Im joined by Matthew Allum (ALM/Busy Circuits) as we discuss the origins of one of the best loved and most popular eurorack modules of all time Pam’s New Workout (and subsequent PRO form) How does a person go from having a thought of an afternoon to running one of the worlds most beloved modular synth companies? All shall be revealed! For those sensitive to talk of whittling, I must warn you there is mention of carpentry but it’s short lived and most of the chips we linger on are of the...

were you the co-developer of ableton live? ah no but Mr Henke very much was. Think about that for a minute. It’s easy to forget as he’ll never bring it up without being prompted. He’s not big on the dwelling and far more interested in his current obsessions. Special interests (SPINS) as they are called are the things driving the REAL artists of which Robert is most certainly one. I had one “job” interviewing him at this time. We were supposed to talk about the re-release of a classic...

With 20 albums under his own name and his instrumental group Cosmo, the man knows how to make a record. He is a wildly accomplished and successful songwriter. For example in 2003 Harris he received the Grammy Award for Song Of The Year for Norah Jones’ breakout hit “Don’t Know Why,” from her debut album, Come Away With Me, which has sold almost 30 million copies worldwide. Versions of his songs have been sung by artists as diverse as Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Cat Power, Feist, The...

I met Jim thanks to the wonderful master of mastering Heba Kadry who's based in New York (whi btw that just finished mastering my new LP!)  She used him to assist in the making of her room and that set me on a journey to get my place into shape too. Him and his team at Sondhus did an excellent job and I've been loving my light and airy attic so much! I've talked about my space a little on the show and I've shared a few pics and videos from the spot so there's evidence of it out there.  I...

I have Patreon :) https://www.patreon.com/HOWA You can join now for as little as $1.50 a month.  All sounds from this episode will go to those on the upper tier and I want to thank everyone for their support! It really helps me keep the show going. _____ Medasin aka Grant Nelson is a feeler. I was initially drawn to his sample packs like a moth to the fire. The fire it turns out has many a hue and the music goes deep. It was excellent to speak to the man himself and uncover his...

If you want to directly help support me in the pod work please consider joining my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/HOWA All sounds from this episode will go to those on the upper tier ! There’s over 4GB of audio from the experiments I did with the Oxi one using a custom tape machine, wild analog gear and generally odd stuff to yield those good samples. ok, let's get on with the show! Kid Koala is not like the others. I mean who else gets the idea to do a scratch routine with moon...

Merriment abound ! It's that time again when sonic stockings are stuffed. This time with a fireside ramble twixt myself and the legend that is Dj Shadow as we celebrate his new LP "Action Adventure" Welcome.  I hope this finds you in good health and merry mood as the season sheds it's joy upon you. If joy is in short supply and the period feels claustrophobic and the family is doing your head in then I trust yule be able to duck out for a spell and use this as an escape pod. Who am I...

Quiz time. Who's recent LP did Thom Yorke executive produce? Answer: Clark. Pretty obvious from the title of the show but think about that for a minute. Thom Yorke. Bloody hell. I mean in terms of endorsements, there's few higher and there's good reason for TM to be Clarking, the C man is pumping out the goods and has been for yonks. Ack eye. We met an age ago me the C and shared a path in certain ways as label mates on warp records. I used to play shows with him and we both flocked from...

He's worked with Donny Hathaway. That's it. That's all the intro he really ought to need. I mean can you IMAGINE being in the room with Donny singing? Too much. Ah but Jimmy has worked on music from Aretha, Otis Redding, The Rolling Stones not to mention his extensive collaboration with Timbaland. Yeah, Jimmy is heavy. What's more he's a very friendly and engaging chap that has a pioneering spirit and he is not overly nostalgic in that way that can hold a person back. No wonder he's been so...

Great to chat with Brian and Josh from the band ! we talk minidisk, the joys of analog, hurdy gurdy and fish. I mean if that doesnt tickle yer fancy I dont know what to say :) Various links feel like they cropped up in the show --Valentin Clastrier - Master of the Gurdy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRsJw7UW98g --TAGO MAGO by can - go and listen (you can find it with your preferred music environment ) --If you need good tinned fish in the USA go here ! ...

My guest on the show is James Ford who is really one of the most badass producers in the business.  Im talking about the kind of low key English badassness and not the Tarantino variety if you know what I mean. James is involved in so many things and yet he does it without needing a big spotlight on himself. Humble badass. That’s the one.  He’s been active for many years. I mean we used to see each other in that classic ships in the night stylee when I was touring with Cristian Vogel back...

  Jon Hopkins pays attention. He has a ear for the smallest details and a deft touch both as a pianist and a producer.  I feel this interview is very timely as the rise of psychedelic therapy has caught the imagination of so many. Jon has made music that is so perfect for those wishing to go deeper with their experiences in that hugely rewarding domain.  His is the mindset that wants to expand and to meditate instead of flex and win the popularity contests in the game of music. Very...

DESCRIPTION After a hefty and well needed break I’m back The pod returns :) I trust y'all are hanging in. I hope in fact you’re more than just hanging in. I hope you are diving in and thriving and embracing the endless realm of possibility that presents itself to you. Don’t worry, I’ll not linger on the guru talk. Just stating the obvious ! As you can see from the show title I got to finally chat with the brilliant Benn Jordan. We met at NAMM a couple of years back (I’ve had some great...

Tycho is Scott Hansen and Scott is a deeply friendly and humble chap. I didnt know too much about his background or what made him tick but I tried to get to “know” him and makes some guesses about that by tuning into his music. It’s clearly so well crafted and put together with meticulous attention to detail that this man had to be fastidious but how would that quality manifest? He manages to ride us on a carpet of textures which guide the process of musical flight, once a mood is found,...

Hainbach must be such a busy man! Just today I received a post on his patreon that he uploaded to Medium where he eloquently described the history and character of the electronic music company Vermona that started in the GDR and now lives on. It was a review of sorts of the DRM drum machine from 1987 but he surrounded that feature with some wonderful insights into the company’s history whilst painting a picture of former East Germany. He put all this together after having made a highly...

Carl Craig worked with Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson back in the day I mean that could be all the intro you need to hear to know how heavy he is! Wait til you find out about the HANGS they had in Detroit. They were cooking up a sound of techno that has never been surpassed in my opinion. Mr Craig has really never stopped. It’s pretty mind blowing to me He’s already left behind a superb and ultra varied stack of music that springs from an insatiable hunger for the new. I mean the sheer...

Hi ! Yep, a tad delayed this one. I apologize. This time I have the wall of blinkers to blame. The eurocrack has opened up and swallowed me! Haaaaaa. I've enjoyed being in the belly of the beast though I must say and now Im emerging with many a sonic memory etched on tape. I'll try to share these via a new venture, HOWA records. Yeah, its a new idea. Somewhere to put all this work. I pour so much of my heart and soul into these sounds and pieces that linger on the drive. Perhaps it's time...

David Haskell is a professor of biology and environmental studies at the University of the South and a Guggenheim Fellow. His 2017 book The Songs of Trees won the John Burroughs Medal for Distinguished Natural History Writing. His 2012 book The Forest Unseen was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award, and won the 2013 Best Book Award from the National Academies, the National Outdoor Book Award, and the Reed Environmental Writing Award. His...

Merry Chrimble y’all! Here’s a sonic present for your ears to unwrap.  It’s in the form of a nice fireside ramble with the excellent Stephen James Wilkinson aka Bibio.  He’s a wonderful and thoughtful chap with a very unique touch and a searching soul.  I love his musical range, his tones, his playing. YES He’s rather good! Im assuming you all know his stuff? If not you fools!  You must immediately have a listen  As in go here NOW! https://bibio.co   It’s super ooper dooper...

Such a treat to chat with Jeremy aka Red Means Recording. Now you must know who he is right? If not well you're in for a treat. He's an amazing creative soul and funky chap that makes excellent music, teaches and creates exceptional YouTube videos that go deep into the synth and electronic musical world. Highly recommended viewing. He's just great. Link to his YouTube here HELLO! Yes, I realize this has been a lonnnnng time coming. What's been up? The studio build is now hitting a new...

Hello! Jamie again. I caught up with this busy Fred on his current US tour.  He’s been busy you ask?  Oh yes. I mean so so busy.  For one thing he’s penned massive pop numbers with Ed Sheeran, Stormy and other huge acts Did you know that?  I mean BIG BIG songs.  And YET his mentor and good friend is none other than  Brian Eno!   Wait.. what? Ah yes, all shall be revealed. See the thing about Fred is he will write a huge song for an act like Clean Bandit in the afternoon, then be...

Max Tundra is Ben Jacobs A man that was a child that grew up in London. As pointed out on his bandcamp, he went to the same school as Jude Law and a Chemical Brother, but didn’t know them. In this disposable content age, there’s an undeniable urge to go for quantity over quality is there not? The music Ben makes as Max Tundra comes as rarely as a celestial event. We forget the rising and falling of the sun each day but we don’t forget a total eclipse now do we? This is how it felt when...

Nigel is my kind of producer He has a strong sense of quality, a strong sense of who he is and what potentials artists have to be cultivated and captured. He’s my kind of producer because he gets his hands dirty and doesn’t just act as a fan of the band and take on that guru role but he’s in the trenches, setting up the mics for perfect phase alignment, getting all the sonic chains correct but without a limiting rule book. There’s so much inventiveness in the productions alongside the...

TEED has an excellent new LP out now called “When the Lights Go” available on his Nice Age label. Check it ooot! HERE is Link to the album, tour info and loads of ace merch! If you didnt already get the Chamberlin ADT sample instrument I made here https://www.patreon.com/HOWA 4.64 Gb sample instrument of the instrument used by Bowie on Low! ahhh yes…let’s get on with the show….. It’s high time I chatted with this chap. We’ve hung out at multiple LA gatherings over beers and somehow...