EVENTs

So the past two weeks I took part in two really fun shows. The most recent of the two was a house party at Lake Johnson: the home/venue of hip-hop extraordinaire NYLE (watch his ingenious video, "Let the Beat Build"). I played some new songs and Josh debuted some great visuals. Beat-boxing aficionado Andrew Flockhart made a guest appearance as did Alejandro Ghersi. Lots and lots of fun. Lots.


The other event was an exhibition of sound art at NYU's Steinhardt Art Department. "Three Part Sound Art" was a new event curated by Eva Jäger and Olivia Murphy. I'm hoping it will develop into a series. The first event went a little something like this:

7:30 - Acoustic Repitions and the Human Beatbox

w/ Andrew Flockhart and Rioux

8:00 - Improvisations in Freeform, Minimal, and loop-based Musics
w/ John Swank and Rioux


9:00 - Rioux w/ visuals by Josh Cabrido

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OK and here's a link to "Lost Hold". Geoff and I will be working on some new material shortly.

Lost Hold - Produced by Geoff Strasser

Lost Hold - by rioux, produced by Geoff Strasser




Here's a new track called "Lost Hold". It's a collaboration between myself and DJ/progammer, Geoff Strasser. For the most part he engineered and produced the track, and I can't speak highly enough of him. I'm sure we'll be working together in the future. You can check out his label, Purple Bird Music here!

CMJ

So it's been a long long time since the last post. CMJ week has come to a close here in NYC. After performing on Day 1 of the festival, here's what some nice people had to say about the live show (which for the first time included visuals by Josh Cabrido):

"Rioux, of NYU's Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music, showcased his talent in the Kimmel Center's Eisner & Lubin Auditorium. With the help of video projections tangentially related to his songs, the one-man band delivered a strong debut. Rioux's music transitioned from drone pop to danceable rhythms within a single drumbeat. Many of the songs in the short set had eight-bit backbones with subtle African polyrhythms. On top of that, they combined pre-recorded harmonies and samples with Rioux's live guitar and trumpet skills. Various symphonic trills added texture to the already dense arrangements. By the end of the set, Rioux was sweating profusely. The eclectic and animated performance earned him many new fans; he ran out of his free CDs. Free or not, his music is definitely worth the attention."

—Aaron Gonsher of Washinton Square News

"Using a floor tom, guitar, trumpet, electronic drum pad and a MacBook, Rioux demonstrated how technology has drastically changed the concept of a one-man band "

–The HiFi Cartel

To finish up CMJ week, I got hit by a car going down third ave on my bike. Four stitches and a concussion, but last Tuesday's show has made it all seem worth it.

-rioux.

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On Returning

Hello. I finished a new suite of instrumental compositions. It's called On Returning and it will in time be released as an EP. You can stream each of its four tracks below.

Warm regards from the Mitten State,

rioux.

On Returning

Detroit

729 Dressler Ln.

And Being There It Struck Me

newsss

Well here are some updates---

(one) the rioux blog now has a new domain on the world-wide-web: www.riouxnyc.com

(two) a new song titled "Rain" has been posted---this brings me to the next update---

(three) on the new audio streaming section of the blog. Enjoy!

Alright, here's something to listen to several times over with the accompaniment of some fun stock footage. As always really great work from Michigan pal Jon Visger (aka Bug Lung Baby).

Bug Lung Baby - The Stupidest Things from Monami Class on Vimeo.

This pretty weirdobscurejapanese guitar with bizarre intonation now has the look to match: spraypainted pickups and headstock with decals. This is about as craftsy as I'll get.
And finally, I've put all my pedals onto a board. Can't wait to gig with it. I suppose the long delay was due to my prolonged search for the perfect looper. I bought an Echoplex (Gibson/Oberheim) a couple years back and was - though thoroughly impressed - a little put off by its lack of intuitiveness. I'm sure this comment would garner some harsh words from the gear sluts out there and perhaps Battles hoho! Let's just say I wasn't able to master the echoplex like they did. and boy, did they ever... Anyways I digress. Leave it to Electro Harmonix to come out with the ideal looper. No, it doesn't support MIDI clock syncing or that wonderful UNDO function of the Echoplex, but the ability to alter playback speed and overdub on top brings me closer to real tape looping than Gibson/Oberheim ever did. Right now I have it at the end of my signal chain, with the short ambient loops Danelectro ReverseDelay running through the other effects, allowing me to blend two loops. Works like a charm! The tech-dork in me is revealed.

The Enduring Output of Nico

And no, I'm not talking about Chelsea Girls - that would warrant an entirely different raveHere's a (belated) toast to an incredible achievement: Nico Muhly's Mothertongue. Now it would make more sense to post this upon the album's release, but I have no intention of offering a timely critique so much as a testimonial to the record's poignance. Since I discovered Mothertongue, along with the rest of Muhly's catalog, my mind's been left reeling. I've been listening to the Mothertongue suite in particular for quite some time now and it continues to reveal the nuanced virtuosity of a composer who seems to be on another planet in regards to creative vision and innovation. Listen and be wowed.

Javier Moreno Sanchez

A few months back I rode the L out to Williamsburg juggling my laptop, interface, and a few microphones. Months later the results are in: an album's worth of material from Brooklyn Jazz musician, Javier Moreno Sanchez. I'm really pleased with the results and am thrilled to have worked with such an incredible bassist and composer.

Download the track "Brisa" right HERE.This number highlights Sanchez and co. going in and out of odd meters while constructing/deconstructing their Bitches Brew-esque harmonic textures. A+++

Javier Moreno Sanchez Ensemble:
August 1st @ Iridium (Manhattan)
August 26th @ Cornelia Street Cafe (Manhattan)

The fella's got a myspace

And thanks to Jacob Blumberg for lending his pair of condensers to the session. REMU love

Javier Moreno Sanchez pictured belooooow

The Clear Light

Here's something for the summer - new song by rioux, Nuuro, and Felix Snow. It's called "The Clear Light", and what's more there's a video by Josh Cabrido! Footage is sampled from various public domain sources including Timothy Leary's "The Psychedelic Experience".

Originally the song was made as a collaborative project at NYU's Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music, but we were enjoying ourselves too much and the video had to be made.

"Can't say it wasn't fun."

The Clear Light from rioux. on Vimeo.

2 New Collaborations

Hello. Two new rioux collaborations up for download: "Something to Say" by Ceci G and rioux, and Shoulderpads remix by Nuuro!
Hmmm... The link won't post. That's funny. Use the handy FREE MUSIC link on your right.

Anddd I encourage everyone to check out the work by both Nuuro and Ceci. Some of the best music being made today - I'm honored to even know these two! (Hint hint: links are to your right!)

NEW Place to Start

The finalized mix of "Place to Start" is now up for download. No major changes - Just a little shorter than before.
http://www.mediafire.com/?zy1yeymnwjz

Place to Start

New song up for download. Enjoy!
http://www.mediafire.com/?t4zjmjtmnot

"Shoulderpads" Video

The music video for "Shoulderpads" is finished. The video was directed by Josh Cabrido, and features appearances by Chloe Dworkin, Erin Rioux, Nick French, Thurmon Green, Emma Varvaloucas, and Andrew Flockhart. Thank you to everyone who made this video possible; it was truly an amazing adventure.

Shoulderpads from rioux. on Vimeo.