Today I will share a little family history with you. It’s quite an incredible story which leaves me with a certain amount of respect for the biggest animal killer of human beings to date. When my grandfather (who was also named William) was about 40 or so, he was shipped off to Japan to fight in World War II. They had set up a base on the edge of a great wood. One evening my grandfather got bitten by a mosquito and caught Malaria. Because of this he had to be shipped out and taken to a hostpital. On the evening he left, the camp where he was based was attacked and nearly every Britsh soldier was killed. His life was spared due to a mosquito bite and so I too am alive because of that one mosquito. Obviously you could keep taking in further and further back to find many causes for mine and my familys life, everyone’s life for that matter, it’s just funny that my life was saved by the biggest killer there is.
And for a little fun, if ever you are aware of a mosquito landing on you and you can see it. Wait for it to slide in its proboscis and then tense the limb that its on and you can actually watch the mosquito explode! (Thats a bit of a nasty thing to do but I have heard it really does work and it leaves you itch free.)
“The main herbs represented in the Memotone formula are Ginkgo, Gotu Kola and Periwinkle. Historically, all of these have been used in mental functioning. The herbs used in Memotone may help support the brain and memory. It may be popular during stressful times such as exam time and busy work seasons.”
Religion makes me question the boundaries of mental health. How can someone been deemed mentally unwell for seeing or hearing things that are not really there, when there are thousands of people who actually believe an awesomely powerful man in the sky created the world in seven days?
Here is a link to my new piece ‘What Is Your Number’ www.myspace.com/williamyatesmusic I do hope you enjoy it. The piece is a mix of Jazz, Electronica and drum and bass. All pushed into one piece that will hopefully make your ears tingle. I can proudly say all instrumentation and drum programming (and live drumming) was by myself. And all samples (except the woman repeating numbers) were recorded by me. It has been raining all day here. I think that may have left a slight impression on the music. All the best, memotone/Will
The road and my fathers’ wheels have brought me back to my little house in the woods once again. The holiday was a lovely, care free week that all humans should take part in at least once a year. A place where mostly all you can do is talk, walk and think. It’s a bit like Cuba I think. Everyone out there is very into ‘family and friends’ and that is mainly because they don’t have enough money to be into much else, but everyone is happy. That is what our holiday was like. Except we were not lacking in money, there just wasn’t anything our money could buy. I did take a few samples from the place but mostly of conversation or excited voices during made up games involving mustard lids being flicked into cups strategically placed around a table. But I did get a few interesting recordings of the waves and voices in the wind. I can only imagine what they will influence me to create. On another note, A Future Without’s second Samurai.FM mix has come out and a piece of mine features (Mr Tickle). The track list is as follows.
1. ANIMALS ON WHEELS – CLIMBING BLINDFOLD (AFW) 2. DANIEL DIXON – WAKING UP (AFW) 3. ADRIN SJOTIU – OG ATTA (AFW) 4. EMU – THE WISH ME WELL (AFW) 5. FLOW – NEW WORLD ORDER (AFW) 6. BROKEN CHIP – SUMMER STARS (AFW) 7. VOODOOENTNIES – THE WINTER (AFW) 8. NIQO – KILLIN TRUT (AFW) 9. MEMOTONE – MR TICKLE (AFW) 10. MOABI – GOING WEST (AFW) 11. HSAW – REKNOW MUDD (AFW) 12. CHEWY BENSON – CASE CLOSED (AFW/REJECTONE) 13. ISAAC HIMSELF – RUNNING STAG (AFW) 14. TO TIRED – KIWI (ON SONG) 15. HEAD AND NECK SESSIONS – 1212 (AFW)
I will be off for a week. So do not expect anything new from my brain untill I return. I am going to stay in a tiny cottage with no television, telephone, washing machine or surrounding people or buildings. Its just off of Golden Cap on the Dorset Coast line. Its part of the jurassic coast, so I will be keeping my eyes open for fossils and the sort. Me and my family have been going there for the last 22 years (obviously me only 19 years) but still. Its an annual thing and something I hope never to miss out on. The atmosphere is great there. So calm and detached. I am sure there will be a spot of fishing to be done aswell. But do not worry. Its not all play, I will be also taking my Zoom H4 Portable 4 track and stereo recorder to sample some of the great sounds the place has to offer. And I am sure they will be formed into a new piece shortly after my return. Going to the place is always a boost for my creativity. So keep an ear out! All the best for the week to follow, memotone
The Saturday evening party with part live memotone soundtrack. Hahah. Its not much but an enjoyable watch all the same. You pick up on the relaxed feeling of the whole event almost straight away. Please enjoy.
