how the light gets in

Kristian Anderson was a good friend of ours, a hard worker who always had time to help us out in one way or another. over the last ten years we have schemed about how to get Andy and I down to Australia where Kris could shoot a live acoustic performance for a DVD package.

this September, sick with cancer but still relentlessly cheerful and positive, Kris made the trip to LA with his new red epic camera to shoot us in the studio working on the new album. it was the realization of a longstanding goal for both of us — to meet each other face to face and to get some wicked footage.

before he passed at the beginning of this year, Kris managed to do a rough cut of some footage for one of the songs. I’m not sure what will happen to the rest of the stuff he shot, but I wanted to make this available as a tribute to Kris, his gifts, his passion for music and video, and his example to all of us to get off our asses and go for it, all the way to the end.

I’m also making the audio for this track the Free Mp3 of the Month, since I kind of like it better than the album take from Unplugged. just click above to get it. you can check out Kris’ blog here and his posthumous book right here.

thanks, Kris. we owe you one.

maguchi is playing with a full house

and now for something completely different

so, maybe it’s cause we just made an acoustic album — you know, like, pianos and acoustic guitars and nice drums made out of wood and skin and stuff — but I’m hungry for some electro. I don’t mean the cheesy BEP type, I mean good ole’ trip hop, the dark and chilly stuff. dunno why I like it so much but somehow finding a way to integrate it into the black lab sound has been one of my favorite creative moves over the years.

specifically, I’m thinking ‘this night.‘ somehow, that melody and lyric theme works so well with just a simple twisted beat, organ and fake sitar that it’s probably spent more time getting hummed in my head than any other bl track the last ten years.

‘weightless‘ and ‘the window‘ are a few other good examples of this sound — pure, dark, rhythmic, not a lot of filler, just lots of electronically generated space in which to sing. the machine does all the work and all I have to do is relax and tell a story.

so I’ve been thinking, ‘why not a whole album of this stuff?’ I mean, I know I would like it. nothing I love more than letting myself get super depressed, turning all the lights off except the red ones, and running a dark, trippy loop for a few hours while I whine and moan and growl my way to a melody.

what do you guys think?

the big lull

here I am, sitting in front of my big ass cinema display, my window on the world, feeling dead inside. maybe I should smile and take a picture.

I’m staring a new year in the face (it only took me 5 weeks), a new computer recording system, a new music licensing business, and a new black lab album.

that is, a new black lab album that hasn’t begun to be born yet. not even impregnated. not even erect. just a conversation with Andy and we’re off to the races — except we’re not off yet. we’re just sitting around, fucking with our computers, waiting for inspiration to strike.

but it will strike. I’ve been here before. it always strikes. just going back thru some old demos got me a bit of a chubby. this month’s free mp3 of the month is sweet. I’d like to do something like this. but slower, darker, harder.

anyway, just wanted to say hi. hope you like ‘high up high.’ hope you’re well.

p

something you don’t know

hi folks, happy new year!

we’re psyched to present our new video for “something you don’t know” from two strangers, directed, shot & cut by scott chestnut. usually we would be putting out something for unplugged about now (and we will, I promise) but, you know, things around here don’t always follow the schedule.

anyway, I love how the video shows an important part of Andy’s and my working process, how we hammer things out in our separate studios in separate states before coming together.

meanwhile, I had a great time in europe — thanks to everyone who made it out to the Freiburg show. it was bitchin’. I’ve been thinking about doing house concerts or something over there when I go, cause it’s so much more fucking fun to play to people when 1. they’re paying attention 2. it’s not in a small club with half the people having a conversation, and 3. not amplified.

I guess I’m just a big baby. but I want what I want, you know?

ok, see you soon!