Vom Vorton / FAWM 2009 Archive

1. Get Lost!

2009-02-03 @ 02:07pm
tags: indie pop

hooray! here is my first song, and only slightly off the pace.

the story is: I quite like getting lost! as long as I'm not rushing to be somewhere, or whatever. and it isn't really cold or wet. and I'm not being attacked by anything.

this song features a classical guitar that I bought from fellow fawmer 'benisbatman', a shaker thing I got for christmas and my new mic / preamp combo. my voice is lower and growlier than usual, perhaps because I just ate a polo mint.

Lyrics

When I'm walking around the city or meandering through the park
and the sunshine seems consistent and it's hours til it gets dark
I question my location and I realise with a laugh
that there's nothing there to stop me from stepping off the path

if you're wondering whether it's wandering weather
then you might as well just get lost
if you're ready perhaps we can throw our maps
and concentrate on getting lost

there's a certain satisfaction in not knowing where you are
at least when you're on foot and never end up going far
so join me in a pastime that never gets boring
because getting lost is just another name for exploring

chorus x 2

Comments


2. Photographic Memory

2009-02-04 @ 03:55pm
tags: synth-pop pop indie

I've had an idea on this theme for a while, and the week 1 challenge was all the encouragement I needed!

It's my theory that people who don't like being photographed "because they look bad in photos" look bad in photos because they don't like being photographed.

Lyrics

You know I've got a terrible memory
and I can't put a name to a face
so I have to rely on technology
to put all my thoughts into place
so why won't you do me this favour?
Just grant me this one little thing
I want you to pose for the camera
I promise you that it won't sting

LET! ME! TAKE! YOUR! PHOTOGRAPH!
LET! ME! TAKE! YOUR! PHOTOGRAPH!
once you're in the frame, you'll never go away
LET! ME! TAKE! YOUR! PHOTOGRAPH!

despite my pleas, you always seem reluctant
my encouragement just falls on deaf ears
but I don't care! I remain persistent
it's fun to force a friend to face their fears
you complain that you're not photogenic
well I think you should drop the modesty
you'll never look bad in a photograph
especially when you're stood next to me

chorus x 2

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3. The Joyous Invasions

2009-02-07 @ 10:46am
tags: electronic instrumental science-fiction synth

Here is something a bit different!

I went out for a drink with a friend I hadn't seen in a while last weekend, and he was telling me about the new drum machine he had recently bought. Obviously I asked him to supply me with some beats from his new toy... and they led to this odd synth thing, like some kind of drunk Vangelis. I pinched the title from a Theodore Sturgeon short story collection.

That's any hope of my FAWM 2009 album being even remotely cohesive out the window then... :)

Lyrics

(instrumental)

Comments


4. Hope You're Not Cross

2009-02-09 @ 07:43am
tags: pop rap chip-hop

Or possibly "Hope Yr Not X" depending on whether the abbreviations annoy me or not, I haven't decided. Either way it's a pretty poor pun :)

This tackles religion, hopefully in a way that doesn't offend anyone. It's supposed to be a bit fun / silly.

I wrote part of the first verse prior to FAWM but never did anything with it until now, I think that's alright! Music yet to be written, so demo will follow later, hopefully this evening. Lyrics might be revised at the same time, but I thought I'd post them to make it look like I'm less behind than I actually am...

Updated 10/02: Music is done now, it's a classic example of "chip-hop", that is to say chiptune music with rapping over the top... something I pioneered last year with my song "Savoury Man".

I didn't realise how short the song would work out with the lyrics being busted out at such inhuman speed, but there you go ;)

Lyrics

I know it doesn’t matter and I guess I shouldn’t say
But that girl’s into Jesus in a slightly creepy way
And the posters that adorn every wall of her home
Concentrate far too intensely on his muscle tone
Now she’s asking me to grow my hair and stop trimming my beard
And the whole situation’s getting very very weird
Though I’m going barefoot and catching a chill
I am finding these pretty tough sandals to fill

But when she said “I’m leaving you for the church, I hope you’re not cross”
I realised that religion’s gain is definitely my loss

She took me to the cinema to see “the passion”
Wearing outfits that were 2000 years out of fashion
There was quite a commotion and stares from the crowd
But she said “turn the other cheek” and I hid behind my shroud
She always forgives my sins and has the patience of a saint
But the pressure to behave myself is making me feel faint
and I cracked when she said we should matching tattoos
Of all the Old Testament and most of the New.

But when she said “I’m leaving you for the church, I hope you’re not cross”
I realised that religion’s gain is definitely my loss

Comments


5. Over the Weather

2009-02-10 @ 04:30am
tags: pop challenge weathercore a6

Here's another song that I've had an idea for for AGES but have never actually got around to writing until now. I live in Derby and work in Matlock, and this song namechecks most of the places I drive through in between.

The plan is to have the middle 8 (or whatever) in a different time signature as per the Week 2 challenge, but I won't tick that box until I've actually tried this out...

Hopefully I'll get a chance to record demos for this song and the last one tonight, which will bring me back on track...
------
Update 15/02/09:

I got sidetracked. It's finished now, time signature changes, vocoders and all. This one took longer to record than any of the others and I'm not ENTIRELY sure it was worth it. That'll teach me to mess with forces I don't properly understand.

Lyrics

it was the height of british summertime by which I mean it was raining
thusly I was stuck in traffic, but you won't hear me complaining
as the clouds began to thicken and I turned on my headlights
to see lightning bolts flash atop the Heights (of Abraham)

despite extreme conditions and wherever I may roam
monsoon rains in matlock bath won't stop me getting home
though the road is getting icy and the skies are turning black
a cyclone up in cromford will not stop me getting back

with the cars all slowed to walking pace, my wipers on full speed
I can't see the road markings but I know I must proceed
it's so cold outside that my heater fails to keep me warm
but I know that you'll be there if I can make it through the storm

despite extreme conditions and wherever I may roam
a whirlwind in whatstandwell will not stop me getting home
though the road is getting icy and the skies are turning black
thunderstorms in ambergate won't stop me getting back

we are over the weather
it will take more than rain and snow
to stop us being together
and I know in my heart
that frozen, closed and flooded roads
will not keep us apart

despite extreme conditions and wherever I may roam
a blizzard around belper will not stop me getting home
though the road is getting icy and the skies are turning black
a maelstrom up in milford will not stop me getting back
so the rain may be torrential and there's strong winds forecast too
flash floods throughout duffield will not stop me getting through
if the hills are thick with snow and frost and my hands are turning blue
an avalance in allestree won't stop me getting back to you

Comments


6. Under The Moon

2009-02-16 @ 04:13pm
tags: ukulele moongazing

I had to follow up a song called "over the weather" with one called "under the moon". It is just common sense. Also I really like the moon, and hadn't used my ukulele yet.

The Usborne Book of the Future is my favourite book. It used to be online but then Usborne complained, so I can't link to it any more. They did predict a moon olympics though, in the moon's capital city, "Armstrong". In 2020. It could still happen!

Lyrics

on a clear night the moon rises
and its brightness mesmerises
through the trees I see it glowing
can't help wishing I was going
though I know it'll never happen
I've got as much chance of seeing saturn
a vague hope lingers
and I cross my fingers

when you need me
you'll know where to find me
under the moon
staring up

the usborne book of the future promised we'd see a moon olympics
but I'm starting to think their predictions were slightly wrong
so I'll content myself by gazing at the fabulous amazing orb
and writing song after song after song after song after song after song after song after song after song after song

Comments


7. Synthetic Heart

2009-02-19 @ 03:14pm
tags: rock with a capital rock

The idea for the chorus came to me in the toilet at work today, of all places. I hummed the melody into my mobile phone after washing my hands. At that point I imagined it being a slightly odd electronic pop song, but when I listened back it was mostly extractor fan. Imagine my surprise when I recorded it and it ended up sounding like this!

Lyrics

well you can push me over, I'll just stand up again
you can open my skull and make changes to my brain
you can knock me out and replace my defunct parts
but please don't break my synthetic heart

you can change me around to keep up with the latest fads
you can soup me up, you can cover me in ads
you can clear my mind and go back to the start
but please don't break my synthetic heart

(frightening guitar solo)

baby please don't break my synthetic heart
baby please don't break my synthetic heart

Comments


8. Wizard Teeth

2009-02-22 @ 03:58pm
tags: rock magic supernatural

I've planned to use this title for a while. I don't really know why. I didn't like this song for a lot of the recording process, but I've warmed to it now that it's done, perhaps entirely due to the backing vocals.

Probably shouldn't have used the word "power" three times in the second verse, but oh well.

Lyrics

a strange throbbing in my gums
means something magical this way comes
I check the mirror for any sign
it sends a shiver down my spine
to know my dentist agrees
there are endless possibilities

all the things I'll do when I get my wizard teeth (it's magic)

with untold power at my disposal
I'm forced to write a full proposal
when the power materialises
I want to avoid any nasty surprises
and know that it is understood
I'll only use my powers for good

Comments


9. Figures Crossed

2009-02-23 @ 04:02pm
tags: ska-pop indie fun ob-la-di ob-la-da

UPDATED 04/03/09! I've replaced the live casiocore demo with a more complete ukulele-fest.

My girlfriend suggested the title for this one and I LIKED it. I'm not sure I've done it justice (not nearly enough puns) but now that I've properly recorded it, I am quite pleased with the end result.

Should you want to hear how this song has developed, the previous demo is here: http://www.vomvorton.co.uk/tapes/VomVorton_09_FiguresCrossedDemo.mp3

Lyrically this is basically a combination / rip-off of two of MJ Hibbett's songs - Perfect Love Song and It Only Works Because You're Here. Don't think it's TOO blatant though :)

Lyrics

their eyes met across the office and he felt a certain spark
that shot into his keyboard and turned the office dark
he dreamed that when the lights came on she'd be holding his hand
their fingers held together by a thick rubber band
"can you help me with my spreadsheet?", he would hear her say
and he'd suggest a formula that would make her day
he'd say "I'll see you calcu-later" when the clock hit five o'clock
though they both lived on the same block

though they spent so much time together every day
they never got their figures crossed, I'm sorry to say

it was a small office, they were often left alone
they had a receptionist manning the phone
the stationery cupboard could have been a perfect nest
if they'd dropped their calculations and declared their mutual interest
he offered her a lift to work but she was sick that day
she asked him to a party but he couldn't find the way
and when she got promoted to head recruiter
he got made redundant, replaced by a computer

Comments


10. Love in the Reactor Core

2009-02-24 @ 02:01pm
tags: drone noise

The chord is some kind of open string B minor thing. I recorded myself playing it once on an acoustic guitar, and created the rest of the song, apart from the vocals, from that. The drums are made from the chord. The melodies are made from the chord, vocoded.

The chord is miserable and so is the song :(

Lyrics

this is desperation and nothing more
this is love in the reactor core
we fall together as we fall apart
we were doomed right from the start

Comments


11. Avant Garden

2009-02-26 @ 02:20pm
tags: electronic horror storytelling

Elaine DiMasi inspired this one with the following comment on my soundboard page:

"Write a song about a topiary garden that goes around from creature (I mean, shrubbery) to creature and gets pretty weird."

I'm not sure this is entirely what you meant, Elaine, but it was a LOT of fun :)

Lyrics

something strange is stirring at the arboretum
they called out a botanist - but she just got eaten
the gardeners have started refusing to go out alone
some of them have disappeared and can't be reached on the phone
it all started after the exhibition
a topiary show, one pound fifty admission
a local expert with a sparkle in his eye
carved and snipped and crafted, everyone was amazed, he was a talented guy

but now there's blood on the leaves
and blood on the branches
and blood on the little gravel path
and the janitor's shaking
and muttering while he's raking
through the aftermath

the owner's losing money and his payments are long overdue
people come in in the morning seeking something for the garden but the garden wants something too
there are whispers in the café that strange things have been seen in the rare plants section
but none of the staff volunteer to give it a closer inspection....

because there's blood on the leaves
and blood on the branches
and blood on the little gravel path
and the janitor's shaking
and muttering while he's raking
through the aftermath

and so the staff are getting crazy and they all get together and head down the track
to find the topiary expert and his trimmers and scissors somewhere out in the back
carving weird and wonderful creatures out of every single plant in the area
the hyacinth lady can't help but scream and they all turn... and stare at her!

and now there's BLOOD on the leaves!
and BLOOD on the branches!
and BLOOD on the snowdrops and the rosehips!
and the janitor's gone
and an evergreen lion
is licking its lips

Comments


12. Eine Kleine Schwarze Katze

2009-02-27 @ 04:51pm
tags: catcore indie-rock

http://www.vomvorton.co.uk/tapes/tucker.jpg

apologies for any mispronunciations.

Lyrics

he appeared at the door looking sad and thin
when we saw his face we had to let him in
he was so hungry, he ate a hula-hoop and then he sneezed
he wouldn't turn his nose up at cheese

eine kleine schwarze katze
un petit chat noir
un pequeño gato negro
with little white paws
eine kleine schwarze katze
un petit chat noir
uno dos tres quattro
and he knocked on our door

so he went to sleep a stray, but woke up a pet
we groomed him and we fed him and we took him to the vet
he could open any door - that cat was no sucker
he had a white bib, so we called him tucker!

(chorus)

so we grew up together, years passed like the scratches on my hands
through my awkward teenage years he was the friend who always understands
though I had to move away when I went to university
every time I returned home I knew that he remembered me
every cat has his day, and tucker wasn't getting any younger
he started to get thin, and showed no signs of hunger
sadly tucker passed away, but right up to the end
he was the best cat in the world, and my best friend

(chorus)

eine kleine schwarze katze
en liten svart katt
un piccolo gatto nero
een weinig zwarte kat
um gato preto pequeno
hychydig ddua cath
a lítill svartur köttur
a little black cat.

Comments


13. Absurd Capacity

2009-02-28 @ 07:41am
tags: synth-rap ode to data storage

I had the idea for this song a while ago, while looking at a tiny micro-SD card that somehow can hold 8 gigabytes of data. I had a minor breakdown and was never quite the same.

Other things that have absurd capacity include minidiscs, video cassettes, USB memory sticks and The Tardis.

Lyrics

when I was young I would sit on my floor
loading games from tapes on my C64
and wondering how they fit the data inside
things only got worse when I got a disk drive
eventually my family got a PC
with 500 megabytes of hard drive memory
and 8 meg of ram in the case
I had no idea how to fill all that space

audio cassettes have absurd capacity
floppy disks have absurd capacity
hard drives have absurd capacity
random access memory has absurd capacity

well, that didn't last long, it became clear to me
that you can fit 700 megabytes on a single CD
and as I was trying to understand that
DVDs became commonplace and knocked me flat
I can put six movies on a disk to take to a friend's home
or put my mp3 collection on my mobile phone
but the thing that really surprises me
is that I can remember the size of the hard drive in my first PC

compact disks have absurd capacity
DVDs have absurd capacity
memory cards have absurd capacity
mp3 players have absurd capacity
the human brain has absurd capacity
the human brain has absurd capacity
the human brain has absurd capacity
the human brain has absurd capacity

Comments


14. The Dreaming Jewels

2009-02-28 @ 02:29pm
tags: pretty electronic noodling

A nice relaxing finish to the album :)

A companion piece to 'The Joyous Invasions' from earlier in the month - more dreamy synths and another Theodore Sturgeon title.

Hooray for another excellent FAWM! I had a great time.

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