Suecae Sounds

The Luminous Moon

2012-01-05T00:51:00.000-08:00

This is a photo I've taken of the moon using my Pentax on a tripod. The place where it happened were the countryside of Gaperud, Värmland - the ambience can be quite magical there. Something I am reminded of when no clouds are covering the stars, is the stark contrast between how this natural light can appear so differently compared to the city. Partially thanks to the lack of artificial light the situation is always more luminous and enchanting. Needless to say the trees appear very different then during the day. I am very happy how this image turned out, and I might add that the photo itself involved zero post processing.

The best music blogs (you've probably never heard of)

2011-12-24T12:17:00.001-08:00

Hidden places music
Rarely updated but illustrates the saying of "quality before quantity". Tends to focus on psychedelic electronic music.

Aurgasm
Cheeky name but a music blog that packs some great content. Very diverse in its selection and therefore carries something for everybody. One of the few "pop"-blogs I read.

Ambientblog.net
Great finds in ambient music together with knowledgeable liner notes. Continuously manages to deliver music that I haven't heard of and is a joy to read.

Dub techno blog
Highly specialized but good for keeping up to date with Creative commons releases in the realm of dub techno.

Angel Strings

2011-12-13T13:05:00.000-08:00

A co-lab between me and american producer Joe Joe. Available for free download.

A Personal Milestone

2011-11-24T06:57:00.000-08:00

One album which has meant a great deal to me is DJ Shadow's Preemtive Strike. It's half way between a sample collage and Hip Hop. I especially consider the track In/Flux to be one of the masterpieces ot its time. You can read more about it here via Discogs. But it's rare that I just take it out to listen to, it only happens sometimes. But when I do and the time is right, it is the exact opposite of casual listening.

DJ Shadow on last.fm

Förlorat och funnet

2011-11-09T11:53:00.000-08:00

Förlorat och funnet by Suecae Sounds on Mixcloud

A short mix; a kind of "blandband", featuring works from two net-labels Luxus arctica and Konkretourist releasing music under Creative Commons. In 25 minutes I walk through ambient, experimental piano-music and field recordings. I feel as though it came through into a coherent whole, and I hope you enjoy it.

Under the Åskmoln

2011-11-01T01:56:00.000-07:00

Here is the kind of music I am writing currently. Moody ambient tinged techno.

Trädstudium

2011-10-05T01:18:00.000-07:00

I found this picture while browsing some of my older works. This is one image in a series of mine, a kind of photographic study that I've come to deeply enjoy. If you've read this blog before, you've probably seen similar images posted.

I haven't had the chance to update this blog lately, and very few words have found its way here. This does not however reflect the amount of activity that is going on in my life, lots of things are happening. But I believe precisely because of this that this will continue to be a more sparsely updated outlet. And the slowness involved has also been great in a way, the texts are after all not dependent on their newness. So feel free to browse the archives, and pop in from time to time to see what happens.

There will still be life signs here. Traces of activity which does not fit in any other medium. Music & images and otherness involved. Thanks for coming here.

12 O' Clock Dubs Redux

2011-08-31T02:29:00.000-07:00

I released 12 O' Clock Dubs in June, earlier this year for free. For those who are so inclined, there is now a possibility to buy the release via Vibedeck for 1.5 $.

It's still out for free via Load and Clear netlabel. Make your pick.

Two Images of Summer

2011-07-24T05:51:00.000-07:00

I'd like to share two photos I took yesterday, with my modest cell phone camera. I and two dear friends travelled to beautiful Näs, to visit an older couple whose garden was a cornucopia of berries, flowers among other things. Some post-processing was involved. Thanks for passing by.

Time and Music Intertwined

2011-07-03T23:44:00.001-07:00

Music is art. Music when recorded has also since the early 1900's also been associated with mass-production. We may be moving on from those times, at least when it comes to music as a physical medium, and at least partially. One way for record label owners, curators and musicians making sense of the diminishing amount of (records) artefacts circulated in the economy, is to make fewer records, items which people may actually care about.

This limitation is when it comes to various labels such as Time Released Sound, Ornaments and many more, self imposed and not forced upon them by terms of lack of sales. The difference is important, as is the motivation: Time Released Sound is one outlet which clearly wants to trancend the division between the record and art, and the art in this context means creating unique containers for the actual records.

Susan Matthews & Richard Moult - Fluids by Time Released Sound

As Ambientblog.net puts it when it comes to these labels:

"(...) There are the 'labour of love' labels, run by people definitely not into it "for the money", releasing extremely limited physical releases mostly packed in hand-crafted artwork so delicate and complex that it would be impossible to create more than 50 copies of a release."

Some people might scoff at the notion of releasing so few records, at the same time it illustrates the difference of motivations among artists. Of course, some will still want to live the rock n' roll lifestyle with many listeners and followers, others find different motivations. And I admit that having a record which I know has in some way been handcrafted does on a personal level simply feels better, then just buying a generic CD.

Antonymes - 281210 by Time Released Sound

(image and music courtesy of Time Released Sound label)

Related post from the archives:

Be quiet, we might be witnessing the end of an industry.

I'm on the Tube

2011-06-19T07:14:00.000-07:00

Apparantly my song 12 O' Clock is now out on Youtube. Such a nice surprise. I feel honored, so I decided it would be perfect for this blog too. The user Lemonodo seem to have taken it to him to create lots of these kinds of videos to songs issued under a Creative Commons license, there's plenty more to watch via his profile. Joy!

12 O' Clock Dubs Out Now!

2011-06-05T11:56:00.000-07:00

Today my new two track digital release saw light on Load and Clear netlabel. An offering which could be described as heavily influenced by trip hop, electro and dub music. It's released under a Creative Commons license, which means that you are permitted to download and spread the music to your hearts content. It's free.

The music was originally written 2008, for another label - but for various reasons, one being the poor health I had the time, I had to shelve the music. Until today that is. So grab something to drink, download the music, and enjoy!

Download the music here, and feel free to visit Load and Clear for other free netaudio. If you enjoy it, you are now able to send me a micropayment via Flattr. Just click on the icon below.

Delta 3 out on Kopp Netlabel

2011-05-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

My track Delta 3 is out on Kopp netlabel's compilation Wavomatick. You can download the release for free here. You can also listen to the track via my Soundcloud. This is particuarly inspired by atmospheric ambient artists such as Janne Hanhisuanto, it also features a short sample on one of his original works which I've transformed beyond recognition.

Delta 3 by Suecae Sounds

Variety of Sound Interview

2011-05-17T05:07:00.000-07:00

I was meaning to post this earlier. Only I didn't. It's a short interview I did with one of the great figures of freeware audio effects, namely "Bootsie" of Variety of Sound. He's known for great effects for different applications in audio production, which has generated a lot of well deserved recognition.

You can read my interview here, on the Variety of Sound blog.

A Song For a Contest

2011-04-06T09:03:00.000-07:00

I signed up with a song for rekkerd.org:s "moving" contest. With over fifty songs / works of art, and a very diverse selection, my song "Moving while Asleep" is one piece among many. It will be interesting to see how people have voted, when the winners are announced.

Moving while asleep by Suecae Sounds

Another of my favorite entrants are written by the artist Noizefield. Don't miss how the song changes after two minutes to incorporate an orchestral arrangement. The track takes on a completely different level of beauty by adding this layer.

Noizefield - go far away by Noizefield

Something very different offered came from artist nkurence. As I wrote on the artist Soundcloud, I'd liken the atmosphere of the sound to "as if someone is chewing, thereby transforming them (the sounds) into pure dissonant artefacts. Very imaginative!"

nori hvvn by nkurence

Wusik Sound Magazine

2011-02-23T07:36:00.001-08:00

I meant to write a note that last month saw the release of the January issue of Wusik sound magazine. Only I didn't. My day to day work has been very time-consuming, to the point that I have forgotten that balance is needed between work and leisure.

Anyway, I am quite happy about the issue that I, and several others have contributed towards. I wrote the editorial, did interviews with Richard Hoffman of Synapse Audio and "Bootsy" of Variety of Sound, and a couple of reviews. Read the issue in its entirely here.

(Here is the editorial I wrote)
Hello and welcome to the first issue of Wusik sound magazine of 2011. Our somewhat irregularly published magazine is out once more with some worthwhile treats for the entire family. As usual there are lots of reviews of new instruments, sample banks, effects and interviews featured. All in all: a well rounded dish to last well into spring, we believe.

Worthy of note are the interviews featuring Richard Hoffman of Synapse Audio and Bootsy of Variety of Sound. We’ve also reviewed the updated version of Jamstix, Magix new guitar companion Vandal and a super-limiter by Fabfilter. And there is more too, but that is for you to find out by flipping trough this issue.

Wusik Sound Magazine as a project is done by voluntary efforts. The people involved feel passionate and want to celebrate the diversity among both free and commercial musical applications. The spirit of DIY (Do It Yourself) is put to practice among so many people nowadays, from the SynthEdit VST creations of one basement teen to the huge projects of Sonar or Cubase. It's downright inspiring to write about and to communicate with the people behind all of this creativity.

But we realize that the seemingly endless options available nowadays can make it hard for individual users to find what is right for them; and with ad campaigns running for the biggest brands, we would like to believe that we find some of the gems which falls outside the mainstream. There is virtue in thinking outside the box, making choices for your studio which reflect your personality, no matter if you are just starting out or have been doing this for years and years.

And another bit of advice to remember while cruising the magazine - while on the lookout for new gear, plug-ins or samples - remember this: sometimes we can be fooled into believing that we need a better microphone, a better DAW or another guitar to be able to create music. But much more important then gear is the creative discipline which is fueled by the love for what you do. This is true no matter which is the era of the artist. In the art of sculpting and writing music, the relationship between you and your instrument is sometimes more important then the instrument itself!

With this in mind I'll end this with short introductory text with a quote: “If only the best birds sang in the forest, the forest would be a quiet place.” With that in mind, who is up for sampling some bird song, putting it trough a granular filter while running it in reverse?! I know I am.

James Blake interprets Joni Mitchell

2011-02-16T04:16:00.000-08:00

The young brittish artist James Blake has just released his first album. Something which you ought to check out. He has also performed live for BBC Radio 1, with this expressive cover. Something which fits perfectly into my current mood and therefore for this blog. So with no further ado, let "A case of you" take you on a journey.

Techno Homelessness

2011-01-30T05:22:00.000-08:00

More of the style of music I tend to listen to nowadays. This time Copenhagen duo Lulu Rouge with their video for Bless you, released in 2008. I didn't see it until the other day, and safe to say: I was blown away by their artistic vision. I immediately found someone on Discogs who sold the album, and got him to ship it to Sweden.

The video in question centers around a young homeless boy whose situation is despited in an unnamed metropolitan city. It is not for the faint of heart. But seeing how much culture has become numbing and basically for entertainment purposes only: I believe that we need more videos such as this one. This is everything but panem et circenses / bread and circuses.

Light from Russia

2011-01-13T01:26:00.000-08:00

There is a lot of great electronic music that comes from Russia these days. Here is a collection of stunning images to go with the artist Kabana's track Erevan - taken from the album The Sound of Nature vol. 2, out on Cold Tear Records.

Behind the moniker Kabana is Alexey Frolov, from the city of Smolensk.

Haibane Renmei and the Concept of Sin

2010-12-22T01:54:00.000-08:00

A dialouge excerpt from the japanese animated tv-series Haibane Renmei (灰羽連盟), released 2002.

Communicator: "To recognize one's own sin is to have no sin. So, are you a sinner?"

Rakka: "But if I think I have no sin, then I become a sinner!"

Communicator: "Perhaps this is what it means to be bound by sin. To spin in the same circle, looking for where the sin lies, and at some point losing sight of the way out."

When I heard this phrase in the series, I thought it was a very profound description of the very self-questioning attitude which can keep one stuck in unhealthy thought-patterns and therefore also in depression. Although in a very simple interpretation being focused on sin and absolution; by borrowing some Christian concepts, the spiritual context of the series is in a large and metaphorical way really about humanhood. It Centers around quite mature teams, such as lack of belonging, loneliness, depression, self-harm and death.

Rakka is not human, but born again as a wing-clothed being living in an small and isolated town, which guards the secret of their existence. But her birth and integration in the monastic community is not without trouble and she soon learns that she is sin-bound. Something she attempts to conceal trough self-mutilation.

In one part, the characters imagine their own fate trough re-imagining the creation-mythos and their role within this existence, which is one of the more beautiful parts. Do yourself a favour and learn about Rakka's struggle for a sense of purpose in the little known animé series Haibane Renmei.

Learn more about it here.

I Loves you Porgy

2010-12-11T08:23:00.000-08:00

The year is 1962. Nina Simone sings Billie Holliday's original song I loves you porgy, easily trancending 50 years since the performance took place. One of the great singer's and perhaps worthy the title of cultural icon. Listen and let it move you.

A Mix on Vinternatt

2010-12-01T01:07:00.000-08:00

In my own opinion my best audio-mix to this date. More ambient, drone and emotional music spanning close to 40 minutes. This time mostly focused on the Earth mantra-netlabel. I hope you enjoy it.

Vinternatt by Suecae Sounds on Mixcloud

Novemberkyla Mix

2010-11-09T00:51:00.000-08:00

I did a short 30-minutes mix playing ambient and dub techno two days ago, which I'd like to share with those of you who read my blog. It features tracks from Ocralab's new EP Nocturnal Transitions, Mon0's EP Sensaura, Code0066 and Dublicator.

Remember to support the artists.

Novemberkyla by Suecae Sounds on Mixcloud

Hobby Industries

2010-11-03T07:41:00.000-07:00

There's a lot of hobbyists who create their own music videos of other artist's works. Searching Youtube or Vimeo gives you a lot of these videos. This whole DIY cultural phenomena is quite fascinating to my mind. I was actually happy to see some of my own songs out out on Youtube, one of which someone took the time to create a collection of images to go with.

Here are two of hobby created favorite music videos for the moment being. The first being a documentary images from National Geographics to go with Extrawelt's remix of Minilouges The Leopard. The other being Kollektiv Turmstraße's song Tristesse mixed with one of the short stories of Disney's Fantasia 2000.

October issue of Wusik Magazine out

2010-10-15T08:56:00.000-07:00

I've written quite a few articles in this issue of Wusik Sound Magazine. A publication which exclusively focuses on sound technology, software instruments and effects. I've interviewed Dacian from Dual Shaman and reviewed instruments such as Synapse Audio's synthesizer X-Poly, New Sonic Art's experimental granular offering Granite and quite a few more.

For those who appreciate music technology, WSM has interesting articles and is available from brasilian software publisher not-so-surprisingly titled Wusik.

Read the issue online here

Musical Bees

2010-10-13T01:49:00.000-07:00

Tone Hammer is a company based in Bay Area, California, USA. They specialize in high end virtual instruments and have recently recorded and released a lot of bee sounds, which they make available to musicians and producers. They explain the process in the video and show a gorgeous example of what they do with the sounds, once recorded. A hymn to an insect which is considered an important part of our eco-system.

Here is the song with the bee-samples without the explanation and video. Quite impressive as a musical piece in its own right.

Bees by Tonehammer

Secret Games

2010-10-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

Artwork: Eero Johannes

I am happy to announce that my song Klarälven is featured on the album Secret Games, which was released today by net-label Kahvi Collective. The album contains over one and half an hour of music and is available for free. There is a lot of quality songs here, from artists such as Bad Loop, Planet Boelex and Lackluster.

Download it here.

Moss on a Tree

2010-10-07T01:46:00.000-07:00

For this photo I used a quite modest Sony compact camera, while standing on a ladder next to one of the trees in my family's home in Gaperud. The colors of autumn becomes more and more apparent as each day goes by.

En Eftermiddag

2010-09-29T13:04:00.001-07:00

Grepe en Eftermiddag
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

This is a photo I took an afternoon a couple of weeks ago. The sun contributed with an incredible lighting which made this possible.

Nine minutes and forty-four seconds

2010-09-22T05:59:00.000-07:00

If there there is a song I adore in all its simplicity it is Ame's techno classic Rej. I blogged about it before while writing something about the primitiveness of techno. Fortunatly there are two reinterpretations on the original theme, one which is even better then the original. German (super)band Sonar Kollektiv Orchester outdid themselves when they recorded this take on Rej. Available for purchase on the german label aptly titled Sonar kollektiv as well.

So enjoy the ride which stretches for 9 minutes and 44 seconds.

Movement by Train

2010-09-15T12:35:00.000-07:00

My stepfather got himself a model train some time ago. So I went ahead and tried to capture its sense of movement with his DSLR-camera. My life has been moving fast lately, which this train could serve as an illustration of better then any word. As I now work full time and have other engagements, less time has been spent on my blog lately.

I still think of this space every now and then, as I hope it offers something of value to those who visit me. This blog follows a personal evolution of sorts in its openness. A space which is not quite defined but in which I have had the opportunity to make really meaningful connections with some of you.

It has also served as a place in which I have dared to go somewhat deeper, moving beyond the area of safe. I have shared poetry, images and music. All in all with the limited time at my disposal: I hope to continue in the spirit of this openness to write a few things on this blog every now and then.

To show off some of my work and that of other artists I am inspired and moved by.

And beyond.

Thank you for reading.

Giving and Receiving out on Load and Clear

2010-08-27T08:19:00.000-07:00

(cover photography, Kajsa Jansson)

Suecae Sounds - Giving and Receiving (Load and Clear) by Suecae Sounds

The player above my new release called Giving and Receiving, published today under the Suecae Sounds moniker. It is released on Belgian netlabel Load and Clear, available to download for free here.

If you like it. Feel free to listen to more music published at Load and Clear's website. Featuring prominent releases such as Ocralab - Airform EP, Mr.Bizz - Soul Mate EP and Christoph Schindling - Admission among others.

Electricity

2010-08-18T01:33:00.001-07:00

Electricity
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

A detail not far from home. I am using desaturated coloring, which almost give the impression of a black and white rendering of the image.

1945-1998 by Hashimoto

2010-08-09T13:59:00.000-07:00

Isao Hashimoto did a powerful audio-visual artwork in 2003, demonstrating the number of nuclear tests and explosions perpetrated by the mayor world powers on a word-wide level between 1948 and 1998. One second represents one month.

The work in question is painfully simplistic and does not attempt (or need) to give the viewer any story to get the point across. But feel free to share your thoughts on nuclear weapons on this blog.

On Purespace vol. 03

2010-08-01T11:55:00.000-07:00

My song Emotive Arc is featured on Purespace vol 03, compiled by talented Cyprus artist, painter and producer/dj Stalo Xinari.

It is available for free from archive.org and is the third compilation released by vkrs-radio, which can be tuned in at vkrs.com. Another exiting newsbit is that I have a release later this month on Belgian net-label Load & Clear. Stay tuned.

Detalj av Metall

2010-08-01T10:02:00.001-07:00

Detalj av Metall
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

There is something special with black and white when done properly. Stripping of a thing such as color have the potential of revealing more of the photo at times, which is something most photographers propbably will agree with.

204:365 clover crown

2010-07-26T04:39:00.001-07:00

204:365 clover crown
Originally uploaded by julochka

Julochka is an American living in Denmark, and a photographer and blogger of merit I really enjoy visiting. This one image jumped at me. See more of her work at: http://julochka.blogspot.com/

From the Archives

2010-07-08T12:10:00.001-07:00

From the Archives
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

This one goes back to the summer of 2007, the year I got my Pentax K100D DSLR. This one is some fivethousand images ago and is a shot of a small bridge.

Fabric of Life

2010-07-07T00:48:00.000-07:00

I wrote a review for Auditory Canvas album Fabric of Life for Original Sound Version.

"The curious blend of delicate electronics and stuttering rhythms featured in Fabric of Life sculpt a unique world of its own, combining dreamy textures and original ideas throughout the album’s ten tracks."

Read it here.

Lylac (Helios Remix) @ Audiobulb

2010-06-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

Lylac (Helios Remix) from Audiobulb on Vimeo.

Kind of tired post-work, I stumbled across Audio-bulb records. There I found the video for the artist Papercutz - Lylac (Helios Remix). It goes without saying that I found it good enough to warrant a post on my blog, so that others hopefully can enjoy this etheral piece of music and video.

Last Season

2010-06-12T11:21:00.001-07:00

Last Season
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

I found this while browsing photo's I've taken earlier this year. In march to be specific. The snow provided a terrific backdrop.

Ageing Beauty

2010-06-08T01:18:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of the National Film Preservation Foundation

I found this image while reading the NPR-article A happy homecoming for long-lost silent films. The 1923 film Maytime has begun to deteriorate, but I find the combination of beauty and ageing film to be quite artistic in its own right.

Slitage

2010-06-06T06:24:00.001-07:00

Slitage
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

The details and texture of a bench can appear delicate and fascinating close up. As shown here, on a photo I took this May.

Be quiet: We might be witnessing the end of an Industry

2010-05-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

Writer Megan McArdle wrote an article named "the freeloaders", published in the May 2010 issue of The Atlantic. I've read the article and found it raising a couple of questions of great interest to me. McArle's article discusses the challenge of the record-industry and the ongoing piracy or "free-loading" trend.

Although Megan talks about intellectual property and about an industry set in a downward spiral, she ends the article with the following optimistic statement:
"When the printing press was invented, many monks mourned the decline of vellum and the loss of the illuminator’s art. They were right, of course—but they were even more wrong. Maybe something better is coming, even as the transition racks the nerves of writers and artists. As the old joke goes, we may be losing something on every unit—but perhaps we’ll make it up in volume. "

The blog disquiet writes about this article in the following way: "It purported to assess the impact of file-sharing on the music industry, but it framed the argument in a manner that (in my mind) contributed little to the important ongoing discussion about the nature of copyright in the Internet Age; instead, it simplistically equated the “music industry” with the record industry, and pointed an accusatory finger."

Disquet focuses on "Reflections on ambient/electronic music & conversations with the people who make it". In other words, we are speaking about creators of art. The same people who en masse are supposed to be mourning the ongoing file-sharing culture of the young generations. This is of course not so much the case, if we are not to believe that every artist shares the view of Metallica and the more successful acts who have rallied around the copyright lobby.

What is more interesting is that disquiet also pointed me towards another type of response beyond the medium of a blog-post. They rallied a number of composers who have written musical responses to the article and Jeremy Traum's accompanying illustration. It took the form of an album that can be downloaded and listened to via archive.org. Listening at a glance, it is clearly not my cup of ambient (tea!), but nevertheless very ambitious and thought provoking.

My idea of music is contributory in nature. An ongoing process where listener and composer are part of the same creative subject. It appears to me that we are moving beyond the age of the record industry, which has put its wet blanket of conformity over the cultural sphere for a short period of time in the industrial society. It has also cemented the role of a strict division between band / composer / musician on the one hand, and listener / fan / consumer on the other. The distinction are being consciously blurred by artists such as those behind the Multiple Artist Ambient Project, which invites people to mix different ambient pieces together in whatever way the person so prefer.

This evolution is to my mind exiting for a number of reasons. First and foremost should we realize that the music as a sellable item is part of the industrial paradigm linked to consumer culture. It may or may not last. On a moral level I don't mind smaller or bigger artists attempting to sell their music on LP/CD/MP3 at all. The belief on the other hand that music culture equals with the success or lack of success of a specific business model advocated by record labels HQ:s in the past is naive.

There is music after the feared death of an industry, and there are reasons to assume that it is going to be better then what it has been. In the best of worlds it will not be as defined by what others tell you is the big thing right now, but part of a much richer and diverse eco-system of culture. Some people will probably never want to be part of a participatory cultural process, which is fine. Pop music will probably not die even if the industry dies, as long as people will continue to request simple pop songs there will probably be artists who are more then willing to create these songs.

The interested parties who want to keep the industry making large amounts of money have resorted to more and more drastic measures of lobbying for tighter laws which is said to be in the best interest of copyright holders. It has become an ongoing quest which has contributed to a shrinking regime of rights of integrity on the Internet. But there is light in the horizon. In the ongoing flux of the recording industry creative commons and other forms of participatory cultures are growing. With this in mind: we have every reason in the world to be exited!

Chi Movement

2010-05-06T02:17:00.001-07:00

Chi Movement
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

I captured this and a couple of other photographs of local artist Birgitta Resare Sjöberg's sculptured ceramics. I think it turned out nicely.

Cosmogramma Interactive Arts

2010-04-30T05:16:00.000-07:00

I am very exited about the interactive art application Cosmogramma Fieldlines. It is a sort of digital album art meant to promote the record Cosmogramma , which is out 3 May on Warp records. The program was created by Aaron Meyers.

The basic idea behind the application is to use your mouse or webcam to access the different "balls" on screen. Pulling them on the lines will generate different tones played gracefully by harpist Rebekah Raff.

I found it via the blog 'create digital music' and I hope that you will be as immersed in Cosmogramma Fieldlines as I was.

Snowdrops

2010-04-24T09:18:00.001-07:00

snowdrops
Originally uploaded by griannan

I found this while browsing Flickr. This is an image created by New Yorker Griannan. I thought I would share it here too.

Practise Makes Perfect

2010-04-18T04:19:00.000-07:00

I decided to put up a mix I did as part of my practice in 2009, covering the excellent net-label Thinner on the service Mixcloud. Their stellar releases covers electronic music fused with the echo-ridden world of dub.

Monday Thinner Mix by Suecae Sounds on Mixcloud

New Todd Single for Free

2010-04-16T00:49:00.000-07:00

There is a new single out by the one and only Todd Edwards. What is also a sign of the times is that it is released for free. An "exclusive" for the blogosphere so to say. My immediate favorite is the My Dear Disco remix, which is a glitchy upbeat take on the original song. Also featured is MJ Cole, Feadz and Joy Orbinson. Kudos to Edwards and Scion A/V for this lovely treat.

Windorf from Germany

2010-04-04T13:51:00.000-07:00

German artist Windorf writes ambient. An interesting type of ambient which seems to build itself upon lots of disparate elements creating a coherent whole as I travel along its soundwaves.

Gladly he has created a ten track long set which is available for free streaming. It lends itself well to keep in the background of whatever else it is one has to do. Thanks Windorf for making this available!

meditation-set by windorf

Aesthetics and Wind Power

2010-03-28T06:15:00.000-07:00

Photographer and author Yvon Borque has taken a couple of stellar photographies of wind mills residing in beautiful Palm Springs, California. I am reminded of an article I read written by Lefteris Pavlides, Ph.D., AIA, a professor of architecture at Roger Williams University, as part of a research when writing an article of my own of the perceived lack of aesthetics of wind power.

Coal and oil is not a pretty concept. Especially if we look at the entire process of mining, drilling, transportation etcetera. Yet there are few proponents who choose to attack wind power who also target fossil fuels on the same aesthetical and moral grounds.

Back to Yvon Borque, I was given the permission to repost some of his images on my blog. I think they deserve a wide audience. I agree with him when he writes that "In my view, there is a certain beauty to these giant wind mills.".

All images (c) Yvon Borque. Visit his blog here.

Promotional Karate Video on Vimeo

2010-03-23T09:12:00.000-07:00

I was asked if I could write a track to go with a promotional video for a youth karate cup that is held later this year. A lot of edits later the above video is what the finished result looks like. You can even spot my name at the end of the video. This is the first time I've done anything like this and probably not the last.

Featured on Kahvi once more

2010-03-21T08:19:00.000-07:00

One of my photographies can once again be found on one of Kahvi Collective Audio Sculptors releases. This time it is Jim Black's new six track EP Yoctosecond which has one of my photographies taken early 2007 featured. Earlier contributions by me is found on Polaski's Bendii Syndrome and Acrilic Colors Yves Klein Blue.

Yoctosecond can be downloaded here.

The Snow Abides

2010-03-03T02:25:00.000-08:00

We have had so much snow lately. And with days such as these: when the sun paints everything in colors upon a brilliant and yet cloud free sky, I see little reasons to complain. Yet, many are longing for spring to make haste and travel to this part of Scandinavia.

I am starting to feel this longing too. I cannot say that it has yet resulted in what the author of the blog The Word Cellar describes: namely the want for clementines and exotic fruit. But this is perhaps not far off. Even in my winter loving world, I am starting to long for the next phase of the cyclic seasonal evolution.

Moving light, captured 2010 in Gaperud.

While I am writing this I am happy to announce that I am working now. Full time. I landed the job as a writer about things concerning social psychiatry and have just written a contract that lasts six months from now to august. Although I am hoping to be able to work an extended period of time, I try to remain in the 'here and now', which is always easier said then done.

Music for Sale

2010-02-24T06:23:00.000-08:00

Unusually being me, I now have two songs for sale at an online market-place. These two songs were written lately after I reinvented my studio. Their style is inspired by deeper forms of rhythmic electronic music.

Listen to the tracks here: Suecae - Two Tracks by Suecae Sounds

If you like what you hear this is where you can buy the music in question.

After a purchase is made, the system caches out with PayPal. The songs cost 0.75 $ each, which is purposely a modest sum, so that you as a listener will be able to listen to the hi-fi version of my music without having to pay a fortune. From there on it is a matter of fair use. Giving a copy to your brother or mother is fine. Spreading it on p2p is not so fine. But enough about that stuff.

For the tech geeks I should mention that the songs when bought are encoded in 320 kbps mp3-format. It should suffice for playing it in front of a live audience, or just for your mp3-player or headphones of choice. It is the best form of audio quality in terms of mp3 as far as I know of.

Featured on a Benefit CD

2010-02-20T03:44:00.000-08:00

I contributed my song Under the Sea towards a benefit CD in favor of the Haitian earthquake victims.

Suecae Sounds - Under the Sea by Suecae Sounds

The album can be bought here. It is a German CD release which features me among a couple of other bonus tracks. The proceedings go towards the German Red Cross organization. There is also a digital download release for sale; which does not feature my song , but can be bought here nonetheless. Those proceedings go towards the British Red Cross.

Nature's Rest

2010-02-09T08:41:00.001-08:00

Nature's Rest
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

I captured this last Sunday, while on a walk with my mother in the village Gaperud.

All Things at the Same Time

2010-02-06T13:38:00.000-08:00

The last few weeks have been hectic. A lot has happened to propel life in the right direction. It has been forceful and not without conflict. But it have resulted in substantial progress. I am left with the feeling that everything now seems to happen at once.

First off: job related I may soon begin an official employment as a writer for a a muncipal media group. This group produces material about things related to social psychiatry. I have already begun a time of trial at working for a paper which circulates locally. This has lead to me already producing a few articles which are published in the current issue.

In paralell to this I have gotten accepted to studying the history of human rights at a local university. I had to make a case why I due to illness hadn't had the opportunity to study to gain a standard acceptance to higher studies, at the same time while I referenced material proving my ability to have gained competence outside of the current study system. The feeling to have been accepted - to have 'won' is amazing. I still haven't quite understood it, even though I have already begun and am reading the course litterature as we speak.

This isn't all though. There are many more things which I could write about. I could go on about the local chapter of the green's, or about my music, or the wonderful gift I received from Cottage Garden Studio's. But those things will have to rest for now. As I should try to do myself, all while I get used to all these new things which seems to demand my attention.

Mosaik's Leandi Times Two

2010-01-29T16:00:00.000-08:00

I interviewed the Swedish musician and artist Jakob Svanholm recently. It just got published on the magazine Original Sound Version. I reviewed his last EP on the netlabel Softphase some time back, which can also be read on the same site. The style goes in the broad field of electronica, but I deeply recommend it to anyone who wants to experience a talented artist at his best.

Jakob is one of those guys who have continued to publish music for free for many years and have some very interesting perspectives to share. I definitely believe he hits a spot when he mentions that we need better ways of directly supporting artists. I strongly believe that support for the artist whose work you enjoy should be encouraged. Otherwise we might reduce the idea of freedom of the internet into taking peoples dedication, love and labor completely for granted.

Anyway. The Leandi EP is a lovely instrumental offering which I would do well to pass on to any reader of this blog. Enjoy the ride! :)

Tiny little Sparks

2010-01-24T12:48:00.001-08:00

Tiny little Sparks
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

Captured 3 Dec 2009. I got some small lens flare when I took this, which I thought contributed to the interestingness of the image. They look a little like 'tiny little sparks', which is where I got the title from.

Animating the Sand

2010-01-23T04:43:00.000-08:00

This performance is captured from the tv-show Ukraine's Got Talent. The portrayed artist Kseniya Simonova art is something called Sand animation. When I saw this I was speachless. Needless to say she went on to win tv-show in question - personally I hope that her art will continue to blossom for many years.

A Moment of Numinous Beauty

2010-01-17T12:49:00.000-08:00

A moment of Numinous Beauty

Suecae - A Moment of Numinous Beauty by Suecae_Sounds

I have written a song in which I try to capture a sense of wonderment. I wanted to set a positive tone and find an outlet for a sense of newness which January brings. In this song I attempted to 'synthesize' more acoustic oriented instruments, and let them play a more prominent role in my music. The Xylophone and the persian guitar like instrument Tār (تار) can be heard, together with a less techno oriented type of percussion.

This song is my contribution for the KVR-Audio January contest. My last contribution on KVR - Under (the sea), which I wrote about before finished in sixth place.

I hope you enjoy the listen!

Jazz from a Norwegian point of View

2010-01-10T02:56:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite contemporary Jazz artists is trumpet player Nils Petter Molvaer. He has written a few album's which aside from his own take on Jazz reminiscence Scandinavian folk music as well as borrowing techniques from the electronic avant garde. It is in other words a fusion in the truest sense of the word.

If the name does not ring any bell, I advice you to take a moment and listen to these two songs.

On Stream from the album Khmer.

Sober from the album ER.

Sua Idao

2009-12-31T07:50:00.001-08:00

Suca Idao
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

I'll end this year sharing an image I took today. The sun is setting early. Three O' Clock pm she goes down. When she rises again it will be 2010. Happy new year to everyone of you who has graced my blog as readers as well as writers. May our new year be a good one.

Merry Christmas / Happy Solstice

2009-12-23T16:09:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow day is Christmas Eve. The annual day of celebration. One day before Christmas day, which I have learned is the day Americans celebrate. Tomorrow is Julafton. Hence the popular saying: God Jul. Which in english would mean: Merry times of Yule. This is according to some referencing the pre-christian pagan way of life of northern Europe.

I am a firm believer that Christmas should not exclusively be about presents and gifts, at least not forcibly so. But I enjoy it if is done in the right spirit. It can bring us closer together, no matter what faith. Sweden is no different from other parts of Europe though in the sense that there is a lot of focus on shopping. Very much so. I don't particularly care for it.

Living in the northern hemisphere these are times which brings very little direct sunlight to us. We have been blessed with snow this year though, which makes the days much more joyful. It brightens the season and makes the long walks I enjoy taking enjoyable. Especially because I get to experience the snow in such a direct way. I had almost forgotten how lovely the sound is that it makes when trodden on by a pair of shoes. I do hope we get to keep it.

Even with the snow: were it not for electricity there would be only a few hours of sunlight for the moment being. Now many of us can take part in the luxury of doing what I do now, even write a blog-note in the middle of the night the day before Christmas eve.

This time of the year nearing the end of December is not only known as Christmas: but also as winter Solstice - the day when the axis of the earth is tilted so that we in the northern hemisphere have access to the least sun in the year. Both winter Solstice (vintersolståndet) and Christmas are two days of importance which coincide practically at the same time of the year.

Christ as Sol, found in necropolis under St. Peter's Mid-3rd century Grotte Vaticane, Rome.

Christmas signifies the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the messiah of the Christian religion. In some traditions both modern and antique Jesus is seen as corresponding to the sun. Which is found in the above image. Various strands of orthodox Christianity often downplay this connection, sometimes claiming that this leads to reducing Jesus to a pagan deity among other deities.

I don't care for theological fights of wits. Somewhere along those conflicts what should be important often is forgotten. The core message which the season is all about. Which according to Christianity would be summed up in the two basic tenets "Love the Lord your God" and "Love thy neighbor", according to Matthew 22:36-40.

I cherish synchronicity. The idea of seeing similarities and universal themes and connections in philosophy and religion. To me it allows me to open up my perspective to see the very open and dynamic process which our lives are a part of.

To some this time of the year signifies the birth of Jesus Christ, the benefactor of mankind. For others it is the time of the seasonal cycle which signifies the farthest point in which darkness will prevail under the current season. And the turning point in which the sun is slowly but steadily going to return into our lives. The birth of a new season. For some it is just a good time to spend with family and friends.

No matter which category you belong to, or if you would like to describe your view of the season in a totally different way: I am going to leave this blog post in the seasonal greeting which is often heard here in Sweden.

God Jul och Gott Nytt År

Which could be translated to:
merry Yule and a merry new years eve.

The deeper layers of Avatar

2009-12-18T15:10:00.000-08:00

I saw Avatar the other day. I didn't know what to expect. Apparantly Avatar broke the record as to what movie has been the most expensive motion picture to produce thus far. Would this benefit the movie, or rather work against it? I didn't know before I sat in the modest theatre in my hometown.

My first impression was that of being impressed of the sheer beauty. Computer generated imagery has apparently taken leaps and bounds in terms of what it can accomplish yet again. And the planet Pandora; which humanity is present to pillage natural resources from, is as otherwordly and fascinating as it should be.

For those who have seen the japanese animated worlds of Hayayo Miazaki in movies such as Princess Mononoke and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, you will be able to see clear similarities between the ideas of these different filmmakers. James Cameron has blessed Avatar with the same life affirming critique of mans dominion over nature such as with Miazaki's films.

Another layer is the story about colonialism and its destructive logic: that idea that might gives right. A story woven into the fabric of our own histories. A question which still burns and unsettles the world.

Avatar is also a beautiful portrayal of indigenous spirituality. There is a clear theme presented that the people who live there view divinity as being present in all living things - a thought which some may call animism. There is a clear reverence for the natural world here which struck me as being vibrant and respectful. For this thing alone I would recommend you to see the movie.

The thing which makes science fiction such a fantastic form to tell a story is that it disconnects us enough from the present to show us another angle at what precisely is our present. This movie does that wrapped in a story which engaged me.

Under the Sea

2009-12-12T10:55:00.000-08:00

I contributed a song yesterday for the KVR-Audio December competition. Whatever my participation will lead to, I am very pleased with the song itself. It references early syntheziser music and I think I achived the warm and fuzzy sound which I aimed for.

Suecae Sounds - Under the Sea by Suecae_Sounds

My Design in a Field of Motion

2009-12-08T07:45:00.000-08:00

Motionfield - Under the Stars

The ambient artist Motionfield has recently released a new album of his: the soothing record Under the Stars. The music is a blending pot of warm ambient and mellow electronica. I would go as far as saying that this has some strong references to the great pioneer's of syntheziser music.

I designed the cover with the basis of a photograph I took this spring. The first cover entirely done by me. So this is somewhat different then the covers which I have contributed my images to.

It is available for purchase from many venues, such as Emusic and Record Union. For those who have an account at the streaming e-music service Spotif y, you are also able to listen to the album there.

Lady Frost

2009-12-04T05:40:00.001-08:00

Lady Frost
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

The 2 December was a day of immense beauty. The world was transformed by white crystals which was then colored by the sun. We have had to many grey and cloudy days as of late, so this was definitely needed.

On the Cover: Reprise

2009-12-03T15:25:00.000-08:00

A second photography of mine has found a home with one of the netlabel Kahvi's releases. The first one was Polaski's Bendii Syndrome. This time around it is Acrilic Colors ep Yves Klein Blue. It was released on the netlabel Kahvi Collective a couple of days ago and is available for free.

I Found You

2009-11-26T17:16:00.001-08:00

I Found You
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

This is an image I captured last month that I wanted to share with the readers of this humble blog. I feel so happy to have discovered all of you.

With eyes of those Yet to be Born

2009-11-23T05:05:00.000-08:00

I spoke at a protest rally this weekend for human rights. A rally which I also helped plan. At the rally I spoke about how society has forgotten solidarity and the growing mistreatment by government bodies of to those dependent on welfare and of those that are asylum-seekers.

After the manifestation we gathered at a café run by a local Christian church. A well known poet in Sweden; Bengt Berg, read some of his work. While he read his poetry, another man translated. The people at the rally and at the café were mostly middle-eastern of origin. I remember the faces of the women there. They were full of life. Proud. Some wore Hijab, some didn't.

Bengt Berg also recited a passage in which the latin-american poet Otto René Castillo encouraged us to "view life with eyes of those who have yet to be born." That this would give us the inspiration to create a better world with care for each other and the nature which sustains us.

Later he gave me that same book.

Today I am thinking about compassion. I am reading a text at the newly founded Charter for Compassion and seeing it as parts of a larger whole. As I do with the the cause of the rally. All initiatives small or large have the potential to point towards values and a world beyond our present. This is some of the beauty there is to it.

The sounds of Jupiter

2009-11-17T14:42:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine pointed my attention towards an unlikely source of music. The planet Jupiter. Allegedly the NASA Voyager once picked up: "The complex interactions of charged electromagnetic particles from the solar wind , planetary magnetosphere etc. create vibration "soundscapes". The result below is a kind of ambient induced sweep of sounds which alters slowly. And I love ambient.

Here is a track from the 1990 album Space Sounds released by Brain/Mind research.

I sincerely doubt that this track is a unedited and raw recordning. But after reading a little from the people of NASA themselves, it seems that this is not fiction anymore. Leaving science. It has been done officially and NASA has some clips of sounds to listen to.

This of course could provide a fascinating backdrop for those who want to seek insperation from other sources then the usual. Maybe especially for those who are into sci fi and space exploration. Many ambient musicians have a keen interest in field recordings of natural sound, which they use in their music. I too own an old minidisc and a sony stereo microphone to record sounds. But most of us admittedly stay on the earth.

Artist Proton Kinoun did not use any audible material from any space exploration program to create his vivid and stunning album Apeiron. But the inspiraration is similar. With a rich imagination and the images of the Hubble Space Telescope he created one of the most beautiful free ambient albums that I have had the privileige to listen to. The netlabel Omnisphere recommends complete darkness and the use of headphones when listening to it. I can only agree.

Surreal Beauty

2009-11-04T10:14:00.000-08:00

Portrait of Judy Garland

I recently stumbled across the art haven fthr productions, while enjoying the swedish artist Mosaik's newest EP out on Softphase netlabel. I liked the Mosaik release so much that I wrote a review of it for the netmagazine Original Sound Versions, which I hope will surface in due time on their website.

Behind Fthr productions is graphic artist Antti Jädertpolm, who creates a kind of modern surrealist art with some extremely interesting use of collage techniques. I wrote him to ask if I could put a couple of his stunning images on my blog, to my happiness he thought that this was fine.

Saturday night Hammock Collage

Like you can see in Portrait of Judy Garland and Saturday night Hammock Collage, there is a whole lot of attention to details. The common theme found in his images seems to my mind to be the amount of layers that can be found in almost every image and a very quirky kind of beauty.

Spring

There are both lighter and darker motives and a whole lot in between. What many of them share though is the overwhelming imagery . You can browse Antti's quite massive collective of fine art here. I warmly recommend you to view them in full size. It does all the difference.

The Greens and the Röyksopp

2009-11-01T12:53:00.000-08:00

This last week has been intensive. I've had important meetings about my working situation and my engagement with the local section of the green party has deepened.

It is clear that I will have an opportunity to work in those areas that I have visions for. The future of my engagement is not yet written, but as it is now I will contribute to the leading document for what the party wants to in the field of culture in Karlstad.

Most of my readers may know that I am very interested in culture, and believe in the art to enrichen society in a way that can contribute tremendous amount of meaning for people and break down walls and barriers of race, age and gender. Especially when it is open and contributory in nature, such as in Creative Commons. I also think art has a special meaning and purpose for individuals and groups which live under social stigma.

This document in question will provide the foundation of the party's work in the municipal government after next years election; for the continuing four years. I have also been invited to work on documents in regional health care and see the the greens work in the city's social committee.

I am actually kind of surprised as to how my person has been received. To be able to contribute on such important fields this early, well, is something I did not quite expect to happen. I am also actually going to be a candidate for the green list for Karlstads municipal council. The order of the people who will run for office is not done right now, and where that will lead me is not quite clear.

I must admit that I am more then a bit nervous. Big things are being set in motion right now. With all this in mind I really needed a break this weekend. So I eloped to Stockholm to see Norwegian electronica-duo Röyksopp live, featuring Robyn and Anneli Drecker on vocals. They were amazing. The show was amazing. I danced and I danced, more then I have done for several years. I danced until I was nothing but rhythm and thought vanished.

So what better way then ending this post with one of Röyksopp's amazing songs: Only this moment.

Gardening for the formerly Homeless

2009-10-22T12:55:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I will work a couple of hours in a city run home for people who have lived lives in homelessness. It is one of several homes run by the city in which I live, and I cannot stress enough that I think that they are doing a very important job. Before I had only read about these projects. Now I have seen a little with my own eyes of the conditions they are living under, and worked on gardening the surrounding area.

The work I do is not spectacular. It consists of trimming overgrown bushes, taking care of the fallen leaves, getting rid of the immense amount of weed that has grown there, etcetera. Later we may go further into replacing or repairing a small wooden fence that has since long seen its best days. And I must admit that the work I do there every Friday fills me with a sense of satisfaction.

Summery Son, captured 2009.

The feeling of doing something good for people whose lives have been filled with hardships is very rewarding in itself. It is no understatement that I am thankful for being able to do this work. A gospel kind of thankful. Having gotten the chance to eat dinner and talk a little with a few of them also gives interesting perspectives on things.

I also have a few more or less visionary ideas involving art and this group of people. Wouldn't it be fantastic if there was a direction towards establishing more artistic projects with music, photography, painting and whatever sparks their interest and curiosity available for people who have lived or live under these conditions? It could be a way of regaining hope in yourself and realizing your own potential which may have been forgotten. Time will tell if or when I will put forward these ideas and what kind of response it will gather. I have a voice in the local section of the green party now after all, as I have written about before.

On a personal level I am also happy to tell that I am going to have a few of my photographs on exhibition in a café hopefully not long from now. I have refurbished a couple of frames I got from second hand to go with them. I also got it clear today that I will have the opportunity to exhibit my photography in another café run by a city supported non-profit organization next late year. Something I wouldn't have believed of myself doing not long ago. But I am determined to continue my life towards a positive path.

Cynthia prima fuit

2009-10-15T07:22:00.001-07:00

Cynthia prima fuit
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

I am really satisfied with the result of this image. At times I find myself capturing something that goes beyond the restrictions imposed by the technology of my camera. The essence of the moment. This is one of those occations.

Waves upon Waves

2009-10-11T08:21:00.001-07:00

Waves upon Waves
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

This Friday I captured this among the other photo's I took. Every day the colors of my surrounding change from green to yellow, red and brown. Autumn is a magical time.

The Word Cloud

2009-10-06T09:24:00.000-07:00

I found something interesting when I read author Jonathan Stratford's blog the other day. He had found an application called Wordle, which lets you feed it your website or any text, and then produces a "cloud" of words for you to see.

Here I have put in my own bloggings for half of a year into Wordle. Patterns emerge, certain words I use often are bigger then those I use less frequently. It is a fascinating thing, because all sorts of sentences pop into my mind when seeing the word-cloud. And like Stratford points out, I think that there is more to be gained trough this then just simple fun.

Instead of reading from left to right, word clouds can be read read upside down, from right to left and perhaps let you see connections between different concepts in your own writing and other writings. As with the Bible, which this blogger has done. Also one of my favorite philosophical texts, the Tao te Ching can be seen as a word cloud.

Try it for yourself. What do you see in your cloud?

What Jazz turned Into

2009-10-01T06:19:00.000-07:00

From Sonar Kollektiv 10th Anniversary Party, with band Christian Prommer's Drumlesson. I bought their album straight from the independent Berlin-label Sonar Kollektiv a couple of months ago. An album well worth getting, if you ask me. The band reinterpret classic techno, house and dance music into something completely different. Enjoy the listen!

Parkour reflected in a Mirror's Edge

2009-09-26T05:47:00.000-07:00

Parkour, or l'art du déplacement is a physical excersice or artform in which you use your body to move in what often is urban landscapes, trying to tackle different parts of the scenery in imaginative ways. Another form is called free running.

Photograph by Alexandre Ferreira, used here with permission under Creative Commons.

I am by no means performing the movements of Parkour, but I have come to learn that it really is a interesting concept and philosophy. I think I first saw free running moves in movies like James Bond: Casino Royale and Madonna's video for her song Jump. And it would have probably stopped there unless I would have bought swedish produced game Mirror's Edge a couple of days ago.

Mirrors Edge is a a clever game, which is visually stunning as well as caught my interest in finding out more about the philosophy of free running and parkour. What it is and why the freedom to challange obstacles and using your body and interact with your surrounding.

Faith from Mirror's Edge, looking out on a stunning scenery.

Of course Mirrors Edge is mostly just a spectacular game, which I think has many positive aspects as well as a sheer beauty that many other games lack: parkour is something more then that though. As far as popular culture goes, movies tends to mostly focus on having a villain or hero doing free running to highten the exitement. But it is important to know that there is more to it then this.

Members of the Seattle Parkour Asssociation practice at Seattle's Gasworks Park. Photo by Paul Swortz, used with permission under Creative Commons.

Parkour is a philosophy based on a positive relationship with the body, using it to train your body and mind to overcome obstacles. Not only climbing physical fences so to say, but moving past and beyond mental walls as well. There has been arguments about the history of parkour, but it it i safe to say that it has a strong french connection with men like Georges Hébert, who was the first to write about parkour as a 'natural method' of moving oblivious to your surrounding.

According to Andy from Parkour North America parkour it is:

"a means of reclaiming what it means to be a human being. It teaches us to move using the natural methods that we should have learned from infancy. It teaches us to touch the world and interact with it, instead of being sheltered by it.

Also worth noting is that people in parkour hold the idea that it should be non-competetive and against rivalry. In this sense, it is similar to geo-caching: which I practise and is also not focused on winning against others.

It is important to build a positive relationship with one's body. And while parkour might definetly not be for everybody, it is one practise amongst many which ponts towards imaginative ways of rethinking how to use your body. And because of this, I believe it has the potential to allow for people who practise it to grow.

A New Chapter of Living

2009-09-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

I have begun what I hope will be a new chapter in my life. A new chapter marked by several slow changes that I have been trying to implement in my life, but I want to mention one of these changes in this blog today.

I just took the step of getting myself involved in the local chapter of the Green Party here in Sweden. I have made a point of not talking much about politics in this blog, as I intended it to be more oriented towards culture. But things tend to become broader then what first was thought out to be the world of Suecae. This blog was after all intended to only be about my own music from the beginning. An idea that soon had to be complemented in favour of my increasing interest in photography. And then in the end I started to write about my own experiences of life.

Yta, captured 2009

I mention becoming involved in the Green party because because it is a personal decision of significance. I also hope that it will provide me with an arena to use my personal experiences of healthcare and social security to influence society in the direction of being more sensible towards people with different needs and abilities in society. To recognice and cherish the difference of human experience and stop seeing people who are not able to work full time as a burden.

I do not intend to change this blog into propaganda for my views and opinions, there are enough good and terrible blogs about politics as it is. I write about this because I feel that I want to share this with those of you who have supported me, quietly or vocally. Especially some of the remarkable women out there in the blogosphere, who impress me with their solidarity and life loving attitude almost every time I stumble across their blogs.Thank you all for coloring the invisible web of the Internet into something real and tangible. I hope to be able to continue to paint the web myself, but if I before used a lot of black and white I hope to add more sparkling colors as I go along.

Entering Vindelkroken

2009-09-07T05:04:00.000-07:00

Mining for minerals and ore in a natural reserve. Taste the words and reflect upon that notion for a short while. This is what mining company Blackstone Ventures wants and has acquired prospecting rights to, in the northernmost parts of Sweden. They will soon start to drill for minerals near the Sapmi summer village Vindelkroken.

If you wish: watch this short video created by independent documentary creator Stéphane Lombard.

The legalities are complicated and I have read about the company using juricial loopholes to be able to prospect the area, but no matter the legal sides and turnabouts, I really hope that they will not be able to continue this project.

Syterskalet - Used here under a Creative Commons license, originally from Wikipedia.

I am not alone in this notion. Communities of people with Sapmi background and culture, being an indigenous culture which inhabits the northern part of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia, are largely against mining in their traditional area of living.

Parts of the Sampi's historical way of making a living for themselves has been trough herding reindeer's. There are claims being made that mining would disrupt the animals natural habitat and also change what has this far been left untouched.

I am writing this because I think it's shady at best to start industrial projects in natural reserves, there is something I believe that many people would recognize as wrong on a very fundamental level.

I also believe that values which includes a support of biological diversity and the preservation of the beauty of the natural habitat needs to be strengthened, so that there is a balance between industrialization and biological sustainability.

On the Cover

2009-09-05T09:19:00.000-07:00

The DJ gone artist producer Polaski just released a new free EP on excellent net-label Kahvi Collective, a great source for independent electronic music . I am the man resonsible behind the photography for the cover, which I am very happy to see together with the very soothing and relaxing music of Bendii Syndrome which is currently playing in my headphones.

You can download the release here.

That is not all though. I have just finished designed my first record cover for ambient artist Motionfield which is due release on Itunes and other spaces within two months. Seing as I am very much fond of his Laponia LP, it was quite an honour that he contacted me to ask me if I wanted to do the cover for his yet to be released album.

Waves of Wind

2009-08-29T11:49:00.000-07:00

It has been quite windy lately. I think I have mentioned on this blog that I like windy days before. It is true, I like them very much. Everything seems so much more alive and less mundane when the wind is moving things around in its unpredictable ways.

There is something powerful when you are experiencing the forces of nature first hand. It takes me out of the kind of everyday thinking where I may be just kind of passing time. It also opens up my imagination to the less then ordinary sides of life and I feel connected to my surrounding in ways which makes me feel alive. Wind makes the surrounding dynamic, moving and alive. Trees bend, leaves and dust scatter around, and if you are outside it is impossible to ignore it.

Taken a sunny day during spring 2009

When I am outdoors these windy days I like to use my camera. It seems as if I am able to go further into the experience when I use photography to help me, as if I allow myself to pause and take the time to actually see that which is around me. If I have had a day which I feel kind of miserable and isolated, this can break that spell and replace that with a sense of connectedness.

At the precise moment when I press my shutter I find myself reflecting a world which is bigger then I might feel spending to much time alone with my own thoughts.

Rough Textures

2009-08-25T11:09:00.001-07:00

Rough Textures
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

A spray of blue color on a tree I found near the place I work made for a dynamic photograph. The wind has grown colder the last two weeks or so - the season is changing.

The History of Techno

2009-08-25T02:37:00.000-07:00

High Tech Soul - The Creation of Techno Music from oddish on Vimeo.

This documentary named High Tech Soul attempts to capture a piece of history of techno music, with a heavy focus on on the city of Detroit. I found it via Multilinkmagazine, which also writes about the connection between this documentary and the book Techno Rebels. Seeing that documentaries about electronic music is not that common, anything good enough to take its subject seriously is recomended by yours truly.

Feautured on Free Compilation

2009-08-18T04:22:00.000-07:00

Today I can go public on a very positive note, as I have a previously unreleased song available for free download on the netradio N0theen's compilation Thanks for N0theen.

They just released two huge album for free, in order to celebrate one year on the air. I am very happy to be part of this, and show my support for the ideas of creative commons. Download it and many other artist's songs here.

The song in question can also be previewed on Myspace, with their significantly lower audio quality.

A Stream of Anxiety into the Ocean of Life

2009-08-11T14:13:00.000-07:00

The written word is a fascinating thing. It can come forward as dry and pointless or it can really reach out and touch someone. Allowing us to form bonds and connections over great distances.

I believe one of the hardest things to accomplish in the field of writing is to write sincerely from the heart. It requires a special form of honesty with oneself which is not always so easy to form. To reveal what is underneath and beyond the image of ourselves that we would like to project to our surrounding is a challenge that many of us has to face one time or another. Perhaps especially so in forming meaningful relationships. Do we dare ourselves to open up, or do we choose to stay closed...

The answer is not always so simple as it might sound, it requires discrimination and good judge or character. Sometimes the avid listener does not have your best intentions at heart. This is something some may experience in the worst way possible, having our good trust betrayed and ridiculed.

Blogging opens up whole new dimensions to these issues, as it transforms what is private and what is public. Many find a supporting environment and wonderful new people to connect with. I know I have. Beginning to write about topics which touches more on my personal challenges has been liberating, and judging by the comments I have received I have reached out in a way that I never thought I would. It is a humbling experience and I am grateful for being subject to it.

I know also that the changes on this blog has been marked by positive changes in my personal life. On the grand scheme of things I have taken huge leaps forward in terms of the relationship I form with myself. Therefore it kind of shook me to lately having to face a significant increased sense of anxiety.

Personal growth as the source of meaning

I think it comes with the territory of life to expect that positive changes in lifestyles are to be followed with better health. I am probably not alone either in having expectations that are sometimes a bit dramatic. Facing old ghosts among all this new can therefore be a disappointment and lead to a sense of failure. Going back in time it definitely has been like that for me.

But is it really a failure to take one step back when you take two steps forward? I am starting change perspective when it comes to this as well. The oftentimes hard work in changing one's life for the better, may not even wield the results of what one may expect or desire, but still has tremendous importance for personal growth. There is never a quick fix to life defining questions. And if we could have access to this quick fix, would we really want it to be that easy?

Honestly: facing the more intense forms of anxiety makes me want to take the easy way out at times, if there was such a thing as an easy way. But I am being careful as I know good people in my surrounding who have formed unhealthy relationships with alcohol, among other things. That is the reality I live in, and although I am really careful as to not pass judgment, I have come to learn that life is a very precious and vulnerable thing.

Ending the fight

Going back a few years in my life I spend a lot of my energy and dedication fighting against my anxiety, depression and all the demons that my subconscious could manifest. I have learned the hard way that identifying parts of yourself as worth fighting can be a huge source of pain. Going forward I have little by little, step by step, come to realize the futility of this approach. Today I try to see the anxiety as a part of myself which cannot be defeated, accepting its presence in me. Not seeing it as toxic, but as a part of life and what makes me who I am.

Going deeper I think that interior conflicts with parts of your personality such as
anxiety, can lead to a situation where you are fighting both yourself and therefore affirming the perceived negative to be a force to be reckoned with. Strangely it may reinforce its existence and letting it become stronger in the process. Translating this to obsessive thoughts and things of that nature, repeatedly affirming to yourself that "I will not think about X", often leads to the opposite.

Becoming friends with your yourself, even the parts which might not be desirable, can be a liberating experience. Of course, these are personal observations that has a lot to do with my own life and I am reluctant as to proclaiming them as universal truths. But as fellow travelers on this journey that is life, I thought I would share. Because although opening up and showing yourself to another can; as I mentioned in the beginning of this article, lead to vulnerability, this type of honesty can also open up possibilities for real connections to people which may enrich your life.

Thank you for reading.

Microcosmos

2009-07-28T04:42:00.001-07:00

Microcosmos
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

I am happy to have captured this photo, as it marks the return of a more vivid set of colors. To my eyes it compliments the abstract well. I hope you like it too.

The Wonders of Difference

2009-07-23T05:08:00.000-07:00

Ever since I stumbled across the blog Cottage Garden Studio; hosted by gifted artist Sarah Sullivan, I've read it regularly. Some of you might remember that I won one of her giveaways earlier this year. Others have yet to read her sympathetic and insightful blog-posts.

She has a returning column called the Quilting Bee, which this time cut to the core on a very serious topic, yet again with a sense of warmth and recognition of the heart of the matter that I sometimes think go amiss when some people discuss "them". I am talking about kids and grown up people that fall under different categories such as asperger, ADHD, tourettes, OCD etcetera. It reminded me why I wrote about mental illnesses last month.

"Years of working with children and adults with autism, Aspergers, ADHD, mental issues, learning disabilities, my sincere belief is…we are truly missing something amazing here. That we need to start looking at these children as “Differently Gifted” rather than set them apart as abnormal."
- Quilting Bee # 16

This is a way of looking at things that I hope will spread. A perspective guided by being able to see potential instead of a static problem. I wouldn't for the world want to dismiss the care that therapeutic treatment and modern medicine can offer to better the life's of people who share some of these traits, there is however also a somewhat disturbing tendency to view anything that breaks the norm in human behavior as a problem, all under the guise that everybody should function in the same way.

This demand for normalcy, can create an enormous amount of pressure on kids and even grown people to adjust and fall into line with a notion of what is believed that everybody else functions and does. The real issue here to me, is that the image of what is normal can never translate into the enormous richness of the human experience. Not even close. If we recognize that everybody already is unique and different, I think this should invite to a sense of wonder and excitement.

In all honesty, everything that sets you apart from others can in unsupportive settings be considered a weakness and a problem. Some of us experienced bullying when growing up, and I know that there don't need to be any good reason for bullying to happen. Any reason would be fine.

And while some cry themselves to sleep in their kinder years for not being normal enough to be accepted by either their family, school or community, they might later grow up to be able to give some of the finest gifts to that could ever be asked for. Gifts that come from their own unique experiences which couldn't have come from anybody else. That which is shaped by the depths of their own being.

Freedom in Motion

2009-07-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

I just found this music video for British musical duo Goldfrapp today, and just have to share it. Words such as beauty gets tossed around a lot, but this is really a very sweet and beautiful song where the video manages to convey the feeling of freedom in a manner that creates a lasting impression. I hope you like it as much as I do.

Birthday of me and a new Column

2009-07-15T05:52:00.001-07:00

Did you notice a new little column to your right? Maybe you didn't. Either way from now on I will write a small piece on what kind of music I listen to at the moment being. It will cover music from the net-label scene and commercial releases in what will be a diversity of genres. Just like this blog it will be updated in a irreguar fashion.

The premier release being covered is a free one from fascinating lo-fi artist Julian Winter. Read and download if you wish.

In other news it's my birthday today. I am now officially 27 years old. My family was kind enough to give me a GPS unit a couple of days ago, which I've already used as a way to join in on the global non-competetive sport / game geocaching.

Basically you look online for coordinates to small treasures that has been hidden away by other participants, which I will take a ride on my bike to attempt to find. Its a fun and to me new way of experiencing the outdoors. Another thing that's fun is that people of all ages seems to enjoy this game. It can be as close or as far away from home as you wish. Hostess of the brilliant blog Moment of perfect clarity; Julocha, wrote about geocaching a couple of days ago.

Some Valuable Recognition

2009-07-04T07:17:00.000-07:00

The life of a Horse - 4 July 2009

Hello fellow traveler. I hope summer is treating you well, it certainly has been very warm lately this part of Sweden. I must have taken more baths outdoors the last two weeks then I took during 2008 in its entirely. I have some happy things to share with you this fourth of July. Things that I look forward to and a couple of very positive personal achievements.

In august one of my photographs are going to be used as a record cover by the excellent free net-label Kahvi Collective. I have written about their releases both on this blog, and on Original Sound Version. I have been listening to their artists since the very beginning and safe to say I am quite honored. I definitely look forward seeing my work together with music on a label that has affected me personally to a great extent.

Another thing I've been meaning to write for quite a while is to tell you that I have been accepted with a song of mine into a compilation that is going to be released for free later this year. Since the track list isn't official yet and I submitted it as a part of a contest I don't think I should write more just now...

Musically I will soon hopefully be able to delve into a new inspirational fields. I have recently bought a used Sony Minidisc and have ordered a small stereo microphone of good quality to connect to it. While I was pondering the alternatives I was looking for much more expensive options like the Zoom H4, but settled for what in the rapidly accelerating field of technology is an almost dead format. But that matters little to me, I am happy just as long as I can work with it as I intend.

What will I be able to do with my new Minidisc then? I will basically be able to record and collect my own sounds anywhere and then use it in musical projects. Imagine the possibilities. Nature is its own symphony which easily lends itself to musical ambition.

It will be very interesting to see where this will this lead me. I hope to find this out in a not to distant future.

The V-Stone

2009-06-30T05:53:00.001-07:00

The V-Stone
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

This piece of concrete is part of local museums art exhibition. I found an angle I liked and let the sun provide the lighting. To my eyes, this is a V. I got there trough trying different kinds of composition.

The Primitive Voice of Techno

2009-06-22T08:57:00.001-07:00

I became involved in a discussion yesterday at the Modplug message board. The board is dedicated to users of a specific type of musical production programs; called trackers, which I have been using for several years as my main tool to produce music.

The author of the tread mentioned a new book by Russian author Martynov, who explores the theme of repetition in music. Using techno as a reference I think I can see an underlying relationship between tribal music of different continents and the very modern incarnations of dance music. Although the differences are obvious: the cultural, instrumental, and melodic differences are sometimes vast. Some things to me seems very much alike though. There are the repetitive phrases, the mesmerizing focus on rhythm and movement, and the idea of music as a potential vehicle for ecstatic experiences.

The artist Ame with the minimal techno track Rej, originally released 2005 on Sonar Kollektiv.

The achievement of different states of consciousness when dancing to repetitive music is still very much witnessed all over the world. I have written before about how night-clubbers and spiritual dancers relate before, inspired by the portrayal of Muslim Sufi's in the french documentary Blues de l'orient.

I believe that the techno producer who lets a kick drum build the foundation of an entire track are building upon an ancient practice, which probably would pay close resemblance to the original spirit of music as it was in the dawn of humanity. I also think that some of the appeal of modern dance music is that it speaks with a voice that attracts us in on very fundamental level.

I am also known as Skjór

2009-06-12T06:43:00.001-07:00

Skjór
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

I found this young magpie outside my apartment on the lawn. It had yet to learn how to fly, and therefore was forced to explore the immensity of the world from the ground, vocally encouraged by its parents.

Thoughts on mental illness and melancholia

2009-06-03T04:00:00.001-07:00

I have been reading a lot of thoughtful and noteworthy blog-post as of late. I want to share posts from two different blogs that have provoked my thought and let me reflect on my own life and experiences.

Sally Mandy over at the Blue Kimono have written several memorable posts about depression; or melancholia as she prefer to term it, and her experiences with this subject. I recommend you to read it, as it brings up how melancholia can manifest itself and that it also can mean a lot of things for different people.

"For me, running from suffering causes much more suffering. That includes running from depression. It feeds compulsion and addiction. Holding out for an impossible sense of joy and happiness is a setup for disappointment of the highest magnitude."
- The Blue Kimono

I have been on medication for depression and anxiety for quite some time, and I know that some are helped by these kinds of medicines and others are not. One of my personal lessons of living with issues such as these, is that a strategy for health has to be multi-faceted and individual.

Someones path might lead to lead them to specific religious teaching, another one finds comfort in a support group in family and friends, all of which might be completely wrong for a third person. If we recognize that each and every person holds the key to his or her health, even if they might not find it on their own, I think we might grow a profound respect for what it means to be human. Personally I have come to think that we create our own medicine trough our thinking and actions.

Also, why is suffering considered to be inherently unnatural? The thinking that it does not belong to any normal persons experiences can cause very much suffering as this ideal does not recognize the richness of many peoples experiences. To diminish whatever troubles us into something that should not exist denies the one thing it really amounts into: the human experience.

Bleak outlook - Photo captured last day of 2008

"I have spent much time contemplating the life of the homeless and mentally ill. Their current circumstances, as well as the history that has led them to sleep on the street, in SROs, self-medicate, and speak and listen to voices, intrigues me. I feel for them. I understand them. I am them."
- Thoughts on Life and the World

F. Monique Pitre writes on the topic of homelessness and mental illness on the blog Thoughts on Life and the World. With just a few words she manage to capture what I feel to be a very valuable truth. While we are different on many levels: underneath our different experiences we still all come from one source.

If meditating on the oneness of our existence might seem strange to you, maybe thinking a while upon all the things we have in common is easier to grasp. How it is that when we peel off more and more layers of culture and ways of living we are essentially so much alike?

While we do need to affirm our right to be different, choose different paths and live different lives, even live separate and defend ourselves, we are also breathing the same air and have the same color of blood in our veins. This understanding might be used to develop a greater compassion towards those around us.

Essentially mental illness is not something that only happens to others, and separating ourselves from a reality that affects all of us in one way or another does not offer real protection.

Relaxing Stone

2009-05-27T07:16:00.001-07:00

Relaxing Stone
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

This image goes in tandem with my other stone-photo.

This quite large stone lies under an Ash in the garden of my parents house in the small village of Gaperud.

A fairytale celebration of life

2009-05-18T13:02:00.000-07:00

This weekend has been amazing. I didn't take a lot of pictures, sorry folks, but I can honestly say that if you want to go to Oslo over a weekend and want to see thousands of flags waving all over the place. Then 17th of may it is.

A lot of people were playing or singing the song Fairytale I mentioned in my previous post, which actually managed to win in Moscow! This likely made the day even more of a joyous occasion for the millions of Norwegians who celebrated the day in some manner.

To top it of Alexander Rybak encouraged people to go and meet him in the airport where my brother works. My dear brother wasn't quite as exited as the people who heeded Alexanders call. Roughly 5000 of them came according to Swedish paper Aftonbladet. This process repeated itself when Alexander returned to his hometown of Nesodden. Not bad for a 23 year old who as a child originally came to Norway as a refugee.

"I'm in looove in a fairytale, the women sang."

Something I'm not used to was the amount of people who chose to dress up in folk costumes. Often these creations are very impressive and beautiful, mostly weared by women and children, with the addition of a couple of brave men. And I tell you, seeing muslim woman passing by wearing the Hijab and then the next second moving past women wearing norwegian folk costumes is definetly something out of the ordinary for me.

Sometimes you need to go away to see life from a different perspective. This weekend helped me a lot to do this. Meeting my brother and seeing seeing how he lives was fun. Then I got the chance to experience the next day being guided by I girl I haven't met for a long time trough the streets of Oslo, where tens of thousands were celebrating. When I eventually had to take the bus home I felt revitalized and happy, a feeling that lasted all the way home.

Being there and experiencing the Norwegian national day my friends, fellow blog readers and writers, were nothing short of fantastic. I also would like to take the opportunity to thank you all for your comments. I read them all and they really make writing these words so much more joyous.