2014-02-01 @ 12:00pm
tags: animal punkpop synth indiepop
I've had this idea bouncing round my head for a couple of weeks, but as is the FAWM way, I've been refusing myself permission to actually write it until today :)
noble and majestic
virtuous and true
we know the man upon your back
but who the hell are you?
police horse
riding through the street
criminals shake at the sound of your feet
police horse
pushing through the mob
riots are contained, you're just doing your job
police horse
riding in formation
you're the cornerstone of our proud nation
police horse
every day the same
nobody thinks to brush your mane
you're paid in carrots
you sleep in the hay
you want some time off
but crime doesn't take a holiday
(eyes like fire
hooves like thunder
how much pressure are you under?)
police horse
rotten to the core
you locked up all the criminals yet you want more
police horse
sniffing out cocaine
powder round your nostrils, fire dancing in your brain
police horse
malice in your smile
you planted drugs on an innocent child
police horse
shaking as you ride
you killed a man and made it look like suicide
your department shut down
your trainer is fired
with a lethal injection
you're quietly retired
police horse!
poLice horse! Now I understood. It sounds pretty good and produced, if you managed to do it all in the little hours we had of february, kudos to you!
Congrats on #1! I'm loving this. The second section with the galloping and synths is brilliant. Oh, and the whispered section is great too. Awesome production. I would never have thought to write about a police horse...
You make me so happy opening FAWM 2014 with a punkpop song ! Splendid!
I love it when you kick that gallop in! It's like a happy, indie Iron Maiden! Damn, there's lots to love about this song. Who knew that those innocent-looking creatures were quite that evil?
Catchy! Great energy. This song is now officially the Best Song of FAWM 2014. Congrats.
I would love to see this with an awesome animated video. :D I was headbanging. Excellent work!
Awesome! Haha, I love the direction you take the lyric in. And that ending! :D
I love this unique, creative idea. :) Tremendous pace and energy in the music and vocals.
Cool!
This is excellent. Love the pop punk musication and pretty much everything else. Lyrically witty.
Officer Ed....Hilarious
I know the feeling of holding off when you have an idea, very annoying but you must have some great relief today! LOVE the lyrics, you nutter. Where do these ideas come from? The bridge and whisper-y bits are best for me. Very Pulp, anyway sir
Very cool.
Great driving beat. Catchy hook. Tight writing. I like the edge of the lyrics a lot. Builds well as it gets darker.
Edgy, Dark, poppy, catchy. You win.
Every law enforcement operator learns that crime does pay, all the time... good edge to this, immaculate production too. Makes me want to clean up my lagging beats act...
Amazing!
Baaaaaadass! This rocks, Vom! Great production, love those synths. "You planted drugs on an innocent child" - haha. This is the first thing I've listened to so far, and it's great!
Cool song! Great productions, and I don't believe I have ever heard a song about a Police Horse... (checking) .... nope! Never heard a Police Horse song before! Very very cool! Lots of energy, and some of those lines kill me!
If this was a Saturday morning cartoon, I would watch it. If it was an internet cartoon, I would watch it. and I would never, ever, skip the theme song. Awesome way to start out FAWM!
Hah! Police Horses are totally the unsung heroes of New Orleans. I guess now they're the sung heroes!
He starts out a hero and becomes just another bad cop in the end. love it
Hilarious. I think phineas and ferb could do the definitive cover
Ha, I love this! Your lyrics were a highlight for me last FAWM. Bonkers! :-)
There are all the ingredients for a perfect opener. Deliciously catchy and short, everything is said with humour, class and efficency. Love it.
Wow, what can I say. I loved it, the lyrics are really fun, it has tons of pace and energy. The poor horsey though :(
First of all, congratulations on the very first song of this challenge, and what a song! It has all the characteristics one expects of a song of yours... Extravagant, awesome lyrics with a high fun-factor, a cool melody and a flawless performance!
Yas. Funny, casual and fast. Sets the tone for FAWM. Love it!
this is loads of fun and i'm so glad you're back! and because it's so short it encourages repeated listens galore :)
Holy hell this is freaking awesome. It's like T.Rex meets Europe and the Dead Milkmen. Just the way I like it! This is hands down the funniest and coolest song I've heard in a while.
This is great, you have made an instant hit, if this was to come up on the radio it would bring a smile to my face. I like how the synth sound matches with the rest of the song.
My first listen for 2014 FAWM. This is fantastic!!! It gone a real cartoon song vibe about it. Kinda like Speed Racer or something similar. Great lyrics which are very catchy. The vocal could have been a bit higher in the mix maybe but that's just my opinion. Good luck with the rest of the challenge.
Thank you for paying tribute to the unsung hereos of our time in a quite frankly brilliant way
For a guy that has more hooks than a fisherman, this might be the catchiest tune you've ever written. Weirdly, I was reminded of Ernie by Bennie Hill. But good. That synth is so fucking lush as well.
Ridiculous amounts of fun! Love, love love! This is officially my new favourite Vom Vorton song.
Update: Both Mr. EF and I now have this song in our heads.
My daughter liked this song so much she spontaneously requested we listen to it today. Then she asked if you had any other songs.
Aaaahhh, love it! Exquisitely manic.
Yes yes YES! This is friggin AWESOME. You NAILED it. It's high time the much under-appreciated police horse was showcased in his/her own powerpunk anthem! I can't wait to send this to a police horse riding police woman I know. SHe is going to FLIP. And you tell the story so well, i can see it all happening right before my eyes. Underappreciated police horse getting high and conspiring to frame innocents? Genius. and oh man, that whisper part made me smile so big, really really amazing. And that great bumpity-bumpity-bumpity of horse hooves. HORSE HOOF SOLO/horse hoof breakdown. I love the double up on 'Police Horse' and wonderful back-ups as always. Oh man, I am so excited about this song. I can't stop singing it to myself.
I love this xD
my kind of fun- gonna listen again and share it around the world , simply epic xx <(")
I don't know why, but this demo slightly reminds me of Bis (or at least, the Powerpuff Girls' end-theme that they recorded) - it's got that vaguely "anime" feel to it musically, yet lyrically it's as Vorton-esque as we've come to expect :-) A fine start!
I've been telling everyone about this song. Blows my mind, it starts off with such nobility and goes so dark so quickly. How could this happen? Where did it all go wrong?
LOL oh my god. I felt for Police Horse at "crime doesn't take a holiday" but the ending that you galloped into still took me by surprise. It's like Police Horse is a comic book antihero, but the book shouldn't be drawn, because the song says it all. Download!
I would have preferred a little more processed synth sound, especially in the moments where it and the drums are the only things going on. That said, great stuff! The twist caught me unaware and made me chuckle a lot - you have a talent for the absurd which I greatly enjoy.
This is one of your finest tunes to date, Vom. Police horse drunk on power!
well that was right at ya painted a really good strong picture god song man
Hi vom. This is one if the greatest things i have ever heard. It makes me feel really excited in my stomach.
Great voice. I dig this a lot. Please make more
This is my new favourite song.
FIrst listen to you and this is superb!! punky, catchy and top banana lyrics. Cheers for pleasuring my ears this morning
Love this song! The galloping bassline is awesome. Great guitars and singing (and clever lyrics) too, just a great song all around!
First song second. Galloping bassline's perfect for the subject. First half, so far, yeah. Then comes the second half with its killer lyrical twist, and you have me. Police horse snorting coke, framing kids, and suiciding suspects? This is punk! Love this tune. (Incidentally, I'm a Dead Milkmen fan.) Already, my muse has thrown me an idea for a follow-up involving American police dogs, called "K9"...
2014-02-01 @ 12:03pm
tags: pop abba uptempo danceable power-pop
Nothing too 'profound' here for firsties. :)
Tongue-in-cheek, uptempo/bright music/danceable.
MALE vocals.
@donna sez: A huge thanks, Tom. :) Love what you've done here. :)
@vomvorton sez: And thank to you, Donna! Another great lyrics that was FUN to work with :)
Gimme Your Love
V1
I was sick and tired of everything
When I called last night from jail
But I know you get up early
Feed the cat and read your mail
Lift
Now I'm hopin' for clarification
On our present situation
Chorus
Will you gimme, gimme, gimme gimme
Gimme your love?
When I'm out of here
Will my word be enough?
I'll stay out of trouble
Oh tell me on the double
You'll gimme, gimme, gimme your love
V2
Was a fool to hit that other guy
Knew he had some kind of plan
But I hated how he watched you
Hopin' he could be your man
Lift
Now I'm lookin' for edification
Just a tiny declaration
Chorus
Will you gimme, gimme, gimme
Gimme your love?
When I'm out of here
Will my word be enough?
I'll stay out of trouble
Oh tell me on the double
You'll gimme, gimme, gimme your love
Bridge
Wooah woooah woooah
Turnin over a new leaf, baby that's me
Gonna uproot the whole damn tree!
Chorus
Will you gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme
Gimme your love?
When I'm out of here
Will my word be enough?
I'll stay out of trouble
Oh tell me on the double
You'll gimme, gimme, gimme your love
© 2014 Donna Devine
All Rights Reserved
The words absolutely dance off the page. While wearing variegated flares. I like that you've subverted some lyrical cliches and some fairly mundane descriptions of daily activities by putting them in the mouth of someone who's done something far more sinister. Whatever the treatment of this song, I'm sure it will be a guilty pleasure for all.
I especially love the lifts and that bridge! :) You're such a wonderful writer Donna
Ah, this is going to be a pop anthem! I love the ABBA references. Will be checking back to see if this one gets any music, I'm sure it will!
Love how this goes from really clever rhymes to really simple repetition, it works so well. Absolute pop anthem, definitely needs to get some music to it!
Hello Donna. This is nice one, a good start for sure. The " gimme, gimme, gimme" does have a ABBA feel, but I kind of hear this more like a country song, in the traditional vein of Tie A Yellow Ribbon, or Green, Green Grass of Home. You just need to add a colour there in the title. :) I think the bridge and the juxtaposition of jail/home in the first four lines is especially good.
What a wonderful first FAWM song Donna!! I really love this. Your lyrics are so nice and the rhymes are great but my favorite is the bridge, Turnin over a new leaf, baby that's me Gonna uproot the whole damn tree! That is simply brilliant and clever and wonderful!!!
Ah! You're on! Good start. Good opening verse.Real good bridge The C would lend itself being brought out really strong by the right music
lol. The bridge is fantastic. :) I'm hearing country, too. Got me thinking about David Allan Coe for some reason. No offence! ;)
Edification...Donna...I think you will be the only one in FAWM 2014 to use that in a song. :-) Excellent write, easily heard melody, well-formed story line. Well done!
Great start Donna, love to hear it to music - pretty well sings off the page!
excellent lyrics. I love the idea of an inmate singing "gimme gimme gimme". if anybody caught him doing that he would be shived in the showers :) I agree with vikkiflawith - this totally sings off the page.
AH! Brings those tunes back. Solid write Donna. Had the feel you were going for.
Donna, this is beautiful in all aspects. The meter is wonderful and as Stephen already mentioned it, the music is already there from the first moment on one reads it. Great song idea for another kind of love-song than those that take the usual paths. I also like how the question from the first two lines of the chorus turns into a statement sentence. It should be no problem for a musician to put these lyrics to music, I am sure...
Yes! I can hear this totally being done in an ABBA style (great band, by the way... those guys were amazing writers). I think the repeated 'gimme, gimme, gimme' lines will add to the poptastic vibe when they're set to music/melody. Rockin' first effort, Donna.
I don't imagine this as an Abba song. Sounds raw and bluesy - maybe Led Zep /or White Stripes. I love the line "Turnin over a new leaf, baby that's me/ Gonna uproot the whole damn tree!"
@southcoasting - I can see this similarly to yourself. I can quite easily see this as a cool blues rocker, but I was thinking more in the way of Bad Company and that sort of group, and that to me is pushed by bits like "Gonna Uproot the who damn tree!" and the chorus itself actually. Probably just me. Yes, I can see the Abba-esque style working as well. I love the whole thing of it being someone that is in jail. The story itself is so wonderfully told. Brilliant as always.
I like this, it made me smile...and I don't do that on a regular basis! :)
Hearing the demo....great job both of you! Fun and melodic. Bridge is particularly inspired both lyrically and musically.....
I am back for the demo! OK, not really back, this is my first time on this page (ha). I knew it would be good pop rock from Vom and I wasn't disappointed. Great arrangement and performance (love the backing vocals too). Isn't this what every girl wants -- a violent guy calling from jail saying he wants her love -- how romantic (ha, ha). Good tune and collab, for sure.
This is such a fun listen! Love the unusual story - it reads so well already, and then the music fits it just right.
The music is an unbelievably great fit to the lyrics. Love the tempo and energy that drives it. Wonderful collab!
Everything Vom touches turns into a tasty pop treat, which is why he should take a run at a Diarrhea Cannonball song. That opening guitar sounds like yodeling. I was happy to hear the yodeling guitar come back in the chorus toward the end. This definitely needs to come with an "earworm warning," in case someone doesn't want to have Gimme Your Love stuck in their head all day. The lyric trips so lightly off the tongue. I especially like that 'uproot the the whole damn tree' line.
Dammit I read this weeks ago, and obviously pressed the wrong button, Donna...sigh, not the first time...OK, back for the demo via @vomvorton's "favourite nomination. There's something very preppy-high-school about this, it works well with the lyrics! I enjoyed the bopping in th background.
When I saw #abba I really didn't want to tackle this, but I'm glad I did. The riffs are very good. The lyrics are great, the vocals shine, and the whole song flows effortlessly.
Such a catchy 80s feel! The chorus is so hooky that its addicting! Story is told so well in the lyrics and Tom's delivery is spot on.
Profound hell. Great opening lines, catchy guitar sound (plus the synth lead-in to the chorus), complete with key change up at the end. I turned up my volume!
Really old skool vibe! Those drums into 2nd verse...nice. Felt like stealing the dance scene right out of Breakfast Club for this song.
I like the verses especially, and not just because they remind me of the Hold Steady, both lyrically ("when I called from jail!" Haha!) and musically (the relaxed delivery). I like how the lyrics to me suggest this character will not change, but the music and enthusiastic chorus suggests he is going to try his darndest to convince his special lady friend otherwise. If you both haven't heard it, listen to Cracker's song "Mr. Wrong." I think you'd both dig it.
great catchy pop song, i like the key change ;) sounds great punchy and rounded song, lovely collaboration :)
2014-02-01 @ 04:44pm
tags: indiepop swirly telephone
I was struggling a bit with ideas for song #2, but then the phone rang...
Kind of a sequel to this song from FAWM 2011 (which features @nuerdetjuligen): http://vomvorton.bandcamp.com/track/heartline
can I please have a few minutes of your time?
these questions are important, please stay on the line
it'll only take a minute or two
and the answers will help us to help you
thank you very much, you won't regret it
I don't need your name, you already said it
but have you changed your address recently
because your letters have been coming back to me
and I know you're very busy
but it's only multiple choice
it'll only take a minute
and it's good to hear your voice
and I know it's an intrusion
and I've called at a bad time
but I've been trying all week
so please stay on the line
do I sound familiar? well that's no surprise
I think we've spoken once or twice
you've had an account with us for years
almost as long as I've been working here
no, there's nothing wrong, don't be distressed
we just like to check that we're doing our best
and maybe, with these questions, we can learn at last
what we've done wrong in the past
I was sorry to hear that you're thinking of leaving
after all we've been through, it's hard to believe
but if it's true, I'll be sorry to see you go
oh oh
I like this. I like the British quality of the vocals, the jangly guitar, the pads. I like the deeper hidden meaning on the lyrics. Reminds of The La's, Robyn Hitchcock. Like the dynamic drop in the last verse and how it ends with the drum loop. Well done.
Hey, I just realised you sound quite similar to Johnny Cashpoint..and bit Jarvis Cocker. In fact this has a bit of a Pulp feel to it. Its a great catchy pop tune. I wanted the chorus to come back one more time at end though.
You've done it again, taken the silly and made it poignant. Such a lovely tune, too, sort of happy-melancholy. Sounds pretty great for a quickie.
Catchy and clever. Very nice.
Nice jangly 90s britpop sound to this. I'm impressed that you made a sympathetic song about a teleseller.
Like the drum machine into authentic beat switcheroo. Good work as always sir,quite a sad one this
totally belle and Sebastian in the best possible way. made me :)
I love your vocals. :) Looks like you're in great shape this year, for my pleasure.
Love the instrumentation here and the swirly organ. I really like the cold calling character in these lyrics. I shed a tear for him ;)
Great lyrics again. The chorus melody is catchy too. Bit Belle & Sebastiany? Yup, another good 'un! :-)
i agree with dan on the belle and sebastian vibe. very catchy.
Anything with that kind of organ sound in it is a-ok in my book! I really dig your knack for writing awesomely off-kilter words...great start!
trust you to make me feel bad for a telemarketer. :P i was going to mention the organ sound and then noticed timothybracken's comment beneath mine. instantly makes a song feel like a longtime favourite.
Love the feel of this song! Goes very well with the quirky lyrics. :)
Love the arrangement! Casiotone drum-sounds and the cheesy transistor organ are allways cool :D The chorus really takes me back to the golden days of the whole 90's brit-pop boom :) A really catchy strong melodied song! Love it <3
Great arrangement, I love the full sound of this and your vocal delivery! Excellent lyrics again, and an extra-bonus for creativity, great song-idea!
Applause. You're 2 for 2 on his year's FAWM.
Another great, funny and strangely moving song about a topic I'd never think to write about. I'm envious of this ability you have of turning the seemingly mundane into solid gold pop!
Kind of a sequel! That is SO cool. This sounds great. And as someone who's had to do cold calling/surveys before, it strikes a special chord. You call and call and call and people hang up on you again and again, but then sometimes someone does stay on the line and flirt with you a little bit. And it's awesome. You write the cleverest lyrics. Your duet with the phone voice is lovely and yeah, that organ is perfect. "it's good to hear your voice." Now I have something to send to my telemarketer friends.
your brilliant at these songs where you take a evryday subject no one else would think could be interesting & make a amazing lyric out of it & of course evrybody relates to it straightaway !
LOL it's a couple different phone automation black holes rolled into one great song! :D I love the mix; especially the subtle electric guitar and organ. I wish quitting AOL had sounded this fun.
lol love modern day soap opra songs , fantastic writing
Pure pop candy. Love the organ and the original lyrical theme. The whole thing rolls along beautifully.
Thanks for reminding me of all the worst moments of my life with the small exception of having to get out of bed on weekdays. As a punishment I may make this the wake-up alarm on my phone. Do the people you sing about have feelings or are they like school teachers? Next time I call Sky I'll just play this to them. I've not actually said anything about the music, sorry. The lyrics just swell such emotion in me.
Somehow this is reminding me most excellently of the evil and/or sad robot stories you have a penchant for writing.. somewhere behind those automated or enslaved phone zombies is even more of a story.. especially the first time you sing, "the answers will help us to help you," you sound so.. *sincere*..
The guitar work is simple, solid, and lovely, complimented by a good story and good vocal treatment. I'm reminded in places of Mark Knopfler - keep up the good work, Vom.
I love that Elvis Costello organ in the background. Such a subtle little lift. I wrote a song about marketers once too, it was pretty harsh but it went down well live..
Awesome. Well done. Done well
Lovely cheery Friday afternoon listen, great song.
ah classic Vom :D Love how you turn everything you touch into a catchy pop hit! This is very well produced too and sounds excellent! Nicely done Sir!
Fun to humanize telemarketer sales people, but a very clever idea. Almost a love gone bad story:-) I enjoyed the listen . Don't think I have come around to hear you in a while. Glad I did
Second (original) song third, and the lyrics represent the kind of call I've been determinedly avoiding for years, set to an Elvis Costello-like pop-rock tune framed by a Casiotone beat and sounding like an impending-breakup song. Very clever, very catchy. And speaking of 2 for 2 (uh-oh): the moment this collided with a fragment of a song I heard in the next apartment, I realized that one of my 50/90 songs will be about a guy who falls in love with a voice in a robocall...
2014-02-05 @ 08:02am
tags: monster-rock garage-rock fuzz
VV: Thanks Arthur! It's always a pleasure to work with your lyrics :)
Fra-fra-frankenstein
I’m an evil ghost,
I’m an evil spirit,
my breath, you can feel it,
in the night, a cry, scream, you can hear it,
it’s because of me…
My eyes are dead, my hands are bloody,
I’m not just after your body,
because I want it all,
I want to have your soul…
(Chorus)
Fra-fra-frankenstein,
fall asleep or stay awake, anyway, you’re mine!
There is no salvation
from the evil’s reincarnation…
all attempts will be in vain,
I’m already in your brain…!
I’m an evil ghost,
I’m an evil spirit,
what’s alive, I’ll kill it
my belly… oh yes… oh yes.. I will fill it
with fresh human meat…
My menu-list will make you shiver,
I like your spleen, love your liver,
but I need above all:
your soul, your soul, your soul…!
(Chorus)
Fra-fra-frankenstein,
fall asleep or stay awake, anyway, you’re mine!
There is no salvation
from the evil’s reincarnation…
all attempts will be in vain,
I’m already in your brain…!
(Bridge)
I feed your fears,
I cause your tears,
I’m the root of your evil thoughts…
the question to those answers with those three famous dots…
(Chorus)
Fra-fra-frankenstein,
fall asleep or stay awake, anyway, you’re mine!
There is no salvation
from the evil’s reincarnation…
all attempts will be in vain,
I’m already in your brain…!
Ha...this made me chuckle. I especially like the menu and chorus. This wouldn't, perchance, be another job for @vomvorton ?
Haha, I thought this one stood out for some reason. Clicking onto it, I find that my reputation precedes me. Yes, I'll have a go at this one Arthur, if that's OK?
That chorus is great! :D This is su-su-such a fantastic set of lyrics. It made me smile so much reading and I really want to hear what @vomvorton does with it :-) Fa-fa-ntastic! (I know, old joke now - sorry)
I like this! The chorus is indeed superb - reminded me of Razzmatazz by Pulp a bit, which is good because that song is the shit.
Really liking this! Excellent job, both of you!
I expect to hear this on the radio next halloween!! Great pop rock interpretation of this lyric by Vom. Great instrumentation and singing. Wonderful and macabre fun! Yes, macabre can be fun. Good one, you two.
Damn, what a great take on this fu-fu-fun lyric. I like it. Damn catchy and now it's not only in my brain, it's a friggin' ear worm.
This is crazy good... I listened to a lot of the Arctic Monkeys back in January and this has a similar frantic energy, and spookiness. Arthur's lyrics make a great pop rock song.
Yeah earworm city! :D
The electric guitars are really great, got a kind of mid naughties sound, the rifles is a band that springs to mind. You rocked that number VV and great lyrics Arthur.
"My menu-list will make you shiver/I like your spleen, love your liver." Hilarious and clever. I like how your voice is shivering along with the lyrics and oh my oh how much fun are those guitars? Cra-cra-crazy fun. Thanks you too! Great collab.
I busted this as a lyrics-only zong and failed to see the music. Could there be a lyric more fun to sing than Fra-fra-frankenstein? You seem to be relishing singing it, Tom. I really like your vocal on this one. It's such a kinetic, frenetic song, like a punk-surf-spaghetti-western tune. Excellent!
I've been wanting to listen to this since FOREVER ... ever since I saw the title, I knew I was gonna love it... and today is the day! Hooray! Its every bit of catchy awesomeness that I expected; love the chorus ... the fra-fra-frankenstein bit is brilliant.
I think the halftime break was a completely unexpected and delightful detail. I expected another but the singularity of it is great!
2014-02-05 @ 09:07pm
tags: synth-rock horror-pop
I wrote this one music-first, which is rare for me. The riff was in my head when I woke up this morning which means I may well have inadvertently stolen it. The lyric is Quite Silly.
as I descend the darkened stairs
I feel a million rising hairs
did I really hear a voice?
my shivers make the shadows dance
dark horrors everywhere I glance
have I made my final choice?
ghost story!
I'm sorry!
ghost story!
I hid the nerves inside my throat
I did the zip up on my coat
you promised you would wait for me
but now my flame has been blown out
inside my head there is a shout
darkness the only thing I see
Oh that is pretty amazing right there. I love that riff and the verses build up perfectly. Melody in the verses is pretty cool too. Ooh, there's a funky synth breakdown too. I like you a lot. Music first seems to work for you.
This is definitely something to dance to, I had a spontaneous dance party from the instant it started. That riff is epic and the overlay of the simple chorus on top is really freakin' cool. Would singalong to, would dance to repeatedly, most excellent
I feel like you've sung this one very differently to your usual style of singing, and it's come out beautifully. So many good melodies in here I don't know where to start or end. Verdict? Instant classic.
Wow, that intro sounds like Swedish House Mafia or something! Then it turns into ghoulcore (yeah I went there). The instrumentation is perfect for the subject matter, good pick of sounds. Otherwise, it's a very catchy song and I love the melody, ALMOST as much as I love the exclamation mark in the chorus. Basically, if Alone in the Dark had come out on the Commodore 64, then this.
Wow, this has quite an awesome edge to it. Love the electronic sounds a lot! Choice breakdown. Dig this a lot.
The way the guitar sounds on those jags in the main riff is brilliant up against those synths. The riff is huge!
you did steal this riff..... FROM THE BOOK OF AWESOME VOM VORTON RIFFS! before pressing play, i knew from the tags that i would love this. there is no song with an active-octave bassline that i won't fall in love with. spookily awesome tune!
Love that breakdown. Awesome keyboards and guitars. The whole stinking thing is awesome.
Another top tune from the King of Catchy! Introduction is great and screams 'ghost story!' before you've even said a word! Nice one :-)
The guitars are really great and the synth is a great hook. The middle 8 section works really well.
This is just terrific. Will probably be on the show
You know, this is a hot rocking tune and would be awesome with a live band. Great vocal, too.
nice song structure! ghost story!
Killer synth riff! Fits the lyrics perfectly and helps hold the song together really well. Good stuff.
oooooooooooooooooo, this inspires me. I wanna do a ghost story song! Love the ghostly synths and sinister breakdown. And there's something nicely ambiguous about 'Ghost Story/Im Sorry.' Are you apologizing to the ghost? Or is the ghost apologizing to you? You definitely shouldn't apologize to the listener because this is awesome.
Are those programmed drums? They sound great! Top work as always.
Vom, this is bloody ace. Surely you're going to revisit this one with the band? The synth line is mighty catchy, and the 8-bittiness of the sound gets my vote.
This is superb and i love the synths but this is a real rocker!!!!!
you get some mighty fine use out of all your c64 synths :) Love that opening, but the rest of the song is also awesome. The only thing I was missing was the theremin; surely no ghost song is complete without that? :D
This has more hooks than a new strip of Velcro... I'm envious :-)
Wow, running out of good stuff to say, another really great tune
Hook heaven, this one is going to ear-worm me, I can tell! Great riffs, strong beat, tight performance, and I love the creepy slidey vocals… and of course I'm always partial to something that crosses over into 80's/goth as effectively as this. Fantastic write :)
2014-02-11 @ 06:54pm
tags: indiepop low-key
Another music-first song, since I'm struggling with lyrics a bit at the moment. The words are inspired by the film 'Joe Versus the Volcano', which I watched last night. Really pleased with how this one came out, though.
you've got a sickness with no symptoms
you've got a malaise with no name
you've got a feeling there's a way out
and I'm so happy that you came
with these machines and tests
we'll try to put your mind at rest
a TV set, a glass of wine
we'll soon have you feeling fine
it's about time
you've got a braincloud
inside your head
(you've got a braincloud)
you show symptoms of a bad job
unfriendly colleagues, shitty pay
I can see you're unappreciated
and I propose a holiday
with medicine and exercise
you'll soon remember you're alive
a bowl of ice cream, finish every bite
then we'll go out dancing tonight
this time we'll be alright
Love the lyrics (as ever with your stuff). At the risk of repeating myself all the usual Vom elements are evident! Catchy melody, well constructed, well played etc. etc. This one seems a touch more sentimental though - which I liked. Excellent :-)
Great lyrics. Did they use the word braincloud in the movie? I can't remember. It's been so long since I saw it. I like the word though, and I love the idea of getting out of it with ice cream and dancing. Fun, easy going track too.
This is calming and one of our favorites! It reminds us of thunder and lightning and the whole thing seems sincere. This is a really good song.
Ear worm :)
Love the clean electric guitar riffs - it reminds me a bit of some of Chris Walla's work from Death Cab. This is a great lowkey indie track, and the lyrics are quite playful.
That guitar is totally mesmerizing. As lots of folks have noted, this one sounds really heartfelt and poignant, full of solicitude. I like it a lot.
This sounds great. I agree. That guitar is GREAT. The bass fits really nice, too. Like the structure arrangement and all. This is great all around!
Loving the twangy guitars, a very nice little chilled number from you.
Ooo awesome guitar/bass interplay. Great lyrics, and the group vocals are pure understated indie anthem (like Modest Mouse or something)
Ooh, I like this. That's a great guitar part, I like the delicate tone you chose for it. In fact the whole thing is quite delicate, e.g. starting off with just kick drum and hihats. And like @adforperu, I also appreciated the group vocals :)
Another brilliant title! "You show symptoms of a bad job"--I love that pseudo-detached way of putting it. Please come sing this song to me, I have those symptoms too. (Still just reading, not listening.)
That lead guitar melody is so lovely, blissful even.
Love this sound! You did well with the lyrics! I like the feeling of this pick-me-up song!
I find it funny that you've NSFW'd this, I'm guessing because of the "shitty", can anyone really not get away with using that word in the workplace? Especially one that lets you listen to music over your speakers. Best to play it safe of course...anyway, about the actual song - I'm a sucker for dual jangling guitars. This sounds almost Knopflerish. I love the way the song builds up to the chorus which is my favourite bit and totally deserves the extra repetition at the end. Nice.
love the guitar theme / melody. Like the term braincloud, never heard it before.
this is all subdued and sweet despite the high tempo, love that. if this is you struggling with lyrics, i would like your trouble :P nice one Tom!
Lovely! The guitar parts are wonderful, compelling. The backing vocals are totally awesome, make me feel like singing. Superb song. Struggling with lyrics? Please give me the recipe to get such nice lyrics when you're struggling. :)
Like the mellow vibe + these lyrics, turned out really good.
Love it. Good diagnosing, doc! And good prescription. Well done and enjoyed my listen
2014-02-12 @ 05:37am
tags: nerd-pop geology
Update! @vomvorton took my lyrics and made something pretty great! Thanks so much Mr. Vorton. This is very close to what I had in my head, and without having much from me to go on.
So my computer is Kaput. I can't make music. But I had this in my head and decided to write it down.
I usually do instrumental stuff, so writing lyrics is not within my comfort zone.
If anyone wants to take these and run with them, please do! Help me salvage my FAWM!
Some notes about what I'm hearing in my head:
80's song, drum beat/bass = 16th notes ala Depeche Mode in "I Promis You I Will".
This is all I have for it.
A-section = (softer, alternate vocals in parenthesis)
(Fmaj) Ten thousand yeeeeeears (this sand's been here)
(Cmaj) Been a long long time
(Fmaj) For ten thousand moooore
(Cmaj) Hoping you'll be mine (mine all mine)
B-section = drumbeat is more driving, intense
(stay in Cmaj) My mornings start. with. you.
(Amaj for bass) Big hug and a kiss. or. two.
(Dmaj for bass) This is our Gol-den-time.
(Fmaj -->Cmaj) Be mine through geologic time.
C-section = same as A-section
Hard as it. may. be.
Reading earth his-to-ry
All that seems to go away
When we share just one daaaaaaaay (thick chord change here)
Bridge?
Sounds cool. If I was better at reading and recording other peoples stuff I'd try it. I hope to hear it someday :)
I absolutely love the idea of this song, and I adore the lyrics, very clever. I'm sure this song is going to turn out great :)
Right, I'm having a go at this. I will hopefully have something for you later on!
This is very cool! Reminds me a lot of Pulp, and some of those electronics sound brilliant. Vocal melody is spot on, which must be difficult when getting the lyrics first. Cracking collab
Does this have a "Pet Shop Boys" feel to it? Pretty cool collab, sounds like you laid it out and Vom did what you imagined. In any case, cool lyrics and music and a fine performance. Lots of nice instrumental pieces in there. " Be mine through geologic time." -- good hook.
It's end-of-80s-prom-night Numan. Love the quick "be mine". I can just see the way you would look to camera in the white and silver Christmas video.
Great collaboration! Thanks Vom for helping my bro out. Really dig the end result!
Totally getting the Depeche Mode-yness, which I have recently decided is a good thing (after having spent years being an 80's electro-pop philistine - fell off that train with a vengeance!). Really cute tune, I love the bassline, and the strings at the end. It's weird but when you have a patch with a slow attack and it makes the notes sound as if their coming in too late, I should hate that, but the clunkiness of it makes me all fake-nostalgic....
love the descending synth line after the chorus and the bass. Funky goodness. Spotless production which I love; makes it sound ultra-smooth.
Oh god, it's like I'm 10 again. You nailed the style 100%.
Enjoy the silence? :) You definitely got that 80's feel. I'm picturing a nerdy romance scene in some awesomely cheesy 80s film between two geologists, they are both examining a rock, and they bend down to get a closer look... and well, I'll stop before it gets to awkward...
2014-02-15 @ 04:33pm
tags: slow-rock indie-rock
UPDATE: A thousand real thanks to Tom who crafted my lyrics into a wonderful song! I love how he took it in a gentle direction to convey the message so well!
Thanks But No Thanks
VERSE 1
Words run out of your mouth
As rivers flow into seas
You're like a scratched record
Where circular words repeat
You want to tell me everything
What I should do, how to be
But I don't need your hot air
Breathing down on me
CHORUS
Thanks, but no thanks
I don't need your advice
Thanks, but no thanks
I don't want your insights
Thanks, but no thanks
I don't miss you tonight
Thanks, but no...o..o..o
No no no thanks
Cuz I'm doing alright....
Without you
VERSE 2
You think you're the expert
On subjects from A to Z
You still think you know best
Need the whole world to see
No I don't need your two cents
That's far too costly of a fee
And I don't need your hot air
Breathing down on me
CHORUS
Thanks, but no thanks
I don't need your advice
Thanks, but no thanks
I don't want your insights
Thanks, but no thanks
I don't miss you tonight
Thanks, but no...o..o..o
No no no thanks
Cuz I'm doing alright....
Without you..
BRIDGE
You stormed in tried to own my heart
Bruised it bad then ripped it apart
With your oppressive control and verbal abuse
For the likes of you I have no use...
CHORUS
Thanks, but no thanks
I don't need your advice
Thanks, but no thanks
I don't want your insights
Thanks, but no thanks
I don't miss you tonight
Thanks, but no...o..o..o
No no no thanks
Cuz I'm doing alright....
Without you...
Hee, great lyrics! I think I once knew that person :-)
You tell 'em! Love it. Spunky!
YES!!! Now that is a lyric that speaks to me....LOVE the "scratched record...circular words" line...this is a great, great write, so happy I came by because that just energized me...awesome girl!!
Love the attitude that comes across in the lyric! It begins with the hook, "Thanks but no thanks" then…the lines: "I don't need, want, miss…" makes the chorus flow with ease. The bridge goes even deeper…and has a nice change-up of rhythm to set it apart from the verses and chorus. Well done!
Loving this a lot!!! :D Gutsy, raw, in your face, take no crap!! Great lyrics and I have an idea for music if you want me to rock out :D
Reading the lyrics I imagined an angry song, but the execution is actually very gentle with lots of restraint. I think it works out very well!
the lyric reminds me of a few people from my past as well :) Love the alternative feel and slow mellow delivery, great collab!
2014-02-16 @ 09:38pm
tags: synthrock noisepop distortopop
Have you ever played a game so much that your brain carries on playing it when you're trying to sleep? This song started being about that but then sprawled.
I close my eyes and still see shifting shapes
even when I am asleep there can be no escape
in the middle of the night I find no freedom
when I look up at the stars, my brain draws lines between them
behind the scenes something is wrong
I've been staring at this screen for far too long
I set my sights, use extreme precision
yet every day I suffer puzzle vision
at the supermarket I must catalogue my goods
I sort my vegetables, alphabetise my foods
it begins as I walk through the automatic door
and ends when the cashier tells me my high score
behind the scenes something is wrong
I've been staring at this screen for far too long
I think carefully before every decision
yet every day I suffer puzzle vision
I organise the contents of my desk and my shelves
I sort the books by colour and they chat among themselves
I've begun to count my calories every time I eat
it gives me a new challenge, another score to beat
behind the scenes something is wrong
I've been staring at this screen for far too long
the doctors sigh and make the first incision
every day I suffer puzzle vision
Tetris right? I definitely used to play the odd game of that in my mind while trying to get to sleep! Anyhow... puzzle vision... great concept! Well put together as usual. Some great synth work (including the old 8 bit style arp). Enjoyed this :-)
Yep been there. The game that got me was guitar hero. Sadly, I have done this with coding as you may well know. Great production on this one. I loved the little synth ditties, I don't know what the technical term is for it so that will have to do ;)
If you play guitar hero too long you actually feel dizzy when you stand up. But it's normally catchy tunes that stop me sleeping. And this certainly is catchy - especially that wobbly vocoder synth! In fact, all the keyboard work here is amazing. The lyrics are top notch. I was starting to think about writing something about gamification, I see you have beaten me to the [dragon] punch ;)
The hypnopompic state! It used to just kill me, usually when I was reading too late and falling asleep as I read. This does a great job of capturing that irrational, meandering, disturbingly real experience. Calling it "puzzle vision" is a little bit of genius. (I'm just reading lyrics now, can't listen, but I love this.)
YES there was a little mini game on new super mario bros on DS where you had to sort black and orange bob-ombs into the right coloured boxes, and I managed to get my dad into it on a family holiday, and the both of us had that experience that evening, it was such a funny conversation over breakfast. Recently I've had it with Battleblock theatre on xbox, and even flappy bird. Terrifying.
Can't go wrong with computer game themed songs. Nice done, love the subtle arpeggio synth on the choruses, and then those stabs directly after. The chorus is well catchy
This is great. I love the way it drives and switches rhythms. Cool synths, the bass in the second verse in particular. The arpeggiator bit in the bridge part makes me think of Klaus Nomi, ever heard of him? He's a freaky genius. The lyrics remind of an xkcd about how he started going to the gym more when he made the connection between working out and levelling-up.
This made me remember my childhood days in the kindergarten... Whenever I was making a fuss there or someone got on my nerves and I reacted according to that, I got a "punishment" to puzzle puzzles... lol... Interesting ideas in the very nicely written lyrics, and "puzzle vision" is an awesome word-combination! I also enjoy the musical take on this... Great work, Vom!
vrt vrt... vrt vrt... I like this one most.
This one is another great tune! Love your production aesthetic and lyrical style
2014-02-17 @ 09:11pm
tags: brief minimal buzzwords self-duet
I haven't had a working fridge for the duration of FAWM so far. This is the sound of two weeks of cups of tea made with powdered milk.
in the streets the masses shuffle
in each doorway shoppers scuffle
first to enter, first to leave
offers baffle, sales deceive
newsstand signs spread word of terrors
scare the world with spelling errors
epidemics, rising seas
first to enter, first deceased.
children hungry, parents crying
raise your hand if you are dying!
forget the commerce they're supplying
stop the world from panic buying
every morning back for more
slip in sick from the night before
drown your sorrows, close your eyes
wake up sadder, no surprise.
television has no answers
six new sitcoms, four new cancers
reality shows, final breaths
privatise the NHS
turn to import, no supplying
climate change that you're denying
global warming, we're all frying
stop the world from panic buying
Nice rhythm and I really like the 2 voices especially the one voice and then the other. and there is a nice sound effect in the beginning my only complaint would be it was over to soon so I listened to it a couple more times I hope you don't mind
Really liked what you did with your vocals, it sounds really good. Great lyrics although I must admit I misheard "we're all frying" to be "werewolf flying" :S
That was a big surprise, and a pleasant one, which is no surprise. I, too, like the two voices and the excellent social commentary. Great guitar tone, too. Over the next two weeks you should eat only dehydrated food, reconstituted with Bud Lite Lime. (I was thinking about you today. I wrote a homeless chorus and thought you might be the man to build a song around it, if you have any time and interest. After you eaten nothing but reconstituted beef stroganoff for a week you should be in the right frame of mind.)
This thing's a fiendish earworm!
The whole song just pulls the listener along: the constant beat and guitar riff, the split-style, semi-rap vocals . . . the whole thing just captures a frenetic energy that captures the idea of rising chaos as the world falls apart (even if the song itself, paradoxically, is so neat and orderly). The end is a bit abrupt; hopefully not a premonition of how our world is faring!
Yeah, love the vocals on this one, nice touch. The beat is simple but drives things along nicely. A bit of an interlude type thing I guess due to it's length and simpleness, but that's fine! T'is certainly a fun song, and the urgency of it matches the title
You do have a knack for boiling things down to there core issues. Sitcoms and cancer, that's pretty much all there is left in the world now. This is very enjoyable, now please give all your money to sitcom research.
Really cool new wave feel to this, especially in the guitar, a little bit Devo-y (RIP Bob Casale). I also like the pared down nature of the lyrics, quite unVortonlike really. Understated.
I almost want to hear a break 2 steps down with some "ooooh" singing, but it would probably take away from the urgent-sounding left-right call and response barrage of problems, and I like the way that hits me (I mean I don't like the way it makes me feel worried but obviously that means it is working maybe? :) )
Very 80's-new-wave-catchy and I liked the little production touches--the sound effects at the beginning and the panned, chanting call-and-response vox. Great lyrics, too.
Awesome groove I really love that self-duet!!! You sound like two different people! Your phrasing and timing are really great! Damn fine lyrics convey a sad accounting of the lives of so many! Really great song!
Self duets! Singing with someone I love! I love the interchange and the snap-image lyrics. Love the television verse in particular.
2014-02-18 @ 04:01am
tags: rock random-collaboration
Hopefully it speaks for itself.
Demo added!
FROM LIZ: awesome demo!!!! Many THANKs to @vomvorton for his stellar job on this collaboration.
Naked Truths and Silent Lies
INTRO
Wicked ways
Scheming cries
Naked truths
Silent lies
VERSE 1
I don't need guilt ridden confessions
Given such liberal indiscretions
I'm not blind
I see right through you
CHORUS 1
It's your
Wicked ways
That forecast
Darker days
For desired favors
It's your
Scheming cries
That create
Shadowy guise
On future behaviors
Wicked ways will make you pay
Scheming cries I'll always despise
VERSE 2
I don't want bold grandiose excuses
Or promises of faithful truces
From your kind
I'll never believe you
CHORUS 2
It's your
Naked truths
That harbor
Painful proof
Of new associations
It's your
Silent lies
That cover
Shallow alibis
For secret liaisons
Naked truths will leave you bruised
Silent lies will severe all ties
OUTRO
Too many
Wicked ways
Scheming cries
Naked truths
Silent lies
Time for
Final goodbyes
To naked truths and silent lies
Yep. I was already muttering "Leave him/her! Now!" when I got to the post-outro coda. Potentially a lot of country power in this one.
Wow! This is great. There's so much emotion in here, and so much implied back story that you both portray so well through your mediums. Nicely done both!
I dig it. Vom your delicate guitar work really pulls back and pushes forward at the right moments. It's nice. I also like all the "sss" sounds that happen in the vocals. This song sounds very well rehearsed and well written, like you both gave it 100%.
good collaboration. if a song is essentially the mood it creates, this song has that in spades. very consistent, gripping quality in both music and lyrics.
The stark, kind of no-wave-ish, in-your-face instrumentation and singing capture wonderfully the rawness of emotion inherent in the lyrics. Aggressive and heartfelt without being loud, but simply being *intense*, this collaboration absolutely gets across the bitterness of the end of the relationship. Good job!
This is certainly a lot darker than I am used to hearing from you Tom. I really liked it, the guitar work is incredible. A wonderful collaboration, well done.
I'm surprised to hear Vom do something so...serious. I like the sparse almost staccato nature of the lyrics, just a few words to give a part of the picture and feed the imagination of the listener. The tempo changes are wicked, and I like the jangling, I always like jangling guitars.
Really digging the simple dark feel of this. Very descriptive lyrics. I especially liked the intro. Great work!
Awesome title, to start with! Nice arrangement. The intro feels a little disconnected from the rest of the song, atmospheric lyrics, well put to music. good job!
2014-02-24 @ 10:14pm
tags: silly indie-rock
This is the sound of whiskey-drinking on a Monday night.
it would be fine
if you would just make up your mind
but it seems like that's not gonna happen
any time soon
and it would be alright
if you could just turn off the light
without checking the power switches
in every room
what's the worst that's gonna happen?
if the computer's on all night?
the cat might learn to gamble
and blow all of our money on a gambling website
it would be a shame
if all our sockets set aflame
but I suspect the wiring's
just about up to it
and it would be brill
if our next electricity bill
is cut in half because
you thought to unplug the electronic drum kit
what's the worst that's gonna happen?
if we don't turn off the grill?
because I wouldn't mind if I woke up to find
a full english breakfast gently cooling on the window sill
Man, you have now idea how much I enjoy listening to this one! Thanks for sharing.
That low-key guitar line is great, propulsive and catchy in its own right. You've got a great story and a great little tune. Super chorus, too. Just my kind of thing.
Came by for another listen. Man, I used the word 'great' a lot in that previous comment. Sometimes I go back and edit things like that so I sound smarter.
This is a blast dude, love the harmonies on the chorus. That little ascending guitar line is awesome and really drives the song along, and great lyrics as per.. especially "because I wouldn't mind if I woke up to find / a full english breakfast gently cooling on the window sill"
This is really nice - could be my fave of yours so far this year actually - behind Police Horse obviously ;-) +1 for the ascending guitar line. The little synth stabs are really effective too. Great harmony in the chorus. Fab lyrics (though that's standard for you!). Enjoyed this one.
To my ears at least, this song has a metaphorical flashing neon sign above it, reading "ALBUM OPENER" :-) Especially liked the lines about the gambling cat... vintage VV!
This is great - catchy, smart and with expertly tuned 'chip.
Yes, yes and yes.
you love these old sounding drum machines they give your songs a real charm the lyrics sounded like two people should be singing diffrent bits ? some lines are about turning the electric of & others are about leaving it on? i didnt hear any whiskey being drunk ...you must drink it realy quietly!
Funny but not very environmental friendly :-). The synths in the chorus are a nice touch. Gambling cats is not something we should want, but waking up with a warm breakfast sounds (smells, tastes) great!
Good idea for a lyric, and the instrumentation and arrangement give it a cheerful giddy feel. Silly, yes, but there's some sort of message in there, to calm down and not worry so much about small things. Although turning that grill off might not be a bad idea.
Great arrangement, really like the rythm running along and the computer sounod is a lovely touch. Lyrics are great fun. really good tune well done.
2014-02-26 @ 06:42pm
tags: indiepop indie-rock guitar-harmonies
VV: Danny offered me an "orphaned chorus" (chords and lyrics) and I expanded it into a thing. I think we make a pretty rocking team. See also our 50/90 collab from last year: http://fiftyninety.fawmers.org/song/4832
Danny: The subtext of Siddhartha will surprise most people, though it keeps changing as we write it down.
you know you're in denial
and you think you're upside down
you say you're always on trial
then why don't you wear the gown?
your shelves creak from the pressure
your head hurts from overuse
you're not some old professor
so give me your excuse?
You're hale and your heartless
You're the picture of thin
You've read Siddhartha, honey - why don't you read it again?
The part where the aviator throws his glasses in the tar sands
And declines your invitation
That's the hard part, why don't you read it again?
keep your hands where I can see 'em
because they're up to no good
honey, this ain't no museum
I hope that's understood?
you've emptied out your pockets
to make space for more weight
but tell me, where's the profit
in destroying what you create?
You're hale and your heartless
You're the picture of thin
You've read Siddhartha, honey - why don't you read it again?
The part where the motorcycle escort takes a wrong turn
And the fence [cuts] you to ribbons...
That's the hard part, why don't you read it again?
[The part where the aviator picks up the pieces with a deft hand
And defies your expectations
That's the hard part, why don't you read it again?]
That is an amazing guitar intro. Vom is such a pro, and a stand-up guy. I send him the world's worst recording of an orphaned chorus and he makes his magic happen. Easiest collab ever! Thanks Vom. I really like that little interlude before the chorus comes back around.
This sounds fantastic. These lyrics are STELLAR - seriously, great work - and I love the harmonies throughout the song, the vocals just feel so natural all around. Great stuff.
This is great! I like the guitar parts and vocal melodies in this a lot. Great energy, especially the last chorus with the pounding drums.
Wow - love that thick-sounding double-tracked lead guitar. Lyrics are about a million times above the typical rock song, and the whole thing just kind of rolls along in a very melodious way. Nice collab!
You've done a great job of marrying an old chorus to new verses - all fits together beautifully. The guitars sound superb, the lyrics are great. Yup, good job all round :-)
Very rocking team. That fuzzy solo is amazing. Everything is so clean and airy. Awesome lyrics, dig this a lot
That's a good old indie-rocker that sometimes put me in Sebadoh vibe. I especially liked the 'that part where...' parts. Cool collab!
Outstanding collab guys. Great rocking song. I really like the guitar tone and fx. Nice work
really interesting- very striking lyric, with many many great lines not sure what it all means but it moves along so naturally and so well that it doesnt matter! love those accents in the chorus -fantastic marriage of music and words! love that instrumental section too!
Came to see what was up in Vomville this February. Thanks for visiting one of mine today. You two made a great team, there's a stylistic similarity evident in this tune and the intellectual sympatico over the lyrics of course is the bonding agent. A rollocking pop song with a lot to think about very slick production. Loving on the fuzzy guitar in the solo/bridge section. Great collab tryst. Enjoyed much. Wolf.
This is really great, love the verses and the choruses are awesome (though lost on me!). Love the interlude with the duel riffs - it doesn't even sound cheesy, like one would expect!
A pretty rocking team, indeed. This is wonderful guys, it's sheer delight from beginning to end. What a blend! The lyrics are very powerful, "You've read Siddhartha, honey - why don't you read it again?". Brilliant. I agree with one of the previous comments, about the Sebadoh vibe.
super pop song .. i dont know whats going on but it sounds so brilliant! its sort of odd realy...two very clever booky people tinkering with simple pop songs....hey shouldnt you be tinkering with clever music & leave the simple stuff to people like me !! :D
Excellent pop song. Really like the changeup during the solo.
I love the whole feel of this song, the low background vocals, the sustained distorted guitar, the steady acoustic and, most of all the rhythm of the vocals. It feels like high concept power pop with a touch of early 90s pop rock (Connells), which is kind of cool.
"Hale and heartless" -- great phrase. I like the way it starts with the excellent lead guitar line that leads right into the verse. The lyrics are positively-fourth-street biting; the Siddhartha line is almost worth becoming a chorus. "Why don't you read it again" is the refrain/key line/possible title.
Great indie-pop song. Just the kind of thing I adored growing up. Love it.
Great clean guitar layers and indie Brit invasion vocals. Love it!
I've never read Siddhartha (I had to look it up, I knew it had something to do with Buddha). Indeed a pretty rock song, a good collab. I like the extra attention for the intro, the guitar solo really kickstarts the song.
2014-02-28 @ 01:51am
tags: cheese synthpop
music: @kristian
lyrics, vocals and melody: @vomvorton
last song for me; FAWM WIN! :) Thanks to @vomvorton for stepping in on such short notice!
I learned the places I could find you
I showed my face, tried to remind you
you met my eye, we felt attraction
inside our heads a chemical reaction
you taught me everything you know
I knew I'd never let you go
you shone a light upon my face
you joined me in my hiding place
you shot me into outer space
you are the one
like molecules we stick together
and we will overcome whatever
every day we find adventure
like pirates we have found our treasure
you taught me everything you know
I knew I'd never let you go
Great backing, lots of fun texture and changes going on. Kudos for a great collab, vocals and melody work great and the vocal treatment is perfect for the song. Great cheese-pop lyrics too, they make me smile and laugh a little. ;)
Woah, vomvorton does Trent Reznor! Well, you both do, but it's more expected of Kristian :) Those choruses are really lush too
Really nicely produced. This has a great modern synth-pop vibe (it doesn't especially harken back to the 80s to me, but rather has more of a late-90s-to-now contemporary synthpop feel). Very catchy and poppy, with those glorious synth washes and impassioned singing, this really grabbed me.
This cheese is nicely-melted - I am transported to 1984, the dance floor with spinning lights. Glorious Arpeggiations! I love how it "opens up" around the one minute mark. Great work on this!
ive never heard your singing sound so strong vom! you do know you have recreated the basildon sound of the 80s here kristian! depeche mode/ yazoo/ alison moyet!! thats the only thing that got basidon famous till we got a hollywood style town sign ...but then evryone laughed at us
Welcome back to the 80's! Great vox vom! Nice tight mix as alway kristian!
If this is cheese synthpop then I am a cheese synthhead :-) With a song like this, it seems it's more about creating a mood, setting the stage for a feel-good experience (with dark undertones). You do this SO well, They lyrics are really good. But you could also be singing, "Blah blah blah blah" and it would work. Right? Ok, I exaggerate. Vom, your vocals really do sound fantastic!
Love the straightforward silliness of this song. Catchy beat and lyrics that take themselves unseriously as some pop songs do :-)
This is great. Glad you came over to my page to comment or I not have heard this. Love the chord change at face, place, etc. Makes the song unique for my ear to hear a chord I didn't expect. Well matched music and lyric and fine vocals Really enjoyed listening Well done collab.
2014-02-28 @ 07:07am
tags: kaiju-corpse exquisite-corpse
See *42142 for demo / comments!
See *42142
2014-02-28 @ 06:14pm
tags: dream-pop odd casiocore rap fuc
The lyrics are about a surprisingly vivid dream that I had on Monday night, and the music combines the Casiotone MT-65 keyboard and ukulele, two instruments I realised I hadn't used yet this year. Oh, and the title is from a Bret "The Hitman" Hart documentary (but in the dream I was actually dressed as Mick Foley).
Over and out!
I woke up on a strange floor with my head all in a mess
checked the mirror, found my reflection wearing fancy dress
but there's real blood in the fake blood and I can't wash off these bruises...
is a staged fight still a staged fight if everybody loses?
there are dark clouds in my memory and stains upon my clothes
what I could have done last night, I'm not sure anybody knows
but I've got a powerful feeling, that priority number one
is to apologise to the world for what I might have done
I'm sorry I drank everything and passed out on the floor
and I'm sorry for what happened in the forgotten hours before
but most of all I'm sorry I condemned us to damnation
I damaged the world for future generations
hungover guilt is normal, familiar for sure
but there's something else at work here, something I can't ignore
I get the feeling that when they look back, centuries down the road
it will be last night that they point at as the day mankind imploded
so my apologies to the children, as the world that they grow up in
is the same one that I think I'm just about to throw up in
as I walk and offer up remorse, I find the strangest part is
that I start to feel amazing, incredible catharsis
and I offer up this cosmic truth, the only wisdom I have got
"walk the streets dressed as a wrestler, and apologise a lot!"
it's atonement for your sins, it's the ultimate release
it's a weight off your shoulders, it's the way to inner peace!
Love the bass sound you have found in this one. A great rhythm going, cant help but tap my feet. really like the drop. So much to love about this arrangement....great singing with great lyrics. This really reminds me of 'the Midnight beast' that we have on in the UK at the moment
Very theatrical. Seems like it could be part of a stage show. I see a big dance number. Made me laugh when you went high on "future generations." Still in keeping with the theatrical feel. There's quite an arrangement here, so much going on. Excellent storytelling, as always, and kind of absurd, as usual. Nice rapping thing. Kind of like One Night in Bangkok. This just keeps keeping better as I go deeper into your strange world. Great chorus, too. Chuckle.
You are my favorite Fawmer. Looking forward to hearing what you do next year.
Firstly, awesome dream. The instrumentation on all this is just awesome. It's like a new soundtrack to Ghoul Valley on Mario Kart or something. The extra baritone vocal on the chorus is great. Congrats on the win, man!
Great work! Title gimme here lol. 'I'm sorry I drank everything and passed out on the floor and I'm sorry for what happened in the forgotten hours before but most of all I'm sorry I condemned us to damnation I damaged the world for future generations'. This was my favorite part.
Wonderful lyrics, the mix is really good. Really liked the combination of uke and your keyboard. They work really well together. You have great dreams.
YAY UKULELE! And keyboard! "Grow up in"/"throw up in" is one of my favorite rhymes I've heard in FAWM so far.
Absolutely love this one, great production and just a great song! Really glad to have stumbled upon your stuff on here!
Cool combination of the casio keyboard and the ukelele. I really like the line "is a staged fight still a staged fight if everybody loses". This song really makes me wonder what happened the night before... :)
Dang, love the Casiotone, why doesn't GB offer that sound?? Some great lines: "is a staged fight still a staged fight if everybody loses?" Everything comes together at the Chorus - it really is catchy, vocals w/harmonies sound perfect, overall super tight. I really like that you base your lyrics on your dream, but you also add comedic commentary and emotional reaction, gives it so much more depth and brings it to another level. Thanks!
Okay, let's start with the last one first... Ah, that Casiotone makes me wistful, reminding me once again that my WK-200 is too good. And the ukulele goes well with it. Interesting lyrics in that it seems something that happened in a wrestling ring last night is destroying the world. Ah, dream logic... Very good song.
love the casiotone it really gives this song that odd dream vibe. "so my apologies to the children, as the world that they grow up in is the same one that I think I'm just about to throw up in" made me laugh . this is a great song. it's odd quirky fun. And I love the delivery of the chorus. I will have "I'm sorry I drank everything" running through my head all day.
You rhymed "road" with "imploded"!! and "part is" with "catharsis" in the SAME SONG! Really inimitable stuff. The idea of ruining the world for future generations while you were blacked out drunk is funny/frightening and I don't know what to do with the "real blood in the fake blood" image. Pro-wrestling meets casiocore. Only during FAWM.
This is really catchy and with the spoken word part added it has just the perfect variation this song needed. The hungover guilt verse, you got a real neat add of instrumentation with the arpeggios, creating a delicious sort of tension. Listened twice, and by the way, the lyrics are so good, especially liked the 'incredible' in 'incredible catharsis'. That must be the real thing.
wow you amaze me. really liked this one a lot! pfff, i have to listen again...
2014-03-01 @ 06:46am
tags: titular lyricloud angular art-pop indie-rock power-pop new-wave
Dennis: In my desperation to get to 14 extra songs in the last 2 days after riding a tailwind of inspiration that lasted 10 songs, I went to the Muse for last-minute inspiration and got this.
Vom: Surprising post-FAWM burst of inspiration! Dennis' lyric leapt out at me and demanded fuzzy angular riffs.
Revolving like a wheel
She's ever-changing
You don't know what she feels
It's so estranging
She overwhelms you so you'll be in her thrall
But there's nothing holding her up, so she'll fall
What seems like deep emotion
Just empty motion
in the art
Of revolution
A mover of the heart
In dissolution
He wants you to admire the world that he made
Thinks it's cutting-edge when it's retrograde
He doesn't have a notion
But only motion
Surrender to a dream
A sweet delusion
They leave reality
For an illusion
What do they watch when they deny their eyes
They think they're moving when they're paralyzed
They give their whole devotion
To only motion
Titular ain't that bad, right? I really like this! Reminds me of Guns 'N Roses, which is definitely a good thing. I really like your use of '-tion' - motion. :)
I like this a lot, especially these lines: "He wants you to admire the world that he made Thinks it's cutting-edge when it's retrograde" like the return to the title at the end of each stanza as well (I'm not sure I've ever used the word stanza before, it makes me feel a bit nervous). I'm tempted to offer music, but I'm a bit burned out at the moment. Still, might have a play around and see if I can find any melodies, if you're interested?
Love this - "in the art Of revolution A mover of the heart In dissolution..." "Surrender to a dream A sweet delusion They leave reality For an illusion..." So many great lines and rhymes in this. An incredibly good write. The best thing about the muse tools is how use them, and here you have built a fantastic set of lyrics. Well done Dennis! :-)
had me thinking of the mekons, which is always a good thing. but it is its own quirky thing, and I love it for it. very nice verse with rhyming couplet refrain structure, with a nice solo. good collab.
Nice late 80's vibe goin on here. Complete with Roland synth sound Those guitars are delicious! Lyrics done very well. especially as last minute project.
Those "fuzzy angular riffs" sound great, and give a credibly power-pop vibe to the already off-kilter lyrics about a woman who herself bends in many directions at once, or at least inspires that feeling in her admirers ("She's ever changing", "He doesn't have a notion / But only motion", etc.) This feels to me like it would be perfectly in place in the soundtrack on an 80s movie about a mysterious woman, who our hapless hero spies from across the dark dance club and becomes ensnared . . .
And the power-pop approach turns out to be more perfect than I expected. The music catches the spirit of what I've been doing this month even more than mine would have if I'd bothered to record a tune for it. I say it's a winner.
This is a total keeper, Tom. There's too much tasty goodness to comment on, so let me just say that it all works. That bendy guitar hook is going to stay with me a while, I think. The lyric is perfect for its rhythm and flow, even if one doesn't pay attention to meaning. It's a lovely read, too--my favorite kind of lyric, the kind that makes me think I always-almost have it figured out...
The opening guitar hook--- do-do-sol-do-do-sol, bendy bendy bendy third scale degree thing--- is a very solid, catchy melodic hook. I enjoy each distinct section of this piece, and I like how they line up... at 1:20 or so you have that instrumental section with all the guitars--- sweet! The ending is a bit abrupt, almost an afterthought--- I like how you keep the tempo going to the end, I wouldn't slow down or anything, but maybe you could try dragging out the last note of the hook--- do-do-sol-do-do-sol- bendy bendy bendy bendy bendy bendy bendy bendy... etc. since I love that bendy note anyway... :) A cool lyric, and surprisingly polished tune for an end-of-FAWM feast. Well done!
Love that guitar riff and the message the lyrics convey. Great job you guys!
Double strong opening--Strong on the lyrics and strong on the music--how could you go wrong? :) Holds up well all the way. A good hook to start with. Well done
Amazing how good so many of the panic-station-last-days-of-FAWM songs turn out! :P Lots of interesting & good imagery in the lyric, and tremendous guitar and vocals. Excellent collab, you two. :)
Nice to see my favourite Britrocker here on FAWM for another year.
Any new gear? I got a Telecaster, a wah thing (which hasn't turned up yet), and a kitten... that runs away a lot.
Let the smithing begin!
hello there ... ready for a sequel to Door Alarm?
Hey dude. Let's rock this joint!
I'm looking forward to your FAWM, best of luck!
Hi Vom! I know you will rock this Fawm again! Have a great time! :-)
Vommmmmmm, hi! Looking forward to your soundings x
They are tested at 11am at my new place although that could just be the amount of time it takes for the sound to travel from Matlock.
Make it FAWMtastic!
wink wink, nudge nudge :D its FAWM time again! hurray!
Hello! :)
Happy FAWMing!
Recently I learned that there is a theoretical thing called a "vorton." I mean, apart from you. Congratulations!
Is that the Vermanos Hermanos thing?
Greetings, Vom! Hope you're well. Not sure I'll be doing much this Feb but I'll definitely be listening to your tunes!
tom! vom! not that I ever doubted you'd be back, but it's still great to see your profile :-D hope you have a productive and fulfilling fawm!
HI! Thanks! A lot of it is stuff that was started but nowhere near finished over the last couple of Febs. Love Special Equations too – another one next month, please?
Howdy!
Happy 2014 to you!
Always dig your stuff. Great to see you here.
In!
Yay! C'mon.
Totally dope, and word up to yourself.
I'm sure your uniquely shambolic VISION is better than my generically shambolic vision. Time will tell.
Well, hello! Let's do this.
I don't pay attention to music, so I'm unaware of any changes. RE shambolic music: It's only cheating if you're sober, so no worries. Hello.
Indeed I am. Currently I'm loving your influences list.
Two long weekends, then the last full week off
i didnt understand your influences at all till i read the wombles!!! we all start somewhere
How are you doing man! Let's rock this!
all hail the Vorton. look forward to hearin' ye :).
Vom, Vom, Vom, Vom. Vom, Vom, Vom, Vom. Lovely Vom, Wonderful Vom. Spam us good this year
V.V., great to see you back!
Hello! Looking forward to hearing what joyful tunes you come up with this year :) Have you got any new and exciting toys to try out?
Holy Cow! I swear you are the most productive dude ever. Two, ALREADY? Sweet as. I'm SO excited to listen.
I don't know who you could possibly mean? lol. It was a choice of that or "Resharper Your C#" maybe that will come later.
HHEEEEyYYYY! ahaaaa!
Thank you for listening to "Open Arms" and for your kind words! :)
Hey! Are you like the king of this then, you prolific fella? :-)
Started one, but I'm having tech problems.
That's a strange thing you spotted there... I was quite happy to be the second song poster of 2014 until you point that out. Now I want to claim my rightful place at the bottom of the song lists! Curses! *shakes fist at the sky*
Now I can hear my vocals over the music from No Scrubs. AAARGH!!!
Fun fact: When I was about 13 I was a huge TLC fan and thought I was going to be a white Left-Eye! Extremely cringey memories of rapping along to "I'm Good At Being Bad" on a school trip to Germany are conjured up at the thought of them..
Maybe I could get your cat to lay down some tracks--couldn't be any worse than that stuff I was playing. For the record, i don't start off singing that way, though you may have missed that part. ;)
Hi Vom!! I put liner notes about the instruments on Fleeting. More soon!
Congrats on FAWM number seven, Vom! Looking forward to hearing your creations this time around - you are very frenetically and enjoyably creative.
Cheers Vom! I am thinking of revisiting a few of these, perhaps just a little restructuring, and then I'll take them into a live setting. This is the year for getting on the live tip, I think.
You're killing it this year! I love The Glow pt 2 as well
And the weird thing is, I started it trying to be 'basic' - it had acoustic guitar only in the first draft Cheers!
Hey Vom! Actually, when I wrote this lyrics I hoped it would be you to have a take on them, and I am very happy it really happened... :-) I have already added you as collaborator, but you can also re-post the demo if you prefer, of course... Thanks a lot, I look very, very forward to hearing the result! :-)
Hey Vom! Thanks so much for this fantastic song! I am totally in love with it, your skills as a musician and performer are amazing! Powerful tune, the chorus is absolutely catchy with a very high potential for addiction... :-) I love the energy and the drive forward a lot, excellent work, Vom! Once again, thank you soooooooooooo much!!!
Hey Vom! I would like to ask you if you would eventually be interested in lending your voice to the chorus of a FC Chelsea-anthem, though I do not know if you are a Chelsea fan... :-) The link is: http://fawm.org/songs/35749/ @erikdidriksen wrote the music and is going to make the mix, so if you like, you can contact him... Thanks... UPDATE: there are more information about it here: http://fawm.org/forums/topic/4085/
Loving it, all of it, as always! (PS this is my/our new profile). James
The app on "All Alone" is Voice Synth. It's a really different little vocoder. I've had alot of fun playing with it.
The Lovely Douchebags, like the Lovely Bones, but wrongerer
The pronunciation of 'your' is also really bizarre
Hey! Thanks so much for the great comment, Vom! :-)
Did you mean lyrically or musically? It sort of ties together, tangentially. But then you could say that about any of my songs
It's cool - I'm not offended :)
Aww shucks, thank you for the kind plug in the forum!
Heh, quite an epic comment, too. :D Did you hit the character limit? ;) You had such detailed analysis I would've enjoyed hearing more of it. :)
Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to my songs and comment! Bears with propeller hats, absolutely, but I couldn't figure out how to cram that many syllables into the line. :) If I end up doing that song with my band I am hoping for a circus music outro.
Thanks for the listen on "Life's Too Good". The BIAB "realtracks" are played by top studio musicians and they sound great. Unfortunately they play all the time (like most harmonica players -- ha, ha) and often the riffs aren't in the right place. Therefore, in case like that, you gotta splice and dice and move things around as needed. I wanted a hot riff before the 2nd chorus, but the main patch didn't have a good one that fit. So I grabbed a 2nd harmonica realtrack (same player) and spliced that in. More work, but better results. I probably spent more time on that harmonica stuff than the rest of the tune! I wish I could play like that. You are super close to 14 -- one more to go!
I had Dummy Discards A Heart by Deerhoof in my head too. That's basically what I ripped off
Glad to hear I have a new feline fan. Thanks!
Cheers, and thanks for your nice comment, Vom. Will come back and listen to your page soon, just the small matter of trying to write 6 songs in one day first....
I hope you had a bakewell pudding instead of a me Kipling tart mate
Thanks for checking out my stuff, I'm glad you dug it. I really like what you're doing, some great stuff on your page!
Thanks for listening, that piece means a lot, just having trouble getting the words out of my head.
Thanks for the comments! "Dream Becomes Real" remains my favorite to sing among this year's songs, but "Pure" was the first one that really unleashed me this year. As for the guitar versions, that just means I'm adding the guitar part; I'm keeping the synths. I can see why you're a bit burnt out. However, if a tune for "Only Motion" does come to you and someone else hasn't taken it on, please let me know. :)
Thanks for the lovely comment, Vom. Congrats on winning FAWM. :)
Normally I muscle through burnout with silly or deliberately lame practice songs, but if the inspiration hits, grab it. Go for it! :D
Thanks! I'm looking forward to hearing it. :D
Thank you for your kind comments on my collab with @outasync!
Indeed, you *have* done a good deal of commenting today . . . and thank you for your two comments on my songs!
I definitely like it. The fuzzy angular power pop turned out to be exactly the right approach. Excellent! :D
the random collab with @bithprod is up: the drawer *39626 thanks for your interest!!
oh man! why you gotta be so awesome? a month after fawm and i'm still listening to your songs on repeat. what's up with that?