far distance beckons
– hazy blue peaks loom over
calm sea horizons

haiku by Raymond Cobley https://soundcloud.com/ray_cobley

picture by Vlad D https://unsplash.com/@hiking_corgi

For more information visit http://www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku

chants afield

halF distancE [naviarhaiku477]

Summer night
transforms to daybreak.
I count fleas.

haiku by Ryōkan Taigu https://allpoetry.com/Taigu-Ryokan

picture by freestocks https://unsplash.com/@freestocks

For more information visit http://www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku

gainful notch

halF countinG [naviarhaiku479]

This is the first part of a 3-part collaboration for the Disquiet Junto. All the sounds used in this basic rhythm track (85bpm) are from a recent session where the numerous noises a bass guitar makes were recorded using a contact mic on the body of the bass rather than through the normal pickups.

More on this 591st weekly Disquiet Junto project, The Loneliest Number (The Assignment: Record the first third of a trio), at: https://disquiet.com/0591/

About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/

Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/

Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0591-the-loneliest-number/

85bpM

halF numbereD [disquiet0591] 85bpM

A phone recording of a wood by a lake near where I live, wind noise and all, filtered manually using a Morgasmatron and Q-PAS on separate passes. These 'performances' were layered and band limited. A short loop was then progressively un-band-limited, step-by-step. Very little of the original recording or filter performances remain in the final mix as the slightly hypnotic loop takes over.

You'll hear a few clicks and glitches that I was delighted crept in somehow!

You can see and hear the original phone recording on YouTube @ https://youtu.be/-6p8Kgo_KgI

More on this 595th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Filter Progression (The Assignment: Make music by processing a static sound), at: https://disquiet.com/0595/

About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/

Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/

Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0595-filter-progression/

original recording

halF filtereD [disquiet0595]

mountain’s red leaves
the setting sun returns
to the sky

Haiku by Kobayashi Issa https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/kobayashi-issa

Picture by Laura Vinck https://unsplash.com/photos/Hyu76loQLdk
Waveform background by Darren Bourne

For more information visit http://www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku

more halF unusuaL

halF settinG [naviarhaiku496]

More on this 612th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Drum Vector (The Assignment: Walk the listener through variations on the same percussive instrument), at: https://disquiet.com/0612/

Thanks to Mahlen Morris for having proposed this project.

About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/

Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/

Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0612-drum-vector/

halF vectoR [disquiet0612]

Enjoy the accompanying visuals @ https://youtu.be/iqaumOrzVfw

Front page news from Derby Daily Telegraph from exactly 50 years ago - November 2, 1973 ... Also an exploration of Minimal Audio's Morph EQ ...

Here's the text from the newspaper article - the photo is in the centre of the track image:

ANNE'S WEDDING CAKE ON DISPLAY
A SIX FEET high, three-tier cake weighing around 500lb, extra rich in fruit and rum, is on show at Wilfred House Uttoxeter, this weekend prior to being transported to London for the wedding of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips.

It has been made at the bakery of Elkes Biscuits Ltd. Uttoxeter and baker Mr G. Moore (pictured) was brought out of retirement to prepare and bake it.

Mr Moore, who also baked wedding cakes for the Queen and Princess Margaret, was with the company for more than 40 years.

HEAD OF HORSE
In keeping with the couple's mutual interest in horses, designer Mrs J. Morgan has incorporated the head of a fine horse, in low relief, as the main decoration on each side of the lower tier.

The initials A and M are also displayed in an oval frame on the second tier. Traditional symbols of good luck, including silver horseshoes, white heather, and orange blossom, are also depicted in white icing and silver motifs.

The crest of Princess Anne, and the Phillips family, together with Captain Phillips's regimental badge, add a dash of colour to the cake.

SUGAR DECORATION
The fine sugar decoration was completed by Mr S West head of the Division of Baking Technology at Ealing Technical College, assisted by Mrs P. Arnold (pictured with Mr Moore) in charge of the company's test bakery, who was also responsible for co-ordinating of the programme for the cake from manufacture to display.

After leaving Wilfred House, and prior to its transportation to the Palace, the cake will be displayed in a West End hotel.

***

More on this 618th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Burying the Lede (The Assignment: Turn old news into new music), at: https://disquiet.com/0618/

About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/

Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/

Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0618-burying-the-lede/

visuals (YouTube)

halF cakE [disquiet0618]

Messing with the nn~ operator in MAX/MSP and two pre-trained RAVE AI models resulted in this uncanny voice recording. Strangely stuttering, but almost language. If you'd like to see exactly how it was created, check out the accompanying video @ https://youtu.be/WwNYD3Sm4H4

More about RAVE models @ https://github.com/acids-ircam/RAVE

Huge thanks to Intelligent Instruments Lab for making their RAVE models available @ https://huggingface.co/Intelligent-Instruments-Lab/rave-models

visual explanation

halF inflectioN

Using RAVE models feeding back on each other, creating some ultra glitchy backing to some acoustic guitar pluckage - Enjoy!

See the accompanying video, which is also a "thank you" for reaching 150 subscribers to the halF unusuaL YouTube channel @ https://youtu.be/ZHr-Yp6Io_4

halF glitchY

HUGE thanks to Znibbles for this one - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc1-Rq0nSVo

This is a Max for Live patch based on the above YouTube video, using modulation in Live and messing with the nature of the click used to excite the waveguide system, as shown in the accompanying video @ https://youtu.be/rQfsMyYofKU

halF karpluS

Winter sky–
Distant dreams
Shattered and flown away

(Tr. by John Stevens)

Haiku by Santoka Taneda https://www.chzc.org/Nonin.htm

More information @ https://www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku

halF shattereD [naviarhaiku520]

The new streaming release from halF unusuaL ... Enjoy!

The drum tracks are actually created from sounds of moving knobs, switches and sliders on the Behringer Octave Cat ... and all the other sounds you hear are from the Cherry Audio Octave Cat plugin. 

The Octave Cat was my first ever synth when I was growing up in the 1980's, so it has a very special resonance for me. It is (still) an extraordinary beast - able to snarl and growl like no other! As you can hear! 🤗

streaming release

halF cat-cH

You'll no doubt hear that s-c-r-at-cH bears a kinship to cat-cH, released last week ... https://soundcloud.com/half-unusual/half-cat-ch - Both are an exploration of the amazing and iconic Octave Cat synthesiser, which has the ability to snarl, growl and even bark like no other!

The rhythm track for this number is generated entirely from sounds made by a portable record deck and the unintentional clicks, pops and other noises that accompany the playing of a vinyl disc ...

halF s-c-r-at-cH

The third streaming release in February 2024! This track also pays homage to the highly unruly Octave Cat; my first ever synth in the 1980s ... Like s-c-r-at-cH, the rhythm track for s-cat-cH is also derived from the 'unintentional' noises inherent in playing vinyl records. If you missed the links on social, a 'scatch' is either an obsolete word for 'stilt' and also a name for the bit in a horse's bridle. That might also make the promos a little clearer! Enjoy!

halF s-cat-cH

Turning around,
I see my shadow
in the moonlight

Haiku by Sumitaku Kenshin

For more information visit http://www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku

more half unusuaL

halF moonlighT [naviarhaiku526]

Want to see exactly how this strange little piece was made? - You can see the slowed down video recording @ https://youtu.be/EkoLvUJ4Qec

A Moog iPad app was made to play a simple continuous saw wave ... which was then filmed, being waggled around ... the resulting recording was slowed down, to really hear the true phasing effects, due entirely to the proximity and orientation between the iPad speakers and the video recorder ... Enjoy! 🤗

More on this 631st weekly Disquiet Junto project, In a Silent Waveform — The Assignment: Take one held tone and make it dance slowly — at: https://disquiet.com/0631/

About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/

Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/

Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0631-in-a-silent-waveform/

halF waveforM [disquiet0631]

This is the 4th streaming release in as many weeks! Joining cat-cH, s-c-r-at-cH and s-cat-cH, c-h-aT is also a homage to the screaming and wayward Octave Cat synth, and it's the final part of this 4-part set. the rhythm track for this part of the collection was created entirely from the sounds of broken nut shells! This was inspired by a video by PaintbrushASMR on YouTube - which you can see at https://youtu.be/5GeErD3kqEI?si=4HaojP_F1v0lZIIM 

Enjoy!

halF c-h-aT

This is the fifth in the set of 4 cat-friendly releases! As well as the usual homage to the wonderful Octave Cat synth, as heard in the other 4 members of this particular clan, even the rhythm track on this one is created from snippets of Octave Cat ... full on feline!!

halF c-r-a-f-T

For this track the beta version of the wonderful new Neutone Gen from the brilliant people at Qosmo was used to generate sonic ideas, using the text of the haiku itself! You can see exactly how it was used in the track @ https://youtu.be/L1_kbewzj3g *

The first two sounds you hear are directly from the plugin, and are then used later in the track ... 

ore train
bright colors
passing quickly

Haiku by Jerome Berglund: https://flowersunmedia.wixsite.com/jbphotography/post/haiku-senryu-and-haiga-publications

* and yes, I know I spelled 'passing' wrongly! :-/

halF orE [naviarhaiku527]

See the accompanying visuals @ https://youtu.be/gTkHjV_9OLg

Inspired by Marco's beautiful and touching haiku, this piece was born from a fascinating dialogue with the beta version of Qosmo's Neutone_Gen using the haiku text itself ... Enjoy!

What's a month for the sea
as the waves touch my feet
a shiver, endless

Haiku by Naviar's own Marco

For more information visit http://www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku

halF shiveR [naviarhaiku528]

More on the 633rd weekly Disquiet Junto project, Voice Swap — The Assignment: Rerecord all or part of one of your tracks using just your voice — at https://disquiet.com/0633/

halF voicE [disquiet0633]

Another exploration of Neutone_Gen, with the source material being created from the text of the haiku itself ...

A distant mountain
Seen in the sunlight:
A desolate field

Haiku by Takahama Kyoshi: https://www.gov-online.go.jp/eng/publicity/book/hlj/html/202210/202210_12_en.html

For more information visit http://www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku

halF seeN [naviarhaiku529]

Still another exploration of Neutone_Gen, with the source material being created from the text of the haiku itself ...

taking it easy
the mouse sleeps too...
spring rain

Haiku by Kobayashi Issa

For more information visit http://www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku

halF asleeP [naviarhaiku530]

More on the 635th weekly Disquiet Junto project, ’Round the Bend — The Assignment: You’re in a duo, and your bandmate is a train — at https://disquiet.com/0635/

The image associated with this track is a photograph by Todd (Toaster) Elliott, who also provided the field recordings of the train.

halF sourceD [disquiet0635]

A little sound experiment accompanied by some AI-assisted visuals (which you can see at https://youtu.be/ArPW1aB_LfU ), making use of Neutone_Gen for some of the audio source material, based on the same text prompts for the visuals ... Enjoy!

halF impossiblE

Making good use of the Neutone Beta and AI assisted visuals, which you see at https://youtu.be/DFk-mk-ZS7Q, here's a little experiment in awareness and introspection ... Enjoy! ☺️

halF awarE

See the accompanying visuals @ https://youtu.be/2yy4OxpBybE

Flowing along
changing its colors
a soap bubble.

Haiku by Takashi Matsumoto: https://memim.com/takashi-matsumoto-poet.html

For more information visit http://www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku

halF bubbleD [naviarhaiku533]

Enjoy the accompanying visuals at https://youtu.be/t3AsvEyUhXc

Pre-dawn inertia
Where do I go
From here?

Haiku by Marco Sebastiano Alessi

For more information visit http://www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku

halF intertiA [naviarhaiku534]

This piece was 'composed' by Wotja, using the haiku text below as a seed to generate the melodic lines ...

Come outside!
we can almost touch
the spring moon

Haiku by Nakamura Teijo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teijo_Nakamura

More information https://www.naviarrecords.com/haiku-music-challenge/

halF touchinG [naviarhaiku535]

Music for your mind ... Music you can use to help ease you into the right mood ... This track is designed to help you relax into a focused state of mind ... Get some stuff done!

Nearly 10 minutes of constant, gentle and subtle unobtrusive changing sounds, with no two moments the same ... This uninterrupted thinking music is for playing in the background of any concentrated activity when you need to just focus ... Feel free to leave it on loop for as long as you need! 🤗

busy calm

In memory of John Hinks

Tall, wide-arching trees
Assume a cathedral shape
Until darkness falls
 
I found out today that John passed away. John participated in the Naviar Haiku challenge for over 4 years, almost every week, and shared both his music and poetry with us. He'll be deeply missed.

"John Hinks, aka FlownBlue, was a prolific and talented composer, and a regular participant in the Haiku challenge. Aside from his solo project, John was also involved in multiple projects: ‘Windfall Light‘ (with Jim Tetlow), ‘Abstract Blue‘ (with Kevin Buckland), ‘Light Fragments‘ (with Steve Escott), Szukanie (with Michał Wojciechowski), and Meadowlight (with Emma Reed)."

Haiku by John Hinks: https://soundcloud.com/flownblue

halF archinG [naviarhaiku536]

Deep in the mountains -
falling into my heart
autumn streams

Shinkei (1406-75) was a renowned renga poet and critic, best known for his two-part work "Sasamegoto" (Murmured Conversations). To find out more about this interesting and largely unknown poet-priest, Marco from Naviar recommends reading Heart's Flower - The Life and Poetry of Shinkei by Esperanza Ramirez-Christensen.

Haiku by Shinkei: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/3348384

halF deeP [naviarhaiku537]

So, I recorded me cracking open a can of coke zero and pouring a glass ... and all the sounds comprising the rhythm track are from that recording - and you can maybe spot where all the individual sounds come from using the video images from the 'recording session', which you can find at https://youtu.be/2WlUiN3crBQ ... Enjoy!

More on the 642nd weekly Disquiet Junto project, Kick from Champagne — The Assignment: Use carbonation to make a beat — at https://disquiet.com/0642/

halF izZ [disquiet0642]

Only the moon remains
floating in the memory upon
Kinokawa River
 
There's so little information about this amazing renga poet that I decided to share another poem written by him. This one is part of a longer sequence, written in 1463:

Only the moon remains
floating in the memory upon
Kinokawa River—
pale glistening waves,
the blank wake of drowned men.
 
About this poem, the author said: "Among the hundreds and thousands who have drowned and perished in this river
due to the disorders in this province were those whom I knew in former days. Often
I would walk along the river, gazing at the moon."

(Heart's Flower - The Life and Poetry of Shinkei)

Shinkei (1406-75) was a renowned renga poet and critic, best known for his two-part work "Sasamegoto" (Murmured Conversations). To find out more about this interesting and largely unknown poet-priest, I recommend reading Heart's Flower - The Life and Poetry of Shinkei by Esperanza Ramirez-Christensen

Haiku by Shinkei: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/3348384

halF onlY [naviarhaiku538]

More on the 643rd weekly Disquiet Junto project, Stone Out of Focus — The Assignment: Make music inspired by a poem — at https://disquiet.com/0643/

This week’s project is based on a text by Yoko Ono, originally published in her book Grapefruit60 years ago, back in 1964.

halF aginG [disquiet0643]

The cormorant in the forest;
The cherry blossoms
Along the evening path.

Tan Taigi was a haiku poet of the Edo period. He was a wanderer for most of his life and admired by Yosa Buson for his ability to transcend his eclectic and unconventional lifestyle with sublime poetry.

haiku by Tan Taigi: https://wkdhaikutopics.blogspot.com/2009/08/tan-taigi.html

For more information visit http://www.naviarrecords.com/about/naviar-haiku

halF cormoranT [naviarhaiku539]

More on the 644th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Event Horizon — The Assignment: Record music for a party of your choosing — at https://disquiet.com/0644/

halF evenT [disquiet0644]

See accompanying visuals @ https://youtu.be/H_Bwdd2KUMQ

Spoken word: Michael Finnissy - Music Matters, BBC Radio 3, 9th April 2016

Listen to the whole episode on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b0769hbg

halF fivefortysiX [featuring Michael Finnissy]

A deep listening mission to isolate and really appreciate the relief of the repeated phrase ...

halF hiddeN

Thanks for stopping by - please enjoy what you hear! 🤗 Any time you want to look as well as listen, head over to the YouTube channel ...

Apparently, the ‘hai’ in ‘haiku’ translates to ‘joke’, ‘fun’, or ‘unusual’, which is part of the inspiration for the odd name of this venture; an evolving project nurtured by Darren Bourne, in collaboration with countless others, past and present. The ongoing obsessions of halF unusuaL are improvisation, chance and the music / non-music boundary, with the aim of (impossibly) creating sound worlds never heard before ... Thank you so much for your support 🥰

halF unusuaL

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