Here's track 10, "Octopus Zoo".. the title track of the album. This is a reworking of a song I recorded as StrawBerry Yoga back in 1993. I think I gave out maybe two copies of that album ("Garbage") on tape. It was some lo-fi noise freak-folk kind of something or other. It's a strange song, seeming to meander a bit at the beginning, until it takes off into a danceable pop bit and destroys itself in a climax of noise and confusion. The bonus song is a different mix of "Octopus Zoo" that is just even noisier and stranger.
"Circles" is a laid back song with vocoder vocals. It has a bit of a 70s era Kraftwerk/Jarre vibe to it. It borrows some phrases from the classic "The Spinning Song" by Albert Ellmenreich. For that reason, the b-side is a Vacant Sky Parlor arraignment of that piano classic.
"Honey Lamb" is sort of bit of a hopping groovy song of sorts until the halfway mark it jets off into a rising barrage of descending chords and percussion.
The b-side is a lo-fi sounding alternate mix in an attempt to emulate the sound of an old cassette tape copy of a vinyl record.
"Eyelids Blossom Tulips" is sort of a trippy song mostly based on my love of a cup of tea, and other ideas sort of thrown in. I like the music in this one a lot.
The b-side is a song from the scrapped "hype!" ep project. It's an instrumental song that I feel is kin to Eyelids.
"Nor a Drop to Drink" is one of the longer songs on the album. It goes through several sections and, I think, it is a bit of journey from start to finish like a storm building.
The b-side is a stripped down mix revealing primarily the background instruments.
Song 5 is here. Thumping bass and some simple and somewhat silly lyrics, with toy keyboard leads, and some latin percussion because I can. The b-side is just some toyful playing around with the same setup.
Here's the music I did for the short film The River's Edge.
The movie we did as part of the 48 Hour Film Project, as part of the Digital Media Program at AB Tech. Basically, people form groups, and on Friday night are assigned a prop, a character,a genre and a line of dialogue. They then have 48 hours to write, shoot, edit and score a short film. I post the movie here, and all the music I wrote for it. If you want just the stuff that's in the movie, then get River Scene and Driving Ditty. I'm doing this music under the name of Clara Kirkbride.. maybe I should go with Robert, or Douglas or something.
Did work on more songs last night, and things are coming along nicely. I did a few things to "Lovely Day", and "Sunlight Shines" that I wanted to do. Unfortunately, in the process I ended up increasing the volume of the main snare drum a bit too much, so I need to return and bring that back to a more rational level. I believe the drums over all are a bit high, but it's the snare that's doing real damage. For "Sunlight Shines", it's pretty much done.. I just wanted to simplify the first chorus so that it wasn't at the same intensity as the next two choruses.
For "Vegetable Scream", there were a few small changes I wanted to make to the ending, and I did that. Mainly I wanted to take the last piano note out, and I did that.. as well as created some odd effects with other instruments in place of that note.
And also, in "Honey Lamb", I increased the overall volume and gave a bit more power to the track. It's still kind of weak in comparison to the others, but it's almost there. I don't want to do too much mastering work on it until the vocals are done though.
I'm glad I'm working on this again. It's going to be a busy summer semester, but I think I'll get this album done. Finally.
Importing the video portion of a movie from a dvd into Adobe Premiere is blissfully simple.
You have to copy the .VOB file you want from the DVD to the hard drive, rename it to have a .MPG extension.. and then import it into Premiere. Today was the first time I'd ever even opened Premiere since getting it as part of one of the CS3 suites last year. It looks like there is a lot to it, but that it's fairly easy to use. There's going to be a lot of work, time and preparation involved in creating music for a film, but I think it'll be worthwhile.. that is if I can find the time.
Vacant Sky Parlor takes priority.. and school takes priority over that.
There's no major milestones to write about, just a lot of edits and revisions to all of the songs here and there.. little bits and pieces. A whole section of 'Anchor Light' was moved, and the end is in the works. Subtle sound effects are being added here and there to fill in the nautical theme. 'Circles' has been shortened, as some sections were overly long. Maybe an extended mix down the road? I'm talking with a musician that has been an influence on me throughout the past 15 years, and we MIGHT do something together some day.. I won't say anymore or mention any names, but I'm too interested in the possibility to not mention it.
Also, future project Clara Kirkbride is starting to grow in concept. Hopefully be working with some cartoonists/artists on it. More on that in future posts. It'll be very different from VSP, more atmospheric and raw.. a little twitchy even? We'll see, and you'll find out.
Well I am trying to get a college group at the uni where I work and promo the cause in 5 towns. So I am mustering all the resources I can. I will promo the blog and add to it as well as my own stuff.
WIDGETIZE