Orbital Trance is the opening track for Exploration Station, the first Churro Loops EP. 
It, like most all the works in the album, is an improvisation captured initially on a TC Electronics, Ditto Loop Station. To achieve this recording, the pedal board containing the looper was plugged into the FX send and return of a 12 channel Mackie mixing board. 
The guitar tracks were recorded with a Blue Encore 100 vocal mic through a Peavey Valve King 112. The bass is plugged directly into the mixing board. And the drums were recorded using 2 Blue Encore 100 mics; one as an overhead, and one on the kick drum. 
It is an 8 bar loop consisting of 4 layers. 
First layer is a tapping lick outlining an Fm7 and then an Ebm7. 
Second, is a Major 6th chord voiced 13636 played on the third of Fm and successively the Ebm. 
The third layer is the Bassline outlining both chords in a descending motion starting on the 3rd beat. 
The Fourth layer is the drum track. Admittedly the most difficult part to record onto a loop station. Trial and error a plethora. The occasional deletion of the initial tracks upon trying to delete a failed drum take. etc etc. 

Orbital Trance

This is the second Track on Exploration Station, the first Churro Loops EP. 
It starts as an 8 bar loop in Am with guitar and bass. The second guitar and top layer on the Loop Station comes in at 16 bars. Then, a guitar solo, recorded on the loop function of a TC Electronics Flashback X4 before the Ditto on the chain, is added (this served as inspiration to incorporate second Ditto Loop Station on the pedal board). This solo plays and I sit and improvise on the drums. The drums you hear on the track were captured as bleed through the guitar amp mic. 
Enjoy. 

Parking Lot D

Rose of Jericho is a Loop inspired by a plant with the same name that curls into a ball in the absence of water and splays out and returns to a deeper green when in water. It lives with or without water in an eternal loop, opening and closing.
It is the third track on Exploration Station, the first Churro Loops EP, and was one of the first and most time consuming improvs that were recorded onto a Ditto Loop Station. 

This is the first of the "sophisticated" loops. Which is to say that it was the first loop recorded onto a set of Dittos through the FX send and return on a 12 channel mixing board.

The first loop is the Bassline, a 4 bar loop in 6 8, played on electric bass, electric guitar, and acoustic guitar.
The percussion, which is played on acoustic guitar, shaker, djembe and beatbox, was added to the same Ditto Loop Station that plays the Bassline. Totaling somewhere around 7 or 8 layers on the first looper. 

The first layer on the second Loop Station (last pedal on board) records the 4 bar pedal bass line/drum line and a chord progression with an A and B section that is played in an AAB form lasting roughly 32 bars. 

The second layer is the same chord progression with varied effects. And a third layer contains a guitar solo. 

The loop runs with all the layers for a few minutes before removing the top two layers, recorded in a single take, and you're left with the first layer of the second loop station. 

Thanks for your interest and your time. 
Enjoy. 


Rose of Jericho

Lands of Mana is the fourth track on Exploration Station. 
It is the first loop featuring vocals and is probably the most heavily layered 4 bar, single loop station recording featured on the EP. 
Vocals, clarinete, didgeridoo, wooden recorder, beatbox, djembe, ashiko, bells, allen wrenches, and a key chain were used to record this loop. 
Enjoy. 

Lands of Mana

Balalaika

Desert Nights is the sixth track on Exploration Station and is the first and only multi tracked improv on the EP. Initially, this was a 4 bar loop in D min which was set to be recorded on a Ditto Loop Station. However, having finally upgraded to a computer and interface, I decided to track the loop against a click in Reaper, instead of tracking it on the Ditto. 
This results in more of an improvised composition. Playing an intended loop live is difficult. As one plays a progression they my embellish ideas and slightly change the groove. 
The first take is the rhythm guitar.

The second take is the drums; kick, snare, and a single overhead. 
Audix D6 on the Kick 
sm 57 on the snare 
Blue Encore 100i overhead. 

Third take, is the bass, an Ibanez BTB running through an EHX Pog2 playing one octave below standard tuning. 

Fourth take, percussion. A home made, palm tree Djembe, with cow hide and an Ashiko made by Tamu, also strung up with cow hide. These African drums were played like Congas for this recording. Using the Dejmbe as the Quinto and the Ashiko as the Conga. 

Fifth take, Melodica. 
A slightly out of tune, light blue, Stagg Melodica donated by @Melbeat. 

Sixth Take, guitar. 
Playing mostly long ringing chords with effects to create a synth like pad. 
Guitar solo with distortion at the end. 

Take a trip down a highway with a view, light one up, and let this tune roll you through the night. 
Enjoy



Desert Nights

This track is the result of experimentation with an EHX Canyon Delay pedal. 
Using the Shimmer setting, removing the effect feedback, and raising effect volume provided a wide open, ethereal sound an octave above the tonal center. 
As I was performing some computer maintenance (IE getting rid of projects and old WAV tracks) I stumbled upon this recording. The forgotten Loop.

7 Circuitry Of Nostalgia

Para Pei

Youth Enjoyed

Serendipitous capturing of beautiful moments unintended. 
Short lived and glorious. 