d.auge reminded me of a bit of history behind the forming of Farewell Scalar. I thought it might be worth sharing as the two of us continue to debate whose idea it was to actually form "a real band."

2/4 of the original Diametric Correlator: 2005

In 2005, d. had make-shifted part of his home into a fairly decent recording studio. The two of us, along with friends Eddie Dirtnap and Eric Wolfram got together one fall afternoon and recorded a few droney improvs. The next time I saw d., he handed me a CD-R with the words "Diametric Correlator" written in squiggly Sharpie. Years later, these five songs were added to the Stir Up Bandcamp page as a self-titled ep (which you can download here) with a cover image featuring Eddie passed out in d.'s basement, wearing what we called "the Whiskey Wizard" hat and holding a drumstick like a wand.

In July, 2006, for my college graduation party, d. and I organized a jam session in my parents' garage. d. and I again disagree on who came up with the idea to learn a few simple cover songs. The trend seems to be for me to want to put d. in the driver's seat for any inciting incidents in the story of Farewell Scalar. I do know I came up with a list including songs by The Dandy Warhols, Brian Eno, My Bloody Valentine, and The Jesus and Mary Chain and d. augmented that list with some Pavement, Violent Femmes, and Silver Jews. We rehearsed the songs on guitar once, wrote out bass tabs for whoever wanted to join in, and set up the drum kit for whoever wanted to figure it out.

Friends who have appeared all over Stir Up recordings--Eddie Dirtnap (Diametric Correlator, Universal Chickenhawk, $35 Sound); Dr. Kamikaze (Diametric Correlator, $35 Sound, Complete Audio Destruct); Elliott (Melkbox); David Jensen (The Literacy Program, Complete Audio Destruct); Lauren Svacina (The Literacy Program, solo)--took a turn on a song or improv, much tequila was drank, and, I think, a grand time was had by all.

d.auge's then girlfriend, Stacey designed this amazing cling along with a t-shirt for me to wear in honor of the celebration. She also videotaped the entire drunken mess.

Now, it wasn't long after this that I remember d. asking me to form a "really real band." d. recalls me wanting to push things forward. The name was certainly d.'s as evidenced by the fact that he knows what it means and I kinda sorta really don't at all.

d. says we formed to play a fundraiser for the soon-to be-defunct Undercurrents section of the Riverwest Currents newspaper for which I was, at the time, a staff writer. I do know I brought the fundraiser to his attention and that it would become our first show. And I remember trying out a drummer and then disliking the drummer and having to back out of one fundraiser show before recommitting to the second, later fundraiser once we had Corey in place. If d. and I had a band by the time I became aware of Undercurrents likely demise and the earlier backed-out-of fundraiser, I'm not so sure.

Since then, Scalar has broken up, d. has turned the make-shift recording studio into a pretty damn fancy recording studio called Sound Encampment, Scalar has continued to finalize old projects, and Diametric Correlator has become a beast of d.'s burden (a sort of catch all for recordings gathered from impromptu Sound Encampment sessions) where I only infrequently show up.

This is the new (old) stuff. Available for download/listening MARCH 30.

I'm not even entirely sure if d. and I began collaboratively writing songs in 2006 and then decided to form a band or vice versa. I'd tend to believe the earlier as we had a set of at least seven originals at the Undercurrents benefit. I likely was the one to suggest writing together even if I had no intended results for the music. I liked some things d. had written on his own and his jangly, experimental pop sensibilities.

I suppose the point is this: memory fails, so good thing we recorded just about everything we possibly could.

Casey Bye

Farewell History