Sunday, June 30, 2013

Day 191: Distracted by Oddities

Started off trying to make something that was pretty normal.  A track that had guitars, drums, bass, and would be classified as "indie rock" by today's marketplace.  After I got about a minute into the song I very quickly got bored with it.  It sounded like a million other songs I'd heard by indie bands, nothing original, nothing new.  I went back to the drawing board and came up with this.

Vocals by Henry.


Saturday, June 29, 2013

Day 190: Not long now.

As this approaches the 200 days mark I'm getting a little excited again.  Have been in a little bit of a lull for a week or so, but hitting 200 will give me a little boost.  Not long at all now.  Today we pay homage to M83 with a little electronic post-rock.

Lyrics:
Hand in glove, 
Hand in hand, 
You my love, 
Across the land,

Where is it? 
Where do we go?
Where is it? 
I have to know.

This holy vow is ours to keep, 
keep together.  
This holy vow, 
is ours to keep, 
just you and me.


Friday, June 28, 2013

Day 189: Burning

A little tune about burnout.  It's better to burn out than fade away.

Lyrics:
Better put out that match before you catch aflame.
I'm burning up.


Thursday, June 27, 2013

Day 188: It's that you're EVERYWHERE

A song featuring patches from this refill, mainly.

Lyrics:
It's not your name, 
It's not your number, 
It's not the way you comb your hair, 
It's that you're everywhere.

It's the way you look at me, 
It's the way you move so free, 
I will follow you anywhere.
Anywhere.


Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Day 187: So Damn Tired

I'm exhausted, frustrated, upset, sleep-deprived, overworked, under appreciated, and pissed off.

Here's your fucking double burger.





Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Day 186: Good from Random


Used patches from the Propellerheads Xmas Refill 2012. 
Patches created by: cr68, betrax, fraluc, king eternal, puniho, naviretlav, moofi, dave909, and julibee.  You can find them on Soundcloud, the Propellerheads Forums, and some other places too.

Lyrics:
Some animals: 
are too fast.
are too slow.
Never thought we could get past,
I can't keep up with your flow.



Monday, June 24, 2013

Day 185: Our Undying Love

Where you end, I begin,
When our lives intersect, we become one.
Together we will live forever.
You and me.

Lyrics:
Where you end, I begin.  
Where you stop, I pick up.  
You are a part of me.

You stay high, I'll be low.  
You are fast, but I'm right behind you. 
You are a part of me.

We are an infinite loop.  
We are an infinite time, 
Sharing this reality that we've created.

We have forever and a day,
 just you and me, 
Always.

Where you end, I begin.  
Where you stop, I pick up.  
You are a part of me.


Sunday, June 23, 2013

Day 184: A Short Break

Please take this opportunity to visit our lobby and enjoy a refreshment or snack.



Friday, June 21, 2013

Day 183: Retro

There are so many people attempting to make "authentic" re-creations of 80's keyboard patches I thought I'd use some of them.  I guess they're 70's, 80's, and 90's really.  This track is using a bunch of patches sampled or recreated to sound like the Yamaha CS6x.  Enjoy.

Lyrics:
I saw you dancing to Bow Wow Wow.
You looked so good on the dance floor.
I tried to shuffle over and get your number, 
but someone stepped on my shoes and I had to fight.

It's just the beginning of the night,
No need to get rude or try to fight,
There'll be lots of chances to meet a girl,
Lots of chances to make sure you don't go home alone.

Learned how to moonwalk over the weekend,
Got my Thriller record and then took a swim,
The first night I listened to it ten times.
The second night I listened to it 15 times.

It's just the beginning of the year,
Just try to be cool and try to stay clear,
There'll be lots of chances to meet a girl,
Lots of chances to make sure you don't go home alone.

It's just the beginning of your life, 
Just try to be cool don't carry a knife,
There'll be lots of chances to meet a girl,
Lots of chances to make sure you don't go home alone.

It's just the beginning of your life,
Don't carry a gun, just carry a knife.
No need to be cool, just try to fight,
No chance that you will go home alone.


Day 182: A Story We All Know

Lyrics based on a story pretty much everyone knows.  Every in the western world, at least.

Several patches from Frank Georg Lucas on this one.

Lyrics:
KNOCK, KNOCK.  
WHO'S THERE? 
I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.

KNOCK ONCE, KNOCK TWICE.  
THREE TIMES, I'LL ANSWER YOU.

KNOCK, KNOCK WHO'S THERE?  I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.
THREE TIMES AT THE DOOR.


Thursday, June 20, 2013

Day 181: Scene from a Film

"Trisha....  I know you're here, Trisha."  the killer's voice bounced off the walls in the hallway.  She could hear him softly padding towards her, carefully measuring his steps, listening for the slightest noise.

"Are you in here?" he pushed open the bathroom door.  She heard the signature squeal the door made every time.

Have to oil that door, the thought drifted across the her mind.  She would've smiled if the absurdity of the thought had had time to register.  Her senses and mind were in hyperdrive.  Everything in the highest definition of detail, every second ticking by like an hour.

"You're not in the potty," the killer said in a sing-song voice, as if talking to a toddler.  "Not many places left now."

If there is a god I should probably pray to her now, Trisha thought.  Her hiding place in the closet under a pile of Christmas decorations wasn't exactly inspired.  She heard the killer enter the room.  Her pulse quickened, she unconsciously held her breath.

She heard him look under the bed, then he opened the closet door.  A long pause, then he closed it.

She heard him turn and leave the room, then walk out the front door, slamming it behind him.

What the fuck? she thought, puzzled.  She didn't know what had just happened.

Trisha waited for what she thought was about 5 minutes before coming out of the closet.  She opened the door and looked out into the bedroom.  No one there.  She breathed a huge sign of relief and walked to the bedroom door.  As it swung open she was frozen in place.  The killer stood there, smiling, knife in hand.

"There you are."



Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Day 180: Just another day

Just another day, just another experiment, just another piece of music.  Just this.

Lyrics:
It's just another day, 
Don't try to get away, 
You and I we have to stay, 
It's just another day.

You should try to escape, 
there's only one way.


Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Day 179: Marching

We had no idea that chimpanzees could organize.  They began by meeting in small groups and seemed to be communicating, but no one had a clue what it could be about.  Soon after they appeared to withdraw.  We found a make shift weapon one day.  They had used some loose wires combined with a stick to make a very basic cat-o-nine-tails.

When they overtook the Centre they showed no mercy.  They had declared war on us with such a disturbing ferocity that we had no doubt that we were related.  They left no survivors.  Lucky me, it was my day off.




Monday, June 17, 2013

Day 178: Crushing the bits to bits

Started out wanting to make an instrument without using any "instrument" patches.  I got to a small roadblock when I couldn't control the pitch and the gates.  Figured it out by using polar pitch shifter.


After that it was a little arranging, a splash of melody and... voila!  Masterpiece.



Sunday, June 16, 2013

Day 177: Funky Experimentation

Turns out experiments can be funky! This piece was proceeded by a series a happy accidents.


Saturday, June 15, 2013

Day 176: Post Rock Poster Child

One of the things that is a common theme among post-rock bands is obliqueness.  Many frequently tell you nothing about the band, or try to heighten the allure by only giving you snippets of information.  Liner notes are frequently pointless (if you still by CDs) and websites are often just pictures and tour dates, maybe a short bio that leaves more questions than answers.  I guess that's why I would never be great in a post-rock band, I think the distribution of information helps the cause.  I'm a fan of openness (hence the blogging).

This work was powered by Nine Volt Audio loops.  Not entirely, but a lot of it.

Cheers.

Lyrics:
We dig in the ground, 
Where all the bodies are found.
When you are around,
You will come on down.



Friday, June 14, 2013

Day 175: Exploring Germany

In continued experimentation of patches made by Frank Georg Lucas I give you today's work.

Lyrics:
We left the house about an hour ago, tell me when we will get there.
i'm not your plaything, 
i'm not your toy, 
i have free will, 
Let me, never. 

Where do we go? 
Where do you go?  

I'm not your pet, 
I'm not your slave.

Where do we go from here?


Thursday, June 13, 2013

Day 174: World Tour

canadiens-assumed-to-observe-obvious

Just a little song about traversing the globe.  Wanted to make a piece that was all "world music with lotsa percussion", but went off the rails after the "A" Section.

Lyrics:
Left berlin 2 hours ago. 
Stopped by in London, 
had to stop at Heathrow, 
went to Texas today.
In seattle they always go my way.    

All around the world, 
we go all around the world.

Back in Austin had to keep it weird, 
in Virginia they have no fear, 
up in Berlin I do a little dance,
In Sao Paolo they never give me a chance.

americans-assumed-stupid

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Day 173: Hiding around every corner

Sometimes I will, very quickly, try to jot down some random idea to just have something started.  On many occasions these simple and spontaneous ideas have been the beginning of what ended up being some very original and unique works.  Today's piece was just such an occasion.

nashville-zoo-exhibit


I had only a few minutes to sit down and essentially throw paint on the canvas and that ended up being the start of, what I think is a pretty solid piece.  It's not for everyone and it's not very "normal" (what is "normal" anyway?), but it has its own disturbing beauty.

Please enjoy.


Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Day 172: From Germany, with Noise

One of the great things about the internet is the people you "meet".  Since I've been online (1996) I've met a lot of people in different parts of the world.  Sometimes we have even gotten to meet in person!

Today's work comes courtesy of my only German friend.  We converse on Soundcloud (you can find him here) and we have recently started to exchange custom Reason patches and works.  He makes some beautiful, noisy, quasi-industrial works of art.  Here's what I did with some of his patches.

Lyrics:
Now how we gonna pass the time? 
When you have no arms and legs, 
how are we gonna pass the time?

Climb the ladder, every rung.  
Don't you stop, we'll come undone.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Day 171: Normalcy

After routing and exploring and experimenting with new and different sounds for several days now I had to return to something "normal".  Here are guitars and percussion played on those guitars.  

CV-modulation-experiment-screenshot


Just for the record none of the sounds you hear were performed live, but I thought they were a pretty damn good approximation.






Sunday, June 9, 2013

Day 170: Keep focus

This is sort of a cheerleading song for myself... I guess.


Saturday, June 8, 2013

Day 169: Noise like India

Ambient noise art with Indian singing.  A match made in Heaven?


Friday, June 7, 2013

Day 168: Time-keeping isn't keeping time


Lyrics:
It's not like you to forget what you were saying.
It's not like you to forget what's next.
Where are you now?
Come back to us.
Where are you now?
Come back to us.


Thursday, June 6, 2013

Day 167: Inspired by the Unseen

The invasion had finally reached land.  They started on the coast and began moving inland.  Every continent at the same time.  The fly-over states were the last ones to go.  We had been hiding in our bunker for days, waiting for the explosions to begin.  When they finally did we ran outside.  Idiots.  We did the last thing you're supposed to do, but of course we wanted to see the aliens.  It turned out to be a pretty good thing that we ran out since our bunker got blown up about ten seconds after we ran out of it.  I turned and looked at my dad, helpless.

"The airport!" he said, and we both took off toward the car.  He didn't make it.  They shot him in the back.  I'd say it was a terrible way to die, but actually it was preferable to slavery and eventual consumption by the invading hordes.

We didn't believe that was what they were doing for awhile, but eventually someone stumbled on their throwaways.  A pit of body parts and half-eaten limbs.  In some cases there were heads with collars still attached to the necks.  The alien tech was so advanced that we couldn't begin to crack even their most basic design, but their collars, what seemed to be a simple radio transmission system of tracking and controls, was too advanced for us to understand.

We didn't stand a chance.


Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Day 166: Swelling Frustration Leads to Inspiration

Without getting too personal there are things in daily life, work, etc that you come to expect.  "Expectations" let's call them.  When these expectations become exceptions you start to get frustrated.  This piece rose out of that.  Creatively, I felt stifled, but overall I think it came out okay.

Life goes on.

Lyrics:
Listen up to what I tell you.  
I can't believe I have to spell it out. 
What do you want? A picture?
Take this.  
Listen up, you better listen up.
How long will it take for you to understand?  
I can't take much longer for you to understand
I only have so much patience.  
I only have so much time.
Listen up. 
You better listen up.


Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Day 165: The UFO Changed our DNA

The four of us found ourselves standing in middle of the field, not exactly sure how we got there, feeling a little cold, and more confused.  We could remember pulling over the car to look closely at the lights we saw hovering there.

"I know that Jan took off at some point and started waving his arms like a mad man trying to hitch a ride," said Mike, giving Jan a cold look.

"Seemed logical at the time." shrugged Jan.  The other two turned and looked at him disdainfully.

"After that there was a flash of light." Mitch interjected.

"Then we woke up here." I said.

Over the next few months we would recall precious little of our encounter with the lights, but we did all begin to develop precognition, extrasensory perception, and in the case of Jan, telekinesis.  At first we were baffled by what to do with these new powers, but all four of us began to realize we had been given these so that we could save the world.

Lyrics:
We're all so impressed, 
you just won't give up, 
take a breath, 
shut the hell up

we're all so impressed, 
you just won't look up, 
just take a breath, 
shut the hell up.

Better get back to your spaceship, 
better get back before it takes off,
I don't know what you are.

Of all the unlikely things that could happen to us, 
this must be the strangest, 
this must be the last.
and even though we can't believe what we just saw or heard.
You and I will come to believe, 
you will change the world.


Monday, June 3, 2013

Day 164: Taken from Real Life

Yesterday evening I had the pleasure of installing a "new" dishwasher (new to me, that is).  The old one had been there for about 15 years and the previous tenants had been a little dirty.  After my brother and I had struggled with getting it wired up and hooked up (more difficult than we both thought it would be) my floor was covered with pieces of dead bugs from years past... as I swept them up this piece began to formulate.



Saturday, June 1, 2013

Day 163: New Electronic Post

album-cover-parody-post-rock
Trying to explore something "new".  I like post rock, I like glitch, I like electro-synth, I like ambient.  Trying to make "New Electronic Post".  Maybe it's a genre that already exists under another name, if so, please let me know.

Years ago I was sleep deprived for about 36 hours and I started hearing this music in my head that was something unlike anything I'd ever experienced.  I typed a long rambling email and sent it to a few people, but it was a little out there and the ideas weren't very fully formed.  I could sense being on the cusp of something and grasping for it in the darkness.

I feel like this, and a few other recent works, might be the genre I was hearing in my head.  If nothing else, it's definitely the start of something for me.

Lyrics:
You said you're loaded for bare, You said you'd take us anywhere,
Got on my helmet and my boots, so let's go
It's not like you lied again, let's just be honest, are we even friends?
I want to take it all back, but I can't take it, no I can't take it.
When the sun shines in the spring, we'll have a moment of clarity and peace.
Your eyes will lighten and grow eager again, and we'll once more call each other friend.


Day 162: Epic

The setting sun cast a wash of brown and yellow hues into the sky.  Unit J45s-889 pulled his distance
viewer up again but nothing had changed.  The black hole fusion reactor was approaching critical mass at the same speed it had been for the last 56 days, only now it was down to 3 hours remaining.  He tried to push his light bike up another notch and move faster, he had already maxed it out.  He was burning heavy water at five times the normal rate.  The bike would be ruined, but if he didn't get there sooner then the entire planet wouldn't be habitable by dinnertime.






Images from RaceCarsAndRobots.com