Twilight Meditations Sessions - Night 2

Morning Gang

Well, its night two (well, morning two) of the final Twilight Meditation CD project.  Even as I complete the second track of this CD, I'm starting to feel a bit... apprehensive about finishing it this week.  These last two nights have been really magical.  I don't want it to end.  No one is awake, almost in the whole world, at least from where I'm sitting, and the sounds that the computers and the modules are making just make me so happy.  This Fazioli sample (Piano) is so beautiful I want to go buy the real thing.

Anyone have an extra 250k they can lend?  ;)

Anyway, no more misty, I'm a guy for God's sake.

Track two, tentatively named Vapor on the Fields, clocks in at 8 minutes.  It draws just a touch from the last theme in the first track, but it goes to different and varied places.  Some of it is very warm, especially in the middle, with adagio strings in a very low register.  Its almost pastoral.  The predominate instrument in the piece is a Classical Guitar.  I'd say I did this because it sets the harp, Fazioli Grand and Strings nicely, but I really did it for Jenn, cause she said she loves the instrument.  So do I.

The CD continues to thumb it's metaphorical nose at me at completely deviate from what I had planned to record.  I think I'm getting okay with it though.  I opened my manuscript for the first time and ACK! wrote the piece out with a pen!  Had to, too many changes and I was getting lost at some points.  Sleep deprivation and orchestration, man, any composer will tell you they go hand in hand.

Tonight finished early, which I am thankful for, because I have an evening scheduled with some good friends tonight, and I want to enjoy myself without too much fatigue.

See you Sunday :)

jack

Twilight Meditations Sessions - Night 1

Morning Gang

Well, i've been working on my Meditation CD project for a while now.  Release date is quickly coming, and Jenn told me how long they need to turn around duplication.  So, its full steam ahead, in which will no doubt be an interesting week of midnight sessions.

It actually all started the night before last, with temporary additions to the studio.  I added an 88 Key controller (Yamaha S80) and some extra computer power for those really cpu intensive sections.  There are also three VERY cool mikes setup (thanks Jim!).  A Blue Woodpecker (Ribbon Mike), AKG 414XLII and a Earthworks condenser.  These are setup strategically in no particular fashion or reason, scattered about my studio, ready to capture whatever instrument or weird object,...or breath.. at a moments notice.

Since the majority of the album is written, either sketched in sessions or in my head, very little music really needs to be written.  Just orchestrated, mixed, mastered and out the door right?

Eeep!  I wish it would have been so easy.  Because as soon as I downbeated (is that even a word?) the first bar of the first track, I realized that it was going to go its own way with no consideration for what I've already done and what I wanted.  Yes, the CD has taken off of its own accord and now is laughing at me as I scramble to re-write, re-orchestrate, etc the entire Disc.

Ah, love being a composer, don't you?

Okay here's the scoreboard.  CD = 1 .   Jack = 0.

Okay, I didn't come away with nothing.  I have a rough mix of a completed first track, tentatively titled Twilight Falls, and it clocks in at 5 minutes.  I did have a different name for it, ask Jenn sometime, she'll laugh...at me...again ;)

See ya tomorrow

jack

Soundtrack Review - "Fittest - Original Soundtrack"

“Fittest – Original Soundtrack” Review 

Dreams of Cobalt : One of the greatest challenges an electronica composer faces is to make their pieces lifelike and not-robotic (unless that’s what they are going for). Zircon continues to exercise his strong beat sensibility with Cobalt.  In your face high hats give a solid tempo to this varied synth infused piece.  From odd flanged/detuned pianos (really cool by the way) to more classic synths reminiscent of Oberhiem xpanders and Arps, he has created a wash of ear candy in this D Minor work.  The breakdown at the end of the piece sets up the next piece nicely. 

Photosynthesis:

With Photosynthesis, Zircon demonstrates the right way to incorporate electronica elements with hybrid orchestral and ambient textures.  Marcato strings and syncopated Marimba dance together with lo-fi, “freeze” elements.  One thing I have noticed about his work, Zircon enjoys the wide sweeping bass sawtooth and pulse waves, which really work for has unique style of music.  He is definitely not afraid to use his mod wheel.  Vaguely reminiscent of some of Wayne Lytle’s work, Zircon demonstrates his mastery of all synthesis types.

Cellular:

Very aptly named, Cellular starts as a gentle peek inside your Motorola phone, and then in true Zircon fashion, steps into a pulse-wave-arpeggios, strong back beats, with various synthesis techniques taking their turn at soloing.  This piece will definitely have you taking your battery out of your cell phone in the hopes of finding something that can vaguely be this cool.

Baroque Virus:

Shirking a massive pipe organ at any of your favorite churches/concert halls, Zircon demonstrates that orchestral elements benefit when a cutting synth patch takes the lead.  Pipe organ is given a short cameo in this piece, before a energized harpsichord riff tackles it and rips it screaming from the score.

Looking Glass:

Ming the Merciless makes a very short cameo in the very beginning of this piece, before it is covered in arpeggios and crystallized synth stabs.  Noise shots imply the snare sounds which show up later in the piece, and a haunting 8 beat theme, shorted to four beats as this piece progresses builds a tension that is nearly subliminal.  The piece evolves from here, and each element is given the opportunity to show not only where it belongs in the whole mix, but also as a soloed entity.

Fusion Master:

Fused Hip hop and electronica is difficult to do.  Fortunately Zircon is no stranger to fusion, and his groovy clav hits and off beat ride bells make this piece a real treat to play a game to.  It is a welcome relief to hear that gamers can look forward to some fun music, as heavy and thematic can get old after you’ve developed calluses on your thumbs from playing 12 hours straight. 

Psychesphere:

Incorporation of world instrumentation into current musical themes seems relatively common place these days.  Zircon has not bashed the sitar and tablas over our heads in this piece, but that does not mean that they are not present and integral.  However he executed the Sitar solo at 3:20, it is clear that he can express himself in both North American and Asian musicality.  Where else can he take us?

Morsecode:

Well, he’s takin us to Jazz Fusion.  Neat.  His piano playing chops cannot be brought into question as he demonstrates strong pedal technique with his solid left hand, and his octaves on the right scream  Jazz/Fusion done right.  As before, he calls upon a varied library of synthesis techniques to “replace” what you may expect to hear, with something that works just as well.

Star Command:

An aural assault upon your senses, do not listen to this piece without serious ramp up.  I’m serious.  I hope for your sake you are well into your third or forth hour of play before you’re hit with this one.  It is…well, it is.  That’s all I have to say.

Overall : 

Once again Zircon has demonstrated a mastery of style, substance and technology.  He pushes his craft with every title he releases, and “Fittest – Original Soundtrack” is no exception to this rule.  Released by Zircon Studios and Blue Door Productions, it is now available on iTunes. This soundtrack gives us a sneak peek into the XBOX 360 arcade title “Fittest” available this quarter.

iTunes Store - zircon - Fittest - Original Soundtrack---

 See you Soon

j