If Only the Dead Could Listen
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 893 posts since 12 Jun, 2006
https://soundcloud.com/chameleon-music/ ... uld-listen
Originally composed, recorded and arranged in 2008; I've just reworked this one - a few tweaks for a new project where it fits very appropriately!
I've never posted it on here before and as it's very different from all my other KVR music posts, I thought...why not!
Combines live performances of Balkan traditional style melodies with improvised jazz piano, electronic instruments and a Bulgarian chamber choir ....amongst other things!
All the elements hopefully come together to create a haunting and intense piece of music.
Originally composed for:
'If Only the Dead Could Listen' - a play / BBC radio documentary about Albanian Asylum Seekers written by Dr Gezim Alpion, Birmingham University, UK.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_Only_t ... uld_Listen
Composed, recorded, arranged and produced by Mark Taylor, Chameleon Music.
Piano, synths, acoustic bass and all drums / percussion performed by Mark Taylor, Chameleon Music.
All other instruments / vocals performed live by Balkan folk musicians. (Yes, I did know their names, but it was 10 years ago)!
Originally composed, recorded and arranged in 2008; I've just reworked this one - a few tweaks for a new project where it fits very appropriately!
I've never posted it on here before and as it's very different from all my other KVR music posts, I thought...why not!
Combines live performances of Balkan traditional style melodies with improvised jazz piano, electronic instruments and a Bulgarian chamber choir ....amongst other things!
All the elements hopefully come together to create a haunting and intense piece of music.
Originally composed for:
'If Only the Dead Could Listen' - a play / BBC radio documentary about Albanian Asylum Seekers written by Dr Gezim Alpion, Birmingham University, UK.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_Only_t ... uld_Listen
Composed, recorded, arranged and produced by Mark Taylor, Chameleon Music.
Piano, synths, acoustic bass and all drums / percussion performed by Mark Taylor, Chameleon Music.
All other instruments / vocals performed live by Balkan folk musicians. (Yes, I did know their names, but it was 10 years ago)!
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- addled muppet weed
- 105824 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
the dead can listen, they just cant type up any feedback.
will check when at pc rather than on phone.
will check when at pc rather than on phone.
- KVRAF
- 7691 posts since 11 Jun, 2006
solid production. i enjoyed the exotic vacation
HW SYNTHS [KORG T2EX - AKAI AX80 - YAMAHA SY77 - ENSONIQ VFX]
HW MODULES [OBi M1000 - ROLAND MKS-50 - ROLAND JV880 - KURZ 1000PX]
SW [CHARLATAN - OBXD - OXE - ELEKTRO - MICROTERA - M1 - SURGE - RMiV]
DAW [ENERGY XT2/1U RACK WINXP / MAUDIO 1010LT PCI]
HW MODULES [OBi M1000 - ROLAND MKS-50 - ROLAND JV880 - KURZ 1000PX]
SW [CHARLATAN - OBXD - OXE - ELEKTRO - MICROTERA - M1 - SURGE - RMiV]
DAW [ENERGY XT2/1U RACK WINXP / MAUDIO 1010LT PCI]
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- addled muppet weed
- 105824 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
ooh nice, reminds me a little of some gong/oroonies combo with mebbe a little suns of arqa too
if the dead do listen, i imagine they'll be groovin!
nice vocal work too, shame you didn't keep in touch, a whole album of this kind of crossover type stuff could be cool.
if the dead do listen, i imagine they'll be groovin!
nice vocal work too, shame you didn't keep in touch, a whole album of this kind of crossover type stuff could be cool.
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 893 posts since 12 Jun, 2006
Thanks for the feedback...
Definitely 'exotic' in many ways...a serious fusion of different genres in there as that's what the director wanted! :0)
"gong/oroonies combo with mebbe a little suns of arqa too" - had to look these up...I can hear what you mean though!
"nice vocal work too, shame you didn't keep in touch, a whole album of this kind of crossover type stuff could be cool"
Agreed, but we had just 1 day to record everything! We managed to record 12 tracks...all used in the 2008 production. Most weren't really complete songs as such, though...more background atmospherics.
NOTE: Singer also played the Balkan fiddle...very talented!
Definitely 'exotic' in many ways...a serious fusion of different genres in there as that's what the director wanted! :0)
"gong/oroonies combo with mebbe a little suns of arqa too" - had to look these up...I can hear what you mean though!
"nice vocal work too, shame you didn't keep in touch, a whole album of this kind of crossover type stuff could be cool"
Agreed, but we had just 1 day to record everything! We managed to record 12 tracks...all used in the 2008 production. Most weren't really complete songs as such, though...more background atmospherics.
NOTE: Singer also played the Balkan fiddle...very talented!
- KVRAF
- 1626 posts since 28 Oct, 2005 from Finland
Well done track with variable parts. Interesting composition and arrangement.
Pleasant to listen to nice ambiance and sounds.
Pleasant to listen to nice ambiance and sounds.
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- KVRian
- 884 posts since 3 Jan, 2016
A good mix of instruments and vocals. East meets west music. Bulgarian choir singing, especially the women, can be quite powerful as they sing more from their upper throat. It’s almost a yell. The choir on this project blended in well for what you needed.
Very nice!
Very nice!
- KVRAF
- 6325 posts since 18 Jul, 2008 from New York
This is great! You successfully blended the Balkan music with your own. The choir is particularly wonderful.
With respect to the mix, I think some of the percussion is possibly a bit too upfront and edgy.
With respect to the mix, I think some of the percussion is possibly a bit too upfront and edgy.
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 893 posts since 12 Jun, 2006
Thanks for the feedback.fastlanephil wrote:A good mix of instruments and vocals. East meets west music. Bulgarian choir singing, especially the women, can be quite powerful as they sing more from their upper throat. It’s almost a yell. The choir on this project blended in well for what you needed.
Very nice!
Yes there is a strand in eastern and southern European women's choirs that has a slightly more nasal timbre in some songs...as you say, they sometimes use the pharynx as well as the mouth cavity for resonance. This was a choir that sang in both the Western Classical and more traditional Bulgarian styles.
Thanks, Frantz...I love that choir sound! :0)Frantz wrote:This is great! You successfully blended the Balkan music with your own. The choir is particularly wonderful.
With respect to the mix, I think some of the percussion is possibly a bit too upfront and edgy.
Percussion-wise...I agree:
'edgy' sound is down to dodgy recording by me more than anything else! It's hard to record and play at the same time!:0)
'Upfront' was a mixing decision at the time which was probably overdone.
Sadly I don't have all the basic stem tracks from the original recordings so only partial tweaks were available this time...the drums and percussion were stuck in with the bass for some reason, so I left them alone for now.