Tim Ferguson

Thanks tumblr. It was fun…

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 19:04:45 +0100

I’ve made my own blog on my own domain… So that’s where I’ll be going forward.

Tunas (for Sonic Heritage 2025 by Cities and Memory)

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 09:05:08 +0100

Tunas (for Sonic Heritage 2025 by Cities and Memory) by Tim Ferguson (encosion)

Listen directly on audioboom (hear the original field recording too) or try to find it along with 499 other reimagined field recordings on the Sonic Heritage sound map on the Cities and Memory website.

DESCRIPTION

I chose a field recording, by Erick Ruiz Arellano, about a tunas seller in Zacatecas, Mexico. I did a bit of digging to discover that Zacatecas is on the historical ‘El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro’ (aka the Silver Route) – a 2,500km road between Mexico City and San Juan Pueblo (in America) that was used from 1598 to 1882.

As I sought to translate and understand the conversations in this recording, I discovered that a “tunas seller” is someone who sells prickly pears.

Inspired by the repetitive creaking sound that this seller’s equipment made as they walked from door to door, coupled with the rich ambience of the original recording, I immediately knew I wanted to use this creaking as the foundation of the track. I subtly sharpened up the timing between each creak and incorporated interesting snippets from the original recording.

The composition features vocal samples from online translation and pronunciation tools, discovered while researching the tunas/prickly pear connection. I also included a playful sample from Baloo’s 'Bare Necessities’ song from 'The Jungle Book’ (1967), where he coincidentally sings about prickly pears.

What began as curiosity about a street vendor’s creaking equipment evolved into a composition that celebrates the unexpected connections between modern Mexican street commerce, historical trade routes, and a bit of pop culture.

TRANSLATION

S: Hello, Mrs. Suyo.
S: This time I have some small ones.
S: Prickly pears (tunas).
C: Which ones?
S: White ones.
C: And wheat gorditas?
S: Yes.
S: Prickly pear.
C: But are we dealing in millions? [likely a joking reference to price]
S: Ah, no.
S: Come, try them.
S: How many should I give you?
C: Give me a glass/cup’s worth.
S: 20 pesos, no, very good.
C: Yes, they give you the best little ones.
S: Yes, yes.
C: Is everything from Villa?
S: Everything is.
S: Well, I’ll see if I can bring you cardón cactus fruit on Tuesdays.
C: Ah, hopefully yes.
C: Because I said, even if they bring me just a few pieces.
S: Ah, okay.
C: Well, thank you!

Inspired by MXpand’s work, I played around with a light-based skin to help surfacing shortcuts etc.

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 10:40:21 +0000

Inspired by MXpand’s work, I played around with a light-based skin to help surfacing shortcuts etc.

Getting my Deluge back soon…

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 12:44:43 +0000

Finally sent it away to get the segmented display replaced with the OLED screen. So I’ll be loading up the community firmware for the first time this week once it arrives… Exciting!

I used Claude to analyse my music library of over 14k releases.

Mon, 27 May 2024 12:12:28 +0100

ALT

I used Claude to analyse my music library of over 14k releases.

Your collection is dominated by indie rock, followed by strong showings of hip hop, electronic, experimental, punk/emo and metal. Jazz, singer-songwriter/folk and modern classical have a consistent minor presence.

Then I asked ChatGPT to describe the characteristics and traits of someone who listens to this break-down of genres:

You likely have a diverse and eclectic taste. You enjoy a wide range of musical styles, reflecting a broad curiosity and appreciation for different forms of artistic expression. You are open to exploring new genres and artists, indicating a willingness to step outside of mainstream music. You value creativity and originality in music, often seeking out music that challenges conventions and offers something unique.

ALT

My Top 50 listened to artists between 2005 and 2023 c/o Last.fm. Would make a good T-shirt…

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 12:59:53 +0100

My Top 50 listened to artists between 2005 and 2023 c/o Last.fm. Would make a good T-shirt…

Everyday I’ve listened to music between 2005 and 2023 c/o Last.fm

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 12:53:38 +0100

Everyday I’ve listened to music between 2005 and 2023 c/o Last.fm

공중도둑 (Mid-Air Thief) – 2015 – 공중도덕 (Gongjoongdoduk). Such a great album even if you don’t…

Fri, 12 May 2023 09:35:35 +0100

공중도둑 (Mid-Air Thief) – 2015 – 공중도덕 (Gongjoongdoduk). Such a great album even if you don’t understand the lyrics… Keep coming back to this.

Uploaded about 8 more tracks to Bandcamp that I haven’t shared before. Take a listen, I appreciate…

Tue, 09 May 2023 13:00:59 +0100

Uploaded about 8 more tracks to Bandcamp that I haven’t shared before. Take a listen, I appreciate any feedback! If you’re interested in the how, what or why behind any sound or track, you can click into each song on Bandcamp to find out a little more.

Is Playing Around: Musings (2008 to 2023) by Tim Ferguson

A hommage to my buddy…

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 15:18:25 +0100

Listen on Mixcloud: Mixtape of songs that a friend who was taken too soon. Some tracks he loved, some that remind me of him, and a bunch of field recordings from some of our many adventures together…

Tracklist:

01 Meyrin Fields (2011) Broken Bells
02 Sexy Results (2004) Death from Above 1979
03 Dy-na-mi-tee (2002) Ms. Dynamite
04 Une plage sur la lune (2020) Architect, The
05 Creep or Sleep (2007) Roam & Urth
06 Doin’ Time (1996) Sublime
07 Australia (2007) Shins, The
08 Walking the Dog (2009) fun.
09 Ping Island, Lightning Strike Rescue Op (2003) Mark Mothersbaugh
10 Sound System (1989) Operation Ivy
11 The Seed (2.0) Feat. Cody ChesnuTT (2002) Roots, The
12 Blazing Arrow (2002) Blackalicious
13 Pussy (2005) Brazilian Girls
14 Somebody That I Used to Know (2011) Gotye
15 Polite Dance Song (2009) Bird and the Bee, The
16 Animal (2010) Miike Snow
17 Dashboard (2007) Modest Mouse
18 Two Weeks (2009) Grizzly Bear
19 iamundernodisguise (2008) School of Seven Bells
20 Family Affair (2001) Mary J. Blige
21 Vitamin C (1972) Can

Mixcloud

Some 2021 crushes…

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 09:28:08 +0000

Some 2021 crushes…

And some bonus crush from a different year…

An exploration in time for a 24 hour clock…

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 14:23:07 +0100

An exploration in time for a 24 hour clock…

I Had to Come Out (Steve Reich Exploration). A reworking of...

Sat, 13 Mar 2021 16:55:06 +0000

I Had to Come Out (Steve Reich Exploration). A reworking of Steve Reich’s Come Out from 1966. Looping very slightly different length snippets (in left and right channels) to incite phasing. Minimal filtering (reverb and delay) done in real-time on the Deluge. Minor tweaks in post.

The 2nd track is a slight twist where my daughters (8yo and 2yo) recite the lyrics instead: I Had to Come Out (Maia and Tilly)

A minions edition Go 2 by Insta360. I own the original GO which...

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 16:03:45 +0000

A minions edition Go 2 by Insta360. I own the original GO which is great at capturing family holiday w/o having to bury your face behind a camera or phone. This is a welcome update considering it now includes an easily replaceable lens guard – my biggest gripe since I scratched my lens within a week of owning it! Ouch!

Firefox and Dogecoin?

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 21:07:06 +0000

Firefox and Dogecoin?

Feint

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 16:15:23 +0000

Playing around with a new MIDI controller and some lovely piano samples from pianobook on my Deluge.

Facemask anyone? #Preacher #Assface

Sat, 10 Oct 2020 17:40:53 +0100

Facemask anyone? #Preacher #Assface

Dehiscence of Apperception

Sun, 12 Jul 2020 20:07:26 +0100

Dehiscence of Apperception (MusicRadar Sample Challenge). Another day, another sample challenge. This one contains only samples from a supplied pack. Nothing else added. Created on a Deluge. Chill lounge vibes this time around…

Tick Tock Variations

Sun, 28 Jun 2020 21:26:58 +0100

Another track made purely from a few samples provided by SOMA Labs for their “Contest Episode 4”. Made entirely on the Deluge again, then chopped slightly to fit the 3 minute max play time (contest rules).

UPDATE: I extended by a minute and added further beat escalation. Check that version out on Bandcamp

Everytwo’s Demented

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 21:37:31 +0100

Another remix. Stumbled onto a remix comp by Diffrent Music. I wasn’t familiar with the original but thought it’d be fun to play around with. The only bit not taken from the original stems is the sound of a stemless wine glass rocking back and forth on my kitchen tabletop in the wee hours of the morning.

Tim Ferguson

Thanks tumblr. It was fun…

Tunas (for Sonic Heritage 2025 by Cities and Memory)

Inspired by MXpand’s work, I played around with a light-based skin to help surfacing shortcuts etc.

Getting my Deluge back soon…

I used Claude to analyse my music library of over 14k releases.

My Top 50 listened to artists between 2005 and 2023 c/o Last.fm. Would make a good T-shirt…

Everyday I’ve listened to music between 2005 and 2023 c/o Last.fm

공중도둑 (Mid-Air Thief) – 2015 – 공​중​도​덕 (Gongjoongdoduk). Such a great album even if you don’t…

Uploaded about 8 more tracks to Bandcamp that I haven’t shared before. Take a listen, I appreciate…

A hommage to my buddy…

Some 2021 crushes…

An exploration in time for a 24 hour clock…

I Had to Come Out (Steve Reich Exploration). A reworking of...

A minions edition Go 2 by Insta360. I own the original GO which...

Firefox and Dogecoin?

Feint

Facemask anyone? #Preacher #Assface

Dehiscence of Apperception

Tick Tock Variations

Everytwo’s Demented

공중도둑 (Mid-Air Thief) – 2015 – 공중도덕 (Gongjoongdoduk). Such a great album even if you don’t…