Planetjazzbass

Thanks Dave, Those words really mean a lot!

Ha ha, yeah, it's fairly often that I get called crazy or genius, though maybe more often it is a combination of the two. I take either one or both as a compliment, especially when it comes to music!

I suppose that I never want to be known as conventional, unless I become a definition of a new conventionality. At this point, about the most conventional things in my life are having a pet and drinking on a regular basis... beyond that I feel like somewhat of a freak in this culture!

I did spend quite a bit of time shaping the sounds used in here. It was the first time I tried the new classical guitar strings in a song, just to make some loops... they're nice strings so far, and were definitely the most I've spent on guitar strings (not bass strings of course!).

I see that I may have had a limit on track plays on bandcamp, though I don't know if that is for the individual songs or the entire album... so either way, that is removed just in case it was keeping people from being able to hear the entire album. Pretty much no one pays for music anyway!

No matter what it is, I like the feeling of doing something myself. I make all of our own bread products, soy/seed/nut milks, and stuff. I've gotten pretty proficient at household electrician work and wiring lately, and repaired our refrigerator recently as well. About ready to refurbish the 100+ year old hardwood floors in another room, since the first room turned out good. Learning how to grow edible mushrooms, and have nine logs innocculated this year. I've even been working on becoming self sufficient in potting soil for indoor plants, after learning how to sterilize our compost (the plants love it)! I hate the feeling of paying someone to do work that I can do better myself, and I also hate fixing people's mistakes (too much ego, I know). I even try to keep my wife out of the kitchen sometimes, ha ha.

I appreciate your kind words, and your taking the time to hear my music! Have a great day!

Thank you Dave! You're perfectly right with the instrument and 'bringing it to the life' but you know it takes so much time and energy (and relaxation time needed) to make it sound near the imaginary picture! At least it is my case. I had a particular occasion to be able to perform this kind of music in a comfortable space with a sufficient amount of energy. I do not think I carry on any strict tradition performing this music as I incorporate different things in playing: all I can say here is that the instrument was modern one but playing is stilistically more 'historically oriented' which means not 'egal' 'even' but in a sense 'affected' with a proper portion of 'swing'. So you can label it as a modern performance style in a sense.

I think I should ressurect some projects soon that will make a base for our musical collaboration, if you're still interested. Then I will contact you. Also I am really looking forward to hear your new music.

Best to you, Alex

Yeah, however, I got it placed on an up and coming Caribean artist album. You were 100% correct on its Caribean influence.

Thanks

Thank you! There's a bit for me to digest here so if you dont mind, I'll ask a few questions to get a better understanding of your advice. what do you mean by production values? as in the overall production of the track or the specific pieces that go in to it ie. the beat, the vocals, etc. I ask because I posted the song up as is so that I could find someone to do the engineering on the song so if that is what you're refering to here, then its kinda out of my hands but if you're talking abuot the actual beat, then we can start talking. Ive heard that the Hh on this track and the snare were especially prominent, but are you suggesting i make the drum track a bit more complex or that I add more layers and instruments to the overall track?

Cheers! Yes this is a really good track and I really like it a lot too
Great to hear that you enjoyed it too

You can't believe how awesome it is to get a comment like this for me! I actually was pretty into Flash back in the eighties... flash ah ahhhh. I was a pretty big geek at times. I used to be a coin collector, now I'm an alcoholic. Goodbye silver dollar.

I would seriously admit to being heavily influenced by some of the most B grade films and television ever made. Repeated watching is the key.

I suppose that most of my drastically favorite groups have a tendency towards very raw and dry sounds. I've always been frustrated with too many effects, especially with different timing.

It's funny, upon re-listening, the introduction does sound very 1950-60's sci-fi. Sweet. I did not see that coming.

I always appreciate hearing from you!

thanks dave! yeah I'm working on some pieces that are more developed these days, this was definitely a perhaps too concise compositional experiment. but I'm glad you enjoyed it for what it was.

cheers to you as well
- Matt

Dave, I do believe this is the first time you've ever commented on my work. And to come in with such a positive and encouraging one. For that, I thank you sincerely.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I know you're an old-school kind of guy, so for you to be so accepting of a totally new school method, means that much more.

Thanks again, man.

Skol.
Aaron.

Ahaha... thank you so much! Much love:)

My jackhammer issues were odd. Body and hands were fine, but something happened to my jaw throughout a few days. I'm sure you've experience the effects of vibrations when mowing for long periods or running heavy equipment, the resonating chirping tone produced in the head by teeth touching or any impact at all. Something with the inner ear and the fluid vibrating all day, but every sound, movement, sniff, twitch and breeze sounded like someone in my head hit a metal streetlight pole with a box-wrench. DING! Strangest thing, lasted about 12 hours, went away overnight. I was demolishing a front and back porch that were 2 concrete slabs, one poured on top of the other, (yeah), and an in-ground pool. My stints are usually short. I have more issues building decks and setting retaining walls. Tendonitis is a bitch. A week straight of pounding with a sledge on a bottom course of wall-blocks takes it's toll. Ice pack, ice pack. 15 minutes on, 45 off. Works wonders when done religiously.

Hey, sorry about the prank phone calls your country has been getting from over here. The guy has his own phone and can afford to put minutes on it, so there's not a lot we can do.

You guys should block his number.

Peas.

Hey Dave, I appreciate your comments very much, especially as I've used and admired your loops many's the time over the years. Believe me I'll take the Doors comparison - I'll take it away and cuddle with it for a while with a dreamy smile. And yeah that day on Venice Beach was a life-changer. I needed a singer, and the universe provided. The universe is usually kicking me in the nuts and laughing maniacally ... but now I have to say we're even.

Greetings, Dave.

It's been a while since I got blisters, but I remember them well. I do have the permanent dents in the fingertip calluses that have very little feeling anymore. Doing landscaping for over a decade, I keep some pretty healthy calluses. It's always been a true joy of mine to see a kid spend his very first 8 hour shift with a post-hole digger. Hands peel apart without leather-palmed gloves, though they think they can handle it, and shoulders burn within 10 minutes. The look of defeat on the face of a cocky, phonegazing douche bag is a beautiful thing.

This is my second track using Superior. This is from the Progressive EZX, though I really want the $150 SDX. I'm really happy that it works well with the guitars. I spent a few days just assembling drum sets and saving them as user presets. This track really tapped my CPU, also. There were several things I had to always shut off before this thing would even play. Toward the end, I didn't know what the fixes in a mixdown would sound like till I listened to the mixdown. Playback in the DAW was not possible with all the buses and reverbs activated. 8 year old PC.

Now, I am not a master at mixing the low end, so be careful if you crank it. If there is a part that makes the door hinge pins rattle a bit TOO much, let me know.

"She Who Must Be Obeyed" would be an awesome track title.

Take care, and thanks again.

Evan

Thanks, Dave. Yes, positivity and creativity were two things lacking in my life -- glad to be back in action!

Dave, it is great to hear from you regarding these two tracks! You make an interesting point about the "cutting room floor." It makes me wonder what other musicians, whether my peers or whatever, would get for results if they attempted something such as this. I can think about the vast majority of musicians whom I know, besides yourself and a few others, who would probably not be capable. This is not to say that they do not have the talent, but more it refers to the computer/software reliance, not to mention the probably lack of cassette equipment.,, many of them do not even have an instrument to lay their hands on. It's a bit sad to me, but something I try to accept. You are correct, this stuff is not meant for extended listening, but more like a microdose medicine... this is partly why I chose the thirty minute cassette for this project. I was most proud of keeping the process moving to achieve the seven recorded songs in two days. Whether they are good, bad, or something which needs a new adjective, it is still more creative output than I can usually achieve. Your comment made me think of the Primus track, "Over The Falls." They rock. Thank you for always taking a listen and letting me know what you think, it is good to have an accomplished musicians support! Have a good day/year!

Yo, PJB.

Thanks for checking my rather alternative blues out. Yes, it is is some very soulful guitar playing and I find I can essentially sing along with most of it, especially the most obviously lead type of parts.

"there's just so much crap blues being played under the blues banner as simple 12 bar regurgitated slush"

Yes. I never play 12 bar and have really only ever played it in live band situations. It's a great chord sequence but I also find it very limiting. I bet I could do something interesting with it but I don't currently feel the urge to try.

I'm not a big Tom Waits fan. I wonder if this sounds a bit too beautiful for his kind of vibe though now you say it, I can hear him doing something over this as there's a darker, moodier vibe present behind the guitar. All the same, I feel he might spoil it so I think I prefer it as it is.

Thanks again.

Thank you! I hope so as well!

Hello Dave, and thank you for this awesome comment! I'm thinking that the whole situation which led to this recording has much to do with whatever they were spraying aerially in the weeks leading up to the election. We would hear the planes, then see the time release clouds, then there would be "cloud" cover for days, and all you could do was hear the planes. Each time the planes made their repeated passes, within an hour or less we would start to hear emergency vehicle sirens, and we would begin to feel the not so subtle neurological effects. One such time, a woman drove into parked cars across the street, pressing five cars against each other. As the election approached, I got the distinct impression that the spraying would break after we voted. Bang! After the election, clear skies for days, and winter could begin. Still I fear that the hardships are yet to come, at least personally. ... Since I was doing vocals, everything was monitored through headphones, so if a neighbor heard something, it was those raw vocals. Your words - "I see the steps to the music room bending under an invisible force, though there are no bad vibes here..." definitely strike a chord, and they bring to mind "Ray Bradbury Theatre" I've been watching those over again recently, and the introduction, where he describes his "toy shop" and "alien landscape" where he draws his ideas from - they make me think of my studios and the process I've been moving toward. I really appreciate the feedback, as always. If I could fave comments, this would be one of them! Thank you!