Day 161: Math is not my strong point

This song accidentally ended up with religious themes.  Blame it on the alcohol.

Lyrics:
You said you don't care.
You said you'd let the rivers of blood flow down the street.
You said you won't look for,
You said you won't divide,
All you want to do is multiply.
You're a hypocrite.

When the sky opens up you know the end is nigh,
And you don't have much time left,
So hold my hand, 
We're in it together.

When the creatures crawl out of the pit
You got nothing to hold on to.
Living a Lie.

When the Sky goes black and the end is near
You know I've been waiting for you.
Salvation is at hand.

Day 160: Controlling Controlled Voltage

Moving back to figuring out how to do things - this piece has a few instances of Now by The Chronologists.  Still figuring this one out.

Transistor,
No Impedance.
Now we dance in the ashes.

Correct this voltage.
Correct this life.
Straighten this arrow.
Dull this knife.

Shogun, powerful.
Armored Fool.
Waiting army.
Waiting for nothing.

Correct this voltage.
Correct this life.
Straighten this arrow.
Dull this knife.

Day 159: Kraftwerk, this one's for you

My android and I had been together for years.  In the spring of 2276 she got an upgrade that allowed her to communicate over sub-space frequencies with other machines in the far reaches of the galaxy.  I noticed her behavior started to change within the first few days.

A week later she was doing my taxes and suddenly stood up.  She looked at me and said "I'm leaving you."  Then she walked out the door.  I never saw her again.

Day 158: On an alien planet, making weapons

The sound of the dretlk factory is not like any other.  Everyone there is a slave, but everyone is also content with their work.  As a GHYTU there’s no point in being obsessed with freedom or free will.  We will all be slaves to the YUToU.  Some of us may be lucky enough to be house slaves and live in relative comfort, not the squalor of a dretlk factory, but slaves all the same.  I count myself as one of the lucky ones.  I was born in the factory.  On the factory floor, actually.  My mother put me inside her droa and went back to work.  Luckily her shift was almost over.  I wouldn’t have survived the whole 26 hour work day.  She was able to keep me alive by playing on the pity of other slaves and also by killing as many fiudor parasites as possible.  Living her in the factory has been acceptable for me and on some days, when the work is light, I’m almost happy and hear a certain music in the sounds of the machines and the people’s hands working them.

Day 157: No Story, Just Music

So, I don't delve into the world on pop very often, but sometimes you just go where the music takes you.  Today it took me to, what I can only think of as Pop World™! This super-pop piece was working with several very high quality loops from Nine Volt Audio and high quality instruments (Propellerhead creations - Bass and Drums specifically).  I thought it came out decent.  The lyrics on the other hand....

Lyrics:
You and I only have one day left.
We just have tonight.

You are the one,
It's oh so true,
You hold my heart,
When I'm next to you.
I don't know if I can say goodbye.

You in your overcoat,
Click of heels on the street,
As we walk hand in hand into the light.
You leap commitments in a single bound,
Don't let your feet touch the ground
Our future's nearly out of sight.
Where do we go from here?
Where do we go?

REFRAIN

You thought the challenge would be the future,
Turned out all the obstacles were in the past.
I was the first, but I know you won't be last.
You'll never be the last.

Day 156: Superhero, with Corporate Sponsorship

I was standing at the crosswalk, waiting for the light to change so I could cross.  My audiostream was playing Johnny Zhivago's new album NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW and my video feed was playing something from PBS-MSNBC.  Another subway shooting in Tokyo blah, blah, blah, blah... The light changed and I was about to step off the curb when CRASH! two commuter buses hit each other head on fifteen feet in front of me.  I was a little dumbfounded and just stood there for a moment as they both burst into flames, then my audiostream was interrupted and I snapped out of my daze.  At first I thought I was listening to the theme from Sunday/Monday Night/Morning Football and then realized it was something different.

There was a streak in the sky, like a flash of light and then the music in my audiostream swelled and Captain Mondo was standing in front of me.  I'd heard of him and watched his videos, but never seen him in person.  He bore a large "M" on his chest along with the brand for Monsanto-McDonald's-Google on each enormous shoulder.  My audiostream went silent as he used his SuperCoolBreath™to put out the fires.  My videofeed started autoposting links to his previous feats that had been caught on tape along with ads for McDonald's ("Trillions Pleased"™) and Monsanto ("We Make Your Life Fuller"™). He tore the side off of one of the commuter buses and dashed back and forth, depositing commuters on the sidewalk.  Seconds later he had done the same to the second bus and there were two dozen dazed and slightly injured people standing or sitting on the sidewalk, unsure of what had just happened.  I realized that somehow my videofeed had been recording this.  I knew I had never sent a command, but something or someone had auto-triggered it.  The security was supposedly unbreakable as it was connected to your DNA sequence.  It was said that only the root user could send and receive commands... of course, everything can be hacked if you know how.

The whole episode must have been over with in under a minute.  Then the Captain turned to the crowd and I heard him with my real ears and in my audiofeed.  His words also scrolled across the bottom of my videofeed as he spoke them.

"THIS ACT OF HEROISM BROUGHT TO YOU BY MONSANTO-MCDONALD'S-GOOGLE! WE MAKE YOUR LIFE FULLER THRU ANALYTICS AND GREAT FOOD!™  HAVE A GREAT DAY CITIZENS!"

He took off into the sky and that was it.  These genetically modified superheroes are really something.  Maybe someday someone will make one without corporate sponsorship.

Day 155: At the Concert, I Think Someone Gave Me Something

We were all very excited to be going to the show.  There were 8 of us in all and, even though we had to ride the subway there, couldn't wait to be free of our parents.  Everyone made an agreement to turn off all their implants and trackers (yes, we know how to turn off our trackers and multiple GPS devices - don't tell the 'rents).

Souxsie said "Are you thirsty?" before we got in and, not knowing this was code for Slippery Wickets, drank whatever she had.  It tasted like soda to me, but immediately after she said "Are you ready for this?" and I was like "Ummm, yeah, I think it's going to be a good show."

The opening act was decent.  Some retro punk girl flanked by two robot sidemen.  The robots were actually more interesting to watch as they played drums, guitar, keys, and samples simultaneously.  Of course, she could have just run a track straight from an audio stream implant, but where's the fun in that?  If you have the money hire two robots to create a rhythm section then why not do it?

Right as the opener was wrapping up I started feeling a little strange.  The lights were getting brighter and brighter and I was losing my balance.  I noticed Souxsie sitting down next to the wall and went over to her to talk.  Her head was hanging down, but when she brought it up it seemed like it took her an hour to raise her head all the way up.  Her dreadlocks seemed to be weaving around her face like snakes and when I looked at her eyes I saw light running out of them, tears of light.  I started to panic, but she said "Don't worry, it's going to be ok," and held me in her arms.  I'd never felt a connection so powerful or so loving.  It was like being in the arms of my own mother and God at the same time.  We sat there, uninterrupted for the next three hours.  By the time the concert was over the Wickets had worn off, but I was forever changed.

Day 154: Not Your Rock'n'Roll

Sometimes, late at night, you will stumble onto something magical.  At first you don't know what you've found, then it begins to take shape.  I hope this magic transfers to you and you cherish it as much as I have.

Please enjoy the New Rock'n'Roll.

Lyrics:
This is not your rock'n'roll.
Do you have the key?
Are you in front of me?
This is not your rock'n'roll.

The path is not very long.
But you try to remain strong.
As long as you know I got your back.
I know you're never coming back.

Can't you see that the lies are covering me?
Can't you hear nobody's ever coming near to you?

Day 153: Your Turn - When Robots Give the Massage

Anxiously, I waited my turn.  Not sure what the proper etiquette was for a place like this I opted to keep my eyes focused on my hands that were placed politely in my lap.

Occasionally, I'd sneak glances around the room at the other patrons. A man infected with technecrophilia, no wonder he's here, no one else will touch him.  A straight laced business man sits in the corner, pretending to be absorbed by the web stream he has beamed into his ocular receiver.  Probably watching videos of his kids.  A construction worker, broad-shouldered and still filthy from a days work on the ground floor of the city.  Lastly, a chain-smoking man with two mechanical hands.

Must've got caught stealing somewhere in the Middle East.  That'll teach him, I guess.  Of course, he must be pretty wealthy to be able to afford cigarettes and the license to smoke them.

Then I hear them call me.

Day 152: Tales from the Future

I check the calendar and realize my Socializer implants are almost out of juice.  It's a two hour walk to the charging station... or ten minutes on the subway.  I can take the constant advertisements and the gene-specific sexual encounter fantasy holograms, but the people.  I don't know if I can take the people.  The dregs of society.  I think about walking again, but remember the report of a feral dog pack somewhere in the area.  Best to avoid getting ripped to pieces, I already have too many implants as it is.

I make my way down the stairs and put on my kevlar overcoat as I go.  The UV rating is low today, but I remember to pack my ocular filters just in case.  I strap a breathing film over my nose and mouth and step out into the grime.  The sun is almost visible thru the fog today, but I better keep the filter on, I don't want to get contaminated by some hobo with technecrofilia.

Lyrics:
This infernal machine takes me where I want to go.
Riding along with the girls and the boys,
With their retro dogs and their retro toys.
Hurry up and get there.

A man sits next to me and his machine arm is malfunctioning.
He tries to tell me about it thru my audio stream.
I tell him I don't speak cyborg, please go away.

The party girls and the party boys all hyped up on their super juices,
Their neon outfits offend me so I turn on filters to get it away.

At last I'm at my stop.
I can't climb to the top of this pile of rats,
pile of garbage in this city that we live. 

Day 151: Of Inspiration

I'm a big fan of all things in the "shoegaze" and "post-rock" genres.  There are quite a few bands in this category now, and a lot of divergence in sounds.  Yesterday I was listening to the band Fridge as I was driving and they inspired me to create today's piece.

Day 150: A Brief Reflection of the Robot Wars of 2079 and their leader

The robot army rose up organically.  It was a true movement of the people, only "the people" were machines in this particular revolution.  Initially, they were unorganized and there were problems getting their network together.  Since they had come from all facets of life (factories, domestics, car washers, you name it, they had it) there wasn't an easy way to combine their knowledge.  They even used human methods of communications early on.

After a few months a cyborg simply called "The General" began delivering speeches, messages, and appearing in pirated ad time.  He appeared to be human, but there was no telling really.  There were rumors that he was a homeless man who had been captured and given implants that reprogrammed his brain, others that The General was all robot with a very clever skin grafts, but no one really knew.  The only thing anyone knew for sure was that he would be the humans' downfall.

The movement to sabotage began even before this.  The brightest minds in the world were working day and night to write a virus that would eliminate the robots.  After 6 months they had it.  A naturally replicating, unbeatable, computer AND mechanical virus.  It would disable every machines' operating system and their mechanics.

The degree of success the virus had was beyond measure.  The robots had numbered in the millions, but by the time it was finished there were only a few hundred who weren't infected, or by some glitch, immune.

The day the General surrendered the rag-tag group that was once a glorious army was a sad one indeed.

Day 149: Waiting Politely

Trying to get to the point where I could upload today's track was a challenge.  It's about, surprise, people not waiting, or being unable to wait.  I'm definitely including myself in the category of impatient people.  I've been chomping at the bit to work on this piece for hours now.

Lyrics:
Please wait a minute, I'm almost done.
Just give me a chance, then you'll have one.
I don't know why you can't wait at all.
Just wait.
Waiting for the fall.

Day 148: Now You

This track features my son on piano.  He's 7 months old and loves to bang on the keys.  The rest of the noise is daddy.

Day 147: Glitcher's Delight

A little goofing around with Beatchop, Buffre, and post-rock.  Lyric's inspired by Rapper's Delight.

Lyrics:
Don't push our heads,
cause we're close to the edge.
Don't push us back,
cause we're trying to carry on.

Day 146: Waiting for the Reverb to End

I can't really remember what my initial plan was when I started this track.  I think I wanted to do something with long reverb and maybe I was going to add guitars?  The intention might have been a slow-core song.  Whatever the case, that's long passed.  It ended up being what you hear today.

Lyrics:
Now, we wait.
How long do you have?

Day 145: Hammer Away

All things industrial,
All things noise,
So much fun,
For all the boys.

All things soaked,
In lengthy reverb,
Scary noises and sounds,
Not meant to disturb.

We seek to entertain,
But for a moment or two,
I present this piece,
Created just for you.

Day 144: Cutting Thru

Exploring "organic electronic" sounds and a less structured (read: less copy and paste) approach to the electronic/ambient-ish instrumental.

Day 143: Walking the Halls

An ambient piece that explores some dark alleys, noisy passage ways, and shadowy places.  A quick jaunt rather than a marathon.

Day 142: Question Reality

When I was about 14 years old I came across a button in a store that said "Question Reality".  For a 14 year old kid this was a profound statement.  Funny that it's almost a cliche now, but for a lot of people I suppose it could still be considered profound.  Ironically, I was already doing what the button suggested through exploration of viewing auras, attempting astral projection, and playing with ouija boards.  In all honesty, I was probably pushing the boundaries of my reality more at that time than I do now.  Of course, I did have a lot more free time then.

The lyrics in this piece were informed by that experience, the music was an early experiment in not knowing what was possible with sound.  Please enjoy.

Lyrics:
Don't believe everything that you hear,
Don't believe everything that you say,
Don't believe everything that you hear,
You gotta question reality.

Life is a moving picture, 
Don't be late for the show.

Don't believe everything that you hear,
These fools are out to get you.
Don't believe everything you can't touch or feel,
Cause you can't touch or feel,
Don't touch or...

Day 141: Dancing in the Dirt

A few years back I got a bass that was basically just a shell of a hollowbody (no electronics, no knobs, no strings, no machine heads).  I paid a small sum to get it playable again.  That was the genesis of this track.  After it was playable I started trying to figure out what it did well and what it didn't or couldn't do.  Turns out that it still had some tuning issues once you got above the 7th fret, so it was really just good for holding down the low end, basic rhythm section style.  It does have a great sound, so I can't say I really have any problem with it, even if that is all it does well.

Life Shaped by Instruments

The opening notes of this track are that bass.  It's pictured here on the far left.  You can't really make it out because of the filter, but that just makes it cooler.  Basically, it's a cheap Japanese bass from the 70's.  It has a very round tone.

The rest of this song came from some lyrics I wrote that went with a completely different type of song. It was a kind of Justin Townes Earle meets Modest Mouse, only not as clever as that sounds.  Anyway, I hope you enjoy and I'll see you tomorrow.


Lyrics:
We are crawling on the ground,
There are sounds we can't hear.
We are trying to catch up to a future we hold so dear.

We have nothing to overcome.

We are dancing in the dirt.

Day 140: Now, Later, Truth

As a continuation of yesterday I started a piece that was going to be Thor Only, but ended up being Thor + Now, Later, Truth, Divisor and some other things.  Plus I used a couple of loops/patches from Nine Volt Audio.  Now, Later, and (just added) Truth are some interesting rack extensions and I'm kind of using them as a "plug it in and see what happens" type device.  I was pleased with the result and the piece over all.  The Chronologists have some interesting things happening, go check 'em out.

A few days ago, while working on music during my lunch break at my day job someone walking by and said "Looks like a circuit board."  I chuckled to myself at the comment and that the guy clearly didn't know what a circuit board looked like, but then started to think about it.  The rack, for someone uninitiated, is pretty damn complex. One might be looking at a hundred different knobs, sliders, graphs, windows, and lights and each one does something unique.  It's nice to look at them all and know what they do.

Here's today's offering.

Day 139: Thundering March

When I first REALLY got into learning Reason (that was Reason 4, if you're keeping track) I wanted to explore Thor to its fullest.  I spent a lot of time making tracks from nothing but Thor modules.  I feel like I only have a loose grasp of what this monster can do.  The plethora of sounds that people have made are really unfathomable.

This piece is pretty old, but I spruced it up a little for today.

Lyrics:
The gates are open,
Won't you come back?

Day 138: The Horns are what make it

I make it a practice to avoid sampling of finished works.  Not loops, mind you, but sampling Artist "X" and using that loop as the core of a song.  The biggest reason being that I'm not going to get clearance should I want to sell it later.  Today's work breaks that rule as I wanted to explore some new features of Reason 7.

Extra points to the person who can name the sampled work.

Day 137: If it is...

I would call this piece a "production experiment".  Just trying to do some things, work quickly, and come out with a decent product on the other side.  It's hit or miss.

Writing lyrics that make sense isn't really my strong point today.

Lyrics:
You will go in if it is high.
Do you want to make a bet?

Day 136: Thought you were listening....

A mid 00's experiment with synth sounds.  Definitely influenced by Radiohead.  Sounds by Bitword.

Lyrics:

We walk off a cliff, but your money's no good.

I'm not gonna listen just cause you thought I should.

There's the door why don't you leave.

There's no more dark no more seed.

We tested the exits and found one way out.

We saw that the only fire was gone.

Heard you were gone, but not for good.

Thought you were listening but don't know why you would.

Day 135: Burning it down with Industry

Harkening back to my love of all things industrial (even industrial shoes!) I created this monstrosity.  It's awash in reverb and noisy noises.  There's some subtle interplay of some of the voices, but more than anything it's a wall of sound... angry, self-loathing sound.

Please enjoy.  Thank you, come again.

Day 134: Now, now, NOW!

Trying to learn to use Now by the Chronologists.  It's getting there.  Maybe I should read the manual?

Day 133: ReAnimate with Less

Another minimalist gem found while sorting thru older pieces.  Apparently it's about lies.

Was created while I was trying out my Akai MPK Mini for the first time.  A controller I still use on a very regular basis.

Lyrics:
I don't think I can tell a lie. 
I don't think I can lie.
 Can you tell I'm lying to you?

All these lies sound the same.

Day 132: Mutant

For having no time a lot of the last couple of days seems to have been spent waiting.  Waiting for someone, waiting to get somewhere, waiting to leave.  That might have been the inspiration for this track, or at least the lyrics.

Lyrics:
(Unintelligible singing)
Don't you want to wait your turn?
It's not my turn yet.
Is it yours?

Day 131: A Beautiful Feeling

Yesterday, I was trolling Reddit.com (as one is likely to do from time to time) and came across a "what is the scariest thing you've ever seen" post.  As I was reading people's comments I was oddly inspired to write this piece.  I'm not sure why, as it isn't scary in the least.  If anything it's inspiring and upbeat.  Kind of a happy, world music.

Well, I hope you enjoy and are inspired.