The Steam Abacus 'poots forth.

Full albums available from.....

http://steamabacusproductions.bandcamp.com/

http://stevebaker.bandcamp.com/

Assorted Emissions from the Steam Abacus

There may be life out there!

[edit 06/02/2023] NOW WITH VIDEO! - https://vimeo.com/793448249

Uncle Sam's Robot On Mars - Hawkwind (SteamAbacus remix) 6'24"

Samples taken from ...

UNCLE SAM'S ON MARS
           (HAWKWIND - TAKE ME TO YOUR FUTURE. 2006)
UNCLE SAM'S ON MARS (EARLY VERSION)
           (HAWKWIND - QUARK, STRANGENESS AND CHARM, ATOMHENGE REISSUE 2009)
ROBOT (FIRST VERSION)
           (HAWKWIND - PXR5, ATOMHENGE REISSUE 2009)
ROBOT (LIVE)
           (HAWKWIND - ASTORIA LONDON, 19/12/2007)
THE FIRST LANDING ON MEDUSA, SNOWFALL, CATERPILLAR
           (ROBERT CALVERT - CENTIGRADE 232, 1986)
PERSEVERANCE MISSION LIVESTREAM
           (NASA-JPL MISSION CONTROL, 18/03/2021)

Uncle Sam's Robot On Mars

From the album - 'Unquiet Spirit, Steve Baker Guitar Diaries, Winter - Summer 2013'.
Available to download (with full CD packaging artwork) from http://stevebaker.bandcamp.com

© Steve Baker 2013


Another volume from my ongoing Guitar Diaries. There's been a lot of material in the last 18 months and  this latest volume brings things right up to date.



What are ‘Guitar Diaries’?

“In my home studio I have a guitar recording set up that I can power up at any time with just the throw of a couple of switches. I don’t even need to start up the computer as I have a minidisc recorder ready to record immediately. I can plug in a guitar and be recording an idea within, literally, seconds. I use a ‘looping’ set up that allows me to layer guitar tracks on top of each other on the fly (based around a Line6 DL4 looping pedal, occasionally I will also employ a software sample player for beats). The emphasis is on spontaneity and creativity. Every 6–12 months I will compile the most interesting of these ‘sketches’ using the computer – the tracks will be edited, cleaned up, mastered and ordered into an archive CD with accompanying artwork. These are my Guitar Diaries.”

Slow Melt (from the album 'Unquiet Spirit', available from stevebaker.bandcamp.com)

Clever Sheep (An Experiment In Xenochrony) (2022)

Inspired by a conversation with John McLaughlin* here on SoundCloud, I decided to experiment with a technique developed by Frank Zappa that he dubbed 'Xenochrony'. He explains it thus...

"['Friendly Little Finger'] is one of the earliest examples of a technique I developed called Xenochrony (strange synchronizations). Other examples include 'Rubber Shirt' on Sheik Yerbouti and every guitar solo on Joe's Garage except 'Watermelon In Easter Hay'. In this technique various tracks from unrelated sources are randomly synchronized with each other to make a final composition with rhythmic relationships unachievable by other means. In ordinary polyrhythmic terms we speak of 5 in the space of 4, or 7 in the space of 6. In Xenochrony we deal with larger units of time; a complete solo at one metronomic rate in the space of a track at another ... sort of like Monday and Tuesday crammed into the space of Wednesday."

This is how I constructed 'Clever Sheep'...

The main guitar part is from a collaboration with Deeply Dazzled called 'Moo-Aah' from 2016  https://soundcloud.com/user-518156172/moo-aah-steam-abacus-and-deeply-dazzled
Paul asked me to provide some Zappa-esque guitar for a track he was working on. I think he told me what key (maybe a bpm?) but the guitar part is basically free playing over a drone. Paul then cut and edited what he needed for the finished track.

The rhythm section track is my friends Chris and Mitch on drums and bass, recorded at Chris's short-lived guerilla studio (a converted bedroom) on a digital multitrack recorder in 2017. I was working on a track for a guitar forum composition challenge and the basis was a krautrock-style droney synth and guitar piece that another friend, Mark, had sent me. I wanted to use this as the basis for the track and so got Chris and Mitch to free improvise over the backing, hoping to grab something to use in the track. They recorded two passes - what is used here is from the first. In the end, I didn't use Chris and Mitch's rhythm parts, instead recording bass and hand drums myself. That finished piece can be found here ... https://soundcloud.com/thefretboard/steamabacus-fortleben

The initial drone track is from an ambient piece called 'Frogs Of The Short Forest' that I recorded while re-commissioning my home studio a few months back. It was built up using a Mooer Ocean Machine looper/delay/reverb and the original piece, with live guitar on top, can be found here ... https://stevebaker.bandcamp.com/track/frogs-of-the-short-forest

The background guitar that enters in the second half of the track is from 'Dalek Confusion', another collaboration with Deeply Dazzled from 2017 which can be found here ... https://soundcloud.com/steam-abacus/deeplydazzledsteamabacus-dalek-confusion-2017

The sheep samples and the choppy drone texture (that also enters in the second half) are from an abandoned idea from late 2018. The drone derives from the opening line of Rose Royce's 'Wishing On A Star' with the last 'aaaaaaar' syllable stretched and sonically mangled until it was several minutes long. The track was planned to be a 'christmas tune' about shepherds and angelic manifestations and went by the working title of 'HeebusJeebus'. It can't be found anywhere as it never got beyond the initial planning stage.

The opening sample that gives 'Clever Sheep' its title is, I believe, from the very first sketch on episode one of Monty Python's Flying Circus. The sample is from the eponymous 1970 vinyl album (I don't know if it's a re-recorded version or not)

Finally, the image is from the 2006 New Zealand comedy/horror film 'Black Sheep'.


I'll let the listener judge how well these disparate sources cram together - whether 'Wednesday' is big enough!



*No, not THAT John Mclaughlin

Clever Sheep (2022)

aka Squirt and Spin (redux)

A reworking of an old piece that has appeared here on SC in the past in a couple of guises.


Markus Schneider - Lead synths
Stefan Bäcker - Synth drones, bass, guitar, drums & sequencing

ALT - Spritzen Und Drehen (2024)

Me and my mate Mark wearing our fake kosmische shades.


Stefan Bäcker - Synth drones, bass, drums, looping & sequencing
Markus Schneider - Lead synths, samples & sequencing

ALT - NeinNeinNein (2024)

Another track from the 'fake krautrock' project with my mate Mark.

This one has been the reverse process to the other tracks - normally, I create a backing track and then give the mixed file to Mark to add lead synths, samples, whatever on top. Then he sends the finished track back to me to master. (Or as I've described it, "I bake the cake and you add the jam, cream, icing, hundreds-and-thousands ... whatever you like to finish it off.")

This time, Mark gave me a track based on an analogue sequence from a Roland JX-3P synth with additional JX-3P lines and chords recorded on top. I then created the drums and bass on top (after synchronising the analogue sequence with the grid/tempo in Cubase) and the various other sounds and samples. Finally it was all mixed and mastered. All on the old WinXP 'steam abacus' that is still doiing sterling service despite its advancing years.

<>

Markus Schneider - Lead synths & analogue sequencing
Stefan Bäcker - Bass, drums, samples & field recording


Flute samples taken from 'Cycling (for amplified flute)'
Composed by Panayiotis A. Kokoras
Performed by Lisa Meignin

Stream field recording from
Dowles Brook, Wyre Forest,15/04/2002


© Alt 2024

ALT - Neandertal (2024)

Another track from the current 'fake krautrock' project with my mate Mark.

"You are living in a stagnant, declining civilisation.
What do you do to cheer youself up?"

"Press the button?"

      <>

"You may press the button!"

      <>

Null eins eins eins null null null null
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      <>

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      <>

"What happens if I press this button?"

"I wouldn't!"

Markus Schneider - lead synths, samples & sequencing
Stefan Bäcker - guitar, bass, vocals, synth drones, drums, samples & sequencing

© Alt 2024

ALT - Push-button Society (2024)

The original throw-away collaboration (based on a bass and looper recording) with my mate Mark which grew into the current Alt album project. I posted a version of this a few months ago but now it has been properly mixed.

If it's of any interest, the vocal samples come from the documentary 'Krautrock - The Rebirth of Germany' (which I highly recommend). It captures Zappi from Faust (signed by Virgin Records to be the 'new Beatles'!!) bemoaning the terrible English food they had to suffer when they were brought over to record - "Meat with peppermint sauce" (lamb and mint sauce) seemed utterly baffling to him. They insisted on bringing in their own 'chef' during the rest of the recording!



Alt

Markus Schneider - lead synths, samples & sequencing
Stefan Bäcker - synth drones, bass, percussion, drums, looping & sequencing


© Alt 2024

ALT - German Herb (2024)

A couple of snippets from a long-stalled album initially started in 2016 of material originally recorded in 1993. Who knows when the rest of it will see completion?



Beyond the Beginnings of Time & Space (ep edit)

1. Times and Spaces
2. Beyond the Beginning

JaglanBeta

John Harmer - piano & retrograde piano
Steve Baker - synth, samples & fx

All original material recorded 1993
Additional samples, fx & editing by Steve Baker
on the Steam Abacus, 2025

© JaglanBeta 2025

JAGLANBETA - Beyond the Beginnings of Time & Space (ep edit) (1993/2025)

A while back, I went through a collection of old cassette tapes and discovered a selection of interesting ideas and demos dating from around 1992 to 1998. Over the last year or so i have been digitising these crusty old cassettes, cleaning up and remastering selected tracks into a coherent album.

This is one track from that album which seems as apt in the present day as it was when I wrote and demo'd it thirty-odd years ago.

<>

CHRONOFLOW

WHAT CAN YOU SAY WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW?
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN IT DON'T SHOW?
WHAT DO YOU SAY WHEN THEY DON'T SEE
WHAT'S HAPPENING TO YOU IS HAPPENING TO ME?
IT'S HAPPENING TO YOU
IT'S HAPPENING TO ME
IT'S HAPPENING
 
WHERE DO YOU GO WHEN YOU CAN'T HIDE?
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO STEM THIS TIDE?
HOW CAN WE RIDE CURRENT HISTORY?
WHEN IT'S HAPPENING TO YOU, IT'S HAPPENING TO ME
IT'S HAPPENING
IT'S REALLY HAPPENING
IT'S HAPPENING
IT'S REALLY HAPPENING
 
DIG IT!

<>

from The Endless Path To The Way Of Tea (Cassette Demos 1992 - 1998)
https://steamabacusproductions.bandcamp.com/album/the-endless-path-to-the-way-of-tea

<>

Album credits ...

The Endless Path To The Way Of Tea

Cassette demos 1992 - 1998


Steve Baker - Vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, balalaika,
bass, drum machine, wow and flutter


Demos recorded on 2- and 4-track cassette between 1992 - 1998
Compiled and remastered 2024 - 2025


© Steve Baker 2025



A SteamAbacus Production

Chronoflow  (Cassette demos 1992 - 1998)

I've recently been uploading a few albums from my 'Steamy Vaults' to my Bandcamp page, available for download or streaming and absolutely FREE!

First up, a track by JaglanBeta from the double CD 'Transcendancing'.

https://steamabacusproductions.bandcamp.com/album/transcendancing

JaglanBeta were highly influenced by both Hawkwind's ambient side and also the likes of the KLF and the Orb who were, in 1995, leading the rise of psychedelic ambient electronica in the UK. We'd gather together over a couple of days, assemble a roomful of electronic devices and about 100 miles of cabling and free-improvise under highly psychotropic conditions for hours on end. Everything was captured on cassette tape - we could not afford the (then) state-of-the-art DAT tape so used what we had.

It was quite a trip ...... 


[From the sleevenotes]
"On a number of occasions during 1995 (local timeframe
reference) the pioneering voyagers of the JaglanBeta
collective gathered together at carefully chosen locations
to ritually explore un-mapped regions of inner space.
Once the location had been selected, the instruments of
exploration were carefully set up - a vast pulsing web
of serpentine cabling connecting and inter-connecting
the varied technologies that combined to form the
JaglanBeta exploratory vessel.The instruments were then
sympathetically tuned and final operational checks
carried out. Once the exploratory vessel was functional,
each operator would take a moment to prepare himself
for the long voyage ahead - ritually administering
traditional 'reality' inhibitors - and then each carefully
took his place at the controls. Slowly, the psycho-electronic
machineries were powered up and the exploration of
unknown realms began.
This is the record of those voyages....."

John Harmer - keyboards, echoes, drones
Trevor Blackman - keyboards, samples & sequences, fx
Lee Collins - keyboards, samples & sequences, fx
Steve Baker - guitar, electronic percussion, fx

© JaglanBeta 1995


The Crossing (from 'Transcendancing', FREE album at steamabacusproductions.bandcamp.com)

I've recently been uploading a few albums from my 'Steamy Vaults' to my Bandcamp page, available for download or streaming and absolutely FREE!

http://steamabacusproductions.bandcamp.com/album/satya

This is from 'Satya' which I compiled in 1996 during the period immediately following quitting my old band (Triptych), I was still recording ambient stuff with my mates from JaglanBeta (who were both in Triptych in the past as well) and this track includes material recorded with John and Lee during JaglanBeta sessions as its basis.

I had a stereo cassette of various JaglanBeta extracts that I played using a 4-track recorder with tracks 1&2 playing as normal and with tracks 3&4 (the b-side of the cassette)simultaneously playing backwards via the remaining 2 tracks of the 4-track recorder. Over this I mixed a recording of the Sanskrit chanting (which I had obtained from ex-Triptych and JaglanBeta member Trevor who had gone full-on Transcendental Meditation by this time - including practicing Yogic flying!)

Amazingly, everything was in key with everything else - which could have been mere serendipity or could have been 'good ears' when I was planning it? Whatever, I think it turned out quite well. :)


[from the sleevenotes]
"Satya" translates as "truth"

"As a river creates the banks which hold it, so the energy which seeks
truth creates its own discipline without any form of imposition;
and as the river finds the sea, so that energy finds its own freedom."
- Krishnamurti

Steve Baker - guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion, vocals, samples and fx
Lee Collins - sequences and keyboards
John Harmer - keyboards

© Steve Baker 1996


The Primordial Sound (from 'Satya', FREE album at steamabacusproductions.bandcamp.com)

'Ahimsa' is a 'long lost' acoustic guitar album that I recorded back in 1996. I'd left my band, was in the middle of a nervous/spiritual breakdown/rebirth (plus ça change...) and was experimenting with new musical ideas - one strand of which was acoustic music influenced quite heavily by classical Indian music and acoustic folk musics from around the world.

This was recorded on mainly borrowed equipment - a small, somewhat decrepit 4-track tape recorder for the multi-track recording and a DAT recorder for many of the master mixes. I haven't had access to a working DAT recorder for many years but managed to buy one cheaply a few weeks ago. I decided to assemble all the cassettes (both stereo and 4-track) and DAT tapes I had of these recordings and 'digitise' a copy of this album. The original was on casstte tape and only a handful of copies were ever created - there wasn't even a proper cover for it.

It's taken a lot of work to clean up the recordings (even the old DAT tapes had numerous digital glitches - I had used second-hand 3 hour data backup DATs that I was able to get for free) but I'm pleased to finally give this part of my musical history an airing.

You can stream or download (full CD packaging artwork included) for FREE from my BandCamp page....

https://steamabacusproductions.bandcamp.com/album/ahimsa

"Ahimsa" translates as "non-harming"

"Ahimsa
is a comprehensive
principle. We are helpless mortals
caught in the conflagration of Himsa.
The saying that life lives on life has a deep
meaning in it. Man cannot for a moment live
without consciously or unconsciously committing
outward Himsa. The very fact of his living - eating,
drinking and moving about - necessarily involves
some Himsa, destruction of life, be it ever so minute.

ૐ

A votary of Ahimsa therefore remains true to his
faith if the spring of all his actions is compassion,
if he shuns to the best of his ability the destruction
of the tiniest creature, tries to save it, and thus
incessantly strives to be free from the deadly
coil of Himsa. He will be constantly growing
in self-restraint and compassion, but he
can never become entirely
free from outward
Himsa"

- M K Gandhi


Steve Baker - Acoustic guitar, percussion, vocals

Recorded 1996, remastered 2016

© Steve Baker 1996

He Who Glows In The Depths Of Your Eyes(from 'Ahimsa', FREE at steamabacusproductions.bandcamp.com)

From the album 'Fretboard Challenged', available to download (full CD packaging artwork included) or stream absolutely FREE from ...
http://steamabacusproductions.bandcamp.com/album/fretboard-challenged

As a denizen of thefretboard.co.uk guitar community I
have been a regular contributor to the periodic 'Fretboard
Composition Challenges' under my forum username of
SteamAbacus.

Every 2 or 3 months there is a new challenge with a
different remit - these can range from as simple as
(Challenge #11) -
"Freedom! - Record whatever you like! No time
limit!"

through the more technical (Challenge #3) -
"Chord Fun. Create an audio track a minimum of 1
minute and a maximum of 2 minutes in length using
only the chords Bmaj7, Gmaj, Esus4 and the notes
within them"

to the downright silly (Challenge #9) -
"They said it couldn't and shouldn't be done but to
save the world you must compose the ultimate funky
folk mash up song! Go forth and ruin music forever,
good people!"

My compositions have ranged from simple guitar &
looper based recordings to fully-fledged tunes multitracked
on the computer. Part of my motivation in undertaking
these Composition Challenges was to familiarise myself
with my 'new and improved' computer recording set up -
which, for me, actually means a WindowsXP computer
running CubaseSX! Not without reason do these
productions go under the name 'Steam Abacus'.

This collection is a chronological record of each of my
submitted compositions and my struggles to embrace
modern (or not-so-modern) digital recording technology.

My thanks to Sheldon (Antique_Guitars on the forum) for
organising and to all the other contributors to these
Fretboard Composition Challenges.
- Steve Baker, 28/05/2016


© Steve Baker 2016

I Have A Door! (from 'Fretboard Challenged', FREE album at steamabacusproductions.bandcamp.com)

I've recently uploaded another album from my 'Steamy Vaults' to my Bandcamp page, available for download or streaming and absolutely FREE!

https://steamabacusproductions.bandcamp.com/album/circulation-of-the-light

This is from 'Circulation of the Light' from 1999 and, although the title track, it is quite different to the other seven tracks that comprise the rest of the album - they feature virtually no guitar and consist of long meditative (and admittedly quite psychedelic) synth and sample drone pieces recorded on some borrowed synths/keyboards and rack fx. The tracks are named after the stages of meditation in a Taoist alchemical text and this solo acoustic guitar track is the endpiece to the album.

[from the sleevenotes]

1. Cessation of outflowing
If thou wouldst complete the diamond body with no outflowing,
Diligently heat the roots of consciousness and life.
Kindle light in the blessed country ever close at hand,
And there hidden, let thy true self always dwell.


2. The six periods of circulation in conformity with the law
If one discerns the beginning of the Buddha's path,
There will be the blessed city of the West.
After the circulation in conformity with the law,
there is a turn upward towards heaven when the breath is drawn in.
When the breath flows out energy is directed towards the earth.
One time-period consists of six intervals (hou).
In two intervals one gathers Moni (Sakyamuni).
The great Tao comes forth from the centre.
Do not seek the primordial seed outside!


3. The two energy-paths of function and control
There appears the way of the in-breathing and out-breathing of the
primordial pass.
Do not forget the white path below the circulation in conformity with the law!
Always let the cave of eternal life be nourished through the fire!
Ah! Test the immortal place of the gleaming pearl!


4. The embryo of the Tao
According to the law, but without exertion, one must diligently fill oneself with light.
Forgetting appearance, look within and help the true spirtual power!
Ten months the embryo is under fire.
After a year the washings and baths become warm.


5. The birth of the fruit
Outside the body there is a body called the Buddha image.
The thought which is powerful, the absence of thoughts, is Bodhi.
The thousand-petalled lotus flower opens, transformed through breath-energy.
Because of the crystallization of the spirit, a hundred-fold splendour shines forth.


6. Concerning the retention of the transformed body
Every separate thought takes shape and becomes visible in colour and form.
The total spiritual power unfolds its traces and transforms itself into emptiness.
Going out into being and going into non-being, one completes the miraculous Tao.
All separate shapes appear as bodies, united with a true source.


7. The face turned to the wall
The shapes formed by the spirit-fire are only empty colours and forms.
The light of human nature (hsing) shines back on the primordial, the true.
The imprint of the heart floats in space; untarnished, the moonlight shines.
The boat of life has reached the shore; bright shines the sunlight.


8. Empty infinity
Without beginning, without end,
Without past, without future.
A halo of light surrounds the world of the law.
We forget one another, quiet and pure, altogether powerful and empty.
The emptiness is irradiated by the light of the heart and of heaven.
The water of the sea is smooth and mirrors the moon in its surface.
The clouds disappear in blue space; the mountains shine clear.
Consciousness reverts to contemplation; the moon-disk rests alone.


- from the HUI MING CHING, The Book of Consciousness and Life



All instruments played by Steve Baker

© Steve Baker 1999

Circulation of the Light

Circulation of the Light(from 'CirculationOfTheLight',FREE at steamabacusproductions.bandcamp.com)

I've recently been uploading a few albums from my 'Steamy Vaults' to my Bandcamp page, available for download or streaming and absolutely FREE!

steamabacusproductions.bandcamp.com/album/g…n-lotus

JaglanBeta again, this time the title track from the 1997 album 'Golden Lotus' - the band were down to a trio but the synths and recording methods were somewhat more sophisticated (and the recording environment somewhat less psychotropically 'enhanced'). ;)

[from the sleevenotes]
"When the lotus opens,
the bees come of their own accord to seek the honey;
so let the lotus of your character be full blown,
and the results will follow."
- Sri Ramakrishna

John Harmer - keyboards, drones, echo
Lee Collins - beats, samples & sequences, keyboards, fx
Steve Baker - guitar, additional synthesisers, fx

Recorded at Ferndale 1997
Remastered October 2005

© JaglanBeta 1997

JAGLANBETA - Karuna (from 'Golden Lotus', FREE album at steamabacusproductions.bandcamp.com)

From 'Substratum' - the latest volume of my 'Guitar Diaries' covering the period summer '16 to spring '17 and available to stream or download (with full CD packaging artwork) from ...
https://stevebaker.bandcamp.com/album/substratum

© Steve Baker 2017

What are ‘Guitar Diaries’?

“In my home studio I have a guitar recording set up that I can power up at any time with just the throw of a couple of switches. I don’t even need to start up the computer as I have a minidisc recorder ready to record immediately. I can plug in a guitar and be recording an idea within, literally, seconds. I use a ‘looping’ set up that allows me to layer guitar tracks on top of each other on the fly (based around Digitech JamMan SoloXT and Line6 DL4 looping pedals, occasionally I will also employ a software sample player for beats which are then loaded onto the JamMan looper). The emphasis is on spontaneity and creativity. Every 6–12 months I will compile the most interesting of these ‘sketches’ using the computer – the tracks will be edited, cleaned up, mastered and ordered into an archive CD with accompanying artwork. These are my Guitar Diaries.”

- Steve Baker

Substratum

How Could It Be?(from 'Substratum', available from stevebaker.bandcamp.com)

A track from the latest volume in my 'guitar diaries' which I began compiling, editing and mastering back in September but life and Extreme Hyperbureaucracy (and the effects thereof) delayed the process until this week. Now all is finished and surrendered to posterity.


From the album 'Red Queen, Steve Baker Guitar Diaries, Summer '17 - Autumn '18'

Available to stream or download (with full CD packaging artwork) from

https://stevebaker.bandcamp.com/album/red-queen

© Steve Baker 2019

What are ‘Guitar Diaries’?

“In my home studio I have a guitar recording set up that I can power up at any time with just the throw of a couple of switches. I don’t even need to start up the computer as I have a minidisc recorder ready to record immediately. I can plug in a guitar and be recording an idea within, literally, seconds. I use a ‘looping’ set up that allows me to layer guitar tracks on top of each other on the fly (based around Digitech JamMan SoloXT and Line6 DL4 looping pedals, occasionally I will also employ a software sample player for beats which are then loaded onto the JamMan looper). The emphasis is on spontaneity and creativity. Every 6–12 months I will compile the most interesting of these ‘sketches’ using the computer – the tracks will be edited, cleaned up, mastered and ordered into an archive CD with accompanying artwork. These are my Guitar Diaries.”

- Steve Baker

Topoff (from the album 'Red Queen', available from stevebaker.bandcamp.com)

From the album - 'Or, Steve Baker Guitar Diaries, Summer 2012 - Winter 2013'.
Available to download (with full CD packaging artwork) from    http://stevebaker.bandcamp.com

© Steve Baker 2013


Well, my series of 'Guitar Diaries' CDs has finally gone digital! (just the one at the moment but more will follow). These tracks have been posted in their raw form up here on SC over the months but have been cleaned up and mastered for this CD.


What are ‘Guitar Diaries’?

“In my home studio I have a guitar recording set up that I can power up at any time with just the throw of a couple of switches. I don’t even need to start up the computer as I have a minidisc recorder ready to record immediately. I can plug in a guitar and be recording an idea within, literally, seconds. I use a ‘looping’ set up that allows me to layer guitar tracks on top of each other on the fly (based around a Line6 DL4 looping pedal, occasionally I will also employ a small Zoom ST-224 sample player for beats). The emphasis is on spontaneity and creativity. Every 6–12 months I will compile the most interesting of these ‘sketches’ using the computer – the tracks will be edited, cleaned up, mastered and ordered into an archive CD with accompanying artwork. These are my Guitar Diaries.”

- Steve Baker, 06/03/2013

Light in Water (from the album 'Or', available from stevebaker.bandcamp.com)

Another volume of my 'Guitar Diaries' goes digital.

From the album - 'Green Phase, Steve Baker Guitar Diaries, Spring 2012'
Available to download (with full CD packaging artwork) from http://stevebaker.bandcamp.com/album/green-phase

© Steve Baker 2012

What are ‘Guitar Diaries’?

“In my home studio I have a guitar recording set up that I can power up at any time with just the throw of a couple of switches. I don’t even need to start up the computer as I have a minidisc recorder ready to record immediately. I can plug in a guitar and be recording an idea within, literally, seconds. I use a ‘looping’ set up that allows me to layer guitar tracks on top of each other on the fly (based around a Line6 DL4 looping pedal, occasionally I will also employ a small Zoom ST-224 sample player for beats). The emphasis is on spontaneity and creativity. Every 6–12 months I will compile the most interesting of these ‘sketches’ using the computer – the tracks will be edited, cleaned up, mastered and ordered into an archive CD with accompanying artwork. These are my Guitar Diaries.”
- Steve Baker

Leo Viridis (from the album 'Green Phase', available from stevebaker.bandcamp.com)

Steve Baker, Producer/Guitarist, London, UK

Guitars, guitars, guitars.....and some more guitars! With a few other devices thrown in (notably, a Line 6 DL4 looping pedal).

All the tracks here are emissions from the venerable 'Steam Abacus' - once a wheezing old pentium-powered antique (Windows 98SE!, mainly utilising Cubase VST 3.7, Cool Edit Pro and T-Racks), now resurrected as an only-slightly-antiquated younger specimen (Windows XP, Cubase SX, et al).

Much is initially recorded direct to minidisc before being edited/compiled on the Steam Abacus.

Some older tracks even started life on Compact Cassette. 

State-of-the-art this ain't!