Poladroid is a cool little app that makes digital polaroids. Any overexposed picture actually looks like a photo from the 70’s!

I played at Oblò in June. The set was recorded by Francisco aka Phroq. I’ve never heard it actually! Three months later, I was in the city of Catania, in Sicily, when I received an email from him asking if I’d accept parts of the recording to be used for a compilation of live shows that happened at Oblò. I did accept of course!
So here it is, the first Oblò Sonic live compilation. I’m honored to be surrounded by such great musicians. I look forward to hearing it… And thanks to Francisco who had to listen to hours of recordings and edit tracks one by one. The cover he made is very nice too.

Here are short videos of my last show in Geneva. Thanks ludan dross for the recordings and pics.

I had good time at l’Ecurie. The venue is great with a very good sound system, and we had an excellent dinner. Thanks!

I played after a good set by Les Poissons Autistes. I thought I’d play for 40 minutes but my set lasted nearly one hour. The first part with guitar and glockenspiel was definitely too long. I still have some work to make that ambient piece better but I feel it’s going to the right direction. We’d got a pretty good audience. On the 2nd video at 1:39, you can hear someone making a sound with a bottle. Perfect timing Pippo! I like when such things happen.

Next show in Geneva on March 20th at Le Cabinet. Again it’s POL the organizer. Thanks man!

écurie = stable, in english.

On October 10th I play with my friends Les Poissons Autistes at L’Ecurie in Geneva, 9 pm. Thanks to POL for inviting us.
I had proposed to call that show: “Laptops and horsepower”. POL has actually decided to simply call it: “Helvet Underground presents: tokoloten & Les Poissons Autistes”

When POL asked to provide a short description of tokoloten for making the flyer, I answered “Accidents sonores et rythmes rechapés à chaud” (literally: “Accidental sounds and retreated beats”). How do retreated beats sound?? I have to find out until next friday…

Address:
Rue de Monbrillant 14, 1201 Genève
or around…

I played last saturday at the festival Les Digitales in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It took place in the Parc des Crêtets. Nice weather, friendly people, great organization… thanks to everyone who made it happen.

There were a dozen of concerts from 3 to 10 pm. I played near the end, around 9 pm. I had prepared a 2-part set. The first part was ambient-like with a glockenspiel and live sampling of objects (balloon again). I had planned to layer guitar loops at the end but my looper pedal didn’t work (no more battery it seemed) so instead I kinda played chords on the guitar, which is pretty unsual for me. I ended this part a bit earlier. The second part was quite different; heavy beats with some percussive field recordings in the background.

You can see on the picture that the “kiosque à musique” where we played was really nice.

Some people remembered I’d used a Wii remote last year at Les Digitales in Lausanne and asked me if I’d have my Wii this time… well, I wanted to have it but it seems it’s not working anymore with my old Mac. This is a known issue, the Wii connects through Bluetooth and then a bunch of seconds later it disconnects. I’m afraid I’ll have to wait for a new laptop to reuse my Wii.

Herebelow two videos of my set. There are some more on YouTube.

Les Digitales took place last friday in Lausanne. Unfortunately that was a rainy day, so it couldn’t happen in the Parc de Mon Repos and moved to the Casino de Montbenon. I couldn’t go there, I was sick. I listened to the concerts on the radio though…

Anyway, it’s Digitales again this saturday in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Here is the official schedule:
14h55 - 15h25 : 52e Avenue (NE)
15h30 - 16h00 : Baron Von Öctø Püss et le bruit qui court (NE)
16h05 - 16h35 : HS System (JU)
16h40 - 17h10 : Edwin + Hund (BE-SO)
17h15 - 17h45 : Softland (ZH)
17h50 - 18h20 : Dashûr (NE)
18h25 - 18h55 : ATOLL (GE)
19h00 - 19h30 : Self-sévice (NE)
19h35 - 20h05 : Feldermelder (FR)
20h10 - 20h40 : Stakanovistes (BE)
20h45 - 21h15 : Tokoloten (VD)
21h20 - 21h50 : HOME MADE (ZH)

As usual, I still have a lot to prepare and just a couple of days left. It’d be easier if I’d play the same set again and again but it doesn’t interest me, really. The theme of the festival is “Sphere” so I’ll bring some spherical stuff… I can’t say more.

More information about the festival on lesdigitales.ch.

Photo by achrntatrps

In 2000 NASA’s scientists displayed at the Library of Congress in Washington images they had chosen among hundreds thousands taken by the Landsat satellites. Some of the most stunning images I have ever seen.

To see more of them : http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/ecology/30-most-incredible…

Mayn River, Siberia, Russia [large size]

Lena River, Russia [large size]

Two legends of noise music play in Geneva tonight, and they play together!

July 15th, 2008 / 9:30 pm
La Cave 12 @ KAB
KIKURI: Merzbow + Keiji Haino

More details on cave12.org

Herebelow is the programme of the festival Les Digitales that takes place at la Chaux-de-Fonds on August 30th.

LES DIGITALES DE LA CHAUX-DE-FONDS
Samedi 30 août 2008

Festival itinérant de musiques électroniques, les Digitales feront halte pour la 3ème année consecutive au kiosque à musique du Parc des Crêtets. C’est au coeur de la ville, allongé sur un transat, que vous pourrez savourer de tous vos sens une programmation à la fois éclectique et pointue, entre concerts électroniques, performances et installation surpenantes, rafraichissements et petite restauration.

Concerts au Parc des Crêtets (15h00-22h00)
(entrée libre)

Exposition sous le kiosque à musique : Emeline & Silvio - travail photographique

After à Bikini-Test (22h00-04h00)
(CHF 10.-)