The Man Who Fucked Solaris

Stylophone CPM DS-2 (through Chroma Console pedal) with LXR-02

How Bout A Drum 'n Drone Jam?

Fourth Thursday of each month, the LA Synth Club holds an open mic for synths. Anyone can come to the Lincoln Brewing Company in Burbank and play whatever they like for up to 15 minutes. It's always a fun time. This set was taken off the main mixer and enhanced a bit in Ableton before being synced with the livestream video. 

Gear info:
Stylophone CPM DS-2 (analog drone synth) feeding into Chroma Console.
Erica Synths LXR-02 drum machine

Drum 'n Drone Set: February 27, 2025 (LA Synth Club Open Mic)

Submission to LA Synth Club 2025 compilation

Van Ordinaire

Drone synth sampled into Ableton Move to build up a drum kit plus Move patches; overlaid with birds courtesy of Loopstation.

Temple Birds

A man was being followed
He grinned from ear to ear
From one step to another
He appeared to disappear

We never saw his photograph
We never knew his name
We only heard his story
And we thought let’s do the same

C’mon, let’s disappear
C’mon, let’s disappear
We’ll gladly take you with us
Just as long as we are here

C’mon, let’s disappear
C’mon, let’s disappear
Why wait when every minute
More and more of us are here
 
The tethers are invisible
They keep you feeling tense
Let’s test the legal limits
Of your voluntary fence

There’s nothing new in heaven
There’s nothing new on earth
Except new ways of cashing in
On what a life is worth

They fill you where you should be hollow
They’ve packaged feeling sad
They have an app for appetites
You never knew you had

They think your heart has hardened
They know you’re often bored
You tend a paywalled garden
For imaginary lords

C’mon, let’s disappear
C’mon, let’s disappear
And when you find us finally
You’ll never know we’re here

C’mon, let’s disappear
C’mon, let’s disappear
Instead of feeling happy
Why not feel a little weird?

You wanted to be noticed
You wanted to be seen
And now you hold the fascination
Of a vast machine

We see you turn transparent
We see you turning clear
We see you as you really are
Just as you disappear

A man was being followed
Or maybe not a man
They call you what they want to
When you opt out of the plan

You’ll hear what you’ve been missing
You’ll feel much less alone
You’ll find a soul-shaped object
Where you used to have a phone

C’mon, let’s disappear
C’mon, let’s disappear.
We’re playing in the shadows
Where a new light has appeared

C’mon, let’s disappear
C’mon, let’s disappear
C'mon, let's disappear
C'mon, let's disappear

* * *

Written and performed by Marc Laidlaw

Cello and bass: Ben Absent
Accordion and piano: Troy Dillinger
Violin and backing vocals: Brooke Tannehill
Drums and percussion: Ryan Pollie

Featuring: Stevie

Producer: Ryan Pollie
Mixing engineer: Brian Rosemeyer
Mastering engineer: Rob Dobson

Cover photograph by Mimi Raver

C'mon, Let's Disappear

First experiment sampling with the Ableton Move's direct line in, cut to a drum kit, building up from there. 

Countdown 666

We never had a chance
We never had a clue
Couldn't tell my XXXXX
From what I was to you
I'm always counting backward
To 197-Eleven

It's always sunset in the parking lot
In 197-Eleven

There's something going down
While I'm just sweeping up
Trading baseball cards
For beer in coffee cups
I close my eyes and there we are
In 197-Eleven

Back behind the garbage bins
Moths are beating out their brains
Where I saw you kissing him
And now nothing else remains
Thank God I can't return
To 197-Eleven

I'm always counting backward
To 197-Eleven

I'm always counting backward
To 197-Eleven 

****

released May 2, 2025

Written and performed: Marc Laidlaw

Drums, bass, piano, synths: Ryan Pollie
KORG Minilogue: Marc Laidlaw

Produced by Ryan Pollie
Mixed by Brian Rosemeyer
Mastered by Rob Dobson

Cover collage by Alex Muñoz aka Favorite Haunts

This track is not available anymore.

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