 or for all of 2008 but either way it is very nice to be included. Thanks Scottie!

Rice Reggae Radio Top Ten CDs December 2008

Steve Barker reviews Every Spoil a Dub in Wire magazine

2009-01-09T00:18:00.004-05:00

Well, this is a cause for great jubilation. In the January 2009 issue of Wire magazine 'Every Spoil a Dub' is glowingly reviewed by Steve Barker (On the Wire BBC, Wire contributer and all around nice chap).
Again, thanks a heap Steve.
And thanks Joe for buying all three CDs on the strength of this review!

Check this snippet:

Overall an excellent third album, but the top track is definitely 'New New Dub', a ouija board studio collaboration with Joe Meek, opening with an irresistible mix of piano and organ. - Steve Barker

Music Thing - obituary

2009-01-07T11:19:00.005-05:00

Tom, creator of the Music Thing blog has decided to down tools and will devote his time spent online to his new day job. I certainly wish him well in this but hope that he can be convinced to leave Music Thing online. I've certainly enjoyed it and it has pointed me to plenty of interesting music related 'things' I might not otherwise have found.

And why not keep it going and just post every once in a while?

Jennifer Lara - who knew?

2008-12-10T01:08:00.005-05:00

Well, the answer to that is: people who know more about Studio One than I do.

Now listening to the 'Studio One Presents Jennifer Lara' album. She can hold a note which is no mean feat because many of the singing JA daughtas I have heard sing terribly unlistenably flat.
There is a little deja vu of the incomparable Susan Cadogan (who sang quaintly flat in a manner acceptable to these ears!) for producer Lee Perry, but this is from a different time - maybe five years in the difference - and of course this is a Studio One collection. Late 70s stuff this - which means Mr. Mittoo was spending most of his time in Canada and most of the ruffest and tuffest of the Studio One session lads were off doing something else...

Hence some of the familiar riddims are done over (again) in a generally accomplished and fairly enjoyable way though most appealing when the actual backing tracks featuring the original players were employed. This familiarity gives way to a jazzy soul feel that seems to work very well on 'Our Love' though this is a style I'm not overly enthused by - and it basically doesn't sound Jamaican or like reggae, for that matter.

I detect the hand and musical direction of Pablov Black in much of this production. Not a bad thing, but he could never fill the magical gloves of the aforementioned Jackie Mittoo. Obvious to my ears but perhaps not to others.

This is good stuff, but it is Studio One past its musical prime. Mittoo, Sibbles, Frater, Sylvan Morris etc. all gone.

Exception: Stand out track is 'A Change is Gonna Come'. A riddim that may have been done especially for Jennifer Lara (though I doubt it - I just don't know it from elsewhere) and it is over as soon as it began...clocking at 2:18!

I do have to wonder about the album cover photo - poor Jennifer Lara looks not like she is lovelorn but suffering from a case of gastric trouble and a bathroom break is urgently required. Unfortunate, because in previous years so many of the Studio One album covers were highly stylized and very cool indeed. Could just be the reproduction on this...

I mean no unkindness in this appraisal. Just my take on someone I should have known about before, but due perhaps to the quality of the material had no real need to hear. I enjoyed hearing it, but I'm not sure I will be listening to it much. I do find it very sad that Jennifer Lara passed on at the criminally young age of 52 a short few years ago and hope that whoever she has left behind will benefit in some way from her musical efforts.

There is so much more material from Studio One - so make your own mind up...

Eating Betty - On the Wire - BBC Radio Lancashire

2008-12-05T21:56:00.004-05:00

A nice surprise today to find that 'New New Dub' was played by the legendary Steve Barker on the BBC 'On the Wire' radio programme on November 29, 2008.
Playlist and streaming audio here.
Direct link to the audio is here.
Nice one Steve!

And just look at the all star line up - OK then, here's the playlist:

Arthur Russell – Love is overtaking me – Audika Records
Juakali – Run Babylon – Foreign Familiar pre-release mp3
Abassi Allstars – Dub answer – Deep Root
Eating Betty – New new dub – ACEtone Studios
Dead J – Cold light – Modern Sky
Lena & the Free Roots Orchestra – Cheval vapeur – Plush
Marmur – Blackbird – pre-release mp3
Christina Carter – Original darkness – Kranky
Rodriquez – Sugar man – Light in the Attic lita
Al Green – You ought to be with me - Victor Entertainment
The Brothers Unconnected – Space Dragon Ogon – Abduction
Paavoharju – Sumuvirsi – Fonal Records
Kashiwa Daisuke – Stella – Midi Creative / Noble
Goldblade featuring Polystyrene - City of Christmas Ghosts -
The Wedding Present - Holly Jolly Hoolywood - Vibrant Records
The Peggy Lee Band - All I Really Want to - Drip Audio
calvin Party - 8 Days - Eli Records
Awesome Wells - I think I Just Heard teh Hens Applauding in the Hen-house - Red Deer Club
Abe Vigoda - Live-Long - Bella Union
Hot Drop - Tell Me Dub - A QuietBump
Joker + Rustie - Play Doe - Kapsize
Madtone - WP - Blossoms Kitchen
Pascal Comleade - Contre le Style - Because
Seeland - Call the Incrediable -lOAF
Francesco Giannico / Stefano Spataro - 4 Sonatas for electroacoustic thoughts - HysM

Audio on the mp3 is a bit murky so you'll just have to buy the album to hear it properly!

New Review from Deutchland!

2008-11-27T01:17:00.006-05:00

Much respect to my dear friend and occasional Big Shiny vocalist midsch for his review.

It is indeed a good feeling to know this release is being so warmly and enthusiastically received in so many places...Minnesota, China, France, Canada, England, Germany...

yea...humbled, warm and fuzzy...

WNYU Radio: 'Dub...Phrase not Found'

2008-11-21T15:27:00.004-05:00

Looks like I'm living in the wrong town when New York University Radio's programme schedule does not include even one mention of the word 'Dub'! See very bottom of pic.

I just sent the program(me) director there a copy of 'Every Spoil A Dub' so I hope it doesn't confuse him/her too much! I'm sure someone on WNYU is playing some Reggae or Dub...just hope the CD reaches the right pair of ears.

'Every Spoil A Dub' now available at Amazon.com!

2008-11-20T11:26:00.006-05:00

OK, so now Amazon has the mp3s available for download - thankfully no longer 'discontinued'!

So go on and buy a few tracks! Or the whole album, or even all three albums!

Every Spoil a Dub at Amazon

'Love and Justice Dub' & 'Disunity Dub' on French Radio

2008-11-17T23:45:00.003-05:00

Just received a package from Prince Thierry containing a CD of the 11/11/08 Dancehall Style radio show on Radio Mega in Bourg-Les-Valence, France.
You might be able to listen to a stream of this show - or some other one - (doesn't seem to work for me) here:
http://www.dancehallstyle.net
Anyway, here's the playlist. A couple of familiar tracks in the first two slots:

Eating Betty - Love and Justice Dub
Eating Betty - Disunity Dub
Zion UK - So Hard
Cocoa T - Barack Obama
Mykal Rose - This is History
Mavado - We Want Barack
Perfect - 30 Pieces
Perfect - Pedal and Push
Clement Irie - Rebel
Jah Weise/Singing Bayley - The Legendary Bob Marley
Benaissa - Voodoo
Benaissa - Coco Nut Water
Sahra Indio - Ital Medi
Various Artists - Morning Riddim Mix
Benjammin - Mexican Bean
Ranking Joe - How You Bad So
Brother Culture - Talk to the People
Ed Rome - The Way In, The Way Out
Ft. Soom T. - Do You Really Know
Cocoa T - Raw Moon

Big Up Prince Thierry for including Eating Betty on the show!

Eating Betty 'Every Spoil A Dub' now available from iTunes

2008-11-17T23:39:00.002-05:00

That didn't take long at all - and here's the link:
Every Spoil A Dub - iTunes

So if iTunes is your preferred download service please buy the new album!

No sign of it being available on Amazon, a quick search shows that they still think it is 'discontinued'. See previous post on this.

Dub Echoes gaining wide acclaim

2008-11-12T23:51:00.004-05:00

I posted in March 2008 about this very interesting looking film on the subject of - what else? - but DUB. Looks like it is gaining traction and a DVD is due out in January. Can't wait to see it!

They also have a few new clips and entries about the various screenings thus far...

Still want to see Deep Roots, but it is very hard to get. Anyone know a way?

Dear Amazon, ACEtone Studio begs to differ!

2008-11-12T23:32:00.006-05:00

Just thought I'd search to see if 'Every Spoil a Dub' has appeared on Amazon yet and here is what I found: Amazon clearly knows the album exists but until it get the tracks up on their download system it appears to be defaulting to this mindless search result. But this is just too much wrong information! Why not just 'currently unavailable on this website' or something less final sounding!
Who ever wrote that bit of code is a bumba clat!

ACEtone Studio can assure you that 'Every Spoil A Dub' is very much NOT 'discontinued' and is absolutely, undeniably available at:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/eatingbetty3

Here is an extract from the very gratifying review (posted on CDBaby.com) by the great Dr. Strangedub (WKAI FM):

"Wow...what can you say? With the release of the 3rd Eating Betty album "Every Spoil A Dub" the bar has been raised again. Once again the sound is heavy-bottom dub with some rootical flavors, but in tradition of Tubby, Perry, Scientist and others, its the "chemist's" unique studio touch which makes this release standout... Like the often used, but still fitting analogy, it's like peeling the layers of an onion. There is not a single disappointing dub here... "

Claymation philosophy?

2008-11-09T21:08:00.002-05:00

This is worth a look any time but certainly in these times:

Eating Betty - new release - 'Every Spoil A Dub'

2008-11-05T21:48:00.007-05:00

Here is the official announcement of the release of the new CD:

Dear Dub friends worldwide,

ACEtone Studio is pleased to announce the release of the new Dub collection

'Every Spoil A Dub'

featuring 11 tracks of pure unadulterated bass bin busting Dub.

CDs and full album 200kbps mp3 downloads are immediately available at:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/eatingbetty3
(digital downloads from various online services - iTunes, Amazon, Napster, EMusic etc. - will also be available in the coming weeks)

...so turn it up and let the walls crumble and the oppressors tumble...
http://www.acetonestudio.com/eatingbetty.html
and if you like what you hear, check 'Eating Betty In Dub' and 'Reverbalism' by Eating Betty also available from CDBaby.com

Every Spoil a Dub really actually finished...

2008-10-16T23:27:00.005-04:00

...and here's the proof:
These olde worlde Cee Dees will be sent off to the distributor (CD Baby) tomorrow and hopefully by next week people will actually be able to buy one, or if they so choose download high quality mp3s from CDBaby.com.
Unfortunately it takes quite some time for digital tracks to show up on iTunes and the other digital distributors but it will happen eventually.
The next step will be to send promotional copies out to Radio DJs in various parts of the world in the hope that they can encourage some sales or at least some positive interest in this new release.
It would be so great to have less money worries, though I'm not holding my breath.

Every Spoil A Dub is indeed finished and ready for release

2008-10-16T01:03:00.003-04:00

Doubtless, the world has waited with baited breath in anticipation of the new Eating Betty release and this one will not disappoint. It has it all. It even has some nice singing on it.
The cover design is as previously posted - the design department insisted it was good enough so I had to capitulate. There is more to do than agonize over silly album art. I absolutely can empathize with a musician trying to get the best possible mix for a track or the best possible guitar, bass or whatever part, but I have a hard time slowing down for tortured designers (including myself!).

While musicians may have been justifiably elevated from the status of mere juke joint entertainers and jingle manglers in the last half of the 20th century, the similar trajectory of graphic designers in that same time period is somewhat baffling to me, though I can see the logic in certain circumstances...but then there are many musicians who do not at all deserve their fame and fortune.

It is a funny old world and clearly the hustle and the flim flam are as much a part of it as ever they were.

Every Spoil A Dub is quite apart from all of that. A collection of tracks produced almost in isolation but with complete awareness of the world and the current affairs therein. This awareness, may or may not be evident. No way for me to tell.

Musically it is just a good heaping helping of DUB.

Perhaps the long awaited Buddy Hell and the Bleeders album will be next for release.

Every Spoil A Dub

2008-10-13T14:50:00.008-04:00

While the financial world crumbles as it will from time to time and those of us who have nothing to begin with continue to have nothing, it is not unreasonable to heap scorn on those who have lost much. Fuck them. As to those who had some and are losing it all, you have my sympathy. Those who have more than anyone else to begin with...well...there is not enough of the negative stuff in this heart to do them justice. I just hope that there are people with a very great sense of justice working on that problem.

Humanity would be that much richer just being without a few of those around...

Every cloud has a David Essex.

And so, the new album is ready for launch.
Here is a draft of the cover. I just wish I could think of something. The design department appears to be on strike...

any ideas?

The track list is as follows:
1. Disunity Dub
2. Dub Invaders
3. Not an English Dub
4. Cyaan Get No Dub
5. Every Spoil A Dub
6. Love and Justice Dub
7. Live This Dub
8. Be Strong Dub
9. Goodness Dub
10. New New Dub
11. Need your Dub

Attention Bass Players: Flat Wound Strings

2008-09-19T11:52:00.010-04:00

Dear Bass Players,

in recent years you have come to inhabit an entirely different world that once saw you as the guy who hangs out with musicians. (replaced by computers?) You have also seen and heard yourself playing guitar for a time and then just gone 'back to the bass'. This in itself is very much more important than how it is said. It really is not a relegation to a lesser art - it is a mission.

Guitarists are two a penny. I ate four of them last week and got a terrible stomach ache. There's a lesson to us all. Stop using cliches. And we really don't need that much of that kind of meat.

Glibness forthcoming...many of you...go on admit it...have been playing an er...some sort of bass...I'm not talking to the guys who have the money for the custom built Whatchamahooja neckless, stringless, wearable bass - I'm talking to the guys that just play bass - in a band or otherwise. A Mexican Fender, an Ibanez Gibson knock off, an unheard of before plank of wood with the worst action ever. Help is on the way! Well not really, but my encouragement and recommendation could make the bass much better for you.

Well you got it in the header anyway, but if you want proper bass sounds and a really
flexible sound - flat wound strings.
I do not know the history of bass strings but my inclination is to think that round wound were very much the rock thing, in the 60-70s rock ruled and flat wound diminished gradually.

Whatever. They are the dog's bollocks.

My friend and former band mate Brian let me have his 80s Suzuki Fender P Bass knock off and I had the same strings on it for years and years...and years. And it let me do what I wanted it to do with some effort and digital (both fingers and 1/0 adaptation) - I have recorded a lot with it. I love the feel of this bass and in the past through pure ignorance did not know what was missing:

Put the flat wound strings on it and it is a NEW BASS.

Regardless of sound (and this Suzuki has really crap pick ups) - it is all about the feel. Get a blister from these strings, believe me you will still want to play more from the feel of the strings. Very sensual. You are really playing bass, not a bass guitar.

Put on some flat wound strings and your bass will really FEEL like bass, not diminished guitar.

I love bass
flat wound strings are boss.

Drop D: what is up with that shit?

2008-09-19T11:52:00.006-04:00

I consider myself a capable guitarist - capable of playing what I want to play to good effect in the works that I have produced and the performances to which I have subjected audiences. For me guitar tuning is: fat string first EADGBE. That's how I learned and it works for me. Self taught, obstinate, persistent. Yet I can't help noticing more and more (over the space of recent years) references to 'alternate tunings' and how the process of retuning your axe (man) can reveal new and great (and freakin' awesome) possibilities. Being a vaguely sentient guitarist, I filed all this away in my grey mush and generally just went about my guitar playing the old fashioned way, which suited me fine during this time.

Well! have I got news for myself! And anyone reading. If certain guitarists want to tune their guitars xyzabc that is fine with me but my experience with drop D today was horrible. I mean, like, talk about gnarly (in a bad way) - bad in a bad way - nu uh. No Drop D for me mutha fuckas.

Just play the fucking thing...

And, seriously, if you want to take music beyond what has been done before; away with melody, always march on with dischord and new harmonies the brain has yet to comprehend...well then fuck off.

I like a bit of melody. Don't mess with what people like.
Though admittedly, a lot of people like the original music computer Mozart and I find his stuff impossible to listen to. Give me Haydn. Or anything else. The delicate filagrees of a Lemmy bass solo might work at this moment.
Any dub recording too.

"So, Gustave, why don'tcha tune down your bass viol so it sounds like a dive bomber?"
"Sir, Maestro, I'm already kicking out as much bass shit as I can. But what you are referring to is anomolous in our time - they might discover us... "
"Yes, a lapse on my part. Ah...VU. The noise. Alas alack the retarded EQ. All I have is this twittering matrix of Mantiovani replays played by an army of robots who can barely wipe their noses never mind understand the feeling I want to bring to the music. But I'm such a twerp and a twit, I can barely sit still long enough to...who's she?...."

So, this all goes to illustrate something: Good writing is rare and this blog will defiantly do nothing to correct that - but while conservative in my guitar tuning views, I am otherwise very much in favour of new things being done in music, with music, for music, forever. But the caveat is that it needs to sound good - not to me necessarily - but whatever it is needs to have a receptive audience - not created by a marketing company.

Rambling again and unashamed.