websites now up.
nothing flashy or fancy, but they are up
shutterback
counterspark
Archive for Music
Music updates.
The Halpern Experiment, has currently found a home. It will be released on Resting Bell out of Berlin, in spring of 2010. THE is a collection of compositions created from a found healing sounds tape via thrift store. Currently cleaning up the compositions to be mastered by a very talented and prolific artist that requests to be unnamed until the official press release is out.
New gear, so new sounds, looking to work with beats again, and the possibility of live shows coming up soon.
Late Summer Update!
Busy! In all aspects of my life.
Photography- Have switched over to an all film outfit recently, have not found a use for my digital camera… Did a project involving the masking and double exposures on 35mm, pretty interesting results, follow the photo below for more results.
Design wise, busy with school just starting up, a few freelance projects here and there… New clients from all different areas, so expect more blog posts on what they have going on very soon.
For music, was interviewed and will be featured in the upcoming issue of Beat magazine out of Germany(more detais soon)! Other than that, music has been lax all around, some writing, looking for labels for future releases, but other than that, Counterspark is more or less on a hiatus, and focusing on the visual world. Collaboration with Tanner Menard is currently in the works, no date on the release…
Expect more details and images coming soon for everything.
Sommeil.
Things have recently been picking up quite a bit for my friend Tanner Menard and his event Sommeil. He recently released a full list of artists who contributed to the concert and I am very pleased to say that I am one of the contributors and the designer for the identity of the project. You may find the full list of contributors here. For more information on this concert, you can download the press release by clicking on the image below.
Hello.
I just realized I have been terribly neglecting this blog, my apologies.
I organized the site so that you can browse the “sections” of the blog on the right.
Lots of new things occurring in my life right now.
Many new design and photography workings coming soon.
I plan to move the blog to wordpress soon, so expect that to be happening soon.
Domain names purchased as well, websites are in the works.
In other news (in no particular order)
1. One of my photos will be featured on the “lowdown” page of Richmond Magazine in the March issue. Check it out! p.17 i think.
2. Yes Please, Cheese Please now has a domain name!
3. Music has been put on hiatus for school for a bit.
4. All of my other links should be updated.
5. Film is the new means of photography for me.
6. More posts to come!
hope all is well.
here is some eye candy
existence ep reviewed.
a wonderful review by a wonderful guy, Tanner Menard.
chex: blog. sounds.
Working under the moniker Counterspark, Johnny Utterback’s new E.P. ‘Existence’
brings new life to the term minimalism. Deeply rooted in a folk sensibility, Utterback’s newest sonic offering explores minimalist concepts in a way that only a very young artist could. He approaches it with new eyes and new ears and a deep appreciation and understanding of the past that older artists might have long since abandoned in favor of concepts already ingrained in their artist psyche.
Four short tracks with durations 4:05 to 5:05 minutes in length entitled Dawn, Highways, Atmosphere and Street Lights comprise this fresh new release on Archaic Horizon Records
. Each track, simply titled in one or two words brings to mind a single sonic image which touches me both on an emotional and meditative level, a rare combination in the ambient genre. Perhaps taking cue’s from early ambient albums like ‘Music for Airports’ these four tracks have a subtle balance that remind me of short works of Chinese poetry set in Utterback’s home in the rural country side of eastern North America. Much like naturalist poetry, these short works embody the spirit of their subjects and allow them to arise in ones mind as a point of contemplation.
One of the things I most enjoy about ‘Existence’ is its folksy vibe. Where as one can detect its rustic roots, it never relies on the harmonic or structural elements present in most American Folk music. Rather, its roots come straight from the earth, straight from the blood, and as Utterback described himself, straight from his own heart.
I love reviewing artists albums because it gives me the opportunity to get to know the composer better and to ask questions that some people might not think to ask an artist about their process. When I spoke to Johnny Utterback about this beautiful album and about how he made it, I was expecting for him to describe the synths or software that he used to create it, but instead he talked to me about the life situations that he was involved in at the time, he talked about using the album as a way to move through life’s good times and bad times. I can really relate to that and i think a lot of us can as well. Sometimes the most meaningful art comes straight from the gut, sometimes we don’t know where it comes from or how it got there.
In the tradition of so much folk music. Counterspark’s new Archaic Horizon release are truly little snap shots of life’s ups and downs. Speaking of snapshots make sure to visit Utterback’s flickr page
where his photography is sure to explain more about his music that my words ever could. It will be intersting to see where this young artist takes his music and where his music takes us.
Johnny Utterback’s music in his own words
music comes and goes
i have intense periods where that is all i do
is write music
or take photos
or ride bikes
or design
everything goes in loops for me
life works in loops for me
or i view it in loops
thats why all my music is loops
new blog for counterspark
a random mix of my inspirations and new tracks, and news will all be up here in a mess, but it will be great to see whats going on.
check it out!
lost sounds re-release
good friend of mine, ryan manning, posted another link for lost sounds, just thought I would share just in case you missed the first download.
download here.
