My own compositions (prog/psych/jazz)
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Forum Name: Music and Musicians Exchange
Forum Description: Talk with and get feedback from other musicians on the site
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=79545
Printed Date: December 02 2024 at 13:55
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Topic: My own compositions (prog/psych/jazz)
Posted By: EchidnasArf
Subject: My own compositions (prog/psych/jazz)
Date Posted: July 07 2011 at 02:41
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Just thought I'd post some songs and song models on here for feedback. When I say "song model", I mean that these are songs I've composed on guitar, then transcribed onto a program called Reason to add ideal drums, bass, keyboards, etc.. 3 of these songs ("Trapavoid", "Comets Chase Their Tails", and "Which Watt?") are song models I've composed for my band. We are yet to put these songs together, and when we do, I'll be sure to post them on here. I would consider these to be more or less prog rock songs. The 2 others I've posted on Soundcloud are finished songs ("Waltz of Embers" and "Momentum"). "Waltz of Embers" is a psychedelic thing that features a backing rhythm and sound effects I created on Reason with a bass line that I recorded on top. I then recorded a lead guitar over the whole thing and added some clean guitar tones for the end. I've been wanting to redo this song because I'm really not happy with the "drums" that I programmed on Reason. This was an early Reason project for me (I was 17) and I've learned a lot more on Reason since. I'd like to think I've also developed on guitar quite a bit since this recording. "Momentum" is a tempo rubato piano piece I composed on Reason using an on-screen piano roll. It should be noted that none of this was played live (I wish I could play like this!). This particular song was largely influenced by Chick Corea and Art Tatum. If you're only going to listen to one song (though I hope you check them all out!) Here's a list of the order I'd like them to be heard with 1 being the song I'd like you to hear most: 1. "Momentum" (most recent) 2. "Which Watt?" (unfinished mixing of levels on this one, sorry! still check it out though! *song model) 3. "Waltz of Embers" (me playing guitar at 17) 4. "Comets Chase Their Tails" (song model) 5. "Trapavoid" (song model) Let me know what you think, and listen with headphones if possible! http://soundcloud.com/echidnasarf" rel="nofollow - http://soundcloud.com/echidnasarf ------------- http://didyouseethosebats.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - Did You See Those Bats? (a few songs from my band's live radio show) 
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Replies:
Posted By: Mushroom Sword
Date Posted: July 07 2011 at 03:26
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Very nice. Musically it's great. It would be much more impressive if they were actual recordings, but still great. I love the "almost-honky-tonk" moment at about 2:05 in Momentum, you should do more with that. Holy crap for Waltz of Embers. Who was the inspiration? I was excited for Trapavoid. The single constant bass-line is a bit of a disappointment, although the drums do give reason to think otherwise. Also, the mix is kind of weird, the drums are either too loud, or the guitar is too quiet, but that may be intentional. That's all I listened to. Anyway, I enjoyed it and I'm glad I heard it. Good job and keep it up.
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"I gazed into the eyes of the madman and I saw, and I saw,and I saw myself. |
Posted By: EchidnasArf
Date Posted: July 07 2011 at 04:11
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Thanks for listening! I think you're right about Trapavoid. The drums
sound a bit too loud and the guitar could probably come up a notch too.
Like I said, these are song models, so I really didn't put much
time into the levels (although I suppose I should have before I put them
up here. Ah what the hell, I'll get around to it someday). As for the
bass line intro, this is an example of something that I think would be
much more effective in a live setting as opposed to a computer
instrument (duh!). It doesn't really capture the droning atmosphere that
I was going for. I recorded Waltz of Embers a couple months after I turned 17. I had been listening to a lot of The Mars Volta, Hella, and Zeppelin, and I was just starting to get into Mahavishnu Orchestra, Frank Zappa, KC, and a lot of jazz like John Coltrane and Charlie Mingus. A few weeks up to recording this particular track, I was pretty much obsessed with Hot Rats and I wanted so badly to be in a band just like Zappa's (who wouldn't?). So this song was sort of the product of my frustration with the lack of like-minded musicians around me. I whipped out the 8-track and stayed up all night recording. I decided to stick with a simple two chord vamp and just improvised a one take lead. I wrote the song as I recorded it (hope it's not too obvious). Thanks for the feedback, it's greatly appreciated.  I'm going to get some sleep now...P.S. - check out the other 2 sometime when you get a chance. I have tons more songs that I'll post in the future, these 5 just seemed the most fitting for a prog forum. ------------- http://didyouseethosebats.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - Did You See Those Bats? (a few songs from my band's live radio show)
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Posted By: Amnesic Ostrich
Date Posted: July 07 2011 at 05:48
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Cool. Definitely a Mars Volta influence here! I think Momentum started out very nice, and I'm very much into Chick Corea (RTF) as well. Don't know about the rest of the song, but I don't think a circle of fifths is ever gonna appeal to me :D But nice work on these! |
Posted By: EchidnasArf
Date Posted: July 07 2011 at 13:56
Thanks for listening there in Norway! I appreciate the feedback. I'm not really sure about the circle of fifths comment, because sure, there is scattered usage of the 5th tonality throughout the song, but no more than just about any other song you might ever hear. This song is much more based around minor 3rd modulation, diminished ideas, and half steps than any "circle of fifths" concepts. Again though, I really appreciate your comments and I love seeing that someone as far away as Norway is hearing my music. Cheers  ------------- http://didyouseethosebats.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - Did You See Those Bats? (a few songs from my band's live radio show)
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Posted By: Amnesic Ostrich
Date Posted: July 08 2011 at 12:53
Ah, I hoped you wouldn't get me wrong :) What I meant to say was that I really enjoyed it. The circle of fifth comment was ONLY referring to the thing happening at the time 02:02 in Momentum. Seen in context with the rest of the song, I didn't understand whether it was meant to be beautiful, joky (  ) or just plainly that way :)I didn't mean anything about the tonality in the entire thing, which, by the way, was very interesting, just to reassure you! Keep it up! :) |
EchidnasArf wrote:Posted By: yashioman
Date Posted: September 08 2011 at 22:05
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I am fairly new here, but Momentum really captured my full attention. Was any of it created through improvisation? I also noticed your Bandcamp page, pretty sweet stuff. I am glad to see some publishing of tracks. I also have a site there, under the artist name Faxotxoal. Hope you might be intoxicated by it if you take a listen. |
Posted By: Kazza3
Date Posted: October 01 2011 at 02:17
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Momentum is fantastic, lovely jazz.
Are those drums on the three unfinished tracks programmed using reason? They sound much better than the poor programmed drums I use.
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