So I just made this instrumental medley I have titled 'The Stardust Medley". It is a WORK IN PROGRESS and Instrumental (so far). Please let me know your thought feedback and constructive criticism.

Thank You

That's a start!

https://youtu.be/Vz2HUJTiywA" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/Vz2HUJTiywA

Here is the complete DEMO, no vocals yet, but the 3 songs I plan to include are here. ANY feedback would be greatly appreciated. There are 3 comments, those are the drafts for the lyrics. Feel free to offer suggestions, feedback and improvements. Especially whether it's prog or not. It seems to drift more in space rock at some points, even some metal 

I didn't know whether I should make a new topic or not. So i'm just going to post again on the same topic. 

My opinion should not really matter in the long run. You have to find your own taste and touch in these things, and not because someone said one thing or another. You want YOUR INDIVIDUALITY in it, not someone else's ideas or thoughts.

I find this to be a bit too much of a one person thing, and it lacks the feeling of cohesion to other players with other instruments, but this could be my ear. As such, you looking for what might be "lyrics" and other bits, is a bit strange for me. I'm a writer, and I have bits and pieces of starts, middles and stops that are over 20 years old, but they "want" their own space, and I don't have any idea how to use them yet, and I might never do so. 

I would think that these show someone that is a pretty good instrumentalist, however, I would like to see someone with a better idea of how to extend and use that ability, rather than try and find lyrics which might not ignite the quality of the music. 

As it is right now, for me, it is very enjoyable, and I'm not sure that it would make it more listenable with vocals right now ... the musical pieces lack a consistency/consensus as to what it is you want to do, and to think that some lyrics will bring it together, might happen, but it is as illusory as the music is at this moment.

Nice stuff ... very enjoyable, and I would consider improving those pieces if necessary, but to add a guitar to make it more metal or rock'y, or lyrics, so we supposedly get an idea of what it is all about, in my book, it diminishes the imagery of the music itself.

Nice stuff, even if it is your first effort ... I would love to see many of these passages explored and extended a little more, and show Tangerine Dream what they are missing!

Hi,

Thx. I was a bit worried that I was too critical, but in my 50 years within what is now known as "progressive music", the one thing that I find is most important, is the ability to extend and explore and improve what you have. 

There was, at one time, a "limit" that hurt a lot of music ... like all of everyone's symphonies fit on LP's in 2 sides, and you know that is probably not likely and it means that along the history, a lot of music, that was not as well known as it can be today, was taken away, so it FIT the LP ... magically!!!! And lo and behold, the CD has not helped with that either ... no one has seen or can find some of the older scores from 100 years ago ... to get a better idea of what was there in a lot of music!

My point is, that what we hear, sometimes (not that much of it can not be true!), we are listening to things that are not complete, and we think that their idea and concept is the thing, and in the end, it isn't ... but what bothers me, is that no one has shown or "found" the previous scores that showed that Symphony Such and Such was actually 63 minutes long, and not simply fit on 2 LP sides of about 46 minutes or so. 

The CD, and modern days of music, has killed that limitation ... and we have a chance to go back to explore what we hear and find and then decide what is and isn't a part of it.

You have, no doubt, a very strong foundation, and I hope to see it nurtured and brought up some more ... and not just so it will sound and look like a more "commercial" sounding product ... and in this, I'm not always a "favorite" here, but I always bring up the "rules" that helped bring about "progressive music" more than 50 years ago ... they were about one's individuality, and a desire to be "free" and not limited to a song, and a forceful radio format ... FM radio, and its history helped tremendously in this freedom, but 20 to 30 years later, we are all back to "song" formats and timing, and ideas ... thus, my reactions, is as a free thinker, and not quite the thing that you might need or work with, and PLEASE be mindful of that!

Best of luck ... 

One last bit ... I'm not sure that "music theory" had a lot to do with "new music" in the last 500 years ... and I certainly hope that we don't use it as a limitation to the ability to free form our way away from a "standard" that society has created so we can "define" music. I look outside in the morning, and there is a symphony of many birds, all different, and there is no "theory" that can ever touch that sound and beauty ... and we can only hope that our own music, can reach that level of expression! (Sorry ... I'm a hopeless poet!)

Yes, I agree, however limitation can be a good thing sometimes, it forces you to be more creative in many instances. 

None of the Beatles ever really knew theory, yet they have become the most influential and popular band of all time. So it's definitely more about the creativity of the individual than it is knowledge of theory. 

I also have no desire to create more commercial bubblegum 

Hi,

As a writer, I do not have an idea about this, and I don't find any interest in looking for it. I am one of those 120% intuitive writer, to the point that a lot of my "dreaming" is the actual writer, that magically is capable of continuing the next day regardless ... it's one of those far out things, and I happen to trust that ability to be able to "flow" (my word) in the other realms of perception.

I have had the experience with a musician that blew out a lot of things ... in a "psychic show" I took a sketch by the artist I helped to him, and showed him the picture ... he loved it, and then I said ... these are the notes and the "clouds" are the staff and music ... and he looked at the picture again, and then asked for a few minutes. When he started playing the "picture" the crowd came over and when he was done 7 minutes later, it was one of the most beautiful things ever done ... and folks around him were appreciative, and I'm sure that in that day he did many "musical readings" from that experience alone.

Sometimes, the "experiment" is the thing ... not related to any idea whatsoever, although I might consider that Herb had to think of a couple of things he wanted to do ... like having this effect here and something else there, and so on, but in the end, it took him less than 5 minutes to get it done, and I have the recording of the whole thing (he remastered it a few months back after 25 years!), and it is STILL one of the best moments in my heart ... and this includes my experience experimenting with actors while directing at UCSB, which became well known and some folks wanted to be a part of it ... 

I always say ... you have to trust ... that inner ability! It is ALWAYS there and is very valuable.

With much heart and love ... thanks

You can find it on Spotify as well, as of this morning

Hi,

In general, the "description" is much less, a whole lot less, important than what comes out ... and you must remember that. In theater, and film, we can do improvisations off the rehearsals, to find new moments in movement and expressions ... not because it is "prog", or "sentimentally _____" ... and in the end, it is about perfecting this "process" a bit more, so you can FIND a lot more of yourself within the music.

The "idea" that it has to be prog, or bs, or new wave, or new age, is a commercial process that was "designed" to help you find the music in the stores ... nowadays in the Internet, although there is less of a hassle of finding the right section at the record store as there was in the old days.

IF, and this is an observation, as a WRITER, you are concerned with it being "prog", then ... I'm done. Nothing I said meant anything to you (not surprised!), and you didn't see "between the lines" trying to help you get a better and stronger idea of who you are as a musician and composer. If you are looking for "prog", a lot of what you get that comes to you, is already gone, and lost.

Sorry I interrupted your view of things ... but for you, as a composer, you should not be worried about it being "prog" or "reggae" or "bossa nova", but sadly, it's like ... one more person wanting to join the sea of equality and material that is all, basically, the same, THESE DAYS!

Have a nice day. Sorry to sound sad ... but artists these days? They are all afraid, and not willing ... this social demon already has them all trapped!

Hi,

Good to hear!

I've always been a bit self conscious about my voice, and seeing how this song is spoken word, and the vocals are heavily filtered, i'm fine with it. Granted, this is a rough mix, but it does feel good to begin shaping a song from start to finish!

https://youtu.be/Blhcgxon3tM?si=5r5saEwMo1T6N0uy" rel="nofollow - http://youtu.be/BlhcgxoN3tM?si=5r5saEwMo1T6N0uy

As always, feedback is very useful and any sort of it is accepted!

I think 'The Feast Begins' is finished

 

The tracklist will be as follows (times may change):

Welcome to Atmos (not yet recorded)

The Feast Begins (4:13)

Cabin (4:19)

Sky Surfer (9:36)

The Stardust Suite (22:17)

Again, I thank you all for kind words and feedback

The finished tracklist: 

Welcome to Atmos (2:08)

Let the Feast Being (4:13)

Cabin (4:13)

Sky Surfer - (I. Space Travellin II. Crash and Burn III. Funeral for a Friend) (9:36)

The Stardust Medley (22:17)

I thank you all who have given me kind comments, and suggestions, now I go on to better things with my music. 

The album will be uploaded sometime next month to streaming services everywhere. You can hear it on YouTube now however. (as of time of posting, The Stardust Medley is not on there yet, only the demo. The finished product will be soon) I'll put the lyrics in the description for each song. 

I once again thank you all for this experimental (for me at least) and eclectic album being put out next month. 

Thanks,

Tennyson, 'Atmos'

I thank you all for your valuable input, (especially Moshkito, happy birthday btw), and am pleased to announce the full album is available to stream on Bandcamp and Soundcloud right now, both are free, no payment required. It will be released on services such as iTunes and Spotify December 10th, 2023. This will probably be my second to last post on this thread, then it can drift off into obscurity. 

http://https://atmosprog.bandcamp.com/album/atmos-i" rel="nofollow -

http://https://atmosprog.bandcamp.com/album/atmos-i" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp Album Page

http://awesomeprog.com/releases/66780" rel="nofollow -

http://awesomeprog.com/releases/66780" rel="nofollow - AwesomeProg  (Album)

http://https://on.soundcloud.com/hjxjU" rel="nofollow - Soundcloud Artist Page

http://open.spotify.com/artist/3x4PvA664hq6qy6aV4zTU6?si=EUBPLVYZQoGeW14963N6iQ" rel="nofollow -

http://open.spotify.com/artist/3x4PvA664hq6qy6aV4zTU6?si=EUBPLVYZQoGeW14963N6iQ" rel="nofollow - Spotify Artist Page

My journey of making my first album has come to a close. 

'Atmos I' Released December 10th, 2023 comprises the following tracks

A brief note / description on each track:

Short, with a wonky backwards guitar solo

A song about a broken down steamboat gone Donner-Dinner Party, delicious!

Old man in his cabin, storm arrives, cool guitar bit, ending is left ambiguous

Comrised of three seperate sections (first and last instrumental)

The first one (Space Trippin') is the same bit for a couple minutes, symbolizing a peaceful trip through the stars. Two Guitars and a Bass

The Second (Crash and Burn) is more experimental, some sound effects and harsh spoken words telling the tale of the crashed sky surfer through heavily filtered vocals 'and he dies.... alone' 

The third is a very nostalgic instrumental section titled 'Funeral for a Friend' 

Overall it's a very sad tale of a sky surfer, I do love the third part of that song. 

Now, for the giant epic, 

Comprising of 11 Distinct parts, this tells an epic tale of an unnamed child wanting to go to the stars, and he works hard to achieve that goal, but for what. He gets up to space and realizes how small he is and becomes depressed. He becomes the first man on mars, but decides to purposefully stay. He survives for a month-ish. But there is a complication, a nearby star has gone supernova, and it's deadly gamma rays are travelling towards him. He does not care. He accepts his fate, and as he is dying, the final verse of the song plays, 'XI. Stardust (Reprise)' The verse is as follows:

Blackstar, round my head, through my eyes

I Thank You for this, endless bliss

My breath is gone, my eyes... are black

Stardust, I THANK YOU!!

 

All 11 Parts are as follows:

I: Up, Up, and Away

II: Launch (Instrumental)

III: Floating

IV: Mars Landing (Instrumental)

V: I Can't Go Home

VI: Staying

VII: Life on Mars? (Instrumental) 

VIII: Back

IX: Stardust

X: He's Gone (Instrumental)

XI: Stardust (Reprise)

As you can see, I'm proud of 'The Stardust Medley' in particular. This isn't a happy album, perhaps polarizing, and I might not be proud of it years from now, but as of this moment, I am proud of it. I'm proud I could create this thing. 

Whether this is a prog album or not, I do not care. I am going to continue experimenting with sounds and synths as much as I am able. Since I have other albums in the works (Including what I hope to be a 2-Hour long song), I will be kept busy. 

'Atmos I' is available everywhere for free. (Go ahead and stream it through BandCamp though, you get some cool extra pictures and a lyric sheet with it, it's still free) I spent a LOT of time working on it, so if you feel like giving anything that would be appreciated, but please, do not feel the need to at all. I enjoy making music, this is fulfilling for me. It's the start of what I hope to be a long journey into bettering my playing, composing, and lyrical abilities. I greatly thank you all for all the feedback, comments and concerns concerning this music. It's been a trip man, and I'm just glad to be a part of it. 

Most of it is comprised of strung together samples and synths, there is occasionally some guitar playing by me throughout, but not much. It's mostly synths and stuff. The way I've categorized it on AwesomeProg is 'Sad Eclectic Experimental Prog Rock' which I feel is a fitting description. It's got a rather cold (maybe mellow) and isolated sound to it. A sound I hope to explore more in the future with soundscapes and crazy guitar effects. 

Every demo I do is available on BandLab http://https://www.bandlab.com/atmos2" rel="nofollow - here  (for better or for worse) nevertheless, I've waxed on enough about this. If you have anything you want me to say, you can message me here or on another website I've linked below. 

Once again, I thank you all for helping me along this path. 

Shine On, You Crazy Diamonds!

http://https://www.youtube.com/@Atmos2.0" rel="nofollow - YouTube Channel

Signed, 

Tennyson B. 'Atmos'