It's been quite a while since the last post and there's quite a bit to tell, so here it goes...

The trip to Toronto for NXNE was a great time but the jury is still out on whether these kinds of conferences are really worth it. The highlight(s) were the shows in the evenings, lots of great bands (and lots of mediocre bands that sounded good but kind of like a lot of what you've already heard) and the warm summer nights were great for strolling around checking out as many shows as possible. I was very pleased to see a lot of really good venues, some new, some old, indicating a much healthier live music scene than a few years ago when I was last there.

Once back in Berlin it was time to get back to work. The first step was to get some Paul E. Phonics T Shirts ready for the shop. After a few test designs, it was decided that The Chameleon cover art would be a good way to go. You can check them out here.

And the summer here was quite a bit different than in Toronto. While my friends in Canada were battling a heat wave of record proportions, we here in Berlin were nearly drowned by constant rain and blown away by gale force winds. Not much of a summer at all. But the good thing was that it led to inspiration and the idea for a relatively spontaneous release of a new Paul E. Phonics single, "The Summer (That Never Was)". It was released on Sept 8, 2011 and was the first song to get a "real" video. The video is a very D.I.Y. effort created from footage I took around my neighbourhood during some storms and also some footage of me skulking around my apartment and singing in the studio. Not a bad effort for a first try if I do say so myself. You can check it out below.

The single has received a bit of attention and got some decent reviews. Here's a sample:

" You can still find them, those mysteriously good musicians in Berlin. Like, for example, Paul McCormick a.k.a. Paul E. Phonics. The Canadian made his way to Berlin like so many before him and the atmosphere he has created in his new single “The Summer (That Never Was)” shows that he deserves a hearty welcome. Moody synth soundscapes, half heroic, half tragic, attempting to describe the rainy summer of 2011 in Berlin. Although, the past few weeks haven’t been half bad, but all the same. If you like 80s style melancholy, you’re in good hands with Paul E. Phonics."
(Dorfdisco, Sept. 15, 2011)

" A summer that wasn’t one is the subject of „The Summer (That Never Was)“ and looking back it could be that Paul E. Phonics (the musical alter ego of Canadian Paul McCormick) might not be far off the mark. But this musician is definitely not off the mark with the rhythm and a moody mix of post-punk, electronica and alternative rock that brings to mind bands like Depeche Mode, New Order and IAMX. In any case, absolutely worth a listen!"
(OhFancy, Sept. 8, 2011)


And things just keep getting better. There are plans for a new side project, something that started back in the spring when I recorded some of my older songs in a much more "traditional" way. I wasn't sure what I would do with them, in fact I wasn't planning on every playing them again, but the whole process was fun and interesting and I see no reason why I shouldn't share them. So in a month or so there will be a new project added to the list here at 5th Estate Music. It will be something like "Union of Resonance" in that I will be adding to it only when I have time. An ongoing labour of love if you like.

And speaking of Union of Resonance, even though there was a short break, I did find a bit of time to finish off an experimental piece inspired by the volcanic landscape of Timanfaya National Park on the island of Lanzarote (where I was lucky enough to spend a week last March). You can check that out here.

And I guess that's it for now. Enjoy the video and stay tuned for more!