New piece finished and uploaded: 'Friend'.

This is my first piece in which I have used my new clarinet, which was given to me by a very nice friend. I spent £140 doing it up and now apparently its worth 6-700. And its 70 years old! What a gift! So this peice is in tribute of its giver, Clare Shepherd. She is a brilliant artist as it happens, so please visit her website and have a look at: http://www.clareshepherd.com/
And listen to the new piece here: www.myspace.com/williamyatesmusic

Merry Christmas!

copyright William Yates 09

A new sampler free from A Future Without.

A great little bundle of soft, thoughtful and calmly confident folk music.
Please give it some time and enjoy.

www.afuturewithout.com

Thankyou,
memotone

Canvas Illustration 2009. In Touch With the Beast

The Clarinet, Korg MicroSampler and Audio Technica.

I have recently been given a clarinet. Its a brilliant instrument, a very much appreciated addition to my set up. Its also a very good example of a clarinet. Especially to just be given to me for free. Its a wooden Besson & Co. Beautiful tone. Especially on the low notes. So I have been very busy playing that, far to busy to write anyhting on a blog. And saldy also far to busy to be making any new music or visuals. But, now I have given myself a break. So I can share a bit of what is going on at the moment.
I have just bought some nice Audio Technica Headphones. I only spent 45 pounds on them and there brilliant. They are the ATH M30's. amazing frequency response. As true a sound as I have heard from headphones. So I encourage anyone who is looking for a decent pair of cans to look in there direction. Or AKG's. There very good too.
Also, I have been hovering over the 'Buy Now' tab for the Korg MicroSampler. It looks really good. And I know I could put it to good use. But it is £375 and I have just get a new car. Which has stripped me of most of my money. And on top of that christmas is coming up. So thats more money put aside. And then today, my vespa broke down and had to go in to get a new petrol feed pipe. Which is more money out of my pocket. So sadly it looks as if I will have to put it on hold. Which is not a bad thing as it gives me a chance to read more reviews watch more demos and decide if I need it aswell as my MPC 1000.
If you have any information or opinion on the KORG MicroSampler please let me know.
But now I must get back to my clarinet.

A new piece of music is on the horizon. Just have to get the into right and I'm away. Also a new animation is in the build. So keep ears and eyes open!
Thanks a lot,

memotone

Memotone Live on BBC Introducing.

If you missed it last night, listen again at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00501xw/BBC_Wiltshire_Introducing_12_11_2009/
Enjoy and thanks.

Brain Train 2: My Ideas On Writing Music

I think the trick is to find a balance between understandable and complex feelings. Giving a piece enough normality for people to connect with but also enough obscurity to keep there attention. Something new with something comfortable. That universal connection is usual through a beat, because everyone has a sence of rhythm. Even if they dont think so. What I dont want it for my work to become to personal and loosing my audience through my self indulgment. I always try to be thoughtful towards what I want people to take from my music. And try and subtly lead them in that direction. Music without thought is like a building on sand. It doesn't last very long. Wishy Washy groups and producers come and go but something like Shostakovich or Brian Eno for a more contempory example, will be with us for generations.

BBC Introducing: On BBC Radio Wiltshire

Over the last week I have been trying to perfect two pieces that I will be performing live on BBC Radio Wiltshire tomorrow eveining from 7 'o' clock. I have been invited onto the BBC Introducing programme after sending them some of my music and becoming the 'featured artist' on a september programme. This time around I am actually going into the studio to perform live and talk a bit about my music, which I am happy about. I just hope it all goes well. The pieces I am playing have many parts that could go wrong, so hopefully I have practised enough and will be confidant enough to pull it off. I have recently been told of the 'BBC Introducing Stage' at Glastonbury music festival. Which makes me even more excited about doing the radio gig because it means there is a slight chance that someone might hear it, and if I can perform well enough, maybe I will be put into some sort of draw in which the winner gets to play on said stage. I would be over to moon with that. Not that I am not alredy very happy with the opportunity I have been given this time around. So please, if you can, tune into BBC Radio Wiltshire, Which you can do here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/playlive/bbc_radio_wiltshire/
And if you miss it, the programme with be on BBC iplayer for a week afterwards. So I will update this blog with a link to a 'play it again' page.
Thankyou,
William/memotone

memotone: Sleeping In Circles, Visual 2009

Animation and Simple Motion.



Please Enjoy,
Will/memotone

New piece 'moto'.

A new upload for the 2010 collection is now available for free streaming on myspace at:
www.myspace.com/williamyatesmusic

Enjoy.

Memotone Music Visual

Enjoy.

New Live Piece 2009

This is a sound experiment rather than a verse corus verse piece. So do not be surprised if it goes off in some funny directions.
I first played a trupmet two weeks ago, so please bare with me. And enjoy.

Thankyou,
Will/memotone

A new piece 'Difference Revealed'.

I have just finished my latest piece called 'Difference Revealed'. The piece is a re-work of a piece called 'Difference Released' by 'Will' (www.myspace.com/willplowman) on the lable 'A Future Without'.
After my first hearing of the original piece, in my head I was putting together all sorts of other bits that I thought may sound nice. After coming up with a few different ideas I thought I would ask Will Plowman if I could have a go at remixing his piece. He happily accepted my request which I was obviously very pleased about. I started to work on the piece the next day. I didnt quite know what to do so I imported his track as a whole and started to cut it up. I knew I wanted to make something with a different feel to the original piece but I didn't know in which direction that difference would come from. I started out adding melodica, acoustic guitar and then drums. I was quite happy with the progression and got to about half way through the track when I relaised it was not what I wanted. So I scrapped it all apart from the original intro which I had run some wind chimes over the top of and a few dark sounding effects to some time stretched parts of the original piano. I left it for a day. When I came back to it I had recorded some distorted electric guitar phrases to go into from the intro. it worked quite well with some cut up and sped up parts of the piano. I diceded to drop in a wonky beat made up of all sorts of sounds and drum hits. It sounded quite good, but not what I wanted. I did not delete it this time though, I just saved it and have left it to work off of later. Finally today, I sat down and stared at the screen. As I was staring I noticed my trumpet and violin out of the corner of my eye. I started to play them along with the intro and it felt and sounded right. So I started to record bits and bobs. It just kept flowing on its own course. The music was directing me rather than me having to think about its direction. Thats when you know the music your working on is going well. I was on such a role that I managed to finish the whole piece in a few hours. Even if it did take 3 days to get there.
If you would like to hear the piece you can find it on my myspace at www.myspace.com/williamyatesmusic and if you are interested to hear the original you can download Difference Release by 'Will' from http://will.bandcamp.com/track/difference-released
Please enjoy.
All the best,
William/memotone

Tisbury to Salisbury, Salisbury to Southampton, Southampton to Brighton, Brighton to London and back again.

Hello,
I have just returned from a trip up to Brighton to stay with my friend who is at Sussex uni. Once I got to Brighton we both took the train from there up to London to go to the barbican to see Kings of Convenience. They, and there support 'Tiger Tiger' were very good. But that was the sadly one of the last things on my mind, because as I am claustrophobic, the London Underground was a great struggle for me. It is a very strange feeling being a logical thinking person but also having Claustrophobia. It goes against everything in my philosophy. But it also has helped me to understand the irrational behaviour of certain individuals in a compleatly rational situation. It's not always about logic or reason. Sometimes feelings overcome all understanding and ruin everything you thought you knew. I am still young and don't know much, but I know I hate the London Underground. And probably always will.
On the train journey up and down from Brighton I did a vew sketches to pass the time.
Here are two of them.

I am soon to be uploading a new live video to youtube. So keep an eye out.
All the best,
William/memotone

Beyond The Next Room

I do not know if it's the same with every artist, but I find on contemplation of my old music, even that of the beginning of this year, I seem to have a slight disregard for its quality. I think I even dissmiss the fact that I ever liked it at all and was ever proud of it. Just because I have moved on since then. Maybe my style has matured and my concepts have become stronger but that does not mean what I was doing befor was of no worth. And it always takes me to listen to my old music to relaise I can enjoy it still. And even be proud of it. It's where my new music has come from. The path to where I am now. How could I think anything bad of it when It has lead me to a place I am so happy with.
After listening through my last album 'Beyond The Next Room' I realised that it is nearly all good. And was very happy afterwards that I had made that music. But before listening I was sure I would laugh at the infantile production value and sound quality. I was wrong. But maybe because it took me by surprise it had a more posotive effect than if I had been expecting something good. So I will leave on the note that the album is crap. And would you like a listen?
You can find it on itunes if you follow this tab.


If you do enjoy it. Please feel free to throw a few pennies in my direction.
Thankyou kindly,

William Yates/memotone

On other musical news...

I have a new track up on my myspace. Finishing this track has ment finishing the album. So hopefully I will soon be giving you news on its release. But untill then, you can hear the new tune 'Spoon Shaped' at:
www.myspace.com/williamyatesmusic

Thanks again,
W/m

BBC Wiltshire.

Last night I was the profiled artist on the BBC Wiltshire radio programme 'Introducing'. Sadly I did not get to hear is live but have heard it on listen again and am very happy. They play two of my tracks and do a little talking about me. Which is great. There is also some other really good music on the programme throughout so if you would like to lend your ears. Please listen again on BBC i player at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p004j23t/BBC_Wiltshire_Introducing_01_10_2009/
Thanks a lot,
William Yates/memotone

memotone Woodland Session One. September 2009

Today I decided to grab a very long extension lead and take it from my house, out into the woods. Where the lead met its maximum length I set up a few bits of equipment including my Kaoss Pad 3, the Boss RC-50 and an NXT-1 microphone and a couple of instruments. Guitar and Organ. Once I had everything set and ready to go, I just pointed the camera at the set up and pressed record. I didnt give myself any rehearsal time or use any previous ideas. Because of that sadly, one of the strings is out of tune on the guitar and I hit a wrong note on the organ. But I dont mind because that just reflects the imperfection of human kind. Or atleast thats what I'm going to say, hahaha.
You can view my exploration into woodland sound and many other videos on youtube. Just search memotone. But for now, here is the new number.
Please enjoy the improvisation.

All the best,
memotone/William

I just bought a trumpet.

What fun it will be to learn the trumpet. I have always enjoyed the sound but never had a play. So I thought I would buy one and learn how. Another sound to add to my ever growing collection.
Also, on a less musical note (excuse the pun). I got my first car. Which is quite exciting. A Nissan Micra. So that should stretch my gig reach.

Its a lovely day down here in Wiltshire. The Chestnuts have nearly all been enveloped by golden leaves and all the little birds are hurrying around collecting the last of the nuts and berries befor there all gone and it's too cold for them to venture out. These are all signs of winters approach. But I do not mind. Winter is as nice a time as any in my eyes. Just now I have been cutting wood for the fire. a very festive activity. But as I was cutting I found some good sounds. So I have also been recording the saw and axe screetching, scraping and clanging. Now I am cutting it up into a beat and adding all sorts of other things to it. Including a nice thumb piano melody, some nylon guitar, piano and the sound of me hitting my steel string with some Marimba mallets. Now I have to organise, add and take away untill I have a nice rounded piece.
I will let you know when I'm finished.
Merry September,
William/memotone

SleepingInCircles

Here is a cover idea for the album I will be soon to release. I will do a few more designs and then see which one I think best suits. But this is number one. Please let me know what you think.
Cheers,
memotone/Will

I have been away. But now I am back.

Hello,
I have been busy working up at The Larmer Tree Gardens down here on the Dorset, Wiltshire county border where there has recently (last weekend) been a music festival called 'End of the Road'. It was a brilliant festival that I got to enjoy for free because of the convenience of where I work as a gardener sometimes, which is The Larmer Tree Gardens. I only had to put down and pull up some matting to protect the lawns and put up and pull down some fencing and a few other jobs and I was in with a V.I.P wrist band and still got the money for my work. One can not complain in such circumstances.
At the festival I saw a few good bands including Fleet Foxes, The Dirty Projectors, Soy Un Caballo, Esben and The Witch, Stardeath and White Dwarfs and more. But I was blown away by one performance. A band I had never heard of befor called 'AU'. They were outstanding. A brilliant multi instrumentalist and singer supported by one of the best drummers I have ever heard. A sorf of Cinematic Orchestra/ Jaga Jazzist/ Thom Yorke style of music but really focused. Focused but without being to strict. You could see both performers were having a great time and really involving themselves in the music. If you ever get a chance to see them play live you must! But for now you can just visit there myspace: http://www.myspace.com/peaofthesea
After there set I was lucky enough to be able to talk to one of them (Luke, the full time AU member) and he was a really nice guy. Based in Portland Oregon, which he says in an amazing place and told me to come a visit. I also got a chance to give him a CD of my own which was a nice thing to be able to do. I wonder if he ever gets back to me...
All in all it was a very nice weekend and not too hard a clear up afterwards considering the weather was so nice. But now all the hard work is over and I am free to get re-involved in my creative outputs once again.
So please keep an ear out!
All the best,
memotone/William

BBC Studio

I have just been asked by the BBC to go into one of there studios (I am not sure which one) and perform two tracks live! How exciting! When I know more about the situation I will update. So keep an eye on this space.

All the best,
Will/memotone

Another new track. They are falling out of my brain at the moment. Which is nice.

This one is actually a Re-edit of a track I released with my Space Ritual EP (which you can find on itunes) called 'The World Is Too Busy Ellen'. The new track is near enough a whole new piece just with the same final drop and is called 'This World Is Even Busier'. You can find it here if you scroll down a bit and look on the right. Or on my myspace page at: www.myspace.com/williamyatesmusic
Please let me know what you think of the piece.

I am now one track and a piece of album art away from finishing and then releasing my first album with A Future Without (www.afuturewithout.com) The album is called 'Sleeping In Circles' and will be my first release with the lable. Wish me luck and please spread the word.
Thankyou kindly,
memotone/Will

A new piece is finished.

I have just finished a new piece called 'This Time Last Year' and you can listen to it here: www.myspace.com/williamyatesmusic

The piece is more classical in it's arrangement of sounds than the abstract angle I have been working from recently, but I think it still gives off the same feeling as the rest of the album. It is much more about the melody rather than the rhythum. Even though there is a lot of rhythum in there its much more subtle and certainly not lead by drums.
I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think.

All the best,
memotone/Will

A review written about one of my live performances back in July.

This review was written by Jenny Newbury and you can follow her blog if you like... http://jump-into-the-void.blogspot.com/

A Little History

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.)

A new piece is on its way. So keep an ear out!

Memotone Complex

"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."

The Red Tree

williamyatesillustration:2009

Brain Train 1.

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?

What Is Your Number? memotone 2009.

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

Thou Hath Returned

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)

Link: http://bit.ly/15hiRX

All The Best, memotone

Memotone Is Going On Holiday

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

New live videos to watch right here!

Please Enjoy.

A little section of the Saturday party

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.

New Live Piece 18,8,09

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-942ol1o5Q

Please enjoy.

Saturdays Performance

It all went very well on Saturday. The atmosphere was very relaxed and a good environment for my down beat electronica. There were only a few technical hitches that I am only too relaxed about. Other than that it was swell. And perfect weather down here in Dorset for a garden stage.
I also got asked to play with 'Achilles' (www.myspace.com/achillessound please check them out) who played there aswell. Just to improvise along side there music using my effects, samples and keyboards. So that was a fun experiance. There is nothing quite like playing music with other people. It forces you to go in directions you may not usually travel. Which is a very good thing. Refreshing your palate as it were.
On another note, I am just uploading a new video to youtube. So a link will be posted once its ready. There may also be some clips of Saturday to come. But I will have to speek to the man behind the camera.
All the best,
memotone

New Live Piece

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3FZTB-umXE

Please Enjoy.

Live Set

I am just putting a few things together for a live performance on Saturday. Sadly its a private party, so invite from the host only. Otherwise I would invite all who read this to come along.
I have found out a good new trick on the MPC. Recording straight in and then putting it to 16 levels (if you have ever played with an MPC you would understand, if not... Its a little to complex for me to be botherd to go into. But just trust me when I say it is a lot of fun.)
I have been trying to build a song around a singing bowl which I have spread over an octave. So I have 12 notes of a singing bowl from A to G all from the same bowl. MPC's are brilliant. Once getting a nice base sound down I have been building over the top with my oldschool kids yamaha keyboard. It has some very nice sounds on it considering it is just a toy really. Its the Yamaha PSS-9. I am quite sure they dont make them anymore. But if you want to get hold of one. Ebay is a good place to start looking. Once I have the keys down I have been building looping rythums from my Roland HD-1 kit. So Its all live which is nice. And then running the whole sound through effects on the Koass Pad 3 you can create a really big sound.
Hopefully It will all go well on saturday. There is quite a lot to remeber as I play all alone. Effects numbers and key phrases and things. But I feel confidant.
I will put up a video of the set when I get back. So keep an eye out.
All the best,
memotone

memotone

Hello, My name is memotone. I am a 19 year old boy who has just been asked to set up a blog. I have never pushed my creativity or understanding in this direction befor. So lets all hope I can manage to keep it up. I was asked by my lable, A Future Without. There a very good lable so I will trust there judgement and just get on with it.
I hope someone out there is interested enough in my music to follow my blog. But if not. I will just allow it to enjoy the ether.