Another Great Review for Variable Undefined
Posted on January 24th, 2020
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 10:44 pm
Nerdazine has also reviewed my latest Nerdcore album, and while they’re not saying it’s perfect, they also compared my work to a lot of great artists whose I enjoy, and so I’m feeling pretty good about it. Read it over yourself, and be sure to keep up with Nerdazine on Twitter too.
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First Review For Variable Undefined
Posted on January 21st, 2020
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 10:05 am
(Long time friend & some time collaborator) Steven Kelsey has started a YouTube channel and media critique blog centered around Nerd/fandom culture, specifically the oft under-served music segment of that culture, and it also thankfully eschews the grouchy, “internet shoutman”, hyper-parasocial aesthetic all too many independent critique outlets now employ in favor something more grounded and authentic.
To launch the album review portion of that project, he took on dissecting my latest album Variable Undefined. I think he did an excellent job of breaking down my record, taking time to ask me questions to clarify my intent without robbing every metaphor I bury on the record of it’s mystery. Yes, it helps that he was very receptive to my work here (something I’d imagine our friendship plays into as much as his willingness to listen to try new things,) but on the whole, I hope my listeners don’t just watch and read this review, but also subscribe to his channel. I can tell from how he talks about my record that he absolutely has the chops to critique any media work, and that he’s going to use that insight to really contribute to and grow the discourse around this scene in a way other blogs and channels have yet to fully capitalize on. I’m honored that I could be the first step down that path.
Nerd Music in Judgment Episode 1: Variable Undefined by Ultraklystron
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New Album & A Podcast Conversation
Posted on December 15th, 2019
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 8:49 pm
My final album of the 2010s, Variable Undefined
Also available via: Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, Amazon, Tidal and everywhere in this link.
Not coincidentally, I also just did an interview on MC Lars’ Podcast, which I’ve embedded below but which is also on all major services. I talk about my process, my feelings on being a hobbyist more than a professional regarding music, my reticence towards embracing the modern parasocial path towards a wider audience, on learning to be an art burner the hard way, a little about Nerdcore history, too much about anime and on my admiration for all the people who found a better lane to blend otaku culture and rap culture than I did. Please, take a moment to listen to it when you have a chance, and be sure to subscribe to MC Lars’ podcast and patreon:
PS: Here’s my final instrumental album of the 2010s, which I forgot to blog about the wide release of. It’s called Guttersnipe’s Grimoire and it’s pure Drum n’ Bass:
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A couple more LPs
Posted on April 20th, 2019
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 12:32 pm
Both instrumental releases, but very different eras of my work.
1. Contemporary Vintage. A Drum n’ Bass LP that I started writing while in the Narita Airport Tully’s Coffee waiting to fly back to Canada, it’s 10 more energetic jams that range from super aggro to almost chill despite never falling below 170bpm. Check it out on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, Amazon and Youtube:
2. Brobdingnagian Brimborion. Over the years I’ve done a lot of remixes for other artists, and the ones I’ve done for rappers tend to be such dramatic re-imaginings they can stand on their own as instrumentals because I didn’t use anything but the vocals from the original track. Thus, I’ve compiled 29 of those instrumentals spanning a decade and a half of work. Again, check it out on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, Amazon and YouTube:
PS: You could be listening to one more new release right now plus some forever exclusive content if you subscribe to my Bandcamp. It’s like Patreon but for music, and also annual so less money goes to fees.
PPS: Bonus cover!
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Kintsugi
Posted on January 9th, 2019
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 1:03 am
So, my new album, Kintsugi, is out. It’s kind of a lot like my self-titled album from last year in some ways. In others, it’s probably unlike anything else I’ve released. I really don’t know what I’ll do vocally after this one at the very least. This was a fusion of the synth pop/alternative rock album I’d thought about doing almost as long as I’d thought about doing Nerdcore Hiphop, and of much more recent material and more modern genre aesthetics generally. I’d written a lot of music and lyrics I didn’t have the right production style for yet I guess. It’s kind of a project I’ve put a lot of effort into by virtue of nudging it along occasionally for years, but also one I’ve not put much effort into because I specifically recorded the vocals as briskly as I could rather than trapping myself in much second guessing or over-polishing. Rather, the effort was, after years of over thinking it and not killing my darlings, finishing it as fast my voice would let me. It’s weird, like me. Hopefully, a few folks enjoy it.
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You Could Be Listening Already
Posted on December 9th, 2018
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 12:00 pm
If you had already jumped on my $5 a year sale to subscribe to my music (including lossless downloads of everything I’ve released on bandcamp,) you would already be listening to my latest vocal release, Kintsugi. It’s basically the long over due Electronica Pop EP I’ve been playing with since before I even released the first Romance Language LP. Material that spans over a decade & a half. It goes wide release on January 9th, 2019, but if you want in early while locking in all the new releases I do for the next year for only $5, now is the time.
Alternately, I just need at least 10 people to leave my albums loop playing on Spotify or the streaming service of their choice 24/7. It all works out 😀
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A Considerable Music Update
Posted on November 18th, 2018
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 2:53 pm
First off, I’m doing a massive sale on subscribing to the Ultraklystron bandcamp. Until 2019, it’s only $5 a year. Yes, only FIVE DOLLARS PER YEAR!!!
This gets you access to everything in my backcatalog on Bandcamp, plus advance access to any new music or back-catalog music I release during the year, and it’s not just streaming via Bandcamp, but as lossless downloads you get to keep forever, even if you end up dropping the subscription. All for less than a penny and half per day! Even if you’re already subscriber, cancel and re-sub during the sale, lock in this lower price!
Meanwhile, another Drum n’ Bass album (my sixth in the past couple years,) is out. Enjoy Sorekaradoshitano:
Available on Bandcamp – Spotify – Apple Music – YouTube – Amazon – Napster – Deezer – Tidal – KKBOX and many more.
Lastly, there’s definitely one release already queued up and in the pipe for early release on my birthday (November 27th) – it’s called Kintsugi and while I can’t link the Bandcamp info yet, for those who won’t subscribe even with a sale, at least be sure to get it first thing on January 9th, 2019 by using the Spotify hyperfollow option here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ultraklystron/fpET.
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White Elephant: Ever More Drum n’ Bass
Posted on August 21st, 2018
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 8:47 pm
18 months, 5 drum n’ bass albums, each with 10 songs. Below is the 5th. Technically not my most productive stretch of time (even including the 20 song beat tape, 10 song Nerd(?) Rap/Pop(?) LP and 5 song Chiptune EP,) but I think the quality has been consistent. Give it (and the rest) a listen:
Spotify
Apple
Amazon
Tidal
YouTube
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An Ultraklystron self-titled album after, uh, I guess 20 years of releasing music online
Posted on May 6th, 2018
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 11:58 pm
Why yes, I am washed! Why do you ask?
Anyway, slightly more seriously with slightly less pseudo self-deprecation, I’ve released my first Nerdcore(?) Rap(?) LP in over 2 years, and it’s brisk – 10 tracks, 26 minutes, so rather than continuing to talk about it, here’s an embed of my bandcamp, followed by links to all of the other services:
Oh that said, shoutout to CJSF in Vancouver for breaking this album already on the airwaves on their show “The Vancouver Mixtape”! College radio play for life!
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Oh yeah wait. Another 1 & 1/2.
Posted on February 15th, 2018
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 7:21 pm
Ultraklystron – No Words Only Feels
&
So I totally forgot to mention it here, but I did one more Drum n’ Bass LP & a Big Beat EP last year. Somehow I still just about managed to do a track a week on average including collabs As always, I’ve sent things to collaborators too, so seeds have been sown for 2018 as well, so actually, I probably did a bit over a track a week (most of it on the train though.) I really don’t know when I’m getting to my own new music this year (no more train commutes,) so be sure to really enjoy the 2017 stuff: