Digital Vomit Records

In 1967, American recording artist Ken Nordine released an album entitled 'Colors', one of his series of 'Word Jazz' albums. As this label suggests, the album consists of 24 tracks of lounge jazz music, accompanied by spoken-word poetry readings, all relating to different colors (or, if you prefer, as I do, "colours") and the emotions and feelings each carries. It is one of the most bizarre commerical recordings ever released, and has gained a cult following over the years from fans of the more obscure outreaches of music.

In August 2003, socially inept teenager Lee Ashcroft (that's me) received a B in GCSE art. Largely on the basis that I was the only person in the class with any knowledge of Adobe Photoshop. Teachers included.

In March 2009, Digital Vomit regular Mixomatosis (also me, furthermore known as Za Ginipiggu) first came into contact with this release at the Shunt Lounge in London. In an event hosted by Jonny Trunk (founder of splendid soundtrack reissue label Trunk Records) intreguingly named 'Jazz Painting', audience members (myself included) were invited to move stage front and take the colour of their choosing. Jonny then played the corresponding track from the Colors album, and asked each volunteer to paint with the music. Some painted huge delicate swirls of yellow and green, others literally threw their cans of emulsion at the canvas. I chose black, and threw my paintbrush (and everyone else's paintbrushes, come to think of it) at the canvas as hard as possible in a fit of mock-anger even rivalling that Fast Show sketch. Although I drew the line at actually destroying the canvas. None of the painters had previously heard these recordings.

Since then I've become mildly obsessed with this album. It is an utterly bizarre piece of musical history; very quirky yet always entertaining. And what a voice Nordine has: gravelly, yet playful. And the experience in London was truly one of the most fun music-based events I'd ever attended. But I wanted more. Having spent less than 2 minutes with the paintbrush, I knew there was more fun to be had yet. I wanted to paint the entire album (including the 10 bonus tracks released on the 1995 CD reissue). But I've heard the whole album now. The whole point of the exercise at Shunt was that it was totally spontaneous. I had no idea what the music would sound like, so my reactions were absolutely pure. How could I hear the whole album again for the very first time?

The answer - give it to the patrons of Digital Vomit and beyond. Let them reinterpret, remix, and recycle the original album to create 34 brand new pieces of audio, that would remain unheard until the moment I faced a canvas again.

Thus came: Colo(u)rs - A Ken Nordine reimagining opportunity.

NB. Colo(u)rs listed in bold have been taken. Those with a * have been submitted. All the other Colo(u)rs are still up for grabs.

1. Olive - Keith Hic
2. Lavender - Junkshop Coyote*
3. Burgundy - Gary Glitcher*
4. Yellow
5. Green - Subsonika
6. Beige - Big In Albania
7. Maroon - Jansky Noise
8. Ecru - Thee Crumb
9. Chartreuse
10. Turquoise - Twocsandsarah
11. White - Hooray
12. Flesh - Pindown
13. Azure
14. Puce - Solypsis
15. Magenta - Twoscandsarah
16. Orange - iivix
17. Purple - DIH
18. Muddy - Drohnwerks*
19. Russet
20. Amber
21. Blue
22. Black - WSicko
23. Gold - Tomoroh Hidari
24. Crimson
25. Brown - Batuta
26. Rosey - Admiral Awesome
27. Hazel
28. Mauve
29. Fuchsia - Beytah
30. Sepia - The Fez!
31. Nutria
32. Cerise
33. Grey - Uncivilized
34. Coral

If you would like to produce a track for the compilation, here's what you need to do:

1) Select a Colo(u)r from the list under "The Colo(u)rs" that is not in bold. Either mention it in the forum, or email your request to lee dot ashcroft at hotmail dot co dot uk.

Then either:

2) "Acquire" a copy of the original Nordine album, and either remix or reinterpret/cover the appropriate audio track in the manner of your choosing
or
3) Using the Colo(u)r as your only source of inspiration, create an original track based on it.

Your track must contain intelligible vocals, whether they be live, sampled or synthesised. Maximum track length is 1:45, although it's preferable to aim for around the minute mark.

4) Using either a file-hosting site such as yousendit.com or your own web-space, upload a WAV-quality copy of your track and email the link to the email address above.

Now, there is a big element of trust involved in this process. I will not be listening to any of the pieces in advance, as I want to come to them completely fresh when I am painting. Therefore I am trusting you to keep within the (very small number of) rules. Obviously I can check track times without listening to them, but it's up to you to ensure the vocals are intelligible, and in keeping with the spirit of the project.

There is currently no deadline, as there is no venue booked yet. When it is booked however, the deadline will be absolutely set in stone - no extensions.

Anyone sending tracks in will receive the complete collection of audio upon completion. Note that there are currently no plans to publically release these tracks in any kind of audio-only format, so you will be the only people to have all the raw tracks. For the time being anyway. You will also get free entry to the live event, although I'm not sure if I'll be charging an entry fee or not yet. Depends on the venue, and the general financial situation of course. Either way, you are all guaranteed free entry. I'm also thinking that you can also have the unused paint of your Colo(u)r from the live event, although I would require £P+P to send this to you if you're not in attendance.

Also…

5) OPTIONAL: make a financial donation to help see the project through to completion. More about this on the "Financing" tab.

This is arguably the most ambitious project on Digital Vomit to date, and will aim to comprise of a live event, potentially two CDs, a DVD, and two print pieces, as well as the completed artwork itself. Rather than spread these out across a number of release codes however, they will all be collected under a single code - DVR067:

DVR067 - Lee Ashcroft - Colo(u)rs XX/XX/XXXX (The completed artwork, to include the date of its creation. This will remain in my possession indefinetely.)
DVR067A - Digital Vomit and Lee Ashcroft present - Colo(u)rs (The live event itself.)
DVR067CD - Various - Colo(u)rs (The highly limited, bespoke CD for donations of over £10 (see the "Financing" tab).)
DVR067CDb - Various - Colo(u)rs (The regular CD release, in the highly unlikely event it should occur.)
DVR067DVD - Digital Vomit and Lee Ashcroft present - Colo(u)rs (The DVD of the event, including two audio tracks - one of the location recording, one of the raw music. This is likely to be the only way for the public to obtain the remixed audio.)
DVR067F - Digital Vomit and Lee Ashcroft present - Colo(u)rs (The flyer for the show.)
DVR067M - Various - Colo(u)rs (A lossless-quality digital copy of all 34 audio tracks, for musical participants only.)
DVR067P - Lee Ashcroft - Colo(u)rs XX/XX/XXXX (A print of the finished artwork, to include the date of the event, most likely made to order due to printing costs.)

Prices for each item will remain TBC until venue details and costs are fixed.

Obviously this is all going to be fairly expensive work. Whilst money may be made after the event from DVD and print sales, there will still be major set-up costs for the event itself. I am anticipating that I will cover most of these costs, however I will be looking for voluntary financial donations. That is, voluntary.

NONE OF THE MUSICIANS ARE OBLIGATED TO SEND ANY MONEY.

I want to make that absolutely clear. This is not another Can Buy Me Love-type situation - you need not pay to play.

For those of you who do want to donate, whether you are contributing audio or not, here's what your money will get you:

1p-£4 - my eternal gratitude and, if you're not making a track for the album, a major credit on the DVD (and CD).
£4.01-£10 - credit + a free copy of the live performance on DVD.
£10.01-£15 - credit + DVD + a highly limited copy of the audio on CD, with hand-painted artwork (painted in your own Colo(u)r), made to order.
£15.01+ - credit + DVD + CD + the opportunity to paint the Colo(u)r of your choosing at the live event. You'll need to find your own transportation, however protective clothing will be provided.

WHAT YOUR MONEY WILL GO TOWARDS:

Paint - there are 34 Colo(u)rs in all, and some of these will need to be mixed from other Colo(u)rs , requiring multiple orders of certain paints. Where the donations fall short, this is almost certainly where my own money will go.
Canvas - I am looking to get a big 12x9ft canvas to paint on, allowing for plenty of seperate and interweaving ideas in one space.
Brushes - varying sizes, depending on where the mood takes me.
Outfit - Devo-style overalls are the way to go here.
Venue - this is the big one. If I can get it for free, brilliant. If not, then I've no idea what this will cost. Could be £50, could be £250.
Equipment - a live PA and other equipment required to present the audio pieces. Most of this can probably be obtained for free.
DVD production - including DVD-Rs and artwork. I will be selling these in the weeks after the show, but any set-up costs I can make from donations will help.

Details on how to donate will be made available at a later date. If you would like to express an interest in donating, email me at lee dot ashcroft at hotmail dot co dot uk.