The next ILX compilation album: For JD Twitch

I did not coordinate all those precovers efforts for nothing. I did not organize a massive compilation for the memory of my friend Lee Jackson fifteen years ago for nothing.

You will have seen today’s news via the Optimo thread:

Optimo

https://www.jdtwitch.com/

This is a celebration. We know our feelings, we know the stakes. We are doing this for him, to show the love. I am focused on the business of making it happen. Here’s the guidelines:

* This will be designed to be shared for free but, if JD or his family indicate a particular charity or effort, we will make that our goal.

* In order for proper placement on Bandcamp and elsewhere, make all tracks available in AIFF or WAV fidelity

* While cover versions are tempting, please create originals (this slightly tripped up my Lee effort I mentioned)

* Tracks should be sent to me at ned at kuci dot org, alternately send any file share notifications there.

* I would appreciate all suggestions or submissions of cover art.

* There is no genre or time limitation of course. That’s the whole point.

* As JD’s message indicated, we do not know what time there is. But I want everything you submit to be of the highest quality. I therefore ask that you put some time into this, and unless indications are otherwise, your deadline is three weeks from today, the 24th. Make it happen.

* If nobody minds further, I will share this post more widely to invite others to participate.

You know what to do. Please post in this thread if you are participating.

Go.

Amazing idea. Thank you for putting this together Ned. I'd love to participate.

Great idea. I’ve not made any music for many years, but I’ll try and get motivated to get something worthy for consideration.

i will contribute, have some things in my files that i can work with.

Thanks indeed!

Also have not finished any music in years, but can't understate what a huge influence he's been to me musically and as a person. Will try my best to participate.

I'd be interested

Thanks to you both for sure.

I am happy to contribute!

Happy to help if there is any mastering/levelling needed, Ned.

And would be happy to provide an illustration for it as well.

Thanks, I was going to ask after both mastering and again about art so I will be happy to take on both of your services. Mares, my goal will be to send you all tracks on the evening of the 24th or the morning of the 25th with the goal to have everything ready to share by the following Monday if that time frame is manageable (three days, IIRC).

I would like to contribute something, gonna look through old band recording

Sure just email /message me (non-ILX email) me with any ideas for art as soon as is possible and I will begin.

Much thanks.

I have sent a message to him through the form about this, along with a link to the thread. The future is what it will be, but I wanted him to know this is happening. This is not the time for coyness.

Quick note too, since the question was raised upthread: absolutely no problem with anything unreleased if you're not currently recording, between projects, etc. But aim for something that's you're definitely proud of, that shows you at your best. That's what stir would want to see and hear.

I'm going to try to record something for this

XP- Ned, that's all fine, I won't be doing anything radical, and most tracks probably won't need much of anything if past comps are anything to go by.

Hi Ned, and everyone. I also emailed, but will post for transparency as well. Please consider including this recording I did in 2021. It is titled "#therapythroughmusic":
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Co1VbOrBCQjACk8RLHT45C261il5i7pO/view?usp=drivesdk

I have not had access to a recording setup since, but did fiddle with the overall EQ/loudness in Audacity a bit ago. The original mastering is less compressed, but quieter because I am an untrained amateur. I have the original mastering if requested. I can be reached via the ILX messaging system.

I chose this specific recording because I was taking breaks during mixing to browse here on ILM. My connection to stir is exclusively via this forum, so I thought it was appropriate. That's literally what the song is about, too: exploring and experiencing music in as many different ways as possible.

What an inspiration. Thank you.

♡☮gaa

Thanks to everyone involved so far -- about ten participants I think, a fine start. Happy to see if we can add more!

I can contribute one of my old good tracks … much <3

Also starting to spread the word elsewhere -- Robert Dallas Gray, who responded to my post sharing JD's message site yesterday with a really lovely memory of Optimo days when he was in Life Without Buildings, is in and perhaps that will lead to even more participating, we'll see.

Captain happy to help if any additional typesetting/production beyond or with your art is needed.

Will see about contributing New York endless track as well.

aww, robert dallas gray is good people

Thanks Dan — if you want to get in touch with Captain Jay Vee about it, please do, as he’s got the art commission as such!

Dan yes please I leave all typography to you :))

I've got something to send you Ned, just needs some finishing touches.

I'm in, if there is space/time!

Just make the deadline. (The deadline is unchangeable. You make it or you don’t.)

i've not done much music lately but will try my best to get something finished!

also agree re robert dallas gray, he's awesome

Jay Vee's artwork is now in hand over here and I'll be getting it to Dan shortly. Related to that, since he's handling typography -- we have no formal title for this album yet. I'm happily open to suggestions, especially if it's a good ILX ref in general (but even better if stirmonster-specific!)

How about

“For Keith : ILX Celebrates Stirmonster”

or substitute Stir’s given name with Twitch…

Stirring it up: An ilx celebration of JD Twitch.

Alternatively.
Stirring it up: An ilx celebration for JD Twitch.

im happy to contribute if there is room

It’s a digital release, plenty of room. The deadline is the key thing.

One More Tune

<3

One More Tune — yeah, that’s a fantastic title. I think that’s it. One More Tune: ILX and Friends Celebrate JD Twitch/stirmonster in full.

I can donate one of the tracks from my upcoming album.

I would be happy to contribute, can try and put something together but have a fallback if not

I’d love to contribute if there’s room

As said a few posts back, it's a digital comp, no need to worry about room. The deadline is all you need to worry about.

haitch and myself will endeavour to put together something appropriate by the deadline

<3 esoj

yes, back and reporting for duty

We thank ya for it!

I’d like to contribute. I’m in the process of moving overseas though, but think I may have an older track that could work

So lovely to see youse mongrels come out for this.

We are now seven tracks submitted and counting. The deadline is, again, two weeks from today, the 24th. Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far.

Track I'm working on with a buddy is well in progress!

Robert Dallas Gray has posted a little something in advance about his contribution:

https://bsky.app/profile/robertdallasgray.com/post/3ltpyem5abs23

Also, we are now up to twelve tracks submitted. Further, there will be at least three pieces in an accompanying digital booklet, perhaps more. Further details to come.

hi there, registered just to say I would love to contribute a track
Don't know whether I'm too late or how contributing would work?

Welcome. Per my opening post: deadline is July 24th, WAV or AIFF format, email to me at ned at kuci dot org either the file or a file link for downloading. More details in the opening post.

Ned, I sent you my track. (It's "I Loved Her As A Pet.")

Received! What do you want to be credited as?

Chris Irregardless.

Got it!

ok, will do Ned! my track is unmastered, that will happen for all tracks in the compilation I guess?

We indeed have mastering taken care of. Not trying to be tendentious but this is separately mentioned upthread!

Was waiting on this to go live -- the proceeds from this album will be directed towards stirmonster's Crowdfunder to assist with continuing care:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/love2jdtwitch

In order to make sure that there is no loss in terms of currency conversion or the like, while I am still coordinating the elements of One More Tune to come together, it will be hosted upon release by our own frenchbloke, a longtime friend and colleague of stir's, so all payments can be made directly in pounds sterling. frenchbloke will be hosting it via his label site The Dark Outside:

https://thedarkoutside.bandcamp.com/

I'll update the original post with some edits as necessary but to underscore a couple of things: please have your submissions to me by 5:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time on July 24th. Release will be Monday July 28th.

Wonderful!

Just posting a note here to officially reactivate myself as an ILXor long enough to be able to participate. HI DERE.

Oh so you’re the guy

Somebody's gotta be! And at least it's for a good cause this time!

sent you the song, Ned

Received with thanks!

Separately, it is truly delightful and moving to see that the fundraiser has already broken its goal in under twenty four hours and is heading higher. The compilation’s proceeds, if not needed by stir, will, per the note on the site, be going to four charities designated by him.

fantastic.

Hey Ned. Not looking like ol get my computer out of Cambodian customs until the 30th and I don’t want to slow y’all’s momentum so I guess I’m out. I’ll keep an eye on the thread in case things do get extended

Thanks Heez and sorry to hear it! There won't be an extension -- the goal is to get this out for stir as well as everyone -- but I appreciate it! If you do have an archival track of any sort that you think would be quality enough to include, that would be fine.

Hey Ned; thanks for organising this. I've sent you a track.

Received! Greatly appreciated.

As an update for everyone, with a week and a day to go -- we are at eighteen submitted tracks now and counting.

This is great to see. Ned have you thought about using the 'One More Tune' sample from How to Kill The DJ as a kind of outro?

Hmm...worth considering for sure!

Great idea: if I had any capacity for making music, I’d have sampled One More Tune, as I regularly use it in my DJ sets.

Deadline for submission is one week from today. Absolute deadline (knowing how full my day then is already) will be 5 pm Pacific Daylight Time so I can get the last batch of tracks by then over to Maresn3st for mastering.

127 steps track is near complete, just need to finesse the ending fuzz-out

hi jim <3

hey mookie!

Nearly finished!

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:b4jdlabwip5qkf27fc5x3thd/bafkreiahfpltjjqs3ojgrtnrj53o6fusr32acp4ffilafjdt45yrnmbclu@jpeg

Roxor

cool.

I'm partly through a track and it's partly terrible. Gonna give it one more go and see if I can make it at least somewhat something I'd be ok sharing! Let me know if anybody else is sampling Liquid Liquid's Optimo, because it's pretty obvious tribute and if somebody else did it better than me, I'd be less inclined to finish!

Yes, I'm just going to send you what I've got, Ned, I'm not making it any better messing about with it!

All good! Send along whenever you're ready!

Let me know if anybody else is sampling Liquid Liquid's Optimo

nearly did but opted for something more vaguely referential

I also sampled Robert Rental.

I sampled my brain.

Got a nice meditative electronic piece recorded today, will send over the weekend.

Sounds good. We're now up to twenty tracks and the second batch of them have been sent to Maresn3st for mastering!

A quick note about the mastering for those that have submitted tunes, just wanted to say I'm being quite 'hands off', and really just making sure that the tracks are in a similar ballpark level-wise so it makes for a comfortable listening. There's quite a variation in dynamics, from full-on electronica, to solo instruments.

There are a couple that have needed a bit of boosting, or brightening. One had a rogue frequency that needed a -3db cut, but I'm concious that this is people's art after all, and am only lending a hand where I feel it is required.

Thanks for your work! In the case of mine it was made entirely on headphones so I'm sure the crazy frequencies are everywhere!

hey Maresn3st, for my track: I know I'm an ok mixer and get the overall sound I want...but I also know all my tracks always need mastering. so please, do a bit more than simple leveling to bring the best out of the mix :-)

Wildo Max, it seemed totally fine to me, but I will revisit! No worries

Quick reminder we now have three days to go (literally, seventy two hours from now)

Just sent my track!

Received! Two days to go now...

Hi there Maresn3st, thanks for the mastering input! I'm as amateur as can be and working in a very DIY manner, so I apologise for any 'rogue frequencies' that might have appeared on my track. Feel free to work your magic :-)

Heya Melony, yours is fine, some nice, spicy bottom end in the mix, but well within limits!

I came up with a track name weeks ago, sadly that name was also “One More Tune”, so that idea went down the bin and I’ve been super busy since.

I did find an old sketch last night that I hope I can build something out of, but I am very rusty making music so wish me luck.

Maresn3st feel free to do as little or much as you deem necessary on my thing, which has way too many tracks on top of each other and was done with headphones on while falling asleep.

Luck wished to Chews!

Deadline is *tomorrow* at 5 pm Pacific Daylight Time -- no exceptions, none!

just sent my effort in there!

Received!

XXXP - Wildo Dan, I'll be getting your track through tomorrow eve

We are now up to thirty tracks, which is great to see. 26 hours and change to the deadline!

Sent! By way of dropbox.

Got it!

Sent a track your way, Ned. Thanks for doing this.

sending a track today...

Sounds good! Twelve hours to go!

sent a track. Maresnest, it sample a skipping record, so obviously the levels are a little wonky. thanks for your hard work!!

I will get you the thing!

Up to thirty-five tracks now!

Might need to be split into two volumes!

gonna be distributed via hard-drives.

Six hours to go!

XXXXXP - noted table, thank you!

Three hours to go...

Really struggled with this, but a deadline is a great motivator so I locked myself in a room and have made some horrible noisey lo-fi thing with a 4/4 beat. I’m hoping it will still sound OK in the cold light of day.

Apologies to Maresn3st looking back at the recording (it was a live jam) I worry I went overboard with the limiting on this thing: I wanted to go with a bit of unpredictable pumping of levels, but I guess you might end up reducing the Dbs a bit to make it fit.

Quick check before uploading, is 48khz / 24bit ok?

Mine was, so it shouldn't be a problem.

So long as it's AIFF or WAV, that's the key.

Nice one, just emailed something over

Received!

We're at thirty-nine tracks and I know at least two more should be incoming...

My first post / comment on this forum - just sent my effort off, different from my usual weirdness, but weird all the same, sort of atmospheric semi-operatic beatless dance (ish) number, intro & tension all the way, no samples, just all my own work, used a micro field recording of a bike near a tunnel in Glasgow Botanics, deep within the mix and very much tampered with.
It's a long guy at just over 12 mins, hope that's ok

Perfectly okay!

Anyway, five minutes folks!

And that's that! Sorry if you couldn't make it but by all means consider sharing things elsewhere to help raise money for the Crowdfunder.

We are at forty tracks at just over three hours.

More details to come!

Shall be uploading these to Bandcamp later today then double checking everything.

There shall be no cherry picking tracks. It's all 40, all of the time.

A huge thank you again to everyone who took part.

heya fb - I've been wondering (slash worrying given ILX's new demonstrated role as LLM fodder) about the thread title, and before it goes widely public (fsvo): has there been consideration or consultation re linking K's professional and public identities to his private community activity here, given his repeatedly published requests not to link his anonymous aliases in the past?

fb and I had a quick chat about this, and we'll go 'better safe than sorry.' I'll deindex the thread and edit the title; the thread itself will be locked after Monday once the album goes live anyway, in accordance with past practice with precovers albums and the like. (The subtitle for the album is just 'ILX and Friends Celebrate JD Twitch')

Can't wait for this one. Well done and thank you all.

Thank you Ned, Frenchbloke, Maresn3st and everyone else involved, including those who made music for it. Simply incredible acts of kindness and respect. I can't wait to hear it.

You're most welcome. It's really something special. I'm glad for you all to hear it, but especially JD. I've no doubt he'll feel it fully.

Well done Ned. Deadlines work huh?

Dare I say I knew what I was doing there. (Also that email you sent me the other day ended up in spam! At least you weren’t submitting a track!)

Good work Ned.

Instant Love.

Finally sat down and listened to the whole thing through properly instead of in fits and starts. It's a damn treat.

Really looking forward to listening to this. I FEEL THE LOVE, Ned. Thank you so much for everything.

You're very welcome. To repeat my post on the Optimo thread, this will go live morning my time, later in the afternoon in the UK. I will post a new thread about it when it's live and lock down this one with a link to it.

Noted and thanks again!

We are live.

One More Tune: ILX and Friends Celebrate JD Twitch

This thread will now be locked.