Computer Perfection

Love Detroit 2011

2011-12-14T17:38:00.000-05:00

Hi there! Please visit Team Detroit's annual Holiday Card to the world... http://www.love-detroit.com/2011/

There you will find our latest recording entitled 'When They Key Turns', along with 4 other wonderfully weird seasoned greetings. Love, CP & Company

ReBroadcast

2011-10-19T12:51:00.003-04:00

Kickstarter campaign to make Danny DeMaggio's origami reality a dream!!!

2011-09-23T11:51:00.007-04:00

Computer Perfection just released a 5-song EP in a limited edition run of 100 cassettes, with MP3 download available for the purists. Track 3, Boby Tarlow, floats somewhere in an ethereal 8-bit never world... bombing the bass... sampling old toy keyboards and twisting it into absurdly tongue-tied Koopa Troopa chants.

GO HERE.

We seek to raise funds in order to hire artist and director Mister DeMaggio, tasking him with creating the appropriate visual accompaniment to our 3 minute pop song. Listen here...

http://thestrangeecho.bandcamp.com/

Mister DeMaggio’s unfiltered and unguided proposal to the band prompted us to devise a plan to make it happen: In 2011, I was again approached by the band Computer Perfection to create a video for the song “Boby Tarlow”. Initially, the lyrics call out “Hey Toby” before the chorus becomes “Oh Boby Tarlow.” Mysterious as this insignificant change was, my research of the name conjured up its hidden reworking of one Toby Barlow: Creative Director and Author. The band was not interested in focusing on the individual; they claimed that they were merely amusing themselves with their friend’s name. I wanted to appreciate some reference to an artist in the brainstorming phase, so I proposed an ongoing paper-fold transition, starting with a blank business card that generated colorful 2D and 3D animations as the song gradually became a chant surrounded in origami.

Green Light Go gives us the Hi 5

2011-09-09T13:11:00.000-04:00

“Fermenting in a Brach’s mix of the sound made by 1970’s knockoff guitars, dinner parties, loose lips, obsolete synthesizers, film nights, familial relics, analog delay, morning coffee, [and] the strangely colored matter made when a male voice brushes against its female counterpart,” Detroit’s psychedelic synthpop outfit Computer Perfection began as a means to and end. Several years ago, during one of Pas/Cal's many extended hiatuses, the now husband and wife duo Gene Corduroy and Amy Bem returned to Michigan from New York City to buy a home, start a family, and relish in the American Dream. Upon arriving in Ferndale, MI, the couple called on an old friend, Nathaniel F.H. Burgundy IV, to fill out the trio and contribute to the band’s yearlong recording collaboration. Weaving literary references with krautrock influences, Computer Perfection more recently expanded with the addition of drummer Alex Trajano and former Scarlet Oaks frontman Stevers McFever, prior to releasing a free, downloadable version of the The Merry Microbes EP in August of 2011.

Read on...

http://glgpub.com/blog/high-five/high-five-from-computer-perfection

now that's a good idea

2011-08-29T16:38:00.001-04:00

Sounds Like A Movement / download sampler: detroit, michigan

SLAM SUMMER SAMPLER: Detroit by SOUNDS LIKE A MOVEMENT

The Merry Microbes EP

2011-08-25T13:30:00.001-04:00

"The most beautiful memories are those of childhood." - Andrei Tarkovsky

The new Computer Perfection EP opens with oblique references to that scene from the birch forest in Andrei Tarkovsky's Ivan's Childhood. This I tell you because it doesn't matter. Jagged guitars, Byzantine synth lines and a resolute rhythm section shepherd gentle harmonies through the trenches and swamps of an imagined war film. Proxima takes the whole mess, and in under two minutes, stipples its ambrosial mix across a starry sky. Boby Tarlow brings things back to Earth, almost. Floating somewhere in an ethereal 8-bit neverworld... bombing the bass... sampling old toy keyboards and twisting it into absurdly tongue-tied Koopa Troopa chants. Mystery Song rounds out Side A with an instrumental piece that contemplates a shoe box crammed with monochrome slides of poorly lit interiors.

Side B, make of it what you will. We did. It ends up where side A begins, with the original study for Ivan, I Know.

Here I'll mention that there are 100 limited edition custom, hand-made cassettes available for purchase. Don't worry, each comes with an MP3 download link for the purists.

Five compositions are freed from the constraints of linear logic. They recall a time before we knew anything. They are the foreboding of imminent misfortune and unbelievable luck. They are the reminder that there is nothing we know, other than this shit matters.

- Computer Perfection's autobiographer

GET IT HERE, FREE (ZIP FILE)

Computer Perfection Chart UFO's: Unique Family Orchestrations

2011-06-08T14:30:00.010-04:00

Jeff Milo writes it all right for Patch:

Band mates and house mates embrace the reality: there's "no such thing as a quiet house" while finishing up second album.

Read on here...

http://ferndale.patch.com/articles/computer-perfection-chart-ufos-unique-family-orchestrations

A Night 2 Remember

2011-05-24T13:49:00.000-04:00

ohio boy

2011-05-05T10:08:00.002-04:00

Andy Taray, our buddy in Akron has a new website for his artful enterprises: http://www.ohioboy.com

Andy and some of his friends developed the packaging for our first album. Also, check out his company http://wearecampfire.com/ for tons of cool graphic T-shirts. Or maybe at a Renegade Craft fair near you.

Here's a song by another Ohio Boy:

Sirius Luv

2011-04-09T22:00:00.001-04:00

Session Sheet / Recording Information

Time:        Saturday, April 9 2011
Studio Time:    10 AM to 5:30 PM
Location:    McFever McMansion (Woodbridge/Detroit)

Title(s):
I Need A Serious Love (Take 4)
Serotonin (Let The Light In) (Takes 3/4)
Wayfarers All (Takes 2/3)

Label Information:     Le Grand Magistery
Release Information:     Date/Title TBD

Track / Instrument / Mic / Preamp

1    Kick / Shure Beta 52A / Bellari RP220
2    Snare / Shure SM57 / Bellari RP220
3    OH Hi-Hat / Shure KSM27 / Bellari RP220
4    OH Ride / Blue Dragonfly / Bellari RP220
5    Room / Steve Rodes NT1 / Presonus TubePre
6    Elec Guitar / Shure SM57 / Presonus BlueTube
7    Bass Amp / AKG D112 / Presonus BlueTube
8    Bass Direct / SansAmp BassDriver DI

Preamps

Tangled

Musicians
Drums - Alex Trajano
Bass - Stevers McFevers
Elec Guitar - Gene Corduroy

TapeOp
Jeff Richardson

Jeff as Honorary tapeop

Notes
I began the day by packing up the home studio, The Fishtank. With Nathaniel in Mexico City, overseeing the annual board meeting for the Burgundy Foundation, I requisitioned Bem to help carry everything up the stairs. Transporting the gear was a cinch with our trusty GMC Safari maxi-van, Brownie. First things first... a not-so-quick stop at Avalon for coffee, vegan blueberry muffins, a sticky bun and a chocolate mini bundt cake. You have to have the proper caffeine and sugar levels in order to get the proper recording levels. Also, pro gear and a pro 'tude helps. Anyways as setup and sound checks began, Stevers kept the coffee flowing. Setting up took a good 3 hours and a stiff dose of benadryl for Alex' cat allergies.

Drums in the Parlor

Guitar in the Living Room

Bass in the Lavatory

Have a seat.

Drums in the parlor, guitar in the living room, bass in the lavatory. Stevers woke up neighbor Jeff Richardson to serve as an honorary tapeop for the morning shift.

The first track is one we've been practicing for about a month. I Need A Serious Love was inspired in part by the character of James Elwood, computer programmer in an episode of The Twilight Zone entitled 'From Agnes--With Love'. It went quickly, and we nailed it on the 4th take. No edits.

By 2pm, the energizing effect of coffee and sweets had run its course. We broke for a quick lunch: black bean quesadillas stuffed with all manner of veggies and topped with Honey Bee's amazing salsa. That was not all. No visit to the McFevers McMansion is complete without a generous pour from Steve's top shelf. It's really the top shelf too, I can't reach it. Manhattans all around.

Serotonin (Let The Light In) went 4 takes before we were satisfied. Truth be told, we flew the outro from Take 4 into Take 3. You'd never know. Tape splicing is quite easy when you remove the tape part. Not that I couldn't do it if I had to... with two semesters serving as a library A/V tech in high school, I'm certain I could Scotch tape an album together.

We ended the afternoon on a song that is more collage than composition. Wayfarers All is a troubling stew of Moog blips, time-stretched vocals, mechanical drums, synth farts and 8-bit samples. Let's see what becomes of this mélange.

More...

New cardigan for the occasion

A different angle

Bass

Step right up

This sucker's electrical

Sounded good

FAQ & Update

2011-03-16T14:08:00.009-04:00

FAQ

• Describe your band (in 5 words or less). Flashbacks, Food, Film, Forestry, Echos. Describing one's band tends to be terribly frustrating, we've discovered. So we just quote things others have already written.
• If your music was a place, where would it be? It would be on the set of Ivan's Childhood, in the birch tree house scene.
• One time I was on stage and... I didn't fuck up.
• What are the band members' full time jobs? We live off the legendary Burgundy fortune, and intend to soon start an upscale hippie commune / urban farm.
• What is the song-writing process like? A vat of lyrics slowly accrued over time is applied to a collection of music that has also slowly been fermenting in sherry casks.
• Where did the band name come from? It's probably a pretty interesting story, but I don't know.
• Digital or Analog? Who cares. Listen to Jean Michel Jarre's Oxygene or Giorgio Moroder's E=MC² & tell me it isn't a fantastic marriage. The lovely thing is that cheap technology - computers, software, et cetera - has made recording an album possible for the likes of us. We never could have pulled it off otherwise.
• How about past musical endeavours? They're still out there, frozen in time on Friendster profiles, MichigIndie caches and Geocities pages.

NEWS

We are presently recording songs and non-songs for a new collection. Destination: Fall 2011. You can hear two of them in the music player. Proxima and Ivan, I Know.

FAVORITE YOUTUBE COMMENT
These guys are drinking their brains!

Blowout 2011

2011-03-02T12:15:00.003-05:00

Hamtramck Blowout 2011 is upon us. We've prepared a short video essay on what this yearly ritual means to us. Also, MetroTimes says this about us:

Midnight — Computer Perfection: Spare the hyperbole: Yes, there's airy pop perfection in Gene Corduroy's combo — songwriting and synthesizers are the skin and bones to which everything clings, and the band wouldn't likely deny an enduring appreciation for Kraftwerk and the Beatles.

Don't know what that means, but it sounds about right. But they forgot about hot dogs and finger banging:

listening room

2011-02-27T14:29:00.002-05:00

1. Getz/Gilberto
2. Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells A Story
3. Led Zeppelin II
4. Jean Michel Jarr - Oxygene
5. Brian Eno - Another Green World
6. Rolling Stones - Out Of Our Heads
7. Talking Heads - 77
8. Everything You Always Wanted to Hear on the Moog
9. Beach House - Teen Dream
10. Secret Twins - Ill Fit
11. Miles Davis - Bitches Brew

The Strange Echo

2011-02-14T17:02:00.001-05:00

Welcome to our new pad called The Strange Echo. This year we're polishing up the old tunes with a new drummer by the name of Alex Trajano. March 2 at Club Bart in Ferndale and March 3 at Atlas Bar in Hamtramck for Blowout. Also we've abandoned the idea of an EP and have set our sights on a full blown 2nd LP. Lots of new songs.

2 shows.

2010-12-16T16:21:00.000-05:00

Working on a new EP

2010-11-10T18:29:00.003-05:00

The last few months have found us pleasuring ourselves while simultaneously inching forth and forward, sometimes mostly backwards, on a new 6-song EP with a working title of 'The Merry Microbes'.

Here we are in our state-of-the-art electronics lab, going over some schematic diagrams. Bem, ever the party girl, is still wearing her sparkles from last New Year's Eve.

Don't fuck with me, I'm trying to fix this toaster oven.

Here is our new drummer, with an actual name that will be revealed soon. Or so he tells me. He looks like he can really bring home the busk.

Stevers needs more juice in the cans. And a nice glass of freshly squeezed orange juice after last night's bender. Or was that me? Or was that Burgundy. Aw, who am I kidding guys? We are as straight edge as they come.

Burgundy figures out how to check his Facebook status on this transistor radio.

Fantasmagorie

2010-07-12T12:40:00.002-04:00

This is pretty cool.

NVR BBQ

2010-06-30T15:48:00.003-04:00

We join The Summer Pledge to help raise some gas money for their big tour. Also, a vinyl release show for "You Are You". Bring stuff to grill, frisbees, black cats, roman candles, lawn darts, sparklers, horseshoes, hand grenades etc.

BBQ, FIREWORX, DRINKIN', STINKIN' & NVR THINKIN! I had to google NVR.

8:30 @ the Shack.
Thursday July 1st.
$5.
1520 Merrick (Detroit).

Jambon

2010-06-29T13:32:00.004-04:00

Gene & I were talking about setting aside a weekend of recording jams like we always do before practice. Steve brought up the fact that Can used to record this way. Lots of other sweet bands did & do, too. ___/___ even recorded a song this way & it's the one song I still like. It would be a total departure from the way we've been working so far & the way Gene & I have always worked.

I think July could be a great time for this. Computer Perfection has just a few shows, Scarlet Oaks I think is on a little bit of a break & Legendary Creatures is off for the whole month.

What do you guys think?

Single Barrel Detroit

2010-04-27T12:45:00.005-04:00

We recently had the opportunity to record a handful of live acoustic performances in unique settings with the wonderful folks from Single Barrel Detroit. From their website:

Just north of the Ford Piquette factory is a spread of railroad tracks, once the nexus of two major lines - the Detroit & Milwaukee and Grand Trunk, which bridged much of the Midwest and Canada in an accord of industry, travel and expedience. When Henry Ford moved his tinker-y automotive operation there in 1904, the neighborhood - known as Milwaukee Junction - was pounding with other car makers, stamping plants, parts suppliers and fab shops. Home to Dodge, Packard, Regal and Cadillac, it was the nerve center of an emerging new Detroit - a Detroit built on internal combustion, efficient production, and innovative enterprise. But it was the Piquette Factory that sealed the city's fate: on September 27, 1908, the first Model T rolled off its assembly line. And from there, the Model T changed the world....

Read it all, see the videos & photos, download the MP3s at Single Barrel Detroit

So what's all the fuzz.

2010-03-31T11:15:00.004-04:00

Dagger publishes interview with members and former members: http://www.daggerzine.com/

Also, Dagger contributor Eric Eggleson ranks us #1 in his top-ten list from 2009.

Motor City Cribs

2010-03-03T12:29:00.004-05:00

"The Ferndale house and studio of Computer Perfection"

Thanks to Doug Coombe for photos and story. Here: http://www.metrotimes.com/culture/story.asp?id=14852

Also, another Metrotimes story on the genesis of our album artwork: http://www.metrotimes.com/arts/story.asp?id=14848

Free Double-Single for Valentine's

2010-02-12T00:55:00.006-05:00

Computer Perfection is seeking to warm your hearts this St. Valentine's Day with a pair of our favorite love songs: "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)" by The Talking Heads & "In The Land of Make Believe" by Burt Bacharach & Hal David.

To maximize the love rays, we've enlisted a group we've dubbed The Camelot Six: Carey Gustafson (Outrageous Cherry, Serenity Court), Emily Gustafson (Serenity Court), Adam Pierce (Mother Whale, The Meadowlarks), Dave Lawson (The Pop Project, The Sights), Scott Masson (office, The Juliets), Dan Demaggio (Data Demaggio, Coyote Clean Up) & Angela Duncan (theangeladuncan.com). The lot of us stripped down & just let those good vibes flow!

Listen & love, cos it's all you need. Plus it's free, here: http://www.romanticair.com/

Sing into my mouth.

2010-02-10T16:43:00.001-05:00

Stop the rage and consider this.

2010-02-05T13:01:00.000-05:00

Michael Keaton circa Mr. Mom / Beetlejuice and Bret Michaels circa now. Time traveling alien? You be the judge.

Also, make your own Ragetoon here: http://ragetoons.tumblr.com/

A response, of sorts.

2010-02-02T00:02:00.001-05:00

Oy, Jesus Chainsaw Massacre. These guys! I’m sure these nit-wits have their hallowed ideas as to what “rock & roll” is & should be & far be it for me to disabuse anyone of his or her adolescent wet dreams, but I can pretty confidently tell you what “rock & roll” is not. It is NOT throwing on a pair of aviator sunglasses you picked up from CVS on your way to the show, an ill-fitting, second-hand blazer (ironic, perhaps?) & then mildly swaggering about onstage as though you were Rick Moranis trying to fit in on Soul Train. “Rock & roll” isn’t about being utterly devoid of any miniscule crumb of fashion sense. This is something I’m fairly certain of, though I may wrong; “rock & roll” may be about looking like a middle-school-er dressed as a tampon for Halloween. In all honesty, I don’t know & don’t care.

Let me just say that I’ve never been one to pigeon-hole any musical genre & I’m extremely dubious of those who do & thus go in for the same hackneyed tricks that have been dealt out for decade upon decade. All the asinine pomp & “raw rock” in the world can’t hide a lack of vision or imagination. Or talent, for that matter. Still, there are those who continue to eat this kind of shit up, including Jesus Chainsaw Massacre. These poor guys provide the world with ample evidence as to their lack of even the most modest modicum of taste in both the music (?) they create & the music they promote on their God-forsaken poor excuse of a Geocities website wrenched from the clueless depths of 1994 that they pass as a blog.

While we’re on that subject, let’s take a minute to discuss that gem-like turd, a forum meant to both offend & provoke laughter that manages to do neither. Who the hell thinks this is funny anymore? Pre-teen boys across Middle America, I’m sure, but who else? Once you’ve gotten laid, read a book & seen the world a little bit the shit that tickles JCM’s funny bone will inevitably lose its once invaluable charm. Remember dead baby jokes? Weren’t those hilarious when you were ten? Then you stopped wetting the bed & you were a new person, all grown-up & sophisticated. “Jesus Chainsaw Massacre”? What does that even mean? Is that meant to bother my grandmother?

Don’t get me wrong, their website doesn’t manage to offend a single sensibility of mine other than an aesthetic sense. I actually enjoy abrasive humor when it isn’t shallow, lazy & facile. Unfortunately that brand of “humor” seems to be the sole offering from JCM apart from their wet-blanket bitching & juvenile, feckless, white-bread “observations”. I’m sure that if you’ve never been on the Internet before their harmless baby-boner snark will seem novel. However, this being my 28th year on Earth, I’ve enjoyed enough genuine wit that JCM just bores & mystifies me.

Now, Computer Perfection is far from greatness or, pardon me, perfection. If you don’t care for what we do, I’m sorry, I guess. I will say this, though: even I am not satisfied by what we’ve done. Keep in mind that we are still a brand-new band. The songs we perform have hardly been around a year. We are, though, looking forward to continually pushing forward and struggling towards more experimentation, innovation & just plain good, catchy songs. I’m well aware that there are people who don’t like our music & never will, but that doesn’t bother me in the least. What does bother me is the witless, cynical negativity that I see from the likes of the gentlemen (a term I use loosely) of the tragically-named Jesus Chainsaw Massacre. Attitudes like that not only contribute nothing but in fact detract from the otherwise dynamic & fruitful discourse that art can provide. I’d consider it no hyperbole to say that the world is better off without it, to say nothing of a tiny & perpetually struggling arts scene.

& this here, for the two people still reading this diatribe (hi Grandma!), is the crux of my beef with JCM’s off-hand, reptilian-brained criticisms, toothless though they may be. If you want to see what is wrong with Detroit’s music scene, fellas, I suggest you take a look in the mirror.

Excelsior!

N. Francis Burgundy IV

Detroit Rocks 4 Haiti

2010-01-21T17:23:00.003-05:00

22 Detroit bands pitch in to raise money for victims of the Haitian earthquake. Detroit Rocks For Haiti takes place on Friday, January 29th and Saturday, January 30th at the Magic Stick in Detroit.

An $8 donation gets you admission; larger donations will be accepted. Computer Perfection is 9pm on Sat/Jan 30th.

For those that can’t make it down to the event, there is information on how to make a contribution on Bishop Gumbleton's website: www.bishopgumbleton.org

Net door proceeds and a portion of bar revenues will be donated to Bishop Gumbleton to purchase medical supplies to take with them to Klinik Sen Michel - bandages, analgesics, antibiotics, ointments, antiseptics, etc. Full schedule below.

JANUARY 29th

01:00 AM FRIENDLY FOES (MAIN STAGE)
12:30 AM COPPER THIEVES (SIDE STAGE)
12:00 AM FOUR HOUR FRIENDS (MAIN STAGE)
11:30 PM SECRET TWINS (SIDE STAGE)
11:00 PM CHARLIE SLICK (MAIN STAGE)
10:30 PM OLD EMPIRE (SIDE STAGE)
10:00 PM BLACK JAKE AND THE CARNIES (MAIN STAGE)
09:30 PM FAWN (SIDE STAGE)
09:00 PM THE COLD WAVE (MAIN STAGE)
08:45 PM THE HANDGRENADES (SIDE STAGE)
08:30 PM DESIGNASAUR (MAIN STAGE)

JANUARY 30th

01:00 AM BUMP (MAIN STAGE)
12:30 PM SISTERS OF YOUR SUNSHINE VAPOR (SIDE STAGE)
12:00 PM ELECTRIC FIRE BABIES (MAIN STAGE)
11:30 PM TROY GREGORY (SIDE STAGE)
11:00 PM THE JULIETS (MAIN STAGE)
10:30 PM DECIBILT (SIDE STAGE)
10:00 PM MICK BASSETT AND THE MARTHAS (MAIN STAGE)
09:30 PM TBA (SIDE STAGE)
09:00 PM COMPUTER PERFECTION (MAIN STAGE)
08:45 PM TBA (SIDE STAGE)
08:30 PM BODY HOLOGRAPHIC (MAIN STAGE)

Join the CP mailing list, get 2 free demo tracks

2010-01-05T15:03:00.001-05:00

Join the Computer Perfection mailing list and get 2 free MP3s from our current recording sessions. You'll get the unreleased 'Proxima' as well as a demo of 'Ivan, I Know', the song destined for our first 7" of 2010.

Simply write us here: music{at}computerperfectionists.com

As the list grows, we'll have more free music, free passes to shows, personal grooming tips, recipes and other freebie tchotchkes.

New Year's Eve Bash @ Magic Stick / Detroit

2009-12-15T09:05:00.003-05:00

9:00 - 9:25 Kommie Kilpatrick
9:30 - 9:55 Secret Twins
10:00 - 10:25 Octopus
10:30 - 10:55 Mick Bassett and the Marthas
11:00 - 11:25 The Frustrations
11:30 - 11:55 Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor
12---------- New Years Balloon Drop and Champagne Toast
12:00 : 12:30 Computer Perfection
12:35 - 1:05: Infinity People
1:10 - 1:35 Druid Perfume
1:40 - 2:20 Silverghost
2:25- 4:00 DJ's & DANCE PARTY FUN TIME

Video No. 2 ::: Sans Soleil

2009-12-12T23:35:00.005-05:00

Created by Daniel DeMaggio & Adam Amp.

{ º M p µ + € R ----- P £ R ƒ e ¢ T ¡  N from Daniel Francis DeMaggio on Vimeo.

Or watch it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n-vKKk8828

Blue Label Special Vol 1 or 'Kilmarnock goes by the wayside, as goes everything eventually.'

2009-12-01T17:15:00.009-05:00

Unofficial lyrics to the song ABLE ARCHER:

We pressed in closer listening
To the distant ringing cathedral bells
The trees have lost their leaves for good
And the sky’s become a carousel
Well we left our land in the middle west
Where a thousand forests might've grown
We'll leave it to the scientists
To take and burn this ground away
Gordievsky's flipped again
And I'm sent to bed early again
So I'm counting on the day after next
To take and burn these clouds away
Waiting back in home-room
On another dreary day of school
And I'm locked in with the bins & brooms
So I'll have a chair and wait upon you fools

We recently added a small bar area in the dining room, always freshly stocked with Johnny Walker (black) and other fermented dee-lites. Burgundy wants to become a sort of walking bartender's little black book. For that, I applaud him. I will sit by the fireplace, rock a little, read a little Still Life With Woodpecker, and wait for my scotch on the rocks damn you.

Video for 'Able Archer'.

Free Retread.

2009-11-25T16:07:00.004-05:00

Last year, with the best of intentions, we collected/collated/assembled 9 merry songs from our archives. And a few fantastic friends kicked in some gems for good measure. Lo, as any musician worth their salt might, we released it just in time for the holiday season to be over. So whatever... we are re-treading this worthy endeavour for the final days of the aughts.

Download the complete LP [320kbps MP3, 64mb - art & all]

From Romantic Air Recording Company: We decided to spread a little joy & mirth in a world of increasing anxiety & consternation the only way we know how: A holiday compilation! CHRISTMAS PARTY features seasonal tracks from The 1900s, new Le Grand Magistery signees Computer Perfection, RAR Artists Sa Sevol and Buttermilk Daydream, and PAN!C {of Johnny Headband}. Another strangely seductive highlight: A debut by AUNT BERU & THE JUICERS with their version of Here Comes Santa Claus . The entire album, including print-quality sleeve art, is free.

Video No. 1 for Album No. 1 for Track No. 1 called Able Archer

2009-11-08T21:08:00.001-05:00

CMJ 2009 ::: 6 days / 5 nights

2009-10-27T13:53:00.007-04:00

Day 0, Tuesday ::: With X-Cargo securely attached to old Brownie, we leave Ferndale relatively on time, scooping up Stevers in Woodbridge on the way. We start the night with the Jimmie Rodgers Train Whistle Blues cd. It's all about hobos and railroad bums and brakemen, getting us in the mood for 6 days of transient living. Also some Merle Haggard. Makes sense for the flat expanse of Ohio Turnpike. Speaking of which - that turnpike has the best rest areas. Quite restful. Burgundy & Aaron opt for BK as it is the only vendor open. Please note that prices have risen substantially on said roadway. Our one-way fare went from $6 in May to over $15 this time.

Day 1, Wednesday ::: Wake up on top of a mountain in Clarion, PA. Make our fancy waffles at Comfort Inn's fancy waffle bar. Lovely 5-hr drive along I-80.... mountains, Gandalf. Fall colors, deer carcasses, another ride on the Jimmie Rodgers express. Pick up our badges & gift bags in Washington Square Park. Quite different from years past, with a DIY kinda feel to the whole thing. Last time was convention-y @ the Hilton on 6th Ave in midtown. Pretty cool that Amp Energy (drink) sponsors both CMJ & Dale Earnhardt Jr. Nothing worthwhile in the bags, other than the festival guide and a pick. The bags themselves are kinda cheap and tacky too. Well - there are 2 CDs, have to give them a spin. Tonight's show is at Public Assembly (used to be Galapagos - the charm factor isn't there, no indoor lagoon nor ambiance). Nice crowd. Not a bad night, though the on-stage sound was the pits. Vocal monitors completely useless. Burgundy has one of his patented 'When Good Cables Go Bad' moments. Dinosaur Feathers folks are really nice. LGM labelmates The Secret History share a keyboard stand & a tambo with us. Thanks to Clyde [Twenty Seven Media] for putting this event together, and for the pizza too. Thanks to Steve for the 1/2 pint of Jim Beam. So, luck of the Irish, Broadcast & Atlas Sound are playing right next door at Music Hall. Burgundy gets there in time for the entire Broadcast set, hoofing it back to our comfy digs at The Gretsch [Guitar!] Building. Aaron & Stevers split with friends putting them up.

Day 2, Thursday ::: Start the day off just right with coffee & baked goods from Marlow & Sons. $3 for a plain old coffee, but it was really great plain old coffee. Today turns out to be lots of walking, exploring Williamsburg (a perfect day for it, nearly 70). In all the time Bem & I lived in Brooklyn we hardly ventured there. I like it. People are constantly ripping on it as a hipster paradise. First of all, the word hipster has to go. What does it even mean? And as Burgundy observed, 'Would you rather live like hillbillies?' (Full disclosure: I've always wanted an urban farm). Secondly, from an outside perspective, it seems to have the right mix of grit and culture. Other things: We take Penny (our daughter) to the dog park. Bánh mì (vietnamese sandwich) from An Nhua. Weird little east river urban reclamation park to watch the waves roll in. A stop @ Main Drag Music for the two-tiered synth stand. I share a Kombucha with Steve. We end the night with our CMJ showcase at The Rose. It's a cozy and quaint little bar, usually a jazz club. Multi-patterned rose wallpapers, cushy sofas, generous drinks. Seated cocktail tables and a shoebox of a stage. A fairly inappropriate place for full band to play, but we make the best of it. I make the worst of it with a mistuned (not tuned, really) A string on the first song. We play 'Beat City' tonight and one guy in the audience knows it. In fact, he was a member of the John Hughes fan club and owns the single. He buys our CD. Also, a PR guy from Sonicbids is in the audience. He later interviews us for a promotional piece.

Day 3, Friday ::: A day off. A trip into the city via the JMZ. We rendezvous at the CMJ Artist Lounge on Bowery. Asahi beers. Bem gets a haircut. It's probably safe to assume we had the only toddler roadie at CMJ. Burgundy considers a massage, but doesn't like when people touch him here. Or there. Later, Bem makes a purchase at A.P.C. Penny gets a wooden F Train for her set at the Scholastic Store. Stevers, Burgundy and I scour UNIQLO for deals on sweaters, jeans, socks, unmentionables -- then we head back to The Gretsch for some wine and unwinding. We end the night at Diner, right across the street.

Day 4, Saturday ::: It is pouring. 2pm show @ Spike Hill. Very strange (and quite frankly unappealing) to play in broad daylight, and completely sober for the pending trip home. The stage setup is, shall we say, unvconventional. From left to right, drums in the corner. Then synths, guitar, bass. Nobody in front of their own amp. No synth volume. Monitors are again pointless. Maybe we need some punky versions of our songs to get through these situations. We pack up in the rain, grab some Döner kebab sandwiches for the ride out, and hit the BQE. Stevers decides to stay one extra day, hitching a ride with a buddy. It's just as well that somebody stays to drink up our tickets. 3 hours later we cross back into the wilds of Pennsylvania. It's an absolute torrent of rain... there are cars off the road. Our speedometer isn't working, just like it always doesn't when it rains. Anybody have a diagnosis on this? Then the wind storm kicks in.

Day 5, Sunday ::: Wake up in Cleafield, PA with a belly still full of burgers (Aaron did pizza) from Denny's Beer Barrel Pub. Nobody takes the 2 lb burger challenge. But Burgundy says, 'Next time, your ass is mine.' Probably helpful to say it to the burger, not the waitress. It felt like an authentic ramshackle roadhouse, up on a hill with a dirt parking lot. We wonder how many beer barrel patrons have driven their sedans, Alvy Singer style, right over the edge and down into the gulley. So back to to-day... continental breakfast at the Rodeway Inn consists of coffee and donettes. Ok. I do chocolate, Penny does powdered. Lunch at Au Bon Pain on the t'pike, again - not bad for road food. We listen to the newly remastered Abbey Road -- doubtful as I was, it really is quite an improvement. Also Zoos of Berlin, Elliot Smith XO, and the required Jimmie Rodgers. We cross the Michigan border (Great Lakes! Great Depresssion!) around 4pm. I pick up some school lunch supplies @ Western Market, running into Carey & Emily Gustafson at the meat counter. It's a nice welcome home, and we're just in time for a night cap and a fire.

Outtakes from Sans Soleil

2009-10-19T17:42:00.001-04:00

Just singing about things I like. Ramblin’ on with Zeppelin and Tolkien. Through The Past, Darkly with the Stones in an octagonal record jacket. Through A Glass, Darkly with Ingmar Bergman. The song title leans toward the film Sans Soleil by Chris Marker, which itself references Stalker by Andrei Tarkovsky.

I like this bit of dialogue from Sans Soleil:

And when all the celebrations are over it remains only to pick up all the ornaments—all the accessories of the celebration—and by burning them, make a celebration.

I don’t know what the hell that is about, but it makes me think of celebrating the end of the year by burning an Xmas tree and decorations in the front yard. Dancing around it madly, chanting Sto lat! and eating the last of the candy cane cookies.

I was talking with a friend about good creepy songs for a Halloween party - One Way Or Another by Blondie was mentioned. She said it was about a stalker. Armed with this new and trivial knowledge, I scoured the web in search of other stalking songs. By chance, I stumbled upon Tarkovsky’s Stalker. The second half of our song visits The Zone as imagined by me before I saw the film.

The Party.

2009-10-12T10:00:00.002-04:00

Lo, we did celebrate the release of 'We Wish You Well On Your Way To Hell'. What fun!

Angela Duncan's set with pal Dan Demaggio was even more moving than anticipated. Epiphanic, revelatory, rapturous. O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!

White Hinterland was such a joy. This was the first I'd heard/seen them & I was so pleased to be playing with them. Not only was the music splendid & intricate but Casey & Shawn were both so nice & revealed to us their fantastic food blog & illustrative work, respectively.

Nonsense & non-sequiturs abound. Copious compliments & credit must be given to the WIZARD & SEXY VAMPIRES who made an already exquisite night even better than could have been imagined.

Consumed: antipasti kebabs, pesto-black-forest-ham deviled eggs, endive with blue cheese, grape & walnut, brownies, Cookie Momster cookies, Trader Joe's finest bottle of champagne.

White Hinterland. Courtesy Philip David Southern.

Computer Perfection. Courtesy Philip David Southern.

Angela Duncan. Courtesy Philip David Southern.

Wizard.

Sexy Vamps.

Now our sights are officially set on CMJ Music Marathon in New York City. We leave next week to play three shows & embark on a culinary quest. The following performances shall be had:

Oct 21 2009 9:00P Brooklyn Public Assembly (Twenty Seven Media Showcase) Brooklyn, New York

Oct 22 2009 8:00P The Rose (CMJ Showcase) Brooklyn, New York

& one more on Saturday afternoon. Details to come.

Furthermore, our gastronomic sights are set on the following dining locales:

Sweetie Pie
www.sweetiepierestaurant.com

Fette Sau
www.fettesaubbq.com

Denny's Beer Barrel Pub
www.dennysbeerbarrelpub.com

So far. Stay tuned.

Oh, almost forgot:

"Computer Perfection, White Hinterland, Angela’s Loop Clarinet +@ Pike Room- Computer Perfection has been getting a lot of local rub lately. Fuck 'em. Won't be at this show."

Courtesy of Jesus Chainsaw Massacre's blog. We have arrived. I hope that's the last time I have to type the words 'Jesus Chainsaw Massacre' in that order.

Nathaniel Francis-Hassenpfeffer Burgundy IV

Catching Up!

2009-09-20T11:21:00.001-04:00

Oh boy, it's been too long! Okay, here we are back again. Quick updates:

PAST

9.5.2009 Computer Perfection v2.0 plays Schuba's in Chicago. Overall, not bad despite technical issues. I should say that the sound guy was perhaps the nicest I've met. Gary, I think his name was. Gene & I bought matching sunglasses at Penelope's.

9.19.2009 Computer Perfection v2.0 plays DIY Street Fair in Ferndale. Absolute blast. Our new rhythm section is the sturdiest cornucopia of musical talent you've got to hear. Also, DIY is just the best happening in the area, hands down. We saw so many wonderful bands: Zoos of Berlin, Johnny Headband, Serenity Court, Lightning Love were all super tops in my book. Too much fun.

FUTURE

10.9.2009 Record Release Party at Crofoot

10.21.2009 CMJ Music Marathon in New York City

10.29.2009 Halloween Show at Blind Pig

11.9.2009 Official Release of CP LP #1, 'WE WISH YOU WELL ON YOUR WAY TO HELL'

See you then!

Love,

N. F. H. Burgundy IV

UPDATE
Sunday's DIY set with Sisters Lucas, Champions of Breakfast, Friendly Foes & The Sights covering selections from Let It Be was just as stellar! Sisters Lucas, if this comes up in your Google alerts, Computer Perfection wants to play a show with you!

CP gets a release date.

2009-08-03T08:51:00.001-04:00

DEBUT ALBUM INFO:
Computer Perfection
Title: 'We Wish You Well On Your Way To Hell'
Label: Le Grand Magistery
Catalog No: (HRH-049)
Release Date: November 9, 2009

Pre-order it at Darla.com

Tracklisting
1. Able Archer
2. Silence Is A Shadow’s Dream
3. The Fool Is Hurt
4. Domestic Amusements
5. Maurice on the Water
6. How I Won the War
7. O Your Blue Blood
8. Sans Soleil
9. The Strange Echo Part One
10. The Strange Echo Part Two
11. Sweetie Pie
12. Planck’s Lullaby

I Want A Rock.

2009-07-22T13:10:00.001-04:00

Computer Perfection seeks drummer. Should be available for upcoming performances scheduled through 2009. We live in Ferndale, Mich.

Currently booked:
Aug 16 Magic Stick Detroit (Fucking Awesome Fest)
Sep 05 Schuba's Chicago
Sep 18-20 DIY FESTIVAL Ferndale, MI (Date TBA)
Oct 20-24 CMJ NYC (Date TBA)

Please include info about yourself, bands you've been in, music you like.

We have a debut LP coming out on Le Grand Magistery - looking like late 2009. Hope to book lots of shows.

Contact: genecorduroy(AT)yahoo.com

UPDATE!
Aaron Quillen joins us behind the kit.

The Bem & The Bee.

2009-07-19T12:43:00.001-04:00

Oh, how these moments flee!

Has it really been a month since we last talked? Sheesh. Well, what's happening? We played a delightful, if somewhat ramshackle, show at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Detroit. Not to say that the show itself was rough; it was actually a wonderful night that was exquisitely executed by the amiable peeps of MOCAD. Also, Mucca Pazza of Chicago were ridiculously talented, friendly & helpful.

No, it's just that our dang bubble machine broke mere hours before the show & then Gene cut himself on it trying to fix it! Shoot! Afterwards, Gene, LTD & I retreated to LTD's lair with Scott Masson of OFFICE , The Juliets & Fieldtree. We yucked it up 'round the fire, drank it up 'round the piano & enjoyed ourselves into the wee hours of the early morn.

Since then we've been slowly working on a new EP of four or five songs, drinking some lovely French wines, watching Scott Walker: 30 Century Man & enjoying the unusually cool summer weather. Additionally, we've garnered some new gadgets for the Fishtank & putting them to use has been great fun. Some new tracks we're delving into:

IVAN, I KNOW

Inspired by Tarkovsky & a great desire to rock.

LAIKA

Inspired by the dog & perhaps Talking Heads.

PROXIMA

Inspired by Philip K. Dick, M-Theory & alchemy.

In addition to these sonorous activities, Bem has crafted some delectable culinary compositions. Her latest muse has been the squash blossoms from the garden in yonder backyard. They've been panko-encrusted, filled with various cheeses & fried. Oh, & filled with at least one bee. Yes, Bem had to return one inadvertently trapped bee to the wild, saved from its blossom fetters & sure doom in the frying pan.

What else? Some shows coming up: August 1st at Small's & August 16th at the Garden Bowl for Fucking Awesome Fest, which seems to promise to live up to its name! Early September will see us at Schuba's in Chicago, so keep an eye out.

Below I've provided evidence that I'm not making these strange stories up:

Our new Farfisa Mini Deluxe 1 Compact Combo Organ. Needs some airing out & a little work to quiet the din of the oscillators, but she'll be humming beautifully.

New Fender Rhodes Mark 1 73-key Stage Piano & Hammond organ courtesy of LTD. A couple keys are out on the Rhodes, but nothing that can't be fixed.

Squash blossoms filled with ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella, garlic, parsley & basil. Panko & parmesan encrusted.

Penny enjoys her noodles & smoked ham.

Gene enjoys his yolk.

No one enjoys the Creamy White Frosting.

Deviled eggs with smoked ham & basil.

Ed from IT fixes a couple bugs.

The little amp is fresh from the laundry.

We put our Lithuanian foster child to work in our cake sweat shop.

Love!

Nathan

Kid Food.

2009-06-19T17:04:00.000-04:00

The night started off innocently enough. We head to Cass Cafe for a quick bite and some drinks. I startwith a Motor City Nut Brown, and then move to a Nut-Blaster (that's 1/2 N.B., 1/2 Ghettoblaster). And the chicken tenders with ranch.

LTD:“Who orders chicken tenders with ranch? What are you, eight?”

Whatever. He ordered whole milk and some Fruit Roll-Ups. Turns out Monique doesn’t like Cass Café, yet she likes AJ’s in Ferndale, home of the 70’s mom sandwich. Thanks for the bologna on Wonder white, mom. I’ll sprinkle some mashed up Pringles on it too, then we’ll watch Thundercats.

So we played a show at The Belmont that wasn’t all that great cuz we only practiced once. My guitar was crapping out, a huge distraction. But Scott Allen’s new group was tight. Alan James was touchingly talented.

Finished the night with Tate serving rounds of Johnny Walker Red, till that ran out. Then I had a cup of the Black before we head back to LTD’s Dragon Studio with a bag full of garbage from 7-11. Never get the Pepperoni, Cheese & Sauce Roll-Up by the way. It tasted as described.

O Your Dry Crusty Brownish Red Blood.

2009-06-11T22:28:00.000-04:00

The first practice following NYC Popfest

...greeted me with this bloody splatter on the guitar I loaned to The Radio Dept for their headlining spot at the Bell House in Brooklyn. In the spirit of all that is good within the indie music community, we loaned our guitars, amps, keyboard stands and more to the otherwise gracious trio... who were for some reason traveling without their own equipment. At one point after being asked for a patch cable, LTD quipped, "How about I just play your songs for you too?" But maybe that didn't didn't translate?! So I have to say this was a) pretty unpleasant and b) totally inconsiderate. Just kidding it was awesome rock n roll.

99%

2009-06-10T17:02:00.001-04:00

The Album has left the trusty hands of Dave Allison and is being delivered to Jay Keuhn for mastering. Hoping for another week, maybe two... then the master of CP LP #1 (We Wish You Well On Your Way To Hell) makes its final approach for landing in Le Grand Magistery's secret Canadian hideout. That's 2,584 miles from our home in shady Ferndale. At that point, the master will meet up with its artful counterpart created by Andy Taray. All parties will sign an oath in blood taken from local mystical creatures. Master and Art will join hands and march on Darla Records HQ for manufacturing etc.

PS - Thanks D.A. for the mixing prowess, tips & techniques, production assistance... and just a generally entertaining and educational experience. We'll be back.

Meanwhile

2009-06-09T12:58:00.000-04:00

Next week it's our 5th and 6th shows: the Belmont in Hamtramck and Holy Joe's in Toronto. That's the NXNE festival. We'll be staying at a comfy guest house in Cabbagetown. In fact, it's called the Comfy Guest House. So that's where we'll be if you find yourself reading this, in Toronto, and wanting to take us somewhere nice to eat/drink.

So that's some crazy back-2-back shit and we R pumped... I sure hope Indevorecords.com will be there, they seem really excited about us:

"I hope you are doing great. I really like your song 'The Fool Is Hurt'. Could you come play at Rocketown in Nashville for me and some other music Industry Reps?? I work for a label under Warner Bros. and we are looking for more artists' right now. We can set up your showcase right online by going through this A&R company we use called Band With a Mission. (www.bandwithamission.com)

The cool part about showcasing with them is that you will get to showcase your best songs for me and a couple other music industry representatives and you will get a 3 page feedback/A&R Assessment explaining what you are great at, and what you can work on to improve your show. You will also receive a pack from the sponsors with info on how you can get involved with their company. They have an unbelievable track record.

I hope you can come out!"

No, I hope you can come out, Meagan. We'll do a two-part harmony, a cappella version of 'The Fool Is Hurt', just so you can understand them lyrics.

Voyeur Surly Try

2009-05-27T23:23:00.000-04:00

Load-in / Le Petit Zinc

After selecting a fine bottle of Palo Alto at University Foods, we head to Le Petit Zinc for an early dinner. I’m a total sucker for French restaurants, have been since Bem & I lived across the street from Lucien. We order the Ratatouille, a Salad Nicoise, Assiette de Charcuterie (cold cuts, goose liver pâté and cornichons) and the Jambon et Fromage Crepe. The pâté was the biggest winner. And we took a Nutela Crepe to go.

Banana Jamz

I started the night off with a couple rounds of Bananagrams, courtesy of the fine folks in Very Truly Yours. Katie teamed up with me, but we were not a match for bassist Dan and his amazing wordsmith skills. Yeah he had the skills. All in all, I think our 2nd performance was pretty ok. It was certainly fun to be on stage… and PJ & crew were as kind as can be. Sound was better than I remember. The old Lager has really cleaned up (soap dispenser, paper towel, door on stall, stinky carpet gone) while maintaining the essence of Dive we always loved.

Ghost Ride the Miracle Whip

We opt for a border run this time on the way home. But they forgot Burgundy’s Tostada, screwed in the drive-thru. We end the evening with a quick Ghost Ride down Pinecrest to celebrate two shows in the can.

Album Cover.

2009-05-07T23:00:00.001-04:00

Thank you to Andy Taray at ohioboy.com for the awesome packaging and design... can't wait to share the whole thing. Thank you to Le Grand Magistery for putting out our record !

What You Call Stick-to-it-iveness.

2009-04-28T09:35:00.000-04:00

You don't bring the venue. The venue brings you.
Saturday, May 25th.
I start the day with the requisite trip to Guitar Center and Radio Shack for cables, batteries, more cables.
Second off, why do we weakling music-types have these 80lb amps? If I become an accountant, I will use that Fender Twin as a paperweight.
Hot rain.
Bem's voice has barely returned following a lengthy cold.
We make the long trek from Ferndale, up Woodward, to Bloomfield Hills. With one stop at Walgreen's for some more batteries.
The student lounge at Cranbrook Academy of Art. A heady blend of Welcome To The Johnson's and Pencey Prep, with perhaps a dash of the gross-out spill slick I imagine the Dexter Lake Club might have had at the end of a night.
Every counter, chair back, bench and patch of floor was sticky as a post-it note on the 4th of July.
It couldn't have made for a better first show.

Spayed Oddity
CP started the night off with 7 songs from the forthcoming full length. Then followed a commanding performance by Lauren Payne with some Catlovin'-Casio-Rap. It was good. Rounding out the evening was Coyote Clean Up featuring members of Kalkaska!? I think we played with them once back in the mid 90's. They provided the High Life and a bass amp, while we brought the guitar tuner so it all worked out. Later in the night, Lauren, Coyote Club, and Alright Computer ride around the campus on a flat bed jamming some Loggins/Messina tunes with Monica manning the tractor trailer while playing bass. Is there anything she can't do?

Where'd You Get That Vest?
Special thanks to Trevor Naud (Zoos of Berlin, Hidden Ghost Balloon Ship, Red Shirt Brigade, South South Million, Soccer Moms) for the catcalls to Burgundy during the set. Your karma was put into balance via the Taco Bell drive-thru. Meanwhile, LTD proposed a new menu item at McDonald's: the 3-Meat Sampler. That's a double cheeseburger, filet-O-fish and some chicken sandwich. Bem says it's 20 points.

I Am A Camera.

2009-03-26T22:46:00.000-04:00

Oh how I love this band. These are the pleasure lovers. But I really miss you Mr. Tommy Daniels. Why must you go to work at the nuclear plant when what we really need to do is roCk! Sure, you skate into town now and then in a blur of Safe-T-Rex and iMovie effects. And Monique - why I've only just rediscovered Cranbrook, and you're ready to up and leave it. Speaking of which, the trepanning was a low-budget Lovely Sort of Death \\\ Burgundy... remember when I threw my back out pushing your red Acura into the garage? I forgot the difference between pushing and lifting. Nevertheless, you owe me a waterbed. Bem, I think I got a toucha arthritis in my hip on that walk today. Let's get a pair of matching Rascals.

Watch this film... Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper. 1967. I caught it on channel 7.2 last night. That converter box is really coming in handy now. Best, Gene

The well runs dry.

2009-03-26T08:35:00.000-04:00

Oh Beauties.

Pushing through the fog. Artwork is nearly complete! Mr. Taray has put together a package of imagery to truly amaze & dazzle. Mixing is making fantastic progress & should be complete within the next couple weeks. The venerable Jay Kuehn will be mastering the record from that point.

Also, our first show [with a couple more possibilities]:

& a word from Phillip:

See you soon!

Burgundy

Sky memoirs.

2009-03-11T08:47:00.000-04:00

Hello!

So, we spent the weekend with Dave Allison, the man with the golden ears, working on fine-tuning the mixes for about half the record. We were also illuminated on the idiosyncratic ways of Jimmy Page, Talk Talk, Chuck Hughes & assorted other mythical musical beasts. All in all, despite a persistent chilled downpour, a good weekend indeed!

We will return in the next few weeks to wrap up the the remaining half & get the show on the road.

Many thanks to Garmin for helping us to arrive at our destination.

& now, the obligatory videos:

May I Recommend?

2009-02-26T23:43:00.000-05:00

I may!

Some free fantastic downloads from some fabulous Metro-Detroit acts. Some spots of warmth for a seemingly interminable winter.

SILVERGHOST//THE EQUINE LIPS
Fuzzy, buzzy, synthy bubble rock. Two bananas up!

ALAN SCHEURMAN//OLD PATTERNS
Dreamy, shimmery, moody folky do-dads. Four & a half grapes!

HIDDEN GHOST BALLOON SHIP//HIDDEN GHOST BALLOON SHIP
Collaged terror psychedelia. 98% kumkwat!

You listen, you like.

See you soon!

Nathan for CP

Want a CP Care Kit?

2009-02-14T15:39:00.001-05:00

Now available - free Computer Perfection vinyl stickers in a nice care package. Please send name & address to genecorduroy@yahoo.com Happy Valentine's Day ~

These dreams.

2009-02-05T23:08:00.000-05:00

This is more or less a digression, but I just wanted to check in & share a couple things for the sake of sharing. I learned this today & it blew my mind [via Wikipedia]:

A fire balloon or balloon bomb (Japanese 風船爆弾 fūsen bakudan, lit. "balloon bomb") was an experimental weapon launched by Japan during World War II. A hydrogen balloon with a load varying from a 12 kg (26 lb) incendiary to one 15 kg (33 lb) antipersonnel bomb and four 5 kg (11 lb) incendiary devices attached, they were designed as a cheap weapon intended to make use of the jet stream over the Pacific Ocean and wreak havoc on Canadian and American cities, forests, and farmland.

Between November 1944 and April 1945 Japan launched over 9,000 fire balloons. About 300 balloon bombs were found or observed in North America, causing six deaths and a small amount of damage.

Japan released the first of these bomb-bearing balloons on November 3, 1944. They were found in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Michigan and Iowa, as well as Mexico and Canada.

Also, Jo Lemaire et Flouze covering Serge Gainsbourg's 'Je Suis Venu Te Dire Que Je M'en Vais':

Finally, Jindrich Heisler's Untitled [via http://ajourneyroundmyskull.blogspot.com/]:

Love,

Burgundy for CP

2009, continued.

2009-01-18T22:05:00.000-05:00

Let us resolve. What are your plans for 2009?

Little Tommy Daniels

"I resolve not to punch walls, kick cars, stab kitchen cabinets, throw wine glasses or write nasty letters to people. I will also use the 2 minute rule and be aware of my surroundings."

Bem

"I would like to replace all of my missing buttons AND create my very own victory garden."

Nathaniel F.H. Burgundy IV

"I shall release my guilt, eradicate my fears & conquer my gas. Just kidding, I have no fears."

Gene R. Corduroy

"More coffee, and more cookies from Pinwheel. Less chemicals in the bathroom. More drawings. More naked drawings. Less computing. More movies/films. Less reruns. More walking the willows. Less bird-is-the-word. More gestures. More jest."

Everything's fine in 2009.

2009-01-15T09:32:00.000-05:00

Hallo there!

How are you, lil' baby? Did you have a fantastic holiday? A sublime New Year?

Us? Oh, we're doing fine, thanks! We continue on into 2009 with the completion of our full-length debut, We Wish You Well On Your Way To Hell. Details are being sewn together; a couple pieces that have broken off have been hot-glued back on. I might have to let out the waist a little bit, I'm afraid I may have put on a small bit of weight over the holidays. In general: cleaning, editing, mixing, drawing. Polish!

Oh yes & we are putting together a live show spectacular. These are the first practices we've done together in years, mind you! YEARS! It truly is like riding a bike, though. What a difference having a Little Tommy Daniels makes, my dear. As soon as those drums kick in: goodnight nurse! Oh, LTD, make the dream real.

[Speaking of which, has anyone heard the Morrissey tune 'Glamorous Glue' used in the ads for the new Tim Roth Fox Series 'Lie To Me'?]

Concurrently, Gene has been helming a voyage into the uncharted seas of video-making. Our plans: one video per song. Ten videos! Oh, we've got the concepts. Gene's ensuring we have the know-how. I'll see you all on YouTube.

Okay, okay. I'll let you all get back to work - but before going I shall leave with a couple gifts:

The Axolotl salamander:

Powder 2: Powder 2 The People:

Let The Right One In:

New Year's Eve dinner:

[Oxtail dumplings, duck, shrimp salad, oysters, bacon-n-blue cheese prunes, assorted veggies, lots of wine, champagne & so on]

See you soon!

Nathan Burgundy

for

Computer Perfection

A Gift from Computer Perfection to you!

2008-12-09T14:32:00.000-05:00

Hello & happy holidays!

We've decided to spread a little joy & mirth in a world of increasing anxiety & consternation the only way we know how: A CHRISTMAS COMPILATION!

CHRISTMAS PARTY features seasonal tracks from The 1900s, new Le Grand Magistery signees Computer Perfection {featuring 4 members of PAS/CAL}, Romantic Air Recording Co. artists Sa Sevol and Buttermilk Daydream, and PAN!C {also of PAS/CAL pedigree}.

Another highlight: A debut by AUNT BERU & THE JUICERS - their version of Here Comes Santa Claus done in the manner of the Beyoncé hit Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).

The entire album, including print-quality sleeve art, is available as a free high-quality 320kbps MP3 download at www. romanticair.
com

Happy Holidays! - Romantic Air Recording Co. & the boys/girl of Computer Perfection

Computer Perfection Needs A Bassist!

2008-11-17T09:55:00.000-05:00

We're looking for a bassist to round our musical troupe out! The band currently consists of four former members of PAS/CAL & is signed to the Le Grand Magistery label for whom we have just completed a full-length record. We are now looking to begin practicing & performing our songs in a live setting in the Detroit area.

Our ideal candidate:

1. Has a plucky bass style in the vein of McCartney, Broadcast, Serge Gainsbourg, et al.
2. {UPDATE} has been found. Thank you for the responses.

Let's update.

2008-11-11T10:39:00.000-05:00

Computer Perfection LP1:

Title: We Wish You Well On Your Way To Hell

Mixing: Dave Allison

Artwork: Andy Ohioboy, Computer Perfection & Friends

Slowly, surely, Computer Perfection pushes forward into the future. Phase 1 is now complete & we are hacking our way into the thick of Phase 2. Dave Allison of Rustbelt Studios is hard at work making sense of our musical scribbles. Andy Taray will be doing the same of our non-musical scribbles for the packaging. A beautiful storm is brewing, indeed.

Here are some FALL FUN photos from the last month.

Gene & Penny trick-or-treat.

Cake costume in progress.

Bem puts the finishing touches on cake.

Cake costume is ready!

Hidden Ghost Balloon Ship [feat. Trevor Naud & LTD] at the Magic Stick's Zombie Dance Party.

The Halloween scene. Scary!

Edgar has a snack.

Penny entertains Stephanie, Meema & Nathan on Halloween night.

A couple quick notes:

Yes, the cake costume was handmade by the boundlessly talented Bem!

I saw a UFO soaring above Ferndale on Halloween night!

November 4th: Computer Perfection heaves a collective & dramatic sigh of relief.

We'll talk soon!

Nathan B.

Penny & The Jets.

2008-10-04T23:05:00.000-04:00

Gene, Penny & I traveled to Dexter, home to The Cookie Momster, queen of the pastry world. Lamentably, the cookie shop is no more so we decided to make ourselves useful & lay down the piano bits for the full length. Not quite as tasty, but sweet just the same.

The lovely Otto, Jan assisted us by tuning & prepping the ivories with the expertise of a technician in her field for over two decades.

Good stuff, right? We hope so.

G'night,

N. Burgundy

Letters From The Postwar Effort.

2008-10-01T19:35:00.000-04:00

Friends assembled to lend their honey-sweet vocal cords to a small but crucial turn on 'O Your Blue Blood' as well as some thunderous handclaps to 'Sans Soleil'. Above, Trevor Naud [of Zoos of Berlin & The Soccer Moms], Monica Breen, Chris Gideon & Lynette Lynette.

Acts of Creation & Destruction.

2008-09-14T13:26:00.000-04:00

As the time of reckoning draws nigh & the calendar crawls ever closer to the fiery year called 2012 anno domini the pressure escalates. There is sweat on my brow even now as I type this. It is so quiet at night lately. A dog yelps in the distance at some anonymous disapproved interloper & the echo hangs heavy in the air like a dulling wine.

Anyway, above are some photos from a vocal session with the lovely lady with but one name, Bem.

Here We Grow Again.

2008-08-14T13:10:00.000-04:00

We are ever closer to LP1! This will be the first volume in a duo of of concept records detailing the rise of a rock band consisting of aliens from across the universe who have come to Earth to spread Truth & eradicate Falsehood, Lies & Illusions through HOT JAMZ.

A tentative tracklist has been devised:

Domestic Amusements

How I Won The War / O Your Blue Blood

Able Archer

Silence Is A Shadow's Dream

The Strange Echo

La Strada

Sweetie Pie

Maurice On The Water

Sans Soleil

Planck's Lullaby

Let There Be More Light,

Burgundy

Domestic Amusements

2008-06-24T14:39:00.000-04:00

Another twinkle in LTD’s eye entered the trail of the lonesome pine, passed through an ivy-covered trellis, proceeding (unlooked for though not unwelcome) in through the back door. Down the steps past overturned hat boxes, ancient cartons of merchandise sharing shelf space with the food pantry, and over an oft-used treadmill having trouble folding upright in its old age. Thus sprung the new song ‘Domestic Amusements’, a minute and a half of blissful future memories.

When the well runs dry and the plants are picked clean ~ every little creature has taken a picture, leaving a footprint a footstep stamped across your back

I'm an alien come up from the sea hovering covering shiny collections of idling engines, so gentlemen start your dreams.

I fell into you one midsummer's night as flowers in fossils bloomed at night; my bedroom light was dark and golden-eyed. Beyond time and sleep in a silver web, acts of creation and of destruction cross your heart as I hope to try.

The Dragon Of Breckenridge

2008-04-18T13:42:00.001-04:00

Last night, I dropped by the newly christened Dragon Studios (in LTD’s dining room) to hear what kinda drum sound he is getting. There is a fancy new recording nook set up where we used to eat the pasta Galapagos. I like it. With just 3 mics on the kit – a SM57 on the high hat, a KSM27 on the snare, and some damn thing in the kick… it sounds amazing. Like Billy Jean but with real drums.

We are mostly done with a new song called Sans Soleil -- and put it here to hear.

Tonight… we’re all going to see Destroyer/Colossal Yes at the Crofoot. Before that, dinner at Bastone and a stop at Cranbrook for something artful.

hearts ~~ Gene

I made you a muxtape.

2008-04-05T21:25:00.002-04:00

Hope you like it!

http://nathanfrancis.muxtape.com

Love,

Nathan

The Slowest Jams

2008-03-30T02:51:00.000-04:00

Thanks Bro. Today I can look into my dinning room and see not a table for friends and family to sit around and enjoy my mothers mothers' pasta dishes but instead a beautiful used Starck piano. A quick search for a free piano on Craigslist this Friday introduced me to a wonderful woman living just three blocks from Michelle and I, looking to gain some extra space in a house of kids and dads. Heavy and half broke, it sounds wonderful and smells like on orange. Bob Emmet is gonna tune it for me. An upright acoustic piano, it also has a 2 octave organ with bass pedals, an amp and a speaker. The organ part is broke to shit. Maybe I'm a little out of shape but this thing hurt to move and it wouldn't be coming to dinner without Trevor Naud, Chris Gideon and Richard Panic. Point is, giving away an instrument is as wonderful as pasta galagia and a finger in a jar of Nutella. So thanks bro, for the wonderful meal.

Tartare you being served?

2008-03-09T22:57:00.000-04:00

The girls went out to get their drink on Friday night. Gene, LTD & I stayed in with Penelope & made for ourselves a delightful little dinner indeed - steak tartare, a green salad with homemade vinaigrette & bleu cheese fries, also homemade. LTD brought along a fantastic dessert called frangipane, which is a tart of almond paste & pears. A quick scan at Wikipedia shows it's of Belgian origin. Shoulda known! I love them Belgian foods.

Dinner was followed by our typical Friday night feast of LTD's Magical Mystery Tour of basic cable. There was bad Christian folk rock & really really bad Coyote Ugly tryouts. Somehow the Coyote Ugly show lead to our edification on the politics of reptilian overlords.

Below:

1. Steak tartare recipe via Anthony Bourdain. We recommend you do a lot of tasting once you've mixed it all together; we really had to amp most up everything to get some good flavor volume. Also, we used two pounds of a lovely filet from the local neighborhood market. Our tartare was without the cognac, but you bet your sweet bippy we'll have some next time.

2. YouTube evidence of our reptilian overlords.

STEAK TARTARE:

# 2 egg yolks
# 2 tbsp Dijon mustard (28 g)
# 4 anchovy filets, finely chopped
# 2 tsp ketchup (10 g)
# 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (5 g)
# Tabasco sauce, to taste
# Freshly ground black pepper
# 1/4 cup salad (i.e., corn or soy) oil (56 ml)
# 1 oz Cognac (28 ml)
# 1 small onion, freshly and finely chopped
# 2 oz capers, rinsed (56 g)
# 2 oz cornichons, finely chopped (56 g)
# 4 sprigs of flat parsley, finely chopped
# 1 1/4 lb. fresh sirloin, finely chopped (560 g)

Throw it all in a big bowl & serve it up. It's raw meat & eggs, so eat it right away, duh.

REPTILES:

Love,

Burgundy

My pony plays the mamba.

2008-02-25T09:57:00.000-05:00

This is how I spend my mornings...

Ryan Lambert went on to the 80s classic [& recent DVD debut], Monster Squad, & now fronts a San Fransisco-based indie rock band called Elephone [http://www.myspace.com/elephone].

Stacey Ferguson or 'Fergie' went on to star in a couple pornographic films before being tragically killed in a drug-related shooting.

Going back to bed,

Burgundy

Bartlett's.

2008-02-25T08:29:00.000-05:00

The quote of the year already: "She looks like she could eat an apple through a fence."

Thank you Gene.

Love,

Burgs

Tears in the rain.

2008-02-13T08:43:00.000-05:00

Gene + Big Muff + Toothbrush = Burgundy Bliss.

Guitar Wizard really nailed some sweet fuzzed out stylings the other night. 'Able Archer' has newly minted muscle that's totally killer. I think it's pretty damn close to done now. Don't you?

Also, we watched Blade Runner the other night. Lord, how I ache for Sean Young circa 1985.

Fondly,

N. F. H. Burgundy IV

The Secretary of Regrets To Inform You wrote us.

2008-02-01T12:39:00.000-05:00

Dear John,

I have found someone else whom I think the world of. This year, SXSW Music received and reviewed over 9,999 submissions. Unfortunately, this means that we must turn down many artists. With that in mind, I think the only way out is for us to not offer Computer Perfection a showcase this year. Please be assured that your materials were given full consideration. We wish you the best in your musical pursuits.

Sincerely,
Anonymous Intern

Point/Counterpoint

2008-01-28T13:24:00.000-05:00

Point
LTD and I spent much of Saturday working on a demo named Fanta See(1), though he pronounces it Fantasay - which I find adorable.

Counterpoint
No, we didn’t and it isn’t.

Anyhow, envision this song centered in a live set where LTD steps out from behind the drum kit and into the spotlight. He demonstrates his acoustic guitar licks as I stand by his side… or perhaps back-to-back(2). We smile, and with a wink compliment each other’s abilities, though each of us know that we’re performing quite better than the other. As it’s currently only two acoustic guitars, I guess that’s been the extent of my envisioning. Maybe Bem lets out a barbaric yawp here and there, and Burgundy carves an ice dance into the negative spaces with his trusty Casio. We’ll see.

1. LTD was soothing his thirst for knowledge with a glass of Orange Fanta on the day we first worked it out. I think that was back in August of 2007 at the Breckenridge Basement studio.
2. Trevor and I used to do this, and we did it with class. But he never comes around with his stories of coworkers that keep plastic knives and baggies in the bathroom cabinet (for reasons entirely unmentionable), or his sacks of White Castles. For he is far too busy. Theme From "Endless Trevor".

Total change of subject - I'm thinking of a Virgin Mary latch hook rug for LTD's birthday, which gives me until the Summer Solstice to find one.

Finally, we applied for the magic that is South by Southwest a few months back. I’m relatively certain that there is zero chance in being accepted, as we’ve never played a show and have only a few songs partially recorded. Oh and we only have a few songs. And we’ve never practiced one of them, even once.

I’m starting to think there was a slight overestimation in our ability to write, record, produce and perform songs, all while trying to figure out how to customize a MySpace page. But that’s not stopping this recurring nightmare: Attempting to extend three songs I don’t know how to play into a showcase performance - in a space that is probably a strip club the other 51 weeks in a year, as evidenced by the poles on stage.

Ah well, we’re better off letting history judge our misjudgements.

~ Gene

Recently viewed: Solaris (1972) directed by Andrei Tarkovsky ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Currently listening to: A Brief History Of Time

mp3propers

2008-01-25T13:12:00.000-05:00

This was nice, considering it's only a demo:
http://mp3hugger.com/2008/01/computer-perfection-able-archer.html
Gracias, Kevin.

Weekenders in Roscommon.

2008-01-16T21:54:00.000-05:00

Spaghetti Corduroy.

2008-01-16T21:25:00.000-05:00

Spaghetti Corduroy
Serves 6 or more
I did this on the fly, so there were no actual measurements in my cooking. Fed Bem, Burgundy and myself. LTD was busy with his bi-weekly drum circle & diet-Coke tasting club at Mansion Studios.

MEAT
2 1/2 lbs ground sirloin
2 cloves garlic, minced
coarse sea salt & pepper

Cook in an open pan on medium heat until no longer pink
Drain. Add to sauce once it is simmering.

SAUCE
2 cups freshly diced tomato
1 large vidalia onion, finely chopped
3 16 oz cans tomato sauce
2 small cans tomato paste
Olive oil, maybe 2 tablespoons
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 cup water
1 tablespoon italian seasoning
fresh basil
2 teaspoons parsley
4 bay leaves
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 cup dry white table wine
coarse sea salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste

Cover and simmer for at least 1 hour after adding meat. Increase water to lengthen simmering time.

Sample the sauce often, adjust spicing as necessary to suit your taste buds. I used whole-wheat rotini noodles, they hold the sauce nicely.

Computer Says, "No".

2008-01-16T20:53:00.000-05:00

COUGH.