Asco Dishwasher

02002-10-23 | Uncategorized

A couple of years ago I bought an Asco dishwasher because it lasts, works well and is energy efficient. I found a button that said Economy and since I am all for conserving and being economical I pressed it and the machine worked well and cleaned the dishes. A while later I had the occasion to read the manual. It said that the Economy button saved electricity and used more water. I realized that for one person conserving means saving electricity (they appear to have plenty of water in Scandinavia where the Asco comes from…) while another person doesn’t mind using a little more electricity if it means saving water (that would be me living in the desert in New Mexico…). Well, of course I switched the Economy setting off. A little more electricity, a little less water. and the dishes are still clean…
And when there isn’t a whole load for the dishwasher I’ll do the dishes by hand……ever noticed that there are two kinds of people – the washers and the dryers?

I cut out the guitar sound itself completely

02002-10-20 | Uncategorized

The other day I was working in our studio on some ideas for my next solo album for 2004…On “In the Arms of Love” I reversed guitar chords, I cut off the attack of guitar chords, I faded in guitar chords….now I take it one step further:

I cut out the guitar sound itself completely and amplify only the reverb that results from the guitar sound – without the attack….it sounds magnificent – rich, organic and textured in a way that a sound created with a synthesizer usually doesn’t…

Le Mateau

02002-10-18 | Uncategorized

According to ananova.com on this day in 1961 Henri Matisse’s painting ‘Le Mateau’ attracted big crowds when it went on show in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It was not until 116,000 people had seen it, 46 days later, that someone noticed that it was hanging upside down.

I say it’s a great painting if it looks as good upside down as right side up! My father told me a similar story when I was a little boy. The company where he worked as an industrial designer had acquired a modern painting and hung it in their entrance hall. Years went by until for one reason or another the famous artist visited the company. He calmly pointed out that the painting was hanging on its side.

Lester DeVoe

02002-10-17 | Uncategorized

Either next week or the week after I will get my new Flamenco guitar from Lester DeVoe. I met Lester a couple of years ago when he came to our soundcheck in San Luis Obispo and brought a couple of guitars for me to try. Exquisite guitars, beautifully made guitars with a rich sound….Later I found out that Lester DeVoe is famous among luthiers and has built guitars for Paco De Lucia and Vicente Amigo.

I wanted another Cedar/Cypress guitar, but Lester talked me into a Negra: Cedar top with rosewood body….I am anxious to hear what she sounds like and will count the days…