DIY AC-RFI Filter for HiFi equipment

Looking for a low-budget solution for a clean power supply for my amp, I came to the site of a Polish electrician/audiophile. He builds tube DAC's and tube amplifiers, the next DIY scheme against an RFI filter with surge protection. He offers them commercially today in a beautiful aluminum casing with 4 sockets and phase switches. Before Amplifiers the ferrite L2 and L3 are omitted because the dynamics of the amplifier would go. 15 years ago he has figured a known electrical schematic and developed for use in high-end audio:

Lukasz on his site 'Lampizator':
230 AC filter, just a CLC PI type filter with lowpass function.
This is the final iteration - a result of 1/2 year of testing and listening.

The audio characteristics becomes:

- more focused, more tight
- center image is more central and better defined
- 'stereo wings' of the image become more naturally spread
- voices sound more natural and more “right there”
- everything sounds “more right” 
- bass is deeper, stronger and more pulsating. 

Comments:

C1 - 0,1 to 0,22 uF / 275V x rated (or 630V non-x rated). Soldered directly to IEC socket.
C2, C3 - 0,01 uF (10nF) x or y rated foil caps (Wima) (or 630 V non x rated).
MOV - varistor 300V DC, directly on the AC outlet (surge protector).
L1 - Ferrite ring, 3001 material. From C1 to L1 - wires tightly twisted (2,5 mm2 insulated solid core, blue and brown).
L1 Winding: two wires wound tightly around core together 3 1/2 times) (not like on the drawing, but both wires side by side).
L2 and L3 - finger sized ferrite rods - 3 turns of each wire. [OMIT these for amplifier outlets!].
L4 - Ferrite rod 3-4 cm, dia. 10-15mm, 10 wire turns. 2,5 mm solid copper wire (green/yellow stripes).
Earth continuity switch, this way you can switch the earth on or off, depending on hum problems.
Everywhere possible the N-L wires should be twisted.
If making more than 1 outlet, the C1 and L4 are common. Everything else duplicate.

Remember to solder-tin all copper ends to prevent corrosion and use hot melt glue to secure everything. Everywhere possible the N-L wires should be twisted.
I recommend at least 24 hr burn in and break in under real (or much bigger) load before critical evaluation. Use a screened AC cable from filter to HiFi equipment, otherwise the clean AC will catch RFI again. I am absolutely sure you will be amazed.

Link to Lukasz F.

(Dutch) Update 1:
Bij Radio Centrum Electronica in Utrecht de condensators en varistor gekocht (€2,65) en bij Conrad een aantal ferriet ringen (€1,60 p/s), 2 meter Lapp afgeschermde stuurkabel (3x 1,5mm2 a €3,00 p/m), een C13 apparaatstekker (€3,80) en paar meter zwart Helagaine EMV-gevlochten slang (Ø5-10 mm a €3,66 p/m) besteld t.b.v. het stroomkabeltje naar de BluRay-speler.

(Dutch) Update 2:
Zie hier het resultaat, dit proefmodel gemaakt in een iPhone doosje. Ik moet allereerst zeggen dat ik een nuchter iemand ben die niet snel het nut ziet of hoort van dergelijke stroomfilters, afgeschermde kabels e.d. en ik ben sceptisch t.o.v. andere audiofielen (bah vies woord, muziekliefhebbers bedoel ik) die m.b.v. speciale peperdure kabels een beetje meer scherpte, iets meer lucht tussen de instrumenten, de vocalen verder van speaker enz. horen en duizenden euro's aan speakersnoer, interlinks, dempers onder apparatuur, aparte zekeringen of een audiofiele stroomgroep uitgeven.

Maar ik ben een b8tje bekeerd! Er is een duidelijk verschil in het HiFi geluid met dit filter. Het geluid is inderdaad veel analytischer en schoner geworden. Ik ben een getraind luisteraar en dacht dat ik afgelopen jaar met mijn nieuwe HiFi-set naar een prachtig helder en snel geluid luisterde, dat was ook zo, maar nu is er toch wat veranderd ten positieve. Het lijkt wel of ik nu een upgrade heb gedaan naar echte high-end (bah, weer zo'n vies woord). Ik heb nu twee lange luistersessies gedaan van zo'n 6-7 uur (tot diep in de nacht dus) en wordt nu alleen nog maar enthousiaster hoe langer ik luister. Of dit nu inspelen, inbranden of gewenning heet laat ik om het even, de sound is magisch realistisch zuiver en inderdaad Lukasz, ik sta er versteld van!

   

(Dutch) Update 3:

Nu, vele luistersessies verder, ben ik helemaal overtuigd: een enorm goede upgrade dit filter. Alsof het vertrouwde warme geluid uit de Marantz receiver is omgetoverd in een fel en uiterst precies en zuiver Rotel beest, alsof mijn mid-end is omgetoverd naar een high-end installatie. Het laat uitersten zien en horen die mij nog een beetje vreemd zijn, ik moet wennen aan de sound omdat ik dit eerder alleen van echt dure apparaten heb gehoord. Veel meer definitie in het geluid maakt sommige muziek nog meer brilliant. Je hoort meer gelaagdheid in de muziek en merkt dat de versterker veel minder vergevingsgezind is en meer details naar voren komen. Het aanzuigen van de trompet van Christian Scott en de vingers van Marcus Miller over de dikke snaren van zijn bas. Het gitaar van Joe Bonamassa scheurt nog rauwer langs je oren en je voelt de timing van de muzikanten tot in de nanosecondes .... Ok, de sound heeft nog niet zoveel rust en transparantie als over de Quad elektrostaten die een collega van mij (goed opgesteld) had staan, maar gaat de goede richting op. Ik kon al erg lang luisteren zonder echt vermoeid te worden en dat is alleen nog maar vergroot. Ik moet mijzelf er toe dwingen om te stoppen met luisteren. Dit klinkt allemaal overdreven maar ik ervaar deze DIY-kick helemaal zo. Word vervolgd, ik ga eerst een nette versie bouwen met meerdere filters in een aluminium omkasting (en komt dit netfilter voor mijn subwoofer).

Acoustic wall panel

I have a bare wall in the living room that I want to provide with acoustic panels for decoration and of course to slightly improve the acoustics in the room. Much like the next picture would be great to make a home construction project there. I ordered at the Bax-shop four dark red 2 "wedge panels (Auralex studio foam 61x61x5 cm a € 18) that I want to glue in a window. I gamble the dark red color, usually the foam panels are grey but on a slate-gray wall it is tricky and I do have more dark-red furniture in the living room. I also ordered two small gray wedge panels (cm 30,5x30,5x5 a € 6) I for placing in small frame on the wall at the other side of the room.

There is something to do creative
with this wave shape foam 61x61 cm.

Update: Acoustic wall panel in the living room (March 2015)

Surround speakers

Because the current satellite surround speakers (rear) are not comply with KEF R300 front speakers, I want to replace it with the following (Marketplace €70):

The compact Model 70S was designed as a rear effects speaker in surround sound applications, but could also be used as a main speaker in a dedicated sub-sat system, in particular with the matching 40B subwoofer. Using the same Uni-Q array as in the Model 90 centre speaker, uniform coverage over the listening area was assured, as was the timbre match with Reference Series main speakers.

Specifications Surround Speakers: 
Brand: KEF Reference Series Model 70S ('98)
System type: Two-way, closed box
Sensitivity: 87 dB
Nominal impedance: 6 Ohms
Amplifier requirements: 10-100 W
Frequency range: 120 Hz to 20 kHz
Maximum output: 107 dB
System: Uni-Q Drive unit with Crossover  
LF: 160 mm polypropylene coned bass/midrange unit
HF: 19 mm fluid cooled soft dome tweeter
Dimensions (HxWxD): 253x170x119 mm
Weight: 3.1 kg, Volume: 2.5 litres

        

Specifications Center Speaker: 
Brand: KEF Reference Series Model 100 
System type: Two-way Reflex
Sensitivity: 90 dB
Nominal impedance: 6 Ohms
Amplifier requirements: 25-175 W
Frequency range: 70 Hz to 20 kHz
Maximum output: 111 dB
System: Uni-Q Drive unit with Crossover SP2227
LF: 160 mm polypropylene coned bass/midrange unit
HF: 25 mm fluid cooled soft dome tweeter
Dimensions (HxWxD): 174x460x169 mm
Weight: 5,2 kg

Old hobby iMac with Windows 7 and 8.1

The old white iMac 20" (MA589LL - Late 2006  - Intel Core2Duo 2,16Ghz) on the hobby room I once again revived because the screen was broken down. I removed the screen allowing an external monitor primely can be connected to the mini-DVI port. I bought on Marketplace a 20 " Samsung SyncMaster 206BW (EUR 25), this gives a wonderful view of 16:10, 1920x1200px sharp.
Running in Parallels 9, I have a Windows 7 (32bits, X86) and a Windows 8 (64bit) version. The fully activated versions downloaded as ISO's and installed without further settings. This works great, in the Windows 7 virtual environment runs among other apps SolidWorks 2013.

Federico Fellini

To mark 20 years of the death of Italy’s most famous film director Federico Fellini, herewith the 10 films by the ‘Maestro’ you absolutely have to see. It’s hard to fully grasp that Italy (and the world) has been without Fellini for a full two decades. Passing away in 1993, the famed auteur’s presence is so keenly felt in every aspect of Italian life and art that it’s almost as if he never went away.  - Wiki

Lo sceicco bianco (The White Sheik) 1952
Fellini’s directorial debut is a comedic farce starring Alberto Sordi, Leopoldo Trieste, Brunella Bovo, and Giulietta Masina. It was written by Fellini and Michelangelo Antonini among others and follows a prudish young clerk (Trieste) who takes his virginal young wife (Bovo) on honeymoon to Rome for an audience with the Pope. His wife is obsessed with a photostrip comic called ‘The White Shiek’ and she slips away from her husband to try and meet the star of the series. Her husband is distraught and tries to cover for her with his straight-laced relatives; meanwhile, his wife finds herself 20 km outside Rome in a boat with the ‘Sheik’. Fellini’s background as a gag writer made him the obvious choice to direct, and the film rolls along apace splatter gun timing. Lacking a authoritative voice, Fellini was to progress to develop a clear directorial vocabulary and tone, but his gift for the unexpected and farcical is very much on show even here. A rough diamond.

I Vitelloni 1953
Written by Fellini, Ennio Flaiano, and Tullio Pinelli, it is a comedy drama about a group of Italian men who settle into the comfortable familiarity of life in the small town they were born in. Of the group of friends, only one has the courage enough to avoid the honey trap of the usual Italian temptations, and leave the town for a better, more challenging existence elsewhere. ‘I Vitelloni is considered one of the most important films in Italian cinema and indeed the world inspiring modern classics such as Scorsese’s ‘Mean Streets’ and Barry Levinson’s ‘Diner’. It was Stanley Kubrick’s favourite film. (Dutch: de Nietsnutten)

La Strada 1954
Anthony Quinn stars as the brutish strong man who takes a naive young woman (Giulietta Masina), who he buys from her mother and takes on the road. They encounter an old foe played by Richard Basehart who ultimately proves to be the couple’s destruction. ‘La Strada’ is considered one of the most influential films ever made. Upon its release Fellini was criticised by certain aspects of the neorealist movement but ultimately his willingness to push the constitutional requirements of the movement from harsh reality and a realistic political landscape and a doctrine of ideology into the realms of fantasy and poetry was a lead that others followed. Winner of the academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Le notti di Cabiria (Nights of Cabiria) 1957 
It was Giulietta Masina’s performance in ‘La Strada’ that led Fellini to pen the script specifically for her. He also had to convince the producers that she was ready for her first leading role. Masina plays a prostitute who roams the city of Rome, servicing clients and generally looking for true love and a way to better her life. She is continuously kicked down by life but again and again drags herself up and carries on. It was notoriously difficult to finance the project because of the controversial subject matter but the film is now considered a masterpiece, plotting the sub layers of social dysfunction that bubble to surface and manifest in a dark and inhuman behaviour on the streets of Rome. A hint of the visual freedom of La Dolce Vita, but it maintains its gritty fixation with harsh realities.

La Dolce Vita (1960)
Starring Marcello Mastroianni and Anita Ekberg Fellini’s ‘La Dolce Vita’ has its place in the pantheon of iconic world cinema assured forever more. It’s the story of a passive journalist’s week in Rome as he wanders around looking for happiness and love, both of which elude him. Fellini eschewed traditional narrative for an episodal structure each exploring important themes and each heavy oneiric metaphor.

8½ (1963)
Starring Marcello Mastoianni as Guido Anselmi, 8 ½ is considered by some to be Fellini’s greatest film. The director himself declared that it was ‘honest to the point of indecency’, there’s very much of himself in it. Starring Marcello Mastoianni as Guido Anselmi, the title refers to his 8 ½ films as director and in many ways it’s an unburdening of the inner turmoil the director felt, both in the face of the creative challenge of realising a feature film in a dysfunctional industry and at his inadequacies as a human being and husband. Entertaining, unexpected, blindingly brilliant, and frustratingly despondent. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Giulietta degli spiriti (Juliet of the Spirits) 1965
Fellini’s first feature in colour it stars Giulietta Masina, Sandra Milo, Mario Pisu, Valentina Cortese and Valeska Gert. The film is about a middle-aged woman who, not having the strength to leave her philandering husband, withdraws into a world of mysticism, visions and memories, exploring her subconscious. The economist and film critic Murray Rothbard described it as “what may well be the Worst Movie of All Time, the absurdist-nihilist Fellini monstrosity, Juliet of the Spirits”, saying that it reeked of “pretension and deliberate boredom”.

Satyricon 1969
Now considerd on of his best works, the initial reception was rather cool. Called indulgent and too experimental. That criticism could be understood only in that Felini’s imaging of a decadent Rome in the final days of the Empire was ahead of its time. Satyricon is tame by today’s standards, but it still retains its freshness, despite the world catching up. Recently restored by Dolce and Gabbana, the masterpiece is safe for other generations to enjoy Fellini in full artistic flight.

Roma 1972
Peter Gonzales plays a young Fellini as the film charts the young director’s move from his native Rimini to Rome. There is no obvious plot development other that the character development of Rome herself. A group of young men rage against the city that is a notoriously cruel, immoral and vicious mistress, but nonetheless one that shaped his outlook on art and life.

Amarcord 1973 
A year in the life of a small town in Emilia-Romania, the famed director’s homeland, Amarcord reflects Fellini’s feelings and memories of what growing up was like. Retracing his formative steps after triumphing in Rome and abroad it was the director’s deeply personal search to rediscover his roots and his true identity. Without the dazzling technical prowess of some of his other works ‘Amarcord’ nonetheless displays Fellini’s genius at its most subtle and ethereal. The title itself ‘Amarcord’ is a Romagnol neologism for ‘I Remember’, and justly sets the scene for a canvas on which Fellini paints at the same time brutally honest yet lovingly tender portrait of a small town that is a capsule of his childhood memories and a microcosm for all of Italy.

Zeiss Ikon TLR

This "two-eyed" TLR camera (Twin Lens Reflex with mirror), the Ikoflex Ic was made by Zeiss Ikon from 1956 to 1960 and has a coated lens Tessar 1:3,5/75mm. It has some interesting features not commonly found in a TLR. On the front of the camera behind a flip-up there is a exposure sensor. the exposure needle projected into the ground glass in the viewfinder by a small prism. The vast majority of TLRs take 120 film and expose 12 pictures in 6×6cm format. Shoot with the VXM setting on X always. V is self-timer, X is for instant includes flash sync.

• Zeiss Icon Icoflex 1c (model 886-16)
• Produced: 1956-60 Zeiss Ikon AG, Stuttgart, Germany 
• Film type: 120 (format: 6x6 cm) 
• Lens (taking): coated Zeiss Tessar 75mm f3.5 (stops to f16) 
• Filter size: 35.5mm threaded, viewing lens: 37mm slip-on 
• Focal range: 1,07 m to infinity 
• Shutter: Prontor 
• Shutter speeds: B, 1/2-1/300 sec.
• Weight: 1080 gr. + leather case: 1290 gr.
• Exposure meter: CdS (Cadmium Sulphide), match needle on ground glass. 
• Automatic exposure counter and locking double-exposure preventer. 
• Self-timer, PC sync connection, no accessory shoe.
• Including leather Ever-ready case
• YouTube,  Review,  Manual,  Sample photos, 
• (Note 1: Calumet or Foto Patent (Utr.) for films: e.g. Ilford Delta 100, 120 B/W film)
• (Note 2: Scanning negatives: Canon Canoscan 9000F mark II)

Viewfinder: Exposure needle on ground glass reads '6'

Focussing knob with exposure scale:
1. Turn center disc to used ASA/DIN film.
2. Turn exposure disc (left window) ➤ to '6' 
3. Read exposure in right window: f5.6-10 sec.
(or f8-1/5 sec or f11-1/2 sec).

My listening and viewing room

Twisted 2.5 mm2 OFC cable

Components:

• TV   :  Samsung 40" UE40 D6750 3D LED Smart TV
• AMP:  Marantz SR-7300 7.1 Surround receiver

Input:

• Apple iMac 27" [HD a. + b.] (toslink to amp)
• Mediastreamer A.C. Ryan HD Mini2 [HD c.] (toslink to amp / hdmi to tv)
• Blu-ray player: Pioneer BDP450 [HD d.] (coaxial RCA to amp / hdmi to tv)
• Ziggo HDTV-tuner/recorder Cisco 8485DVB [HD e.] (toslink to amp / hdmi to tv)

Output:

• Fronts: KEF R300 (twisted 2,5 mm OFC cable)
• Center: KEF Reference Series 100 (2,5 mm OFC cable)
• Surrounds: KEF Reference Series 70S (1,5 mm OFC cable)
• Sub: Infinity Alpha 100W (Y-connector RCA cable)
• Headphones: Shure SRH-750-DJ, Sennheizer PX-100-II

Control:

• Logitech Harmony One
• iTunes, iPad 1, iPhone 5S

Digital media:

• HD a. : 1TB - internal iMac ±50.000 MP3 and FLAC-files (±500Gb).
• HD b. : 2TB - external WD 3,5" for backup Apple Time Machine.
• HD c. : 2TB - external WD 3,5" for Movies and TV-series.
• HD d. : 2TB - external WD 2,5" for Music (24bit FLAC's, DTS, Music Bluray's and DVD's.
• HD e. : 320GB internal for Movies and TV-series.
• SACD: ±50, Music-DVD/BRD: ±50

HIFI.nl

Mijn HiFi-systeem

[Home Cinema]
Samsung LED TV, Marantz surround receiver (SR7300)

[Bronnen]
Apple iMac 27", A.C. Ryan Mediastreamer, Pioneer BR-speler, Cisco HDTV-tuner/recorder.

[Speakers]
Fronts: KEF R300, Center: KEF Reference 100, Surrounds: KEF Reference 70S, Sub Infinity.

Ik maak optimaal gebruik van de DAC in de Marantz receiver (die ook in stereo erg goed meekomt). De bronnen (iMac, mediastreamer, hdtv-tuner) optisch digitaal aangesloten en de Bluray-speler (incl. SACD) met een digitale coax kabel. Tevens alle bronnen met goede HDMI-kabels aangesloten op de TV en netjes weggewerkt in kabelgoten).
De geprogrammeerde Logitech One is de ideale AB mits je deze alleen gebruikt. De iPad gebruik ik o.a. als afstandsbediening voor iTunes.

Componenten

Produkt	Merk	Typenummer
Afstandsbediening	Apple	iPad
Subwoofer	Infinity	Alpha Junior 100W
Luidspreker voor	KEF	R300
Luidspreker surround	KEF	Reference Model 70S
Luidspreker center	KEF	Reference Model 100
Afstandsbediening	Logitech	Harmony One
Surround receiver	Marantz	SR7300
Luidsprekerkabel	Oehlbach	2,5 mm2 OFC
Luidsprekerkabel	Oehlbach	Y-connector subwooferkabel Booom
Blu-Ray speler	Pioneer	BDP450
Beeldkabel	RU connected	Hdmi kabels
LED-Tv	Samsung	UE40 D6750
Hoofdtelefoon	Sennheiser	PX-100-II
Hoofdtelefoon	Shure	SRH-750-DJ
Coax interlink	Vivanco	SHQ
Digitale TV Decoder	Ziggo	Cisco 8485DVB

Mijn HiFi Geschiedenis

In 1978 als 14 jarige begonnen met een Fisher draaitafel met Shure V15III element, Kenwood 60W stereo versterker met mooie VU-meters aangesloten op speakers van Studio Kraft (made by Bose). Set compleet gemaakt met tuner en cassettedeck en later een Philips CD speler.
In 2000 een Kenwood surround receiver en DVD-speler gekocht met een 5.1 set van Infinity (Minuette), deze doet nu perfect dienst in de hobbykamer.
Na een jaar heel veel luisteren bij vrienden, collega`s, winkels, beurzen enz. heb ik in 2014 huidige set 2ehands bij elkaar verzameld aangevuld met nieuwe KEF R300 monitoren.

Algemene vragen

Omschrijf het geluid van uw systeem.
Natuurlijke warme klank, allround geschikt voor veel soorten muziek. De monitoren hebben (ook zonder sub) een krachtige en precieze basweergave, de meeste muziek luister ik in stereo. De KEF 3-weg monitoren op de Marantz amp geven me een mooi ruimtelijk geluid met zeer veel detail en fijne bassen zeer geschikt voor mijn brede muziek interesse. Het geluid is warm maar ook helder, snel en accuraat. Ik kan er urenlang naar luisteren zonder moe van te worden, alleen maar meer, meer en meer ...

Waar liggen bij u de verbeterpunten?
Akoestiek verbeteringen met (zelfbouw) panelen aan de wanden, update: paneel gemaakt met bordeaux rood studiofoam (zie foto).

Speakerstands verzwaren. Update: Reeds verzwaard met vogelzand en met spikes netjes afgesteld op een plavuis.

Zelfbouw experiment: RFI-filter voor de voeding met afgeschermde netkabels. Update: Proef filter is een succes, zie zelfbouwproject.

Dit krijgt een vervolg met een mooie omkasting!

Wat zijn uw toekomstige plannen met betrekking tot uw set?
De sub wil ik (eens) vervangen door een R.E.L.

Omschrijf uw luisterruimte (aankleding, inhoud, meubilair, akoestiek etc.)
L-vormige huiskamer 40 m2 met de speakers opgesteld in de lengterichting van de huiskamer. Huiskamer heeft een redelijke akoestiek d.m.v. houten meubelen, gordijnen, parket met vloerkleed, grote stoffen bank en lederen relaxstoel.

Kunt u aangeven hoeveel beeld- en geluidsdragers u heeft en in welke genres dit verdeeld is?
400 CD`s (op zolder en in de auto), 50 SACD`s, 50 DVD/BRD, ca. 500 Gb MP3`s en Flacs, 500 Gb HD Flac`s, DTS files, 1TB muziek-DVD`s, 2TB films.

25% jazz, soul en lounge, 25% (prog)rock, 10% singer-songwriter, 10% pop, 10% alternatief, 10% world, 10% klassiek.

Hoe vaak luistert u naar muziek?
Dagelijks 2-6 uur.

Hoe vaak kijkt u film?
Wekelijks 3-4 films en TV-series (o.a. HBO)

Overige

Ik luister veel radio (Sublime FM), MP3 (320kbps) en steeds meer (24 bits) Flac`s via de iMac en Blu-rayspeler SACD`s en regelmatig een muziek DVD of Blu-ray. Ik blijf nog steeds prachtige en voor mij nieuwe muziek ontdekken via o.a. Spotify, YouTube en diverse fora.

La Paz massages

After weeks of painting, plastering and do-it-yourself, Monday December 1 I got the first massage with warm oil with lavender, very relaxing, especially for neck and back. The painting on the wall with LEDs around Rave has painted herself. The Ikea cabinets to the wall need to be filled with lovely red towels and the Gold Palm in corner should have a higher gray kitty, but the room is ready! Tomorrow she has her first two customers, youngsters she massages at a student price in 25 or 50 minutes including a drink and nice lounge music in the background.

Concert Le Guess Who - Utrecht

Sunday I went to the last day of the Le Guess Who festival visited the new Tivoli Vredenburg and I quite enjoyed the following artists:

Owen Pallet
Anyone who has tried it even once will agree that the violin is an incredibly hard instrument to get the hang of. Realising Owen Pallett has studied classical violin from the age of three and wrote his first composition at 13 is equally astounding as it is explanatory. Seeing Pallett on stage using just his violin and a loop pedal to build elaborate harmonies is a mesmerizing sight to behold. Being not just a singer-songwriter in his own right but also a composer for various string sections, Pallett has collaborated with many of indie pop’s finest such as Arcade Fire, Beirut and Grizzly Bear.

YouTube,  live @ Café de la Danse, Paris

Suuns & Jerusalem In My Heart

Suuns hardly need an introduction. Their dissonant art rock is widely renowned for their unparalleled implementation of dark electronic elements and paranoid drone-noise which, especially in a live setting, completely washes over you and fills the room. Together with long time friend Radwan Ghazi Moumneh of Jerusalem In My Heart they rented a studio for seven days for a collaborative session, resulting in a set of vibe-laden songs full of heavy analog synths, Arabic influences and emotive electronics. The recordings were laid to rest for a full year, before two shows in 2013 and a final rework of the album in the summer of 2014 kickstarted the project back to life. Their live show, which varies from soothing and slightly disturbing to enthrallingly vigorous, is not about playing the songs note for note but more about capturing the excitement those initial sessions.

YouTube

tUnE-yArDs

A self-described “patchwork of sound snippets”, the unique signature of tUnE-yArDs is accomplished by creating a drum loop layered with vocals, ukulele, bass and a colorful palette of found sounds. Their debut album BiRd-BrAiNs was completely self-recorded, produced using a hand-held voice recorder and released on recycled cassette tapes and as a pay-what-you-want digital download. The surprisingly soulful mix of sounds gradually found its way to the hearts of music lovers around the world. Now, five years later, tUnE-yArDs has collaborated with producers Malay and John Hill, best known for their work with M.I.A., resulting in a more accessible and focused third full-length.

YouTube

St. Vincent

Annie Clark picked up on the life of a professional musician when she learned to play the guitar and worked as the tour manager for her uncle’s band during her teenage years. Later she would go to the Berklee College of Music and release an EP with a couple of fellow students before dropping out. She joined Sufjan Stevens’ touring band in 2006, and released her own debut album a year later. Unexpected success with critics and mainstream recognition followed, and while she’s not afraid to explore many different sounds, styles and instrumentation, there’s always her soothing voice to guide you through her intricate songwriting.

YouTube

Kittens

Since November 23th we have two kittens in the house: Pink and Floyd.
They are the 'lucky basterds' adopted from Alicant, Spain because the mother had just run over and there was found no owner for this little ones. They are removed from fleas, dewormed, vaccinated, microchipped and provide passport before they might join the truck from Alas Resque team to the Netherlands. Brother Floyd is dark mottled and sister Pink has a light striped fur, they are born around mid-September.