Bring out yer Dead

Ahhh Heath, what memories you have conjoured from the dark pit of my musical past As it scrapes against the lid of its coffin awoken by the sounds of the Beasts of Bourbon. I rememebr seeing Tex in my teenage years, larger than life, almost godlike performing at the Commercial Hotel in Paramatta, ahh the memories. Thanks for the brutal reminder of a past life long retired and decaying giving off the stench of moshpits and stale beer. As a momento I here present my own little BOB jewel.

Funk Nut

Billy loves his funk, and when we got together the other week, he wanted to put down a funky sounding track.

We started off with a knightrider sort of intro sequence, even looked for some knightrider samples to put on top, but decided against it. We then started with recording a funky guitar loop and adding a cool bass line.

We added some horns and some changes to the theme. A lead guitar section and some other bits and pieces.

For me this one is a little too repetitive and need something to keep it interesting though has some nice moments (including my synth solo).

Have a listen and hope you enjoy.

Cheers.

Funkadelic (Shoulders of Giants)

KG comes alive

Its not often when the boys get together that we know exactly what we want, and how to tackle it, and even less often that when we do, the result is what we were after. Continue on dear reader and you will hear of the rare exception.

Dave arrived with a clear idea in his head for a song genre, it was his mum's birthday on the weekend and he was telling us that whenever he went over his folk's place, that his mum would slap on some Kenny G as background music. He felt it was his obligation as and duty as a respectful son to create a classic KennyGesque style track to impress her with on her birthday.

We started with a smooth enough progression, with a floating / wafting guitar playing a delicate melody over a straight rhythm. We added as close as we could get to a saxophone using a suitable VST instrument and that's when it sank in that we were onto something.. particularly something we were after.

After adding a bridge section which basically flew off on a tangent from the theme we had set, we recorded a delicate meltdown back into the main theme.

That night, I rearranged some sections, added some effects to the guitars and such, and added some drum loops and fills.

We're still waiting to hear what Dave's mum thought of it.

Enjoy,
Cheers.
Ecca


KG's Whale Song

From Parties to Snakes.

G'day all, just a entry to post up a recording done yesterday by myself and Billy.
We got together mid morning and after some repairs to billy's recording software on his laptop, got straight into creating something new.

Thought we would take a different approach today, well different for Billy maybe it is the usual approach that I take, but I don't think Billy was familiar with the process I use, so he seemed a little skeptical at first.

We put down a few drum and bass loops that we were happy with, and then recorded a few loops to arrange throughout the song, mainly guitar riffs etc. This was our basic structure for the arrangement, and from there we added sections as needed.

As you can hear it is a cross between the soundscapes I would normally create on my own, and what we would normally do as a collective, so... enjoy !

Cheers
Ecca


Path of the Snakeman

More Party

Last few days have been rather quiet, had been looking forward to a quiet weekend, and in some regards it was. On Saturday, got together with Wayne and the crew at his place for a band jam/rehearsal, looks like the Wayne and Billy's MIDI band may have evolved into a full blown production with no MIDI at all. Which is always a good thing I guess.

The guys wanted to come over during the week to put down a new tune, Jen suggested they did this on holiday Monday as she would be home and be able to experience the whole process. (Normally she is at work when the guys pop over so doesn't really get to see what we get up to).

Billy wasn't feeling too well on the morning and was trying to pike out of the day, but we convinced him to rock up with headache and all.

We played around with another of Wayne's tunes, added a few bits to it, took a few bits out, and soon we had another little ditty to play around with. That night I mixed and rearranged some of the sections, added some keys (which I usually do once the guys leave), and also added a bass guitar part.

The idea for lyrics came fairly easily, the song gave me a old time lounge / jazz feel and reminded me of a Tom Waits style tune. I kept on thinking of his song 'Underground' off the album "Swordfishtrombones", but adapted the theme a little, so I soon got down to writing about how all the insects and vermin play around the house once the humans go to sleep. The lyrics are included below.

I recorded the vocals and may still add some party noises over the instrumental section as this seems to go for a little too long without something to hold it together, but anyway take a listen to it from the link below. Cheers.




Theres a bat wing shadow on my screen door
theres a six legged shuffle on my kitchen floor
the faint sounds of transistor jazz
theres a party when the lights go out.

arachnids all groove in their webs
Jitterbugs jivin under the bed
the night's lights a mirror ball
The house is thier stage
Theres a party when the lights go out.

The rodents are smoking them fat cigars
like their hanging in some mobster club
in their cocktail dresses and ratail suits
swinging from the rafters to a rhythm guitar
or just taking in the moon on a clear dark night
The skylight's a window to million stars

Ferret face freddy shakin on them bones
Frank blowin hard on the saxaphone
the nights not over till the rat lady sings
theres a party when the lights go out

Outside their watching for the crack of dawn
theres an owl on a branch and crow on the lawn
Hootin and crowing when its all over
They only party when the lights go out.




Party when the lights go out

Party on dudes

have had parties on my mind recently, went to a great one last weekend for Billy's 49th, was a fantastic night, all the usual muso friends were there, was great to see them all and have a jam with many of them.

On Tuesday Billy and Wayne popped over to put some sounds down, and there was a tune Wayne played me some time ago which I was impressed with, so we decided to work on it, we needed to write a chorus and bridge, but the basic verse riff was great and inspiring, so the rest wasn't too hard.

We managed to get the guitar bass and keys down by the arvo, and the song was left with me to add some additional instruments (drums, flute), and to tidy up and produce a little.
4am the next morning this was all done.

Wednesday, morning I started writing some lyrics and the agreed title of the song Afterparty sort of left an impression. I played around with the idea that when you are young and full of energy you tend to party hard not really caring about much but it all affects your later life (the afterparty).

So you can gather what the song is about, no need to give you the lyrics.

Check it out below.

Cheers !


Afterparty

Ecca the slacker

I've been accused of being a slacko and not updating this blog.

Well stay tuned...some suprises on their way.

By the way Bryzy, I know who you are and where you live, and the school your children go to.... :)