Fancy Strings

I do very little for me. I'm trapped in a little box. Music takes me on a journey to more places than I'll ever see. I'd suffocate without it. It helps me get through life with a smile on my face. Be there for someone who has no-one. Be weird everyone. Normal is boring.

Atlas Cube is an instrumental heavy Prog band from Regensburg & Munich, Germany. Formed in 2013, the principal concept of „anything goes“-proggy, while still groovy, sounded interesting to everybody. Focus was the exploration of a wide stylistic range within the constraints as an instrumental trio. In a first jam session, Martin plugged in, mentioned „This thing's in 5/4 – 6/4“, and went off on the arpeggio which later formed into the song „2.0“. Right then, it was clear that everybody's on the same track; Atlas Cube was born.

AKA - CINDER BLOCK  -   Composer, Musician, Mixer, Engineer, Producer, Promoter, Computer Doctor/Technician. Introduced to my first Synthesizer back around 1980 - given to me as a present from David Lucas in San Diego, California. I LOVED it,... even though it was merely a simplistic Casiotone (toy-like?) only measuring probably around a foot long in total length! I started writing songs with crappy equipment along with guitar extraordinaire Eric Baecht regularly after a while and for some time with what we both thought good success. Tape overdubbing, Jury rigged effect units, and a basement with water pipes running below the ceiling. Looking back on it,,,it was a blast! Jams with various best friends on occassion-Lucas,Scott, Dwight, Nick, Larry, Bob, John Kirby (what ever happened to you???) Dave Late-and lots and lots of recording  (thanks to you guys, I am where I am today)....Whew. Needless to say, after 30+ years of playing around with  recording / producing my own music, and writing (if one calls some of that old stuff songs even) using various: Roland, Sequential Circuits Pro-One, Yamaha, Casiotone, Korg,  That ole Yamaha CS-15,, Arp Odyssey, Fretted and fretless Bass Guitars, Radio Shack Sound Effects Generator(I still have and use that lil sucker every now and then!)Toy Synthesizers, (a Mattel Synsonics even!) Doctor Rhythm Drum machine,Virtual Synths& VST's,, Even that old SK-1 Sampler...I've owned like 3 or 4 of them and still use it for stuff today on occasion. These days, I typically use a Roland D-50, a Yamaha PSR-275, a CasioSK-1, an Acoustic Guitar, a harmonica, and whatever I get my hands on at the moment. Computer-wise...yikes. I have a wonderful set-up. Also, I have a very large and extensive SOUND LIBRARY that I draw from, and enjoy playing with preferably self made loops-I do use loops made by companies and individuals but try  not be too reliant on those types of Compositions as much. I focus more on INSTRUMENTS - then make my own measures and loops note by note. If I find what I am looking for on a commercial loop cd/dvd, I almost always change the sounds and notes in ways that are "mine"This makes me feel like I am not taking others material; completely and I turn what notes and or sounds I do use on occasion into something I did. Personally, I wish I could play every instrument in the world proficiently. In the meantime, I'll stick with sounds until I get there!   Well, I hope you likie the MUSIC- Thanks for listening and reading.      Raan-Cinder Block

BTW- Many people laugh when if I can't play it...I program it one or two or a few notes at a time. It really isn't all that funny... time consuming-yes...funny....no. I love programming though, and I feel at home in front of a computer.  =)

Fancy Strings

Cinder Block Foundation