My son asked me to help him record a song that he’s been working on. I’ve put it up here for you to listen to.
The song launches instantly into a dynamic and rhythmic first movement, with an up-beat tempo and airy feel. The listener is then startled when the music suddenly ceases, and is replaced by a very short, but very profound, acappella passage.
The artist can then briefly be heard adjusting his position in the studio. The second movement comes in at about 34 seconds, and it is an altogether much darker affair. It is a veritable assault on the ears, and contrasts superbly with the poppiness of the first movement. The lyrics here are much more sinister, chilling in what they don’t say, almost as much as what they do.
The artist is clearly exhausted, and spends the subsequent 40 seconds regaining his composure, while remarking on the quality of the coffee.
The third movement begins at exactly 1:29, and indicates the artist retreating into his shell, musing on his purpose and offering deep philosophical questions to the listener. It is by far the longest movement of the piece, and it tapers off gradually, in anticipation of the superb fourth, penultimate, movement.
The fourth movement, at about 2:25, is unlike anything that this reviewer has ever heard before in his life. Consisting of just the same note played three times, each time quieter than the last, it symbolises mankind’s lack of faith in his own judgement, gradually becoming less and less confident of his decisions as time goes by. Remarkable.
More studio noise, and then the final movement at 2:58. This movement is presented in a minor key, I think. By now, the artist’s exuberance has caused the guitar to go completely out of tune. Which says it all.
If I had to use one word to describe this piece? Majestimospheric.
(mp3 no longer online – email me if you are interested)
3 replies on “Soundscape 1”
Sure, the first release is great….but the real tell will be in his sophomore album.
Make sure you send this out with your Christmas cards! Thank you for sharing.
Oh, I dunno. By the time Christmas comes along, he’ll probably have advanced musically, and this song will be the equivalent of some embarrassing poetry that he wrote when he was a teenager.
Actually, I should record his playing on regular occasions. It will be very interesting to listen to it, one day, and chart his descent into conformity.
Actually that’s a brilliant idea. My brother-in-law has several toddler recordings of his oldest daughter, who is now 30 and it is so sweet to hear her little voice and how she pronounced words and saw her small world. Do it.