Derek Webb - Feedback

Derek Webb - Feedback

I've been wondering what Derek was up to. So much mystery surrounding this project. He was always telling me about his studio in a bag, and we all know which bag that is. Ahem Flyby. But seriously, I had no idea what Feedback was. I heard a brief about it being a worship album but I couldn't bring myself to believe that this was going to be traditional in any shape or form.

Then I received an advanced copy and here is the description that Derek gave me through email...

"'feedback' is an electronic, classically composed, instrumental record, based on 'the lord's prayer' that i just finished. it's a really abstract project considering there are no lyrics... i also commissioned two sets of art to go with it, an abstract series of painting and of photos from two good friends/visual artists."

This intrigued me even more, a worship album based on the Lord's prayer with ZERO lyrics. The first thing that stands out after listening to this album is how adept Derek has become at production. There is no doubt that serious audio hours were spent tweaking and zeroing in on certain sounds and textures. It's like a perfect mixture of modern technology and good ears. You'll hear that often if you hang around a studio long enough.

A lot of these tracks could be categorized as post-rock in the vein of Explosions in the Sky, Sigur Ros, Valley of Giants, Glowworm. It reminds me also of the album 'Tripper' from one of my favorite Danish post-rock bands Efterklang.

I've always thought that inspiration comes from either the darkest times or the best times in life. Never in between. I wonder what inspired Derek to make this record.

MONO worldwide

Our distribution partners are spreading the love worldwide for MONO. Shortly after Guitar Square rocked the Shanghai show, our good friends in Switzerland, PEK, hit the Light & Sound Messe in Lucerne (pics below). We've got a great team and we're loving the feedback coming from all over. If you're outside of the US looking for MONO gear, check our growing list of distributors. If you can't find MONO gear in your country let us know. We'll get you covered!

Gear we like: GASing

Have you ever heard of the term GAS? Every musician has had it. It's short for Gear Acquisition Syndrome and it's been known to end marriages. I've heard stories about instruments living in hiding for years in closets and attics because of spousal rage. We are going to list out some heavy hitters of GAS. MONO style.

These are from Brett, our wholesale specialist:

1. DAR Amplification
We first saw these at NAMM last year and they are crazy looking. They use these humongous 6C33 power tubes that produce some of the warmest clean tones coupled with serious high gain. These do deliver some big ass high gain crunch. We hear there is also a couple of bass amps in the works as well.



2. Pigtronix - Aria and Echolution
Dave Koltai is a gearhead, he knows his stuff. When he demoed me the Echolution, I nearly soiled myself. This thing is CRAZY!!!



The Aria Distortion is a true-bypass stomp that is extremely versatile. It can go from Vox sparkle to fuzz in a matter of seconds. The tones remind me of an EH Muff when cranked.



3. Mogami Cables
Pretty basic here, but Mogami does make the best cables out there.

4. Callowhill Owen Biddle signature bass
You can see Owen playing this bass pretty much every week night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Owen plays for this band called the Roots. If you were stuck in a well for the last 20 years I am here to inform you that they are the greatest hip hop band ever assembled.


5. Gallien Krueger MB Fusion 500 Bass amp
500 watts of pure tone. This amp has a 4 band active EQ, so if you slap or pick, you're good to go. Bass amps have been getting smaller and smaller these days and it's no wonder GK released this bad boy. This is a great mixture of a solid state power stage and all tube pre. No squishing out at high volumes but you do get the warmth from the tubes.

3 Albums we be bumping.

1. The Chain Gang of 1974 - White Guts

I love everything about this band. Even the name. Heavy 80's influence on this record which only makes me love them EVEN more.



2. Miami Horror - Illumination

Aussie electro act with some great synth numbers here. If you love retro, this is your thing. Track #3, "Holiday" is a keeper.



3. Sun Kil Moon - Admiral Fell Promises

Mark Kozelek is the king of sadcore. His time with Red House Painters was the anthem for so many dark days it only seems fitting that it only gets more minimal on Admiral Fell Promises. This one is perfect for the start of watching the leaves fall.

The Airborne Toxic Event. All I Ever Wanted.

The Airborne Toxic Event have released a documentary film about their sold-out performance at the internationally renowned Walt Disney Concert Hall, featuring an eclectic mix of musicians and performers—ranging from a children’s choir, a world-class string quartet, an high school marching band, horn players, visual artists, and Mexican folkórico dancers. Available in the UK on the 4th of October, ALL I EVER WANTED - The Airborne Toxic Event : Live From Walt Disney Concert Hall offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the exhaustive rehearsals and preparation that went into putting on the show at the Frank Gehry-designed venue, home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

A little more from Black Milk

Ummmmmmmm...yeah you need to get yourself Album of the Year. It's the real deal.

black milk - album release from Shane Ford on Vimeo.

What's going on with Daru Jones?

Daru has his hands pretty full these days. He's worked on projects along with his solo stuff.

One in particular has caught our attention. "So Good" is an EP he has released featuring Kissey Asplund, a Swedish soul singer. Daru has been releasing projects under the name Rusic which he describes as the following: "My mission was to challenge myself by releasing one RUSIC project per month, to showcase indie artists in coordination with the RUSIC sound. Each project has a different theme in order to showcase my diversity, and convey a message, regardless of the form or genre.”

Daru Jones, Modern Drummer Nov. Issue

photo by Richard Louissaint

Daru has been interviewed by Modern Drummer magazine. The November issue is now hitting news stands everywhere! Get your copy.

We caught up with Daru while he was in town with Black Milk. They were playing spot dates out in Brooklyn the night before and hitting San Francisco the day we met up. Daru even took a little nap backstage, but soon awoke to hip hop legend Elzhi who stormed the stage. One thing that you will know about Daru, is that he loves music. There isn't a beat he misses or takes for granted. His openness to trying something different is what separates him from the pack. His work as a producer probably feeds that part of his creativity. I need to ask Daru that question. Are you a drummer first? Or producer? I think that answer changes depending on the day.

In the next few days, we will be diving deeper into Daru's world.