Though most of my recordings are extemporaneous, there is no one way that I write and record songs. This song is unusual in that it became part of many live performances, yet had never been recorded. So, I started recording a wide variety of renditions. Below is a link to a few:
Category: Uncategorized
bookmark_borderGa, Ga, Ga, Go!
Originally, this song was recorded with the intention of adding vocal tracks; however, the instrumental grew on me. Then, when I went to record vocals, it wasn’t possible due to the intensity of the synthesizer.
The song was written “live” using the Guitar Hero World Tour Recording Studio connected through an Inspire 1394 Controller into Cubase LE as a 48kHz wave file. The .wav was converted to an MP3 using RazorLame.
bookmark_borderKeyboard Music
by Mess
A collection of songs and sounds written extemporaneously on a keyboard. Almost all the songs were played on a Korg micro-keyboard. They tend to be non-traditional sounding sonic experiments. The 1/4 inch outputs were plugged directly into an M-audio digital recorder and captured as 48kHz MP3 files.
bookmark_borderGuitar Music
by Mess
A collection of songs written extemporaneously (for the most part.) Quite a few of the songs were played using a Yamaha electric 6-string guitar through a Digi-tech effects pedal. The 1/4 inch outputs were plugged directly into an M-audio digital recorder and captured as 48kHz MP3 files. Sometimes items, such as a glass bottle neck, were used as slides or for other techniques.
Songs vary from more traditional verse / chorus to unique sonic experiments.
Some of the songs were recorded using a classical nylon string guitar through an open microphone.
bookmark_borderIs There Life On Ours?
While looking down on the human race from high up in a jet airliner, I started thinking about the meaning of life. What will I make of my time on Earth? I have free will. It is my choice whether to take advantage of this gift.
Is there intelligent life on this planet of ours?
lyrics
From a mile high
In the sky
How big am I
Are we all
Rather small
In the big
Picture
A rapture
Of conjecture
To conglomerate
Our fate
Is it destiny
Or self-inflicted
Tragedy
A travesty
Of conflicted
Travelings
From the birth
To the death
Is there intelligent
Life on Earth
Or merely worthless
Time spent
bookmark_borderDis-mist
The lyrics were written while looking out the window of an airplane. I am not sure what I was looking at… but, my guess is we were flying through some ice crystals. The way the sun was hitting them caused them to act like little prisms… and, because of our elevation they were not falling to earth. Instead, they were dancing around. Rather than dismiss the mist, I thought about how the Earth looked like a giant brain with the dancing ice crystals looking like synapses making connections to neurons.
lyrics
Through the mist
I see the mist
Is what I see
And, curiously
I get the gist
Of ice crystals
Dancing
Like neurons
Synaptic
Appear spastic
At first glance
Then the dance
Comes into focus
Less ridicules
Not hocus pocus
A rhyme to the rhythm
A reason to the rhyme
Defeating time
Defeating space
Define the race
bookmark_borderSea Of Clouds
These lyrics were written looking out the window of a jet. Flying coast to coast across America gives you a different perspective. The clouds looked like snow covered mountains. Although, if you tried to land on them, you would sink through them like landing on water. When there was a break in the clouds, you could see a giant quilt of landwork. It made me realize — the layers of matter that make-up our planet are an amazing gift that I can tend to take for granted.
lyrics
A sea of clouds
Appears
As arctic mountains
Above the clouded see
Of mountains
Is there land
From sea to sea
When I can’t
See
Below the sea
Of clouds
That appears
As snow covered
Land
Though I can’t
Land
Upon this land —
The sea of clouds
The layers of particles
That give birth
To this particular
Place called Earth
Then the sea
Begins to part
And I can see
The quilted parts
The particular
Parcels
On which we’ll land
For what it’s worth
Coming down to Earth
bookmark_borderA Songwriting Mess
After having thought about the Mess, it seemed time to put out another album or two. The writing is happening in a bunch of different ways.
For a while, I had pretty much stopped recording and preferred to play before a live audience. Quite a few songs came from it that were never recorded. I’m recording various tracks for these songs. For instance, I will hook-up an electric guitar through a Digi-tech effects pedal and into an M-audio portable digital recorder.
Some songs in the works are coming from the moment. The other day I flew to San Diego. In flight, a bunch of lyrics came to me, so I wrote them down.
Stay tuned in for the pieces to start showing up here.
Then, I plan on collecting the parts and producing songs.
bookmark_borderThe World Viewed Through Google Eyes
Sidd wrote:
turn on java
and javascript
then go play at
http://www.touchgraph.com/TGGoogleBrowser.html
(remember to turn off java and javascript when you are done)
So, I went and played… and thought….
I put in one of our domain names… and played and thought some more….
There were quite a few things that stood out. The ones that had to do with music that were fun to play with were:
after extrapolating, it looks like we are one of the top ten MP3 sites on the web. Being that we have original music and own the copyrights, it brought a smile to my face.
Another interesting thing was how Google ranked our bands — it looked like Mess was number one.
Perhaps it’s time to put another Mess album out?
bookmark_borderCompositions And Quasi-automated Composing
Sidd wrote:
Hi,
Here are some of the references I was thinking of during our
conversation on Saturday afternoon. I shall keep looking for more,
and would love to hear your thoughts as well.
First a couple of research papers, will references to some people
we might want to contact.
http://gsd.ime.usp.br/sbcm/2000/papers/wassermann.pdf
http://www.citeulike.org/group/532/article/514131
http://www.rivier.edu/journal/ROAJ-2006-Spring/J43-DION.pdf
then a small toy like program from japan
http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~mcs/emc.html
and lastly perhaps something more up your alley
http://amc.sourceforge.net/
Sidd
bookmark_borderShow Biz
lyrics
Biz, biz, biz
This is the human biz
This is the humanness
The human biz
Well, well, wellness
Well, will we let out a yell
And, gel, gel, gel
This is the human biz
’cause “there’s no business
Like show business
Like no business
I know”
This is the human biz
The humanness
Well, well, wellness
Well, will we let out a yell
And, gel, gel, gel
ABOUT THE SONG
What is the human business? Whose business is it? If all the world is a stage, then humans must be the actors putting on the show of life.
This song is a techno anthem about humans putting on a good show. We can come together and find the groove. We can get together, let out a yell and gel!
The lyrics were made-up on-the-fly in an extemporaneous recording session. The instrumentation was recorded on an XBox 360 using Guitar Hero’s World Tour Music Studio software.
bookmark_borderZombie Slayer
lyrics
Better say a prayer
For the zombie slayer
Say nay
To the nay nayer
Deads a player
No way?
Way
Call out the zombie slayer
Fall out from the Reaper
When he’s grim
Chance is slim
Ain’t no doubt
We’ll find out
Better say a prayer
For the zombie slayer
At the end of time
Hope his team is mine
For those who rise-up
To everlasting contempt
Will try to temp
My soul
Their everlasting goal
Rather shine on bright
So, I’ll put up a fight
Put on the weapon
Of the zombie slayer
The sword of prayer
The word The Lord
We’re almost there
Better say a prayer
Heard the word?
Oh, my Lord
Break out the sword
Oh, my Lord!
ABOUT THE SONG
This is one of my favorite new songs. It is a complement to Angels And Zombies. When the time comes, will the angels battle the zombies?
The End Of Times
Daniel 12:1
At that (this) time, the mighty angelic prince who stands guard over your (our) nation, will stand up and fight for you in heaven against satanic forces.
It is an extemporaneous lo-fi work-in-progress demo. The instrumental tracks were recorded using an XBox and Guitar Hero World Tour Recording Studio. It had to be recorded on-the-fly so that the guitar controller’s full effect and tremolo bar could be captured. The vocals were done impromptu as a stereo multi-track.
bookmark_borderBlindly Following
lyrics
To blindly follow
Wherever they go
Doesn’t matter
Even if they know
Rushing on
Blindly
Unmindfully, carelessly, heedlessly,
Impetuously, recklessly, irrationally
Rashly
Wildly
Frantically
Marching to the tune
Of an indifferent drummer
Must resume
A walking slumber
Sleepwalker
Rational balker
Hopelessly
Only
Heard the herd
Heading, walking, marching
Toward the ledge
Over the edge
Cliff diving
Into our ending
Will we make,
This blind faith mistake?
ABOUT THE SONG
Buffalo running over a cliff. “Lemming populations fluctuate with such variance roughly every four years, before plummeting to near extinction.” What will humans do?
The base recording for the song was messed up. For some reason, there was a crackling sound. So, the lyric, “Will you get the itch to flip the switch” was added. Simulating the sound of an electrical switch getting turned on… like a bright idea in your brain.
Again, it is an extemporaneous recording.
bookmark_borderSo, Here I Lay
lyrics by Mudman
So here I lay (Ballad)
I know what went wrong
She didn’t want a relation-ship
So here I am, writin’ a song.
Maybe I just need to get a grip.
She said she loved me like a friend
And I’m just left to wonder,
Is this truly the end?
I must’ve made a mighty blunder.
(Chorus)
I can finally see,
What she tried to say,
Just what’s wrong with me.
So here I lay.
Walkin’ down the hall,
Dark like height’ a’ night,
I see her sittin’ on the wall,
What a handsome sight.
She says, look at you,
You’ve truly grown,
It’s your grand debut,
To me unbeknown.
*In the background*
(Chorus)
I can finally see,
What she tried to say,
Just what’s wrong with me,
So here I lay.
She smoothly praises,
You, you’re the one for me!
Your looks turn my heart to blazes!
But, she is the fruit of the forbidden tree.
Good bye, I bid you adieu,
So long, a final Farewell,
I feel not blue,
With pride: my heart begins to swell.
(Chorus)
I can finally see,
What she tried to say,
Just what’s wrong with me,
So here I lay.
I’ve lost my senses,
How could I turn her down?
She’s lowered her defenses…
She’s the talk of the town.
Why not take her up?
Why not steal her soul?
Why not let her fill my cup?
It’s life’s one goal
(Chorus)
I can finally see,
What she tried to say,
Just what’s wrong with me,
So here I lay…
So here I lay…
So.
Here.
I.
Lay.
Just what’s wrong with me?
Nothing big, I’ll guarantee.
But, let the truth set you free.
It’s because to anything: I’ll agree.
ABOUT THE SONG
This is a different sort-of song. The lyrics are by a poet friend. And, the music was recorded a while ago. When this new project got going, the lyrics seemed to fit in. Originally, the lyrics were about:
I can’t even remember which “almost” girlfriend this was about. I can only think of one but this was written before I was secretly in love with her. Oh well, it will always be a mystery. To me and to thee (oh snap, I rhymed).
But, as this album got going, it felt like the lyrics could apply to the broader concept… what went wrong with the relationship among humans, animals, plants… and Mother Earth?
bookmark_borderRunning Interference
lyrics
A static charge
Causing interference
Criminals at large
Gonna make a difference?
A white noise surge
Causing indifference
Media barrage
No independence
Gonna make a difference
And run interference?
Politicians
Turn to morticians
Static
Now a statistic
Get realistic
And, quick
More musicians
Tune a heart
At least the beginnings
Of a new start
More dreamers
Prophesize
Their forecast
Turns to past
Here to vow
Their time is now
Who’s in charge?
Politicians
A general
Lieutenant
Of sarg.
Or us
Gonna make a difference
And run interference?
ABOUT THE SONG
Does it ever feel like the media, the government and the powers that be are interfering? Like white noise or static? Well, what if we ran interference to their interference?