Day 69: Only an Ambient Song

Just an ambient piece with some words.

Lyrics:
I don't think it's loaded.
You can't be too sure.
Point it away.

Day 68: Old is the new New

Today's is an old piece (I'm thinking around 4 years old) that got new life breathed into it once Propellerheads released rack extensions.  This was kind of an interesting ambient experiment, but just a couple of extensions really fleshed it out.  Hope you take a few minutes to listen and enjoy.

The cowbell picture is taken from the modules.  Let's play "Can you hear the cowbell?"  You go first.

Day 67: Absolom Stole the Hearts of Men

Another quasi-post-rock work with ambient sounds.  Not quite as washy as the last one was, but still heavily influenced by Sigur Ros.  Used the same trick with the bass (overdriven bass sound that has a LFO that makes it pulse... in case you were wondering).  This work features sounds from the Auditory Vortex Vol. 1 refill, as well as Jason McGerr's refill.

Any apparent connection the following lyrics might have to anything religious is purely coincidental.

Lyrics:
He stood at the gates and waited for you.
He nearly was the only one.

This prophet is the only one.

He stood at the gates and listened to you.
You nearly loved the only one.

This prophet is the only one.

When will you listen?
When will you learn?
When will you learn he is the only one?

He bowed at your feet while you held your breath.
This prophet is the only one.
He held your hand while you looked around.
This prophet is the only one.

When will you listen?
When will you learn?
He is the only one.

Day 66: A Quick One, While He's Away

Just a short little experiment with the RPG8 module in Reason.  Something I almost never use.

Lateralus (Glitch Cover) by Nick Brady

Too cool not to share.

Day 65: The TV Can Inspire

Someone in my house really likes "Snapped".  As a result, I've learned all the mistakes NOT to make when planning/executing a murder.  Some seem obvious (don't bury them in your backyard) others are less so.  Anyway, I have no plans to kill anyone ever, but it did inspire the following lyrics.

They charged me with murder.
25 years.
No parole.
No escape.
But I didn't do it, no I didn't do it.
I was framed.

They charged me with murder.
Behind bars.
With intent, 
No delay.
I can't see a way,
No, I can't see a way.
No return.

Day 64: When I'm Sixty-four

If I was more clever I would have made today's piece related to the Beatles song, but I'm not that clever.  It's probably for the better.  I wouldn't have come up with what you hear below.

Originally, I wanted to use a non-cleared sample and just completely mutilate it so that it was unintelligible copyright infringement, but then I thought "Rhodes!  This thing needs a rhodes!" and then  I started mumbling a melody and next thing you know, it's a sad bastard jam-a-thon.

Lyrics:
We have.
Now there's no blood on our hands,
But we give you weapons and we take all our your lands.
To be sure that we have a leg to stand.
To be sure that you will meet all our demands.
and we know you will.

Not likely that you'll give anything back.
But, sure, if you want to, you can look forward to attack.
To be sure that you can't defeat us all.
To be sure that you certainly will fall.
And you will.
We know you will.
And soon, you'll surrender to us.

Day 63: Back to the People

If you missed the last post with the refill from Malcos, here's another one.  Some pretty deep lyrics.  Shout out to Malcos, Peff, and Sugarbytes for their help!

Lyrics:
Life is how I go back to the people.
If you want to have time, talk to the people.

Day 62: Bye, Curious

A random sampling of a children's show with "curious" in the title was the impetus for today's work.  After that it just spiraled out of control.

Day 61: More Modules

Another experiment with Ochen K.'s A-series1 and 2 synths.

Lyrics:
You probably think you got me fooled,
But you don't know a single thing.
You probably think you got me fooled,
But you don't know one damn thing.

Day 60: Don't Forget the Little People

Something that I've always enjoyed is using a "complete" set of sounds to create a piece.  Usually people will put together 50 - 100 sounds in one package (A.K.A. a Refill for Reason users) and so you might spend a year going thru all of them.  In today's case the opposite is true.  Simon Janvier has a new blog that he posts various things on, including tutorials and this batch of Malstrom patches.

I've chosen this batch of patches to create a work from.  One of them, cleverly named Sigur Oz, was the inspiration for everything that followed.  It drove me to create a kind of post-rock Sigur Ros-like ambient odyssey.  Up to and including wordless vocals that mean nothing... or everything.

The drums are from the Jason McGerr drum Refill, one of the best investments I ever made in drum sounds.

I hope you enjoy today's work and be sure to go grab Simon's bundle of Malstrom patches.

Day 59: Better Living Through Experimentation

A shout out to a few really great developers today.

First, goes to the Chronologists for their Reason rack extensions Now and Later.  I'm also a fan of Divisor, but haven't yet purchased Truth.  I'm using Now, Later, and Divisor in today's piece.  They are very unique pieces of software that have taken me a little bit of time to wrap my head around.  I'm still figuring out how to incorporate them into my workflow, but quickly found that when you start routing them in meaningful ways you will get some very interesting effects.

Next we give a nod to Ochen K.  His modular synth series are really just awesome.  I've purchased the A-Series One and A-Series Two and don't regret it for a second.  Anyone who has a background in true modular synthesis (read: real routing on analog machines) will either say "what's the big deal?" or "OHMYGOD!THAT'S THE MOST AMAZING THING EVVERRR!"  No chance of their reaction being anywhere in between.  Other than a drum loop and some wind instruments from the Reason Factory Soundback everything harmonic on this track was made with those two modules.

Third, is the one and only Peff.  Buffre is like no other.  If you use Reason and ever have a need for tape stops, stutter, glitch, or many other variations of these things then accept no substitutes.  I very much feel like I'm just scratching the surface on this guy.

I hope you have a few minutes to check out today's work.  Have a great week and check back tomorrow for more!

Day 58: Film Music

Film music is something I hold very near and dear to my heart.  Actors on the screen are attempting to invoke an emotion, meanwhile the composer is attempting to do the same, but in a (usually) much more subtle manner.  This is an example of a less subtle manner, but an example all the same.

I imagine two possible applications here:

1. The King approaches on his horse (slow motion), sword drawn, about to deliver the felling blow to our hero, who is down.  Music ends after he dismounts and takes a few steps, bringing him inches away from the hero.

2.  The aged, evil king is slowly making his way across the throne room, all eyes on him, his would-be successor watches and plots.

Day 57: Experiment is alive!

An oddball number with some strange vocals and experimentation with a new rack extension, Buffre.  Ends with an ambient flourish.

Cheers.

Lyrics:
Can you hear it in my voice?
Can you see it in my eyes?
Can you hear it in my eyes?

Day 56: Valentine Hangover

So if your Valentine wasn't the most romantic of days (mine certainly wasn't) then maybe you can enjoy this track.  It's ambient and is one for someone who just wants to chill after celebrating the martyrdom of St. Valentine.

Happy Post Valentine people.

Day 55: Valentine's Day is not a Competition

I don't do this kind of thing too often, but I'd love to win this drawing.  If you can listen to today's track between 5 and 50 times it would help me greatly.  Every "listen" is an entry.  Most entries = most likely to win.

Happy Valentine's Day, you rock.

Day 54: Rebuilding

Today is a day filled with hope, life, and unfulfilled expectation.  The machine is juggling the sounds that make the colors that fill the dreams... and you can be a part of it.

Day 53: On Fat Tuesday

Fat sounds for Fat Tuesday.


Lyrics:
I saw you for the first time after so many years.
The living dead is what I thought.
Like a corpse, you appeared.

Corpse on the bed,
Elephant in the room.

Barely clothed or fed,
 But adorned in jewels.

Day 52: Very Quickly

A short, noisy work to start Monday morning.  Does have a little groove though.

The World IS a Scary Place

Cool piece done by a friend.

Day 51: A Brighter Tomorrow

An upbeat, pop-ish tune for Sunday.  Don't worry though, there's still plenty of weirdness to go around.

Lyrics:
We have got something to give,
Something to live,
Something to give.
We have have got something to give away.

Day 50: Dark Dark Dark

On the 50th day we celebrate with a dark mood piece.  Hope you enjoy.

Day 49: Piece in Our Time

Another in the series for string trio + piano.  In case you were wondering, all of the pieces in this series were written anywhere from 8 - 48 hours before you hear them.  In other words, the ink is barely dry on the page before it's in your ears.  Welcome to the modern age.

My dream now is to get these performed by real players.

Day 48: Weird Vocal Treatments are Love

Found this free refill on the web.  A lot of love went into it... or precision at least.  I really love it.  I'm a sucker for programming beatbox stuff.  Then you've also got all the "hot button" requisite words for any Electro-dance track.

Thanks for all your hard work, Malcos.

Day 47: More Nostalgia

Like many people my age, I have a fond remembrance for electronic music of the 90's.  Hearing British dance artists on decent American radio stations, not yet owned by Clearchannel.  Those days are gone, but the beat lives on.

Day 46: Memory Lane

I've been a big fan of drum'n'bass for many years.  It was the style of electronica that totally sucked me into this whole business of making dance-ish music.  Here's a walk down memory lane for some of you.  Hope it's not too long of a walk.

Cheers.

Day 45: Loaded for Synth-plosion

A short one full of massive synth sounds.  Hope you like Vangelis.

Day 44: Adagio

Another piece for the imaginary string trio with piano.  It's slow and somber.

Day 43: Waltz for a Snow Day

Another piece featuring "real" instruments today.  I might end up having a suite for String Trio + Others if I keep this up.  Here you have accordion, violin, viola, and cello.  I suppose the accordion could be substituted by piano instead, then I'd have a pair of pieces for the same instrumentation.  A novel idea, for sure.

Day 42: Classical Music for Short Attention Spans

A brief piece with string trio and piano because sometimes you just get tired of LFO's, oscillators, VCA, effects, and electronic stuff.