RobiNZ Personal Blog

Flim & the BB’s live, 30 years later

My Dad discovered Flim & the BB’s before I did. Probably in a Hifi store as they were popular demo disc in the early days of Digital. They were one of the first to use pure Direct Digital DDD technology on CDs. I’m sure the opening track of TriCycle has tested, perhaps to destruction, more than a few systems as the quiet piano opening literally explodes into the full ensemble. Flim & the BB’s are Jimmy "Flim" Johnson (bass), Billy Barber (keyboards, synth, piano), Bill Berg (percussion) with Dick Oatts (woodwinds) credited on the first album TriCycle. They still sound... Read more →

Traffic Light Thought – Elvis K should be a Cadillac?

I’m no Elvis Presley expert, or fan, but surely the personalised plate: [Elvis the King] ELVIS K [Elvis the King] belongs on a Cadillac, not a Hyundai Sonata! Read more →

Amazon’s ‘Recommended For You’… Got me!

I was watching a documentary about Facebook which, in part, mentioned how their adverts are targeted: “Going by the ads I see Facebook thinks I want an AMEX card, a new kitchen, a cinema ticket, a Honda and a holiday in Rotorua. That's zero correct.” Then a bit later: “The ads now think I still want a Honda, tickets to cricket, AMEX Platinum and affordable wall art. Oh, and Facebook marketing. No, no, no, no and no!” On the other hand, Amazon’s ‘Recommended For You’ is absolutely spot on. I had actually banned myself from purchasing any new media until... Read more →

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Flash mob in Wellington

Members of The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra with guitarist Justin Firefly Clarke performing the track 'The Ride' from the Good for Nothing feature film soundtrack. Composed by John Psathas. Video by Bryson Rooney. http://www.goodfornothingmovie.com/ http://www.nzso.co.nz/ Read more →

Me, the Fairlight CMI, Thomas Dolby and back to the Murrumbidgee River?

(Way) Back in the 80s I used to buy an Aussie technology magazine “Omni”, correction it was “Omega Science Digest”!. One issue had a card you could send off (with a few au$) to get the demo cassette for a remarkable new electronic instrument. Yes, that there was an analogue demo cassette for a digital instrument gives an idea of how long ago that was! It had a bunch of different tracks, samples etc. all created with the Fairlight Computer Musical Instrument but one (complete unlike the others) was the most memorable. I found Claude Larson’s Murrumbidgee River on YouTube... Read more →

First Circle, my second Metheny masterpiece

I mustn't have told Amazon I own this as today it was first on the “recommendations for you”. Its not the first Pat Metheny Group recording I heard, As Falls Wichita... has that honour, but is the first I owned. A CD when they were still new and represented a hefty chunk of my weekly, first job, income. Some old albums don’t stand up when revisited but First Circle isn’t one. From Forward March — a favourite with dissonant, out-of-tune chords and notes to confound those who don’t know Metheny — to “Praise” it still shines and I listen to... Read more →

“Comfortably Numb”, cycling and @noozeeland

A tweet from @noozeeland today inspired this post. He shared a phrase which commanded only one response. I know the lyrics to Comfortably Numb quite well as I love the song itself, but also for another rather odd reason. When I’m cycling and feeling really tired it’s one song that often gets stuck in my mental playlist. “Comfortably Numb” is an admirable compromise to aim for when all sorts of bits ache but you still haven’t finished the ride! I change the lyrics a bit to so here is my “PsychPod” version, adjusted for cycling, presented with due apologies to... Read more →

Greg Johnson’s Secret Weapon

I’ve never been credited on an Album before but it is not the only reason I like this one! Greg part financed it’s production with pre-sales and a small investment was recognised in the liner notes. It’s a good listen, my favourite being the skeptical love song “The Way I Feel”: SECRET WEAPON HAS LAUNCHED! It's been a long time comin as the man said, but I'm delighted to say that the new album Secret Weapon is released ! It's been an amazing journey so far, but I hope this is just the beginning! The album is available in all... Read more →

Far above the clouds, faith or evidence?

During an idle moment, waiting for something, a noise drew my gaze toward the sky. It came through the solid cloud cover and I strained to identify the source. I had a good idea but wondered how you’d explain it to someone who didn’t, who knew nothing of our modern world? Of these alternatives I doubt they would pick the correct one: Angry Sky Gods? Thunder, from lightening I couldn’t see? Several hundred people (and hundreds of tonnes of metal, fuel, luggage) high above the cloud watching movies and, possibly, about to tuck into a late lunch while doing about... Read more →

Pat Metheny on Tour with the Bose L1 System

Pat seems thrilled with his Bose L1 speakers, just need him to bring this tour to New Zealand so I can hear it! Via http://twitter.com/PatMethenyNews Read more →