Day 198: Instrumentalentation

I'm very excited to be approaching the end of 200 days, but now I know that I can't really quit yet.  There will be a day when it's not going to happen.  It may be for family reasons, illness, aliens landing, or a computer crash, but while I'm able to keep it going I have decided I must continue pursuing this project.

Today's piece comes courtesy of patches by FGL.

Day 197: Trapped!

"DAMN THIS INFERNAL TECHNOLOGY!!!!!"

Used-to-be-John slammed his fists and hands against the alien force field.  He'd been trapped in their prison for years, slowly starving to death. The walls were covered with a thin film that was almost food.  The floor, with a liquid that was so sweet it could only be tasted, then it made him sick.  Ironic, since he had been drawn into their trap by food.

While flying around one day, trying to find something to eat he suddenly smelled something so wonderful that he was incapable of ignoring it.  He flew to it as fast as possible, his mouth salivating, unable to contain his anticipation of the oncoming feast.  When he reached the source it was just a small room.  The was some type of impenetrable force that kept him from going inside.  He slowly, tirelessly worked his way across the surface until he found a way in.  It was small enough for him to squeeze thru, he thought squeezing out would be easy.  He was wrong.

He had re-traced his steps over and over, trying to get out the way he came in, but it was for naught.  No one escaped this prison once they went it.  His brothers had come and gone, attracted by the same glorious smell he had been.  None of them had found the way in yet.  He tried to gesture to them that it was no paradise, it was a hell, but it was no use.  They didn't understand his intent and were only agitated and excited by his movements.

He came to the realization after the first year that he would starve to death there, if he didn't die of old age first.  All he had to do now was wait, curse his ignorance, and hope that no one would be as stupid as he had been.

Lyrics:
Got chased into a pit.
Then I fell in, down a hole.
Then the monsters they followed me in.
There's no escape.

The darkest night into the brightest light,

Hounded by demons,
Unable to sleep,
I can't even breathe,
They won't let me die.

The darkest night into the brightest light,
I will protect thee.

Day 196: Golana

Inspired by Lomography, this song is about analog (or analogue, if you prefer).  Ironically, the only thing that was analog in the whole performance was voice... and even that got "robotified".

Lyrics:
Monday is my analog day, 
Tuesday is my analog day, 
Thursday is my analog day, 
Friday is my analog day. 

You've got to start the machine up. 

Day 195: On Independence Day

Today's track isn't particularly patriotic, or even American, for that matter.  It happens to be raining today, but I wrote the lyrics when the sun was shining, so that's just a coincidence.  Was trying for something a little different... kind of The National meets the KPR-77 drum machine.  Without very meaningful lyrics.

Lyrics:
It's gonna rain today, 
And I'll shoot you like an arrow into the sun when it rains.
you have the key, 
you won't bother me, 
It's gonna rain today, they say.

There's no relief at all, 
You will have to climb this wall. 
Only way to get back to you.

It's gonna rain today, 
and you thought you had all the answers. 
It's gonna rain today, they say.

I wanna share your dreams, 
take a piece of your reality, 
It's gonna rain today, they say.

REFRAIN 2x

Day 194: In my house

An industrial style piece using patches by FGL.

Lyrics:
This roller coaster is going off the tracks.

Day 193: Telling tha Truth

Experiments with maths can be fun.  Truth is a logic gate.  If you don't know what that means, then we are in the same place.  I'm figuring it out though.

Lyrics:
Yes, you are the leader, 
Yes, you are the man, 
We walk in time behind you, 
We do what we can.

Yes, you are my leader, 
Oh yes, you are the man, 
I do whatever you tell me to, 
I will die where I stand.

Day 192: Is it the end?

I started this experiment with the intention of going as long as I possibly can, exploring every possibility, trying to take each idea to it's proper end.  During these extremely productive days I've learned much.  I've learned a lot about synth routing, production, song-writing, and collaboration.  The short version is that it was extremely educational and valuable.

On the flip side, I have several other projects that are in various states of disarray.  There are a couple of albums that are nearly finished, there are a couple that are just in the beginning stages, there is one that's DONE, but just needs a final listen and sign-off.

Over the next 7 days I'm going to be thinking very seriously about whether to stop this experiment at 200 days or keep going.  I was initially hoping for stopping at 2,000 days, but in all honesty, I don't know if keeping it going helps or hurts me as a musician.  If I stop at 200 I'll definitely come back to it on occasion and post thoughts, musings, and musical ideas, but it won't be anything like these 200 days.

Feel free to comment.  I appreciate your thoughts.

Today's track is a (now) uncommon singer/songwriter work.

Lyrics:
It's cold and wet and dark outside,
And if you only knew.
It's hard and fast and take awhile.
And if you only knew.

We took a left when we should have stopped 
and now, now we're lost.

It's gray and white  and I'm blue today,
because you now know.
It's shallow of me to be so deep,
but I know you know.

REFRAIN

It's just a dream, but it's so real.
It's just a thought, but it can knock down walls.

REFRAIN 2X