2010-02-01 @ 02:27pm
tags: indie pop indiepop
The basic tune for this one has been bouncing round my head for a while now. Now February has arrived, I've finally let it out!
I started playing the wrong chord when I recorded the ukulele part and I liked it, it's probably my favourite thing about the song, in fact. Hooray for mistakes!
-----
Gear:
Freshman acoustic guitar, borrowed bass guitar.
Piano is a soundfont loaded into the ShortCircuit sampler, played through my Behringer Vintage Time Machine FX pedal.
Synths are all SQ8L, which is free.
Drums are assorted samplers loaded into the ace Poise drumsampler.
well she don't dance, but that's OK by me
there's a bar to side of the dancefloor, and that's where she will be
and if, on the walk home, she treads uncertainly
she can place the blame on her peculiarity
curtains twitch as she's walking down the street
she's the girl with two left feet
she may trip, but she won't admit defeat
she's the girl with two left feet
she's going shopping, she needs moral support
she's buying trainers, the fashionable sort
there's no buy one get one free, the assistant is in heaven
when she says "I'll take two pairs in size seven"
she's buying socks and she's keeping the receipt
she's the girl with two left feet
curtains twitch as she's walking down the street
she's the girl with two left feet
Indeed, the uke chords are pretty nice that way. The rest of the song is, too. And it's very upbeat. That's good.
Love that feedback at the start. Great vocal. Loving this! Cool lyrics - love the curtains twitch line! Yeah!
Nice, upbeat track. The chorus part is tough not to bop along to, and the bit after it is a lot of fun. Neat intro/outro trick there too. I like it!
Sounds like you've channeled your inner Stephen Merritt (at least at the beginning). A fine start sir. I like the calypsotic (?) keyboard part near the end
Very cheery, love the intro and outro, memorable title, good rhymes though maybe the 'receipt' one was a little forced ... ? Belle and sebastianesque feel to the piano, great!
Didn't think you could beat "peculiarity" until you dropped "keeping the receipt" on me. Awesome fun song. And I think I'm in love with her. :) Great first effort.
I like the chord change at 0.25! I also like the fact that it appears to be a thinly veiled homage to someone with special needs.
Lovely work, Vomas!
nice one Tom. kicking off with a lovely little ironic pop story. slightly reminiscent of jarvis cocker, your vocal delivery is similar. like the lo-fi intro/outro
Definitely made me smile. Reminds me of Hawaii. It's fun. The first couple bars made me think of Charlie Brown, but I like it.
Second download this year ! Like to hear this while driving my car this summer.
great fun, a dancable (with two left feet maybe?) little pop tune..
Great start for you too :) Catchy and nicely crafted as usual. I missed your voice!
Hooray for Vom! Also the piano riff on this reminded me of that Cocorosie song 'Japan', but I fear if I mentioned this it may be considered insulting. I do not intend as such.
Snappy and fun Vom.
How do you (1) always get away with this (2) always be so damn catchy. I'll probably be humming this even after an hour in the jukebox!
nice... reminds me lots of awesome stuff
This is a reeeeally catchy song. Here's to not being able to walk in a straight line even on normal days, yeah?
nice sounds
Catchy groove. The verse about the shoe salesman in heaven is hilarious.
I heard this on the fawm radio, and I really liked it, so I wanted to come over here and tell you how much I enjoyed listening to your song. I'd been busy doing internet stuff when it started playing, but I had to stop working altogether so I could listen to your song because I liked it so much. ^^
Heard you on FAWM radio. Brilliant!!
This is ace! I was sure i commented on it yesterday but i wanted to listen to it at work today and realised i hadn't. I adore the sound you've got on the piano at the start and the end! It's just a little touch but i love it!
Great start mate.
As others are saying, this is "catchy." Nicely arranged and mixed.
you make it seem effortless, and yet it's all arranged just so. instantly remembered why you're on my watchlist, vom!
Now, that's a good story about the 'wrong chord' -- I've done the same thing many times. In fact a lot if times if I'm practicing, I'll hit an unusual chord and like it so much that I write it down in my notebook. A good example would be a song I wrote a long time ago while experimenting with pitch class sets -- I came up with a chord I call 'retrograde second major third'. Take a series of minor seconds: D, D#, E and then G# over the E. Now spell the lower three notes in reverse: E - D# - D - G#. A very tense chord, that works really well provided the voice leading around it is smooth. (Oddly it sounds terrible if there's any sort of leap involved.) Anyway, nice tune :D
Enjoyable little ditty, a lovely start.
So fun.
I always had BIG crushes on girls with two left feet... still do actually. Great vibe - perfect ending.
I dont know what it is but this song draws me in. Well done
it s very bouncy and summery... could be soundtrack to a cool youth E4 programme.... i see the ugly duckling transform into the beautiful swan.... the chorus is unbelievably catchy
This would make a wonderful video, Tom. I could see this in my mind the whole way.
Awesome! Definitely has a 69 Love Songs feel to it. Wanna hear more.
awesome song. probably my favorite thing from the jukebox all day. really like the poppy vocals. great melody.
Spectacular! Recommended listening indeed! Cheers!
hey do ya wanna hey hey do ya wanna wanna daaance This is awesome. music and words.
OK, well that is a delight. Simple, bouncy, lovely. I await more.
yo, this is great feel good song....what do ye use for drums,,,,i like the drum beat alot i do. Good stuff man. .
Love this. Reminds me of The Mekons. Hooray for mistakes indeed!
wow, i looooooove this song, with the piano and all... good job!!!! i'm a fan!
Swet poppy bouncy song. Looks like you don't really need any more comments on this one, but that's your fault for not having any more songs for me to explore yet :) The insistent, light-but sure-footed bassline is wonderfully at odds with the lyrical content. Praise be for contrast! I really like the specify-ing (sic) of 'the fashionable sort' of trainers, for some reason. Fine tunage, mister. Also your avatar is one of my favourites on FAWM.
I absolutely love this. So catchy, and the lyrics are brilliant. I was going to pick my favourite line but then i realised i love all of them - there are no "filler" lines in there at all, which is a massive achievement. ...awesome.
Pop wonderfulness. Can't believe I haven't heard this yet. You need more of that distorted piano in your tunes! Or maybe I'll just 'borrow' it for myself.
Good times. I'm digging the chorus and the lyrics. The beat makes me bob around in my chair
Happy happy joy joy - Love this!
sorta magnetic fieldsy! i totally dig it. thanks for listening- i think i'll have another demo up today.
I see why it's on the recommended list. You've got a good one here.
Fantastic song. :)
Super catchy!
Funny lyrics, Tom! And I like the song. I'm happy there's another FAWM-guy with a low voice. Not all of us can't be tenors anyway. :-) Roel Btw: thanks for the nice comments on my songs!
Let's hear it for fortuitous chords! I'm late in getting to this, but better late than never. Definitely catchy in the extreme, and the pedal effect on the piano samples is cool (I'd love to apply that pedal to my keyboard...). Speaking of SQ8L: that reminded me that of all the free synth VST plugins I've got, that was one I didn't use SAVIHost to create a standalone version of. But now it's done, and now I know I'll use it a future song. ;)
2010-02-09 @ 09:22am
tags: synth-pop synthpop protest-song new-wave
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_Me_Out_%28game_show%29
I tried to do this with angry guitars but failed utterly, so re-did it with synths. Some of the vocals could do with re-recording but generally I'm quite pleased with this, which is good because I've been messing with it FOREVER.
Also listen to the ROCK VERSION by Fine Excuses!
http://fawm.org/songs/4350/
-----
Gear:
Bass is Taurus
Synths are Oatmeal, SQ8L and some square wave soundfont through SFZ
Drums are Impakter, by de la Mancha, which I don't think I've used before.
there's desperation through the nation
there's a sickness on the streets
we've lost our natural instincts
forgotten how people meet
we've pushed inaction to distraction
won the race to be lazy
if you can't find love through the usual channels
you can always try TV
they finally found the show to show
that thirty plus one can equal zero
this is a new low
let's judge books by their covers
let's jump in the shallow end
let's answer three questions
and win a new boyfriend
let's get up off our sofas
throw our remotes to the ground
get pitchforks and torches
and burn television down
christ that programme needs a swift kick in the balls. Depressing television needs to be told. The TV times they are a changing. Look forward to hearing the song.
Excellent. I look forward to hearing this, as for a while I kept getting the bloody Spotify advert for it.
Is this Take Me Out? LOL I like the way it knows it's rubbish, it's hilarious. Has there EVER been one couple that liked each other?? (rereads the song tag). Ah. Yes. This'll confuse the Yanks then!!
that last verse is killer; looking forward to hearing this. Take Me Out is a new low, even for ITV.
great song on a not so great tv show.... my housemates watch that programme but i wasn't until i read your song that i realised it is actually the most ugly programme (besides jeremy kyle) "let's jump in the shallow end, let's answer three questions, and win a new boyfriend" this should be the tag line... its spot on
Ugh yes, that programme is an awful spurt of televisual bilgewater. A neatly incisive lyric like this demands musical fury to accompany it!
Wow. Erect a sign on your door saying "Synth-Pop Genius At Work". Like the way you enunciate "boyfriend". I haven't seen Take Me Out, but you and Charlie Brooker have helped me realise why I oughtn't want to. The new sound to take us out/fade us off/whatever the muso term for this is at 2.30 is cool. More, please, Vister Vorton.
excellent tunage Vom... i really dig your pop sensibilities
Great work! It's genius
Cripes, I'm glad I didn't listen to this before doing my version - there's something that's latterday-Beckesque about the glitching casiotones, but the melody and percussion keeps it recognisably Vortonish. Chorus is mighty catchy too.
Yes the chorus is very catchy indeed, very different to Fine Excuses version, the words speak for themselves and are clearer on this version. I really like the solo at the end and could go for hearing more of that, cool song. Didn't realise it was about take me out, yup that show is the dregs. If this song were a contestant I would be keeping my light on for it ;p
Yeah, this is very cool as well. I enjoyed the chorus :)
Great song! I really llllllove it!! Has a Depeche Mode like quality, but more humorous. Like the rock version too, but yours better. ;-) Roel
If anybody could get across the utter desolation of this programme it's you. The second verse is awesome.
Flaming Lips vibe here. The meter of the vocals really works; not sure I could pull this off!
I'm amazed I haven't left a comment on this yet! America is the land of The Dating Game, The Newlywed Game, and The Bachelor (and The Bachelorette). I thought "reality" TV had hit the bottom of the barrel with (in this genre) Joe Millionaire (spoiler: he was a construction worker disguised as a millionaire), but here comes Take Me Out, digging right out of the barrel altogether and into the sub-kitsch abyss. Knowing how American network TV has worked in recent years, the upcoming version on Fox TV this fall is an absolute certainty, alas... This is one of the best synth-pop tunes I've heard anywhere. If only this could hit the radio (after the requisite tweaks, of course), it'd be a surefire hit... ;)
2010-02-11 @ 01:43pm
tags: story pop acoustic
My girlfriend suggested I write a song about "animals making friends in a shelter", so here you go. It was never going to be anything other than sickeningly sweet with that concept :)
I'll definitely go back to this one to flesh it out at some point but for now I'm just trying to catch up! I think it needs a nice organ sound and perhaps some synth over the instrumental break bits.
21/03/10 - Updated with bass, glockenspiel and organ. I was tempted to add a sample of a thunderclap in the relevant place but that would be TOO cheesy, right?
-----
Gear:
Freshman acoustic guitar
Borrowed bass
NubiLE vst organ
Glockenspiel
Misc drum samples in Poise drumsampler
they were nothing alike
he was thin and she was fat
he was a dog, and she was a cat
and they fought every day
he arrived, scratched and bitten
she'd been there since she was a kitten
he was brought in fully grown
nobody would take them home
when people came to look around
they ignored the angry cat and hound
brawling pets was not their wish
they usually left with fish
but one day there was thunder and lightning
the terrified dog said 'why are we fighting?'
the cat miaowed, she didn't know
it all started so very long ago
so they decided to start again
and ended up as the best of friends
instead of fighting, they would play
they got adopted straight away
Great idea and a wonderful song. Please let me know when you've got the organ and synth done. I'd love to hear that.
How sweet is that? Brings a little jolt to my withered aubergine of a heart :)
Very good pop song with an emphasis on the POP. That drum beat sounds really cool, but I wished for like some bass too.
super duper song... i'm secretly in love with dogs, although most people know that i have a tiny black cat. downloaded this one
the beat reminds me of Fog, who are awesome. It's like a happy version of 'pneumonia'. I love the way you deliver the last line of each verse. great ending btw. But what I really want to know is did they get adopted together or were they split up?
This should be the theme tune to a kids cartoon :D
love the infectious chord progression on this one. great lyrics that i will choose to take literally instead of metaphorically... but i like that i have the choice!
Very funky, the line about leaving with fish made me giggle
Aw, that's just lovely... I like that Google has put an ad for "herbal pet calmer" next to this...
Somebody should make an animation to accompany this, or you should. Lovely.
Cool beans Vom. I like the way you've got a shockingly jerky drum beat but no bass. Doesn't sound like it needs any major polishing! You're right though: sickeningly sweet!! LOL
oh my goodness, I L-O-V-E this song! It is not sickeningly sweet to me at all -- it is peppy and hopeful and intelligent. I might be biased because I am a major animal lover, but really -- this is A+ in every respect.
This is sweet and funny (love the fish bit) and I agree with james: animation!
How fun and sweet is this? Put a smile on my face :)
Too much fun! The feel of the song complements the cute story absolutely. The final claps + snaps at the end of the song button it perfectly!
"they usually left with fish"...lol Nifty little song this is, dig the beat and the story! My cat's confused, though...
Thanks for the update. Man, that's a great recording. Downloaded and played on repeat. Thank you for some great music this year,
Here for the full band edition (looking below, I see I didn't bother to comment on the acoustic original). I like the off beat here. The lyrics are definitely cute (and spell out a fable we could all learn from, especially us irascible types), and the glockenspiel is way too appropriate. I'll add my voice to the chorus: the video needs to be animated. ;)
2010-02-13 @ 09:25am
tags: post-rock indie
phew, this one was fun, but I think I need to go a bit simpler if I'm going to hit 14. not too proud of the lyrics (I've been meaning to write this song for ages, but it's a really hard thing to put into words) but I think the music came out really well. check the gear list for the nonsense I got up to!
the reed organ that appears on this song has been sat unused in my recording room for ages, as I tested it after buying it years ago and thought it was out of tune. I recently re-tested and found that it wasn't at all! it sounds lovely.
----
GEAR:
'woody' electric guitar tuned to open Em chord, through fender princeton amp, with a lead from the pre-amp out into behringer vintage time machine delay pedal, into orange micro crush amp (!) - both amps recorded at once
borrowed bass
poise drum sampler
glockenspiel
'lorenzo' italian reed organ
driving home
there's a movement on the right
something fast
shining in the evening light
we're matching speed
there's a feeling in my heart
like when you're standing on the platform
waiting to depart
when the molecules align in your brain
you are driving alongside a train
two vehicles
headed in the same direction
I don't know why
but I feel a strange affection
it never lasts
but for that short time
something strange
becomes something sublime
Sound lovely sounds in this. Glockenspeil and the reed organ are great. Another excellent song Tom. Funny, that big thumpy kick drum sounds like someone plugging into an amp with the reverb+volume turned up.
This is really wonderful! Great song, great production. One of those 'little moments' in life that you capture perfectly, and the recording really highlights the charming nature of the song... Love the glock, - wish I had one!
Very cool. I like the clarity of the bells against the complexity of the reed organ. Lyrics are good too. I usually listen to the sound of the words, rather than what words they are, and they fit this song. Don't change much if anything!
Wow - this is amazing!!! It's so good it actually requires THREE exclamation marks.
A really enjoyable listen. I especially like the second verse here. Production quality and arrangement are wonderful.
Nice work! Beautiful. Love the slow kick drum... and always love a glock.
A sublime evocation, a universal feeling I think but not well trodden if at all --- really great! I'm usually the one on the train, willing cars alongside to speed up or down slightly to keep pace .... I always love songs that about topics that last just a few seconds ... I used to think about writing a novel that is in real time -- it takes 4 hours to read and decribes 4 hours of activity ...
The production is fantastic. Should be the theme song for Cameron Crowe's next movie! Fantastic work.
Great song! Love a bit of reed organ, love a bit of glock.
I used to have Fender Princeton amp -- the one thing I'd change on it is the knobs. If ever it falls forward, they get smashed in. I'm impressed with the sound of that reed organ. I'm a Hammond devotee myself, but if I had the space, I'd . . . oh, heck, I'd build my own pipe organ. I'd have three manuals, a row of pedals, hundreds of stops, and even a button to go to Defcon One and launch the nukes.
this is really brilliant........i am not very constructive with comments...only know that i like what i hear....and am totally envious of your talent...(:........ "but for that short time something strange becomes something sublime"...good line ........
This is very pretty. My issue when I listen to your songs is that I'm totally hooked by your voice and have to listen several times to hear all the other things. On the other hand I hate analyzing the songs that immediately hook me, sorry :) This one makes me think about some House Of Love stuff (meant as a compliment).
This is great travelling music. I like mellow travelling music. I'm reminded of being on a train in Australia and being surprised that the cars and buses were driving next to it at pretty much the same speed. Seemed weird to me, but it's the way of things there. I like the different timbres you get into this.
Vom, that was bloody lovely. I really like the second verse lyrics in particular - seeing something unexplainably profound in the mundane is always an angle I have time for.
Vom, I can't think of a single criticism or qualm that I have with this song. The best of yours that I've heard. Now, I still have a couple to listen to, but wow. Great work on this one. The instrumentation is so cool!
This is tremendous. Very practical verses with that molecular refrain. The music is absolutely wonderful.
Very mellow, very cool.
Another great one, the organ definitely showed you. I liked the fact that having the lyrics and seeing the song length I knew there would probably be a lovely instrumental bit at the end and there was.
YES
this is quite possibly the best song i've heard from you, it's beautiful!
Just gorgeous. Simple, deep, touching lyrics, and production to die for. You aced it with this one!
I agree with the robot. This is most beautiful thing I've heard from you in ages, possibly ever. I'm getting far too damn sentimental in my old age. Also, I leant my glockenspiel to someone and never saw it again. I miss it.
I know how tough it is to add words to a song that's been haunting you for ages. That's been my predicament for two FAWMs in a row. You're struggling for words, and then something inspired (if only in retrospect) comes out. This is one of those songs. The synthesizer's gone, replaced by a reed organ and some picked electric guitar. Then after the singing's done, the delay pedal comes on, eliminating the need for the cliché guitar solo and seizing my attention. Mellow travelling music, something else new to me. And the glockenspiel attack continues... ;)
What a fantastically mundane yet profound feeling you have captured here -- this is fantastic all the way around. Great writing.
2010-02-13 @ 05:03pm
tags: chip-hop
Nathan was the bassist in my old band, Lardpony. He has freakishly good eyesight. I think that's all the back story you really need...
-----
GEAR:
Drums: Dr Sid
Synths: 38911 Byes x 5
both free from http://www.odosynths.com/
though he can't see the future, he's a man, not a mystic
he's got 20/10 vision, doesn't that sound futuristic?
he's completely natural, nothing here is bionic
to opticians eyes, his tears are a tonic
when I'm at a concert and I'm miles from the stage
or reading the small print at the bottom of the page
or trying to see through an amoeba's disguise
wish I was looking through nathan's eyes
wish I was looking through nathan's eyes
he's got really good eyesight
wish I was looking through nathan's eyes
he don't need glasses
sometimes I dream that I'm using his vision
to view miniscule objects with amazing precision
I feel like I've shrunk, and now I can see
the toes of the ant and the eyes of the flea
just as I adapt, as I'm starting to take
this for granted, that's when I always awake
everything returns to it's usual size
I remember I'm not looking through nathan's eyes
wish I was looking through nathan's eyes
he's got really good eyesight
wish I was looking through nathan's eyes
he don't need contacts
but sometimes I think it must be a mixed blessing
though my world's slightly blurred I don't find it distressing
if my eyes tell me lies or if they leave me guessing
then all I'm really missing is window dressing
seeing every speck of dust, zooming in on people's pores
would maybe reveal too many of the world's flaws
things I used to like would become things I despise
and I'm glad I'm not looking through nathan's eyes
glad I'm not looking through nathan's eyes
don't want to deal with reality
glad I'm not looking through nathan's eyes
they're TOO good
Yeah! This song is jammin. Really cool sounds.
You ought to get a Grammy just for elocution -- this line, for instance -- > sometimes I dream that I'm using his vision > to view miniscule objects with amazing precision Tried it myself. Results nowhere near as good. This is a very clever song, on an unusual theme!
Amazing! It is about time that his hawk-like vision was committed to tape * * harddisk.
Wow, are there any things you can't do? Your vocal delivery is amazing :)
Really like the clean delivery and solid composition here.
Love the liner notes, gave me a good laugh. A friend I went around australia with had the eyes of a hawk (not the actual eyes...the ability of their eyes), it is most helpful to be with someone like that. Great lyrics yet again and the chorus is once again really catchy. grand stuff!
This made me go look for Atari 2600s on eBay. Love it! Really cool lyric set, and love the synths.
Cool song, great lyrics, wonderful retro sounds and arrangement. Excellent work!
Hooray for chip-hop! Didn't even know that was a genre. Just wanted to drop by and thank you for your feedback. How do you like working with the Dr. Sid synth? Is it a plugin or a standalone?
How do you sound cool when you rap mate? I also have a Southampton accent and sound like a twat when I rap. I am going to download those synths now, love them.
for one moment i truly believed i could see through Nathan's eyes, the world was AMAZING!!!
LOL when you go "he's got really good eyesight". This is fun and accomplished in equal measure. Wish I could get Dr SID to work, I love that damn sound.
The things you can do with a synthesizer rock my world. I love this song, the lyrics are brilliant
You're way too good with synths. Me, I'm still just a beginner. (I tried to download an SK-1 VST instrument and got several chip emulators instead, including the two you use here; that's the backstory behind my own Level Edit.) The tune itself is excellent, but the synths make my jaw drop. And you can rap, too! (I almost said I couldn't, but then I remembered doing Smoke The Mokey last year...)
2010-02-14 @ 01:11pm
tags: piano ballad 5090 tribute homage
DISCLAIMER: I wrote these lyrics during 50/90, but hadn't put any music to them before now.
This is a strange, sad song. I don't think I've ever really written anything like it before and it makes me feel a little bit uncomfortable. I hope it's OK.
This song is about André The Giant. He only really got to make one film, but it's the best one ever.
-----
GEAR:
piano soundfont
glockenspiel
stylophone beatbox
the giant has a pretty scary thirst
a case of wine to numb the pain when it is at its worst
because it takes more than paracetamol
when you're half a ton and seven feet tall
maybe it was never part of the plan
but you're called upon to fight when you're a big man
and your voice is so deep and absurd
that you struggle to make yourself heard
so if you want to be an actor, then you can be an actor
ignore the critics and the detractors
your films will be great, your legend long-lasting
though you may struggle slightly with typecasting
it's never nice to lose at all
but the bigger you were, the harder you would fall
and when you're back in you dressing room quietly weeping
the sign outside says 'quiet! the giant is sleeping'
Nice lyrics; I really like the sounds woven in and out of the song.
Smart song, giants are people too. I have a counter idea I will hopefully post before long.
Now, André may have made one film, but it was one GREAT film! Also, he played Sasquatch (Bigfoot) in that famous series of stories in The Six Million Dollar Man.
Haunting. "your films will be great, your legend long-lasting though you may struggle slightly with typecasting" Classic stuff.
This is a great tune! I've been meaning to check you out, and I'm glad the jukebox brought me to you! I love the sort of toy piano bits that come in. It's definitely a somber tune, and by god... Princess Bride is one of the best films of any generation. Cheers! -Captain Vulpine!
i love the this song, great percussion things after the first verse
aww this is quite melancholic ... in a good way ... awesome work Vomas!
This is so pretty. I'm a big fan of 'the princess bride' and I remember when Andre was fighting.. he was almost the side-show of wrestling if there is such a thing.. The last two lines are about heart-breaking... aw.. this is just so pretty. Literally one of my favorite things I've heard this month
this is probably my favourite thing I've heard from FAWM. it's just so so so good. kudos!
Nice track, the muffled beat with the glockenspiel is great. I feel bad about what I'm about to say cos I seem to mention PandAz a lot when commenting on your stuff but when you sing the line "it takes more than paracetamol" it really reminds me of their song Let's Run Away Together. You write the best rhymes on fawm.
Spectacular lyrics wrapped up in a wonderful arrangement. I think you did your source of inspiration proud. This song is one of the most memorable FAWM tunes I've heard and one of my favorites.
I only just checked your liner notes as well, but I love that film something rotten
2010-02-15 @ 10:41am
tags: rock metal hardcore
Lyrics stolen from the mighty Vom Vorton. His song and lyrical explanation is here: http://fawm.org/songs/2756/
Well, this is a bit different. I wasn't planning do anything particuarly heavy this year, as my guitar doesn't have active pickups, and produces an annoyingly farty sound whenever I try.
However, I borrowed one and when I spied Mr Vorton's furious rant against shite TV, I pretty much wrote something on the spot. I knew it had be full-on rock, and a mix of hardcore and very early US thrash seemed to be the ticket.
Solo's a bit pony, but you can't have everything, eh?
-Nick
there's desperation through the nation
there's a sickness on the streets
we've lost our natural instincts
forgotten how people meet
we've pushed inaction to distraction
won the race to be lazy
if you can't find love through the usual channels
you can always try TV
they finally found the show to show
that thirty plus one can equal zero
this is a new low
let's judge books by their covers
let's jump in the shallow end
let's answer three questions
and win a new boyfriend
let's get up off our sofas
throw our remotes to the ground
get pitchforks and torches
and burn television down
they finally found the show to show
that thirty plus one can equal zero
this is a new low
Woah! Motorheadtastic sound, great attack on the guitar and vocal. Intruiging lyrics, I'm gonna check out the original. Have you seen that show on one of the many music channels that has one of the hair metal guys looking for love (I want to guess at shaun michaels, but i think that might be a wrestler), it is so terrible but intoxicating. Love the scream at the end, I would make it sound like a swingball, repeating and whirling round and round!
...pushing new lows to new heights. Great job.
Whahahahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~~YEAH!!! 5 out of 5!!! +Watchlisted -- Rock on!
Oh man, this is SAVAGE (assuming SAVAGE is a complimentary word in rock circles)! Definitely reminiscent of Motörhead (I love that umlaut). I think the solo is less pony, more "drum". (Drum and Bass is now Rhyming Slang for Ace)
Nooo, has it finished...I was digging that with a shovel! Excellent work.
Nice guitar work on this - and the lyrics are fantastic. Nicely done.
great job too on the guitar production where the second guitar cuts through for a second around 1:40 and the solo. when it try this it just gets all muddy. very crisp. I'd love some additional bottom. has a Torche feel to it to me.
Hell yeah! This is like the bastard love child of Venom and the Cro-Mags... And I love every godsdamn minute of it :D
Great! Like this version of the song too! :-) Roel
Completely different to what i imagined when i read the lyrics, but i love it! ...love it! Awesome guitar work more than does justice to the lyrics, ANGRY AND NOISY.
I do believe this rocks, gentlemen. Well done.
First the synthpop deconstruction, now the punk rock demolition. Completely different, but equally appropriate. Murder by Motörhead, complete with killer guitar solo at the end! Yes, "savage" is a hard rock superlative, along with "evil", "wicked", "killer", "monster", etc. It's all that! Now if only it could be (like the original) unleashed on the world to help put that stupid show's lights out, if you know what I mean... ;)
2010-02-18 @ 02:10pm
tags: indie-rock rock fuzz new-wave
What if the end of the world wasn't due to nuclear war or a meteor colliding with Earth or the sun going extinct or a supervolcano but by urban redevelopment RUN WILD!?
I didn't think this was going in the right direction but then I did the vocals and now I quite like it. Distorted vocals are the best.
21/03/10: Demo updated! Re-did all of the guitars and some of the vocals, and added an asterisk in front of the title to show that I really like this one now. It's a grower ;)
Previous demo here: http://www.vomvorton.co.uk/string/VomVorton_07_DiggingUpCities.mp3
-----
Gear:
drum soundfont
borrowed bass
eastwood wandré guitar through fender princeton amp
(on previous demo: woody electric guitar through behringer v-amp 2)
they're digging up cities, it comes as a shock
that they're tearing through tarmac and ripping up rubble and rock
they're knocking down buildings, and cutting down trees
and they say they can do whatever they please
they won't say what they're looking for
if you ask them they don't speak
except to say "work is expected
to last six to eight weeks"
they're digging up cities, it's a total surprise
they're making a big hole where once there was a high rise
they're on a tight schedule, come rain or come sun
we shrug and say "it'll be nice once it's done"
they won't tell us what they're doing
if you ask them they won't say
they'll just frown, shake their heads
and send you on your way
they're digging up cities, and they're digging up towns
construction has been replaced by tearing things down
they're knocking down houses, to construct a huge pit
will we ever get to the bottom of it?
they won't say what their plans are
but they must be pretty big
they're digging up cities
but soon there'll be nothing to dig
they're digging up cities
they're digging up cities
rockin and cool track yo...but i sure hope that never happens
Really cool lo-fi sound to this. Rhythmically good. The doubling on the last chorus was very confusing, but all in all a great listen.
It reminds me of Blur when Blur used to be good. Respect on that!
Ha! I was going to say Graham Coxon's solo stuff, nice and crunchy, good stuff, does what it says on the tin, very snackable all round.
That's what Atlanta looked like back in the '80s. Of course they were gunning for their Olympic bid even back then, but nevertheless, it was very annoying. Like the song! I'm finding people are taking quite a few unconventional approaches this FAWM. Now that I think about it, I could have done an end-of-the-world album. Oh, wait, that's a good idea for FAWM 2012!
Wow, there are still people that write protest songs. Well done, Tom! :-) Roel
hah... you doing the real good songs... im reminded of new order with this song, great driving verses and a big sing a long chorus.. cool song man
This is great! I love the two lyric lines in counterpoint at the end. Conceptually dense for a two-and-a-half minute song - always a good thing, IMHO - and fun/poppy nonetheless for it. I wish I could write songs as efficiently!
it's an interesting concept, certainly. i enjoyed it, of course. Strangely, while i was listening to this, it gradually came to me that i'd love to hear Katie Dywer ( http://fawm.org/fawmers/musicbykatie/ ) doing a sort of smooth, relaxed cover of it... PS - by the way, hope it's not horribly controversial but i definitely preferred version 1! Maybe it's the rawness. There's not much between them though, don't take that the wrong way!
I definitely agree with the Blur comments below - both on its lyrical topic and its musical style, this track reminds me of the Country House/Parklife-era Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon. And lyrically it makes a good point about urban sprawl. I love it. This is the kind of song as good as pop commercial radio stuff. You should be on the radio with songs like this.
I think they call this kind of thing "urban renewal" on this side of the Pond. For example, it looks like they're tearing down the entire city of Detroit... Listened to both versions of this song. Version 2 does sound slicker, practically ready for radio play already. I'd say the Blur comparison's about right, and there's something of a harder New Order here too. Killer noise pop here. If only John Peel were still around to hear it...
2010-02-20 @ 01:07pm
tags: indie-rock country-rock lemonheads
Lyrics by Otterman Empire, music by Vom Vorton.
The original song is here: http://fawm.org/songs/4190/ (with hopefully a different demo to follow!)
I spotted the magical words "inspired by" and "Lemonheads" in the liner notes for the original song and immediately heard it in my head being performed by Evan and co. This is my attempt to make that sound come out of my head. It was partially successful I think! Obviously it would be about 100 times better with Mr. Dando on vocals...
Hope you like it, OttEmp! And thanks for letting me use your words.
------
GEAR:
"60s" drum loops
borrowed bass
freshman acoustic guitar
eastwood electric guitar through orange micro crush amp
tambourine
see http://fawm.org/songs/4190/
Honestly Vom, do you have some sort of secret suitcase stashed away bursting at the seams with catchy choruses? Really like this, very hummable indeed.
This is awesome, I love it. Now I don't want to post my version, yours is better :)
This is excellent!
Excellent treatment of the fun lyrics from OE. Great collab!
i have listened to this quite a lot. it is rather great.
LLEEMMOONNHHEEAADDSS fans united :) Why not send a link to Evan at his youtube-account http://www.youtube.com/user/pelicanmouse and ask him to do a video recording of it. Great song guys, good collab.
2010-02-20 @ 04:19pm
tags: electro retro sampling
Inspired by this forum thread: http://fawm.org/forums/thread/787/
I haven't actually really used my SK5 much, and this is me trying to redress the balance.
I note that the Casio SK5 is an inanimate object, and also that it tends to think about itself a lot.
-----
GEAR:
Casio SK5 :)
SK5!
Holy smokes, I forgot about those. I remember if I happened to see one rigged up in Radio Shack, I'd put various rude noises and wordy durds into it ;-) No wonder robots hate me :D
You're even playing the drums manually, awesome. I feel quite emotional thinking about how proud your little SK5 would be of this. Is that the SK5 itself saying 'SK5'? Great.
I'd forgotten how important to the new-wave and electro styles those old synthesizers were back in the '80s. And the sample function (the SK series' selling point, really) allows the SK-5 to, well, say its name (the closest thing it comes to actual singing, anyway). You certainly won the "35 words or less" challenge with a one-word lyric. :D And, of course, you played the keyboard's drum pads manually (I program my beats on my newfangled WK-200). Definitely retro, definitely cool. @James: I think it's actually the SK-5 sampling a Speak & Spell. Or that's what it sounds like, anyway. ;)
It sounds like a retro computer game sound track. I like that! And now I want an SK5.
It's like Casiotone for the Painfully Alone covering 2 Unlimited! Those lyrics cut to the heart of me.
Ha! SK5 is the up-to-date cousin of SK2100 ^^ I love this sound!
this is really really cool. it's electro music that doesn't sound in any way "mechanical". you know? the fact that this is an analogue machine, and that you have to take a very hands on approach to using it has allowed the real musician to come through in the music. This is like a joy division track or something, but a lot better. It's the sort of thing you used to get on those tape compilations that came free with the NME in the '80s (anybody over about 35 from the UK will know what i mean!)
I've been trying to get my hands on an sk-1 for so long. My first recordings had one in them.. loved it! Right on
2010-02-21 @ 09:22am
tags: indie rock pop dogs canine woof
VOM:
This song is inspired by a chap from my work who is VERY serious about dogs. Obviously they can be a lot of responsibility, but he never seems to mention the fun side, so it always sounds like he's talking about his other job, or a business opportunity.
James and I were in a band called Flameboy when we were both at college in Winchester. This is our first collaboration in ten years.
I wrote the words and sent them to James, he added one verse ("read books...") and wrote the music, recorded drums, vocals and bass and sent it back, I added guitars, synths and backing vocals.
JAMES: Aah Flameboy, the days of four tracks, cheap keyboards, and scream tracker... the days of leaving mistakes in, Vom's dad asking us to turn it down, those simple times when I hadn't heard of compression or EQ. The Flameboy days.
We may be collaborating in a slightly more hi-tech way these days but it would appear that the music still sounds pretty much the same, which can't be a bad thing.
Second collaboration is in progress!
it's time to take things seriously, to snap out of your dreams
of fields and sun and magic worlds where nothing is as it seems
it's time to start a spreadsheet with colour coded rows
it's time to work out formulas and finance, I suppose
because you can't work a machine if you don't oil the cogs
it's time to get serious - serious about dogs
devise a walking rota and scout the local parks
to find out which are good when wet, and safest after dark
test the leading brands of food to see which taste the best
feed them to a friend, and make notes on which ones impressed
you can't work a machine if you don't oil the cogs
it's time to get serious - serious about dogs
don't assume it's as easy as falling off a log
it's time to get serious - serious about dogs
plan your insurance and purchase a microchip
think of a good name, like patch or spot or skip
ask local experts to find what problems they all faced
and buy a thousand plastic bags to dispose of the waste
read books on how to teach your dog to sit and fetch and beg
and find out what you should do, when it tries to hump your leg
make your mind up quickly, what type of canine you need
german shephard or jack russel, mangy mutt or pedigree
you can't work a machine if you don't oil the cogs
it's time to get serious - serious about dogs
don't assume it's as easy as falling off a log
it's time to get serious - serious about dogs
you have to think clearly and not get in a fog
it's time to get serious - serious about dogs
it's time to DO YOUR BEST - but failing that
you can always play it safe and get a cat
OK, I've got two dogs, and here is a song I can really appreciate. It is a lot of work, actually, but well worth it. We've never pulled up a spreadsheet and worked out finance, but having elderly dogs has certainly dropped a lot of unexpected vet bills on us. The verse I'd add is this: > Your dog may be like Lassie, a boy scout in a troop. > But all those smarts are nothing when it eats some kitty poop.
The keys that pop in at 0:55 are so MINT
Well, this is annoyingly good. Never has a song about dog-raising sounded so dark...especially the breakdown before the final chorus. Most effective. Didn't know you were once a Hampshire lad, Vom. I've been stuck just outside Southampton in Eastleigh for years now. Lovely jubbly.
I was feeling kind of down. And then I heard this and it made me happy. thankyou :)
2010-02-22 @ 03:46pm
tags: skeptical pop duet
VOM: This one is James' initial concept and lyrics, tweaked and put to music (drums, vocals and acoustic guitar) by me, then returned to him for further vocals, electric guitar and "other".
JAMES: It was my initial concept but the idea really came together with Mr Vortons suggestion of making it a faith healer/customer duet, then we just sent the lyrics back and forth until we had a song.
V: They come to me with broken bones and limbs
and that is when the miracle begins,
I never give up, and I don't accept defeat
They might enter in a wheelchair, but they leave on their feet
J: You’re a faith healer and I give you my trust
I have no choice, recovery or bust
V: It might not work, but it’s worth a punt…
Do you mind if I get my money up front?
J: I came to you desperate, with my arm in a sling
the doctors said they couldn’t help, but I’ll try anything
I had faith that your claims of mystic powers were true
but I arrived with this injury, and I left with it too
B: Do you have an ailment in need of attention
See a faith healer, pray, for divine intervention
Powers beyond your comprehension
See a faith healer, pray, for divine intervention
Health care outside of western convention
See a faith healer, pray, for divine intervention
V: Now listen to me, that is simply not fair
You arrived on my doorstep, I had no time to prepare
Summoning my powers requires draining technique
and you arrived before my breakfast, so my powers were weak
J: If that was the case, we could have tried again
but you took my money, moved house, and changed your name
You promised me that my future would be brighter
But I still feel the same, except my wallet is lighter
B: Do you have an ailment in need of attention
See a faith healer, pray, for divine intervention
Powers beyond your comprehension
See a faith healer, pray, for divine intervention
Health care outside of western convention
See a faith healer, pray, for divine intervention
V: I’m extremely sorry, but you got what you bought
And your complaint will never stand up in court
J: You’re a faith healer and I gave you my trust
Now all that’s left in my wallet is dust
Vom, just wanted to say I've really enjoyed your work this year. When your name came up in the watchlist, I was like "YEAH!" This is a fine collaboration. Weird thing is, I just read an article on the placebo effect ... evidently much stronger than first thought. Faith healing, indeed! :D
PRAY! Great chorus fellas! It'll be crowd-pleaser if you ever play this live...
Sounds ace when the drums come in! PREY!
This is really, really good! I love how you've arranged the two different vocals.
nice song, and the lyrics are clever and funny, i suspect i detect a slight bias though :-) (well, i am sure the same could be said for at least one of my songs though!) Still, i wonder if other (and in my opinion, often helpful) "alternative" healing methods such as reiki get tarred by the same brush here. Anyway, v good job.
Great duet, guys! Really well done, great lyrics too. :-) Roel Hey Vom Vorton, congrats with 14 beautiful songs. You are definitely a winner!
Ha I like it a lot! Good job, the music and lyrics are all great!
awesome song! Love the lyrics; quite original theme and a catchy tune to boot!
Bias is necessary in songs about themes like these. Great song! :)
I like the overall progression in this one. Nicely done.
2010-02-24 @ 01:27pm
tags: electronic ambient instrumental bibio warped titular
Attempting to channel Bibio or Helios for my throw-away instrumental this year, since I've exhausted Vangelis :)
I would have liked to add more to this but I've maxed out my computer power by daring to use TWO different reverbs so I'll leave it here.
Title by the Titular song title generator.
-----
GEAR:
Ugo String Theory synth (fits nicely with my album title) made wobbly by De La Mancha's unstable plugin
drum samples pinched from De La Mancha's 'erratic' drum module, made crackly by the Isotope Vinyl plugin
makala ukulele
some kind of bass and wobbly noise from sources forgotten
(instrumental)
Yargh, I hate it when the computer freaks out at all the fx. Never the less, cool song. I like the slightly off sound of it all.
Ouch, it'll probably hurt your head, but I have separate reverb track going for each instrument on mine ;-) [During mixdown in Audacity, not live -- all tracks recorded 'dry']. I'd also say this -- if you used Csound before, there's a neat trick you can do with convolution. I've added unusual reverbs to tracks, before, by convolving them with things like a faint ride cymbal, a light snare hit, or a single maraca rattle (it's a nice way to make synthetic drums sound bizarrely real). That's the 'wet' track, and the trick is to find the proper mix with the 'dry' track so it sounds natural. Anyway, as with all your work this year, I enjoyed this track! I'll have to make sure I copy the final versions into my music collection (once FAWM is over).
I like how this is your "throw-away instrumental" and it's better than all of my "actual instrumentals".
This is really pretty. I'm now listening to it a second time. Works for snowfall too.
This is a gem, and at the moment I'm totally incapable of finding words to do justice to it.
This is great! Not sure it needed more anyway, not that I am in any position to talk on that front. Congratulations on almost finishing, looking forward to hearing the final track.
Niiiice I love Bibio, and I can totally hear the influence. Great job.
This does have a weird click in the right speaker that I'm not sure is intentional or not. Also I don't know if its supposed to sound all warblely, but that might be my favorite part. I did dig Ambivalence Avenue last year
leave the vinyl surface noise in! as john peel used to say "life has surface noise!"
I agree! I love that this has a vinyl feel to it. The first minute or so kind of put me in mind of some of Stevie Wonder's mid-70's stuff, which i have on vinyl. Then i got a Cure feel after that, some of which i also have on vinyl (Head in the Door, specifically)
A wonderful instrumental. Like Boards of Canada in 3/4. It's got some great chord changes, I could listen to a whole album of this.
Nice and mellow but that bass gives it strength. I'm a sucker for instrumentals.
......
2010-02-27 @ 05:57am
tags: crunk synthpop pop
Lyrics inspired by the car park at work, where my GREY car somehow looks colourful. And Jason Donovan, of course.
Music inspired by 'Yeah!' by Usher, Lil Jon and Ludacris, the finest song ever written. Turned out more synthpop than crunk, perhaps because I'm not bellowing Lil Jon style? Or because I just don't have crunk in my blood.
This isn't actually song #14, by the way - 'A New Low' is counting twice on my list, so I still need another one after this before I win.
----
GEAR:
808 samples + voxengo stereo touch for the crunk handclaps
cobalt vst synth
dmu sine lead synth
so you're showing off your motor to the people gathered round
it's got a neat sound system and it's lowered to the ground
you tell me it cost more than your annual salary
but it ain't going up in my personal gallery!
because cars of that colour, they don't do it for me
you wait for one to pass, and you see twenty-three
I guess they're pretty shiny but they're also ten a penny
and anything gets boring when you've seen too many
there's too many lonely people
look up, and there's too many stars
there's too many broken hearts in the world
and there's too many silver cars
you can do nought to sixty in record time
and those alloys practically invite crime
I admit that it's awesome, it's plain to see
that it's cool when you open the doors vertically
but cars of that colour, they're not my thing
I'd rather have something a bit more striking
I guess you've got a point, I'll admit you're right...
your car does an excellent job of reflecting light
there's too many lonely people
look up, and there's too many stars
there's too many broken hearts in the world
and there's too many silver cars
I like this a lot, the synth voicing is really nice. I'm not familiar w/ the song your referring to by Lil' John and Ludicris, but I like this so maybe I oughta give them a try. Crap, I have a silver car... but no alloy, vert. doors, or record speeds... and its usually dirty Hope your housemate's okay Vom
Oh no! Is she okay? That handclap sample is giving my the crunk jitters... However, the delay on the 'silver cars' vocals is Numan through and through. And I like that!
i like your slidey bass line. the accompaniment's quite simple, but very listenable. Sounds a bit like Moby from his "Animal Rights" album (one of his more interesting in my opinion, and the one that i first "liked" by Moby).
Your voice is simply gorgeous, radiant. Every track you sing in is taken to a higher level.
I like the lyric theme you went with. Feels fresh, and the chorus ties it all together nicely. Very human. Good production value, too! The lead synth sounds very Moog-like. I'm picking up Gary Numan and The Normal as influences here.
Great keyboard! Totally sets the mood! Very techno-mod! Kudos!
Love that sliding synth line! Numan over crunk: the counterintuitive counterpoint works. I think this is way cool stuff.
your car does an excellent job of reflecting light i like that line
2010-02-28 @ 12:13pm
tags: filthy electro techno rave distortion b-side
Warning: This gets VERY LOUD at the end.
It's been a pretty weird weekend. Just letting out some frustration. If anyone would like to add some vocals to this, just let me know. Any kind of shouting, singing, screaming, rapping, chanting welcome. You can change the title if you like.
I'm considering this a FAWM b-side, it's just an angry experiment and won't make it onto any kind of album. Maybe now that I've got this out of my system I can write a nicer last song!
----
GEAR:
image line drummaxx (drums)
big tick rainbow (bass)
steinberg embracer (pad)
krakli spectra (weird lead)
de la mancha dirtbox 3 (utter destruction)
add your own!
It's a very good b-side. A collector :) The VERY LOUD sound at the end is EXCELLENT!
Bloody hell mate, that is AMAZING!! It should be on any album if you ask me, but you didn't so it's up to you really.
"Utter destruction" indeed! That loud part at the end definitely expressed the frustration. And this alleged "practice song" is good enough that I might want to try my hand at a lyric. Called, of course, "Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud". ;)
I like this. Dark and foreboding and claustrophobic. Sounds more sinister than angry to me. Like someone creeping up on an unknowing victim. Would be great soundtrack music. Can almost see pictures when I hear this.
Wow tingly feeling letting the massive crescendo envelop me. Does this need vocals? I'm not so sure! Very dirty and cool.
Ditto with Tobermory re: vocals. This tune definitely stands on its own. Dark, but still gets the blood pumping. Sounds like it would be good music for an end-of-day workout after a hard 8 hours in the office (gonna try it the first chance I get).
i like it a lot! it rocks! i would love to add stuff to this - will i get round to it? unlikely, but possibly. Need to listen to it a few times first though, because it's pretty full already.
2010-02-28 @ 02:15pm
tags: epic indie-rock whingefest
This may appear to be about some kind of major life crisis, but it's actually just about working in an office on your own. But with emotions turned up to 11 for EPIC EFFECT, obviously. This guitar riff has been kicking around in my head for ages, I'm really happy to get it out.
That's it from me this year, time to get on with some listening, commenting and showering. Thanks, FAWM. Thawm.
------
GEAR:
eastwood wandré guitar through my now-familiar one-normal-amp-one-tiny-amp chain, with added behringer vintage time machine
freshman acoustic guitar
borrowed bass
livekit7 soundfont on the drums
NubiLE vst organ
another lonely day with nothing much to do
sit and wonder whatever happened to you?
thought you were there for me but it was just a dream
because now I am the I in team
it's getting difficult to make it through the day
when nobody is here to hear the things I say
thought you would be there but nothing is as it seems
because now I am the I in team
I am the I in team.
Nice riff - sounds really good with the layered guitars when everything kicks in. Wish your voice was a little higher in the mix, but otherwise really enjoyed this - some really subtle touches in the production, and like the end note and effect. good work!
Glorious! Quite rightly asterisk'd.
Get a grandiose full sound from your gear. Great song, man! Love the effects you have on guitars!
My favourite bits are the very beggining waiting to hear what would kick in underneath the riff, and all the lovely layers at the end. Nice work on ramping up the emotions, a time honoured tradition for those of us who are not quite troubled enough to be Thom Yorke.
Your guitar riff, my keyboard riffs... they haunt us. A song in which molehills are turned into mountains. Which sometimes happens when insignificant people go emo. "Whingefest" is right. ;) And some straight guitar rock for once (or at least I haven't heard any of yours till now). Excellent layering effects.
Well done. Beautiful epic ballad type song. Great work getting done too. And thanks for spending some time listen to our stuff. Hopefully see you next year on here.
great idea for a song. nice sound too.
The riff is great, good it came out. Very nice overall sound on this, organic and.. sparkly, if that's the right word. The voice fits in really good with the melody as well.
I really like the phrase 'I in team', like the feeling of isolation that comes from the song and the chord pattern at the very end. Can that be extended into anything? Personally I would have roughed up the guitar sound on the riff, just to give it a bit more edge, but that is just personal preferance. good studff.
This is epic! You pulled out a fantastic final demo'd effort. Best yet? Could be!
a surprising song-- not what i expected; good in a different way. i know, that doesn't help.
Your guitar playing style always seems to remind me of Graham Coxon. That's not a bad thing, by the way! :P I love how you can take something simple, like working in an office, and make an emotional song out of it! As said below, it's a great one.
2010-03-01 @ 04:33am
tags: ehs interview
What offends you? If nothing, then why?
How sour is the earth in terms of candy?
Are people born a blank slate or are we all cogs to a God? Both....?
What are you listening to at your funeral as a ghost?
Lemon, lime, apple, or sublime?
Who is your hero?
Please, tell us about your band-name?
Oh, wow, that just blew me away. Thanks for doing it.
Weird..... but cool!
Love the effort with the background music and robot voice and everything. I think you managed to come up with even weirder answers than me. Very cool.
I love the way you've rhymed you're answers, and the music/robot voice effects that you've added to the track. I really want to go back and improve my own answers now. Oh, and Rolf Harris? With you all the way on that one, mate. :P
:o .... :D
Oh, this so reminds me of something... Damn, what radio series is it? >.<
:D Coolest of cool !
"we fill up our own slates and God's just a kind of chalk" - this line deserves a song all its own! Lovely to hear this interview, was like a real Q&A interview, with the left/right thing and the different voice, and i loved the background music too.
Vom, this is great. I just hit record rambled for a good 20 minutes - you've put some thought into it. I like the way the answers rhyme. It pleases me.
A Futuristic Edge - nice.
2010-03-01 @ 05:04am
tags: titular lyricloud indie folk
I wasn't going to write any more, but here's a quick lyric based on suggestions from the muse tools. I couldn't resist that title.
18/03/10 - Here's a quick one-take demo, recorded straight to tape for some reason. I might do a proper recording this weekend.
http://vomvorton.co.uk/string/VomVorton_YoureSoAppalachianTapeDemo.mp3
22/03/10 - New recording mostly done, but I went to record some melodica only to find that one of the keys has snapped off and now it will play a drone of 'A' alongside any other notes. And this song is in C :(
23/03/10 - New version finished! Used my reed organ in place of the melodica, then got carried away and put loads of other stuff in too.
------
GEAR:
Freshman acoustic guitar
Lorenzo Italian reed organ
Thumb piano (?)
Shaker
Kazoo
you're so appalachian, and we're going through a rocky patch
there's snow up on these mountains and an atmosphere to match
if we light a campfire then our bones will stay warm
but we'll need more than sticks and stones to get us through this storm
you're so appalachian, and I'm standing at your feet
looking up at your summit and conceding defeat
I made base camp in the evening with a confident heart
but things seem so much steeper now it's time to depart
you're so appalachian, and I'm lost in your foothills
if rockfaces had eyes then your looks could kill
and I lack the strength to carry on, I sadly turn away
I won't climb any mountains, not today.
Flameboy?
I'm lost in your foothills is just plain wonderful. Goes well with standing at your feet. Need a banjo and fiddle with this...
very nice! good concept.
Good workplay, sir. Hope the lyrics don't mean reflect the truth.... But reminds me of the Yellow Submarine bit: George: Where are we? John: In the foothills. George: Which ones? Paul: The foothills of the headlands...
wicked. i wish i could play banjo so i could cover this.
clever. a lot of clever twisty turny bits in the imagery of this. i like it.
yo i love the recording.....i love the tape hiss..... song is class too..
I listen to the song and hear pop genius without any need for an electric guitar, a synthesizer, or drums (or drum machine). Then I read the lyrics and find that it's a "rocky relationship" song written entirely in metaphor. That's even more genius. I'd say the reed organ fits. ;) @Tobermory: Yellow Submarine! Oh, it's been forever since I saw that...
2010-03-01 @ 05:46am
tags: titular
Another titular title. A bit cheesy and obvious, but I haven't written a song directly inspired by FAWM this year, so here you go.
Thanks to Taylor Tay for help with the candelabra line!
Again, if anyone fancies having a go at recording this, be my guest. You can work out how to pronounce 'xyzzy' on your own :)
this spellbook is a rhyming dictionary
but it still has the power to enchant
when you put music to the words inside
you unleash the powers they grant
you can take the lid off your magic wand
to transcribe the songs of the birds
or wave it near a piece of paper
to invoke a few more magic words
chorus:
when you're struggling with inspiration
don't get upset, relax and grin
ignore the world outside
and unleash the wizard within
so when you're stuck for ideas
light up your candelabra
and add a little hocus pocus
or some serious abracadabra
or a bit of xyzzy
and you'll find very soon
that there's a little magic
in every word and every tune
This ought to be a piece of finest prog-rock you know. Oh, and it looks like it rhymes with "dictionary" ;)
brilliant use of wordiness!
Heh, wish I could hear how this sounds in your head. Good lyrics - it almost genre-bends from Harry Potter-spawned "Wizard Rock" into sunshine/twee pop. Hmmm... speaking of inspiration... I might have a crack at recording something for this over the weekend if you don't mind.
I'd love to hear how the candelabra rhymes with abracadabra in the demo! Music needed! Nice.
Hey! Great to 'see' you again. Good luck this year; I'm looking forward to hearing what you come up with. :)
Hey Vom, can't wait to see what you come up with this time around. Inspiration from ghosts in the machines in the new place? ;-) Cheers!
Hooray! Yes I'll probably have to start thinking about Fawmover already, even though I dunno whether I'll get a single song done. Cart before horse! Have you got a plan going on this year?
I'd like to see that! It's been ages since a proper release from your camp. If you'd like another crack at a collab I'd be up for it, it was a shame last time...
Alright - how's tricks? Quite looking forward to this, actually.
Hey! Thanks, Happy 2010 too :) Same, I can't wait for your new songs!
Best of luck for fawm 2010, look forward to hearing your new work!
bought any new toys for this years efforts? also. i keep reading your new band as being called 'Obama'. pesky acronyms.
That is indeed quite a coincidence! I believe I even have some of the same lessons you had. I look forward to hearing you songs.
yes i've spent well over a grand on a new amp new computer and posh soundcard. though same as you, not specifically for fawm
I'll be keeping a sinister eye on your activities, most likely to steal as much intellectual property as possible.
Looking forward to the Vangelis-style track (mentioned in the forum)!
You have The Human League in your influences. Awesome. :D
Fantastic. I can't wait to hear your music. And, I'll try my best to get their sound in mine!
Hello sir! Yes I am FAWMing, and I think I'll try and get a bit more involved with the community this time round. Seem like a nice bunch. Looking forward to the next part of your trilogy.
I enjoyed your song posted over on the "Showcase" thread. Gotta be careful with this stuff, this tune is soooo smoove, it might some of us geeks in trouble with the ladies! :D Good show!
Hey Vom, just heard your Electric Jealousy song and really dug it! So did my wifey, which is not always the case for FAWM stuff!
hey Tom your moon song that you linked to is great... the xylophone sounding thing is the perfect sound effect, its very star like... i love your reason 'its the perfect distance away' that's so right its absolutely the perfect distance away... gotta check out the microphones now
woo woo!
Thanks for the comments, Tom, they're much appreciated! I'm currently using a Sennheiser microphone that I can't remember buying but I've been told is a pretty good mic. I also don't EQ the vocals, mainly out of laziness. Looking forward to the rest of your songs, this FAWM lark's proving quite addictive.
got my first song up!
Hey Vom! Thanks for the kudos. I'm gonna spend some time repaying you in listening to you!
Choose yer weapon
Thanks for the feedback and twitter follow my man. I think I'll keep that song around for acoustic encores or something. It has a great "last song of the night" feel to it.
http://www.mediafire.com/?imyzjmgkjgw Not sure it's good quality but that's all I have at the moment : I had a hard drive crash last year just after FAWM and some of my backups are still on minidisc. By the way I lost some FAWM songs I loved and I'm very happy today because I've downloaded Photographic Memories :) I've missed that song!
Thank you for informing me of the Vomit song! It made me laugh (and wish I felt like vomiting).
Ah, Romsey. It's all gravy down here in the green belt... FAWM's got off to a slow start for me - I spent so long setting up my recording gear in my kitchen (and making sandwiches while hanging round there), I've barely got a track done yet. Panic. I see you've made a fine start yourself there
Cheers for the nice comment - yes I have seen Trachtenburgs live a few years back in London. They were great. Perhaps we should start some kind of collective child drummer sweatshop? I can't think of any band that wouldn't be improved by having 9 year olds behind the sticks :)
Thanks for the comment. Your first song is great fun - we both need to break through and make it to song two!
Thanks so much for your comment! I really appreciate it!
Cheers for thesuggestions, Tom - I've already done Alan Sugar.
thanks man, i was quite pleased with it though i kept thinking it was shit until i realised i had the bass and treble on my monitors turned all the way down; fail. How're you getting on with track 2?
Indeed - I am at the same stage... Ho hum. And I'm travelling to exotic Buxton at the weekend so I can't even use that time to catch up.
I'm loving hefner at the moment - your voice reminds me a little of darren hayman (although i may have said that already when i commented on your song). That sounds so cool, hope it went down well, which songs did you cover?
ah yes, like the fugazi album... Which I am almost certain is about buxton.... Or was it belper?
aaah, sounds good! i love gabriel in the airport. How do you feel about hayman watkins trout and lee? I wondered if you'd done Greedy Ugly People, the solo uke versions on youtube are awesome.
The only things I lost were my fawm comments archive and songs by other fawmers I had downloaded. It made me sad but at least I didn't lose my work. Thanks :)
Ahh that's how you managed to get that crazy Karma Police distortion sound, stopped before it developed into the heat-death of the universe. You're right, I've got a bunch of stuff that's half-finished, including a couple of ideas that have been lying around forever without proper structure, recording or words. It'll be nice to finally offload them!
Thanks for the comments, Mr Vorton - it must indeed have seemed like I was talking bollocks when it came to 'Yellow Lines' (well, more than usual), but that sucker ended up being pretty crammed...
Actually, would you mind hugely if I had a go at 'A New Low' too? I'm not trying to half-inch your lyrics, but I have a riff I've been trying to do something with for ages, and when I read them just now, something went 'click' in the recesses of my brain. It would likely be full-throttle Dead Kennedys(ish) riffing if I can pull it off. You're free to say 'nah', and I promise I won't take it personally. Not looking to step on other people's toes.
Where can I find these plug-ins that you've listed?
Cheers man, I hope it'll turn out ok - there's a very real chance I'll make an arse of myself, but we'll see. Looking forward to your version too!
I'm resisting listening to it for now, in case it gives me The Fear. I was planning to wrap it round my ears once mine goes up - then there's no going back!
Thanks for the comments Vom. I don't care what you say...I really like the lyrics on "Driving Alongside a Train"
Agreed about Gemini, I also am very seriously obsessed to this day with the song "Crushed Bones"
yea i have sanddollars ep too.........its great altogether....miss ohios nameless ..........
I am totally in love with your Yamaha keytar. I had that one (or one much like it) ages ago, but it's long gone.
Hey there, thank you :) You know, you are one of the few persons here who could criticize anything in my music and I wouldn't mind because you know me, and also because I have a very high esteem for you :) From others, I tend to expect "constructive" criticism if they decide to leave some ;)
Erk! Didn't mean to take one of your song slots there, Vom. Just wanted to credit you properly...
No worries on the multiple posts, it makes me feel all important 'n' shit ;) If I can write a half-decent lyric, it'd be great to get your take on it too - I'll see how I go...
Thanks! I was starting to think I'm hiding behind those walls-o-vox, and to give it a rest for a while.
Cheers for the comment, Vom - that was a whole heap of fun to record. I miss massive distorted guitars.
The next two (now up) will have you yearning for the days of the first two...things are not progressing for us as planned Vom!
Hi, 'Traveler' now has a demo!
I can't wait for "I Am the I in Team."
Yeah sorry, I've been away. Stupid of me to plan a trip away during FAWM clearly. I do have a few ideas on the go for Flameboy. I could send you some lyrics and see what you think, if theres anything you want to change etc... Are we going to register Flameboy as a fawmer or just put them up as collaborations? You got anything?
Thanks for your comment on "How Many Miles Beyond?" -- if you look carefully at my icon, the bass clef has a copy of The Pattern of Amber behind it (it's easier to see on the larger version, on my profile. (Actually, it's the Labyrinth of Chartres, but that was the inspiration for Zelazny's version . . . and therefore is in some sense the original Pattern). I think I've read that series at least once every other year, since 1986.
On "Walking Through Daydreams" -- I do like the Blofeld, but my 'go to' synth is usually the Nord, if only because there's a button or knob for just about everything, right on the front panel. It took a while to learn it, but I can modify a sound on there faster than anything else (it helps that the ADSR and filter controls are all in a nice group on the top right -- the most common tweak). The Blofeld is more technologically sophisticated, but I have yet to do any deep editing with it.
Vom> Hope my avatar appearing on your profile page doesn't break your No Robots rule ... LOL -- I do have a lot of musicians I follow on FAWM who do electronic music -- Erothyme, for instance -- and I do feel a bit guilty about the "no robot" thing sometimes. I mean, some folks are taking the opportunity to say how much they dislike drum machines, etc, and that wasn't my intention . . . it was an experiment in rhythm, for me, by me, without being a cultural commentary. Kind of like if I were a bird, but had for some reason learned to fly a plane . . . I can go faster and higher with the plane, but sometimes, it's nice to remember I can fly alone. I am wondering if next year I ought to do "Robot Revolution", in which one part of the music (one "member" of the band) is ALWAYS a robot, eg turn some of those fancy Csound arpeggios I've learned to make into actual music. My favorite sounds morph about 16 instrument parameters throughout the song. A human can't match it!
bill murray is a great influence, he's a special one.
Hah, I knew it! I have a rather less sophisticated black binbag of old lyrics, and any time I feel my current ones are a steaming pile of old shite, I can look back and see just what my teenage self turned out. Then cringe horribly.
Hey! Thanks so much for the order. I should have it out the door tomorrow.
Ahh that may help a bit. I'm having problems making it appear in the MIDI list of instruments at all, haven't been an idiot have I? And just tried to use it as a normal plug in? And btw, yes you did just get referenced in that song! All hail the Lard.
> I reckon it's the best one ever For a lot of people, it seems to have been some sort of turning point. I can remember a few folks from years before -- but nothing like I'm hearing this year.
Light-fingered! Well, here's something unexpected -it isn't tremolo you want for that effect, it's a basic chorus. Speed at 7100hz, intensity relatvely low, and a medium mix should get you summat similar, if you want to have a crack.
Yes it is! The eye patch is a bit piratey; the NHS seems a bit dodgy and underhand for various reasons; the government thinks releasing a song for public consumption on this website is basically piracy... it makes sense to me anyways. The patch should be off by tonight so I can drive my drums to the practice room for the last of the drum sessions. And I got all this week off, I WILL FINISH 15 SONGS!! Promise! Parties Break Hearts is a cover so it doesn't count as a proper win until I hit 15.
Well, I escaped Hastings for...a job in Eastleigh. D'oh. Small world though, eh?
Ah that's the spirit. We're doing loads better this time round, 50:90 was a bit of a washout really. PS Cheers for the help on the Dr SID thing, I reckon I can get something going. I shall be ripping off Late of the Pier for this new conceit...
Yo, thanks for the offer. I'd be honoured to have you give my words some Vom treatment, but alas all I had left over was some unfinished instrumentals. This should be something we explore at another time though. Do you....ummm, songfight?
I was raised on songfights, they can be mean over there but it gave me a thick skin. or a thick skull, one or t'other
Very cool. Thanks for the heads up on the VST. I'll have to give it a go.
Hey, I really mean it :) You've been here at my worst moments, so you've definitely been one of my angels this year :) We were talking about a collab last year too, I would love to collab with you! Maybe it would be easier when we don't have a deadline? Let's keep in touch and do it one of these days ;) No, Mojo can't play the drums. I should ask his brother ;) Thanks for your sweet words :)
Of course it helps :) Thank you. Cool beats natural, definitely.
hehe the snow is faaar from melting I'm afraid.. today its piling up again; this winter is just crazy over here... global warming my ass! Hmmm... you should really try skiing while you're over here (if you haven't already!).... loads of places rent them out.. and of course go sledding in "Korketrekkeren"... and ice-skating right by "Nationalteateret"... so many winter activities, so little time! :D
CONGRATULATIONS!! One more for a legit victory (if you're only counting the New Lows once). >Is that a guiro? This is really interesting, ..(although I guess this one is less complex than some)! Aha it certainly is a guiro. The finished result will be far more complex than it sounds at the moment, the verses will sound like David Bowie and the choruses like an obscure band called Scarfo that were criminally underrated. String quartet + several guitars + piano + recorder... I'll let you know when it's all done!
Yeah, I almost thought the click might be was intentional as it was consistent and seemed to happen at the same interval, verses a digital pop just going nuts. I guess vinyl would do that if the scratch on a lp ran edge to center, but it'd be luck if it had the right beat, huh? :)
Oh my God man I'm so sorry. That's just terrible. Hope it's not a severe one (I hear they can be better or worse??), all the best.
Spread the word, boys. http://fawm.org/songs/9106/
Yes, yes!
Yeah yeah, I know, look at you with your songs that have names. Very impressive. I have officially failed. I will make sure untitled 3 kicks untitled 2's arse.
I reckon it could, although it is possibly slightly too clever lyrically for Flameboy. Worth a try or do you have something else we could try? In other news. I found the lyrics to Jurassic park, I will get a rough demo recorded.
I found those SQ8L patches you mentioned. And a whole lot of patches for Synth1 and Oatmeal as well. I've decided to use SQ8L and Synth1 in some of my songs, where I would normally use my WK-200's Polysynth GM instrument. Oh, and by the way, I busted Sophie's zongs. ;)
Hope you enjoy! I think it sounds best on shuffle. When you don't like something, just skip to the next one. I'm currently planning an updated version -- there's probably another 200 songs to put on there. So remind yourself that you own the abridged edition!
Thanks for your visit, and I'll pass on your compliment to Mister ... he's my office assistant and is quite a good typist, though he tends to nap a lot. Oh, well. :-)
You're right! Jamie ended up doing The Kills and I wasn't nearly as impressed. Oh well, can't have everything. I've been lucky enough to have all my real life interrupt February not March so I'm all over the comments. Really impressed with your stuff this year you're getting better each time!
thanks for that...thought that one was gonna die a zong
What offends you? If nothing, then why? How sour is the earth in terms of candy? Are people born a blank slate or are we all cogs to a God? Both....? What are you listening to at your funeral as a ghost? Lemon, lime, apple, or sublime? Who is your hero? Please, tell us about your band-name?
Hey Vom thanks for the comments.. Yeah it is kind of hard to comment on most of my output.. heck I do not even know them by name??? Just got back from a FAWM sabbatical (family time) need to catch up on your tunes soon.
Thank you for your beautiful comment on "Dancing Snow", Tom. Congratulations on 20 songs :) nadia
hey and welcome back! Saw your pics... looks so damn cold! hehe... A bit overwhelmed by all the snow? This winter has been pretty nasty; but its warming up quite nice over here now, so things are def. lookin up! Hope ya had a cool time and remember to bring ski's next time! :D
Well, it turned out very nicely, old son! Be warned, our Q&A is VERY overextended. Editing's a hassle, I decided.
Cheers, Mr Vorton. It didn't have the sensible brevity of yours, but it was fun to do :D
Haha, just saw you're a Tom Morgan fan. Smudge will do a European Tour in May. They will come to Amsterdam as well. If you know of a venue they can play in May near you, you have to contact them through myspace. Ever heard the gIVEgOODS 2004 demos? I can send you a copy if you want. Best Tom Morgan songs ever. Unreleased.
Thanks so much for the comments. I'm very thoroughly enjoying your stuff! Your songs keep taking wonderfully unexpected turns.
Yo, I love the idea of you listening to my album at work for some reason, I would do the same but my employment does not allow for it so I've got yours on during the commute. Nathan's eyes and What a sunset in particular have been pushing my buttons.
aaaah, the locked songs. They are in progress but I'm easily distracted by fun things like badges at the moment. must try harder
Thanks for the kind and insightful comments, and for listening! I'm glad you liked what you heard.
thanks man!