Hinterland

November 2023 sees a new album of recordings and mixes from Conny Plankton. There seems to be a bit of everything here – from atonal drones and landscapes; to rhythm-based explorations; to ambient soundscapes to strange alien textures. Performers in this series of mixes include new presets with the Hive and Massive X VST Synths; new patches with the Nifty Eurorack set up; exploring the new sample libraries and settings within the Arturia Microfreak Synth; developing a series of freshly-edited loops and samples, and working with new Plug ins such as Wolfram for effects and further modulation. Hope it hits the spots before your eyes!

The Day of Album Releases

This is probably quite deranged - or at the very least a  flagrant disregard for the rules and conventions, but October 5th 2023 is the day that Conny Plankton chose to unleash two albums on to the world on the very same day. So here we go...

Neck Of Moles

October 2023 sees a new series of recordings from Conny Plankton, loosely unified under a common theme of bringing the Arturia MicroFreak into sync with the Hive and Massive X VST Synths – but it soon evolved and expanded into working alongside edited loops, timestretched drones, and additional external devices such  the Nifty Eurorack and the Roland MC505 Groovebox. Enjoy folks!

Bug Metallic - the Magic Bullet Mixes

This album is different from the norm – whatever that means – in that is based on three mixes that were already made for three different sites. Each them have the common theme of being based on samples and sound bites from Magic Bullet, the experimental-electro warped brain child of Mick Magic.  Magic Bullet is very much worth checking out, and can be found at:

http://www.mickmagic.net/Magic%20Bullet%20Index.htm

Each of the three original mixes have been reworked with additional samples, arrangements and new Conny Plankton artwork, so they are not just duplicates that can be found elsewhere. So now…let the Magic begin…

All Hail Metaphorium

 A new series of recordings sees a series of explorations based largely around use of the rather excellent soundset, Metaphorium, for the Hive VST Synth. This was rolled out under different presets and synced to different plug ins and devices such as the Massive X VST synth, the Eurorack Nifty set up, the MC505 Groovebox and the Arturia MicroFreak hybrid synth. The results range from rhythmic arps and sequences, to drones and atonal soundscapes, to worlds of alien noise.

All of the photos used here were taken by Conny Plankton during a recent visit to the Western Isles of Lewis and Harris: A most magical part of Scotland!

Lazarus

 A new series of recordings from Conny Plankton: Although these started off life based around the common theme of working with new presets and voices from the Hive and Massive X VST synths –  much of the source files were riddled with problems and glitches and a lot of the original material had to be extensively remixed and reworked. So this is a Lazarus project – due to the resurrection and rebirth of much of the source material.

Four Conny Plankton Mixes for Summer '23

Conny Plankton has been even busier than usual, and four long mixes have been recorded and uploaded to Mixcloud. Each one has a markedly different theme with all of the details and links set out below. Take it away folks!

Magic Bullet Unitas Mix

A Complex Mix based on material produced from my old chum Mick Magic and his Magic Bullet Project. Magic Bullet can be found at: (http://www.mickmagic.net/Magic%20Bullet%20Index.htm). The samples were taken from appearances on Radio Shows (https://www.mixcloud.com/Mick_Magic/) or from the Unitas series of sound collages, made available in the three -part compilation, Communitas. (https://mickmagic.bandcamp.com/). For this mix, all of the samples were extensively reworked, broke down onto loops, drones and synth patterns, and then reconstructed into this brain-melting mega mix!

Interstellar

This Mix was inspired by reading about the concept of the classic Interstellar Wotnot track by Syd's PF came about from Syd listening to the theme old BBC Sitcom, Steptoe and Son which under the lysergic influence. You can read the story in A Very Irregular Head by Rob Chapman. So this here Mix explores the possibility that step further with samples from TV themes Including other soundtracks from Ron Grainer, who penned Old Ned for Steptoe and Son), various versions of the original track, and overdubbed with loops and samples made from selected samples of source audio converted to Midi files and played through different Synths. The  Final Mix is an intriguing soup and one for a Very Irregular Head indeed.

Korruptor

A complex mix based around key events of a controversial film director. Rather than try to aim for cliches or sensationalism in this Mix, the core samples were taken from interviews describing major events in the protagonist's life. These samples were set alongside loops from Genesis P-O and one of the versions made he/her made about Mr P. This Mix may well cause its own share of controversy as people fight to take sides of one of the most controversial film directors ever. Genius or Corruptor. You decide...

Resurrection Special

A Mix based on four unreleased tracks by Conny Plankton - actually the tracks in question were rediscovered while clearing up an old Soundcloud Archive. Here they have each been deconstructed, rearranged, and reassembled through a series of segues into one long continuous mix, which probably burn out your cerebral cortex.