For a bigger recording room we sell some space

That being sad, the control room also will get bigger.  This includes the inevitable positioning of our listening monitors along the roll axis in hope for a better listening situation (than before). In the main recording room we will lay some wooden laminate on the floor. We will also take some more care in terms of the overall look and feel of the room, maybe we will  even do some painting. All in all the rebuilding will take some weeks if not month so stay tuned until we will return (to the recording business – creating and mixing will never stop).

During and after rebuilding there will be some more rooms available for renting so please check out our advertisements on ebay. We still try to gather some like-minded people here on the block to withstand the next winter making some music. So come on everybody.

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Re-Release of D-SO classic, some links, some plans

Those who followed the development of our references so far might have noticed the mentioning of a project called Deutsch-SüdOst, or D-SO. Its one and only release “Heimatherz” was remastered in-house around 2010. But you couldn’t actually listen to these praised versions and now you can. We uploaded all the tracks to our Bandcamp site and made them available for free (though donations are welcomed). Composer, creator and producer of “LFO” as of “Heimatherz” is our dear Christian and no other. You might find some of his older friends using the project name for social networking purposes but this re-release is about the music only.

Much appreciated – Don Quichote’s blog linked our stuff, thank you. Sooner or later we will upload the D-SO tracks to Last.fm as well so you can “scrobble” them. Damn buzz word. And there are some further release plans for this year, maybe another album of older stuff to finally overcome the past with the last and least piece of our CNHN/D-SO trilogy.

Cover version of Kosheen’s “Pride”, unofficial remix of Gotye’s “Somebody”

We uploaded two more tracks under the CNHN-imprint which are somehow special. First we have a stomping, guitar- and breaks-heavy version of Kosheen’s song “Pride” which used to be widely known more than a decade ago (the original that is). The new basic track had a life of it’s own before turning into cover version – it just sounded alike in the end and so the vocal lines were consequently put on top. Second we’re not ashamed of pushing out another remix of the ubiquitary “Somebody that I used to know” by Gotye. That’s because Christian simply liked the song before he even recognized it’s hype (actually he didn’t recognize it that much at all). So he added a beat and a bass to taste and we hope you like it that way.

Both tunes are located in our SoundCloud playlist on the right side of this site but no official release will be available in the near future unless some label makes a move (and prohibits uploading at all probably). Although it’s only for the music … Last words this time: There will be a surprise release next week!

New recordings wanted, LFO review in German, artists on the block

Because of our newest gear (remember Oktava and SPL amongst them) we would be really excited about recording new stuff, so contact us for that immediately. Because the only thing that matter to us is the quality of your music you might put budget problems aside and just write us an email. Another thing we want to share is this review by Alessandro on his borderline-fuckup-blog, written in German language. Being more into Hardcore/Punk the author at first felt somehow weird about reviewing electronic music but gave it a try nonetheless. Thank you for that! And because we’re into the HC/Punk thing as well (at least recording-wise) we hope to see more of those bands around in the future.

As some people might have noticed the blockstudio rent out rooms to other musicians and we will present some of these guys on our website during the next weeks. We’re now beyond simply renting out things. We want the blockstudio to be more like a community of professionals rather than a group of strangers working door to door. More to come …

New track “Shame”, a little networking, and some gear

During the past days we abused “LFO” as in a field experiment on publishing music. For that we entered some more networks and uploaded our stuff. First we went to Last.fm but we’re not quite sure if we really like it (or is it just the advertise-heavy look). Second we tried Music Alley, a place where you can make your music available for podcasters under Creative Common licenses. Last we refreshed our MUSIC please profile as well as SoundCloud while also adding a new track called “Shame” to our playlist (on the right side).

Another wave of recommendations went out to different blogs, for instance the great Metalhorizons, follow-up to the even greater Angrychairs. We’ll keep you updated about these activities (if successful). Meanwhile we bought us some nice Oktava MK-101 microphones as well as a budget Lexicon reverb module and the wonderful SPL Qure. Which makes our analog recording and mixing chain as sufficient as we like it to have.

First official release, second to none

We’re happy to announce our first album available via blockstudio’s Bandcamp domain. Titled “LFO” (because in the end it all comes down to low frequency oscillations) it contains Christian’s musical efforts during the last 10 years (or so). Some tracks are stretching back to the days of Deutsch-SüdOst, reflecting a more dark and industrial form of electronic wave. Others bring you ambient sound scapes evolving into psychedelic jams, and you will have those heavy beats contrasted by weird atmospheres and accoustic voices. “LFO” sums up CNHN’s strongest musical expressions until today and could be understood as the beginning of a new era where the best is yet to come.

Mostly a one man show additional instruments (especially during the jam on “Last”) were provided by members of the STALAG music ensemble, featuring The Gash’s André, Florian and Henrik as well as in-house guitarist Norman. Mastering (wherever necessary) was provided by Johannes. We really hope you’ll enjoy the album and please spread the word if you like it. We will also present you another song from the latest “LFO”-sessions called “Shame”, available on SoundCloud later on.

Reviews, ongoing recordings, electronic jams

Jacob’s album (see last post) received positive reviews all the way through – for those check Uncanny Valley’s homepage and Mr. Korn’s own. Nearly as well (but remaining totally off-mainstream): Reviews on The Cold View’s “Weeping Winter” you’ll find here, here and there and on their homepage as well. There’s even an interview on a blog called DarkUndergroundMusicZine – I wish all those blogs would have specific names like that (which they actually do). So far for the past …

In the present we struggle on with our recording setup, trying out all possible vintage microphones to add some flavour to drums and guitars. To be honest, the Telefunken and Grundig we use are the cheapest of their kind; but maybe they are what it takes for a typical (and true) The Gash sound? Further blockstudio-plans include electronic jams with some friends who don’t even know about these plans yet. That’s because we spend so much time on renting out some rooms here instead of making music. But we’d like to change that immediately. Let’s get in touch soon!

Our first longplayer

As promised You & Me, Jacob Korn’s first full-length album for Uncanny Valley is out as of today and it feels really good to be a part of this. Although full of collaborations recorded on different locations throughout the years the album sounds coherent enough to my ears. Another reason for that could be Stefan Betke’s mastering as well as Jacob’s own mixing process in his studio. In the end there is a really clubby feeling to it. So let’s hope it reaches as many dancefloors as possible.

During the days to come we will upload some more tracks including Probezeit’s next demo and music from The Cold View we mentioned some month ago. The latter release you could as well buy via bandcamp. That’s where we plan to go as well anytime soon …

Trains are leaving, Korn is coming

What I wanted to say is: Don’t go any further … but listen to a Remix first I mixed on our trusty analog console. It’s a song from a Dresden-based project called Trains on Fire and I’m glad I could help them out. Another hit from Dresden will be this: You & Me, Jacob Korn’s first full-length album for Uncanny Valley, and blockstudio added its spice to the mix! Release date: The Third of September, this year.

Some more tracks are waiting to be released, some more mixing and recording has to be done, and mastering as well. So we will keep you updated. Furthermore we have a new email address especially for people who want to rent rehearsal rooms or working offices next to the studio.

The Cold View & Searching for colleagues to join forces (meaning: to rent a room)

Digital Funeral Drone Doom project The Cold View asked for mixing and mastering from the block, so we did that in analog manner, cranking it all up. And maybe one day you will hear what it sounds like, meanwhile TCV is searching for a label … Please help’em out. As we help out others: New stuff to record, mix and master is on the way, different parties involved, and even some old friends will drop by again?

We are currently looking for new mates to room with us therefor we have 2 “ateliers” to let, just check eBay’s Kleinanzeigen for instance. And Saturday is still open for rehearsals as well. Dig it and contact us.