9/2017

La.M.P. Ltd has partnered with the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, to support them.

Says François Evans:

Many years ago when I was a student in Paris, I got to know a fellow by the name of Riadh Ktari. "Let's meet for a drink!" In his early 30s, on a glorious summer day, I remember he turned up on the Ile de la cité, lugging a weighty green oxygen cylinder. I learned he had a genetic condition called cystic fibrosis. He lived at a health centre, which offered support to university students in Paris, who had special health needs. We became good friends.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder which affects various organs, particularly the lungs, causing difficulty breathing. Those with the condition have to have regular lung-clearing sessions and bothersome doses of antibiotics.

Some years later, I returned from England and knocked at the door of the health centre to ask if Riadh was there. I was saddened to learn that he had recently passed away. The life expectancy for those with this genetic condition, is early 30s.

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is a UK-based and terrifically-well organised charity, that funds: (i) research into finding a cure, (ii) improving care standards and (iii) supporting those with the condition and their loved ones.

You can donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust here: . We are proud to be assisting them.

8/2017

Wiring in the 2nd-hand, 32-channel automated-fader Soundcraft DC2000 desk, has been a fiddly process.

It uses 8 x 96-pin and 8 x 56-pin 'EDAC' connectors at the back, which enable lots of cables to be plugged in, in one go, but take weeks of work (and much fume-inhalation) to solder!

The other ends of the thick cables feed LaMP's new 24 x 24 patch-field (the desk's own patch-field wasn't big enough).

This should save time in the long run, when orchestrating with different synthesizers, mechanical sounds, and routing signals through vintage and more modern sound processing devices.

Next steps are acoustic treatment, desk make-over and a legacy cable sort.

This year LaMP acquired a dangerously clowny-sounding Crumar DS2.

Its glistening sounds should mix well with others.

Back to the soldering station...

Mastered Sudden Fury CDs have arrived and are available for sale (with the Game Over soundtrack) at the LaMP shop. Hang in there while we try to get the back-end of the online store working securely. If you'd like to pre-order, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. A bientôt!

3/2017

Yesterday I listened again to the title track from the film Pervirella, and was struck by the beauty of Tony Moriah's lead vocal.

I wondered what had become of this fantastic singer since I'd had the good fortune to work with him back in 1997. A search on the internet led to YouTube videos of him singing, which began with titles saying 'In Memory of Anthony Moriah'. I could not understand. He was so young. After further searching I learned that Tony had died from liver failure in late 2009.

Hear Tony sing here.

Today I learned how important it is to keep in touch with people. The rush of life separates us from each other.

Tony Moriah was an extraordinary young singer, with a golden voice. I would have loved to have worked with him again. He was a quiet, shy man and a consummate professional. I'm lost for words.

Rest in peace Tony. You are not forgotten.

10/2016

A nostalgic Empire interview with Edgar Wright: Once Upon a Time in the West Country appears at the Empire website (11/2015).

5/2016

Spitfire Audio, the British company who make some of the finest sound sample libraries in the world, are preparing a ‘Bernard Herrmann’ sound collection.

This month, François recorded ondes Martenot samples for these at the late Sir George Martin’s, (now Richard Boote & Paul Woolf's) Air Lyndhurst studios in Hampstead, London.

Keep an eye on Christian Henson and Paul Thomson’s Spitfire Audio website for news of these!

Christian Henson		Paul Thomson

Ondes Martenot