Morricone Tribute: Whispers Across the Wasteland

[ChameleonMusic]

https://soundcloud.com/chameleon-music/ ... land-final

My tribute to the great Ennio Morricone (died 6 July 2020) whom I studied not only as a film composer but also through his avant garde musical creations as part of Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza.

Whispers Across the Wasteland is a linked suite of pieces (medley) from an imaginary Spaghetti Western film (my individual take on the genre anyway)...

Just get a story going in your head as you listen!

Section 1: Echoes of a Long Forgotten Love

Section 2: Say Hello to Francesca (2:12)

Section 3: Old Grandpa Jones and a Chipmunk called Sam (2:46)

Section 4: Francesca Returns (3:20)

Section 5: Picnic at the Farmstead (3:54)

Section 6: A Deadly Game of Hide and Seek (4:26)

Section 7: Follow that Rodent - The Chase is On! (5:43)

Section 8: The Stranger and the Music Box (6:47)

Created in Komplete and Omnisphere + a few live recordings as well...

Jaws harp / Swanee Whistle / flexatone / Vocal noise...probably others that I've missed!

[DanielPersson]

This wasn't really my cup of tea, but I must say it sounded really well produced!

[jcub]

The production and orchestral parts in particular are meticulously and well done. It did not remind me of a Spaghetti Western but to be fair, I have not watched one in quite a while. I was not sure how the vocal parts fit in or how the different sections were connected but I am sure it would be more apparent to me if I saw it with the accompanying film. Well done!

[ChameleonMusic]

This wasn't really my cup of tea, but I must say it sounded really well produced!

Cheers - thanks for the listen and comments about the production...you've no idea how complicated it was on this one! Took me two weeks to mix and master it!

This wasn't really my cup of tea

100% fair enough, I can understand that entirely...Just curious ( I always am with my music)...any particular reason...just asking as it does go through a lot of different atmospheres in the 9 mins.

[DanielPersson]

This wasn't really my cup of tea, but I must say it sounded really well produced!

Cheers - thanks for the listen and comments about the production...you've no idea how complicated it was on this one! Took me two weeks to mix and master it!

This wasn't really my cup of tea

100% fair enough, I can understand that entirely...Just curious ( I always am with my music)...any particular reason...just asking as it does go through a lot of different atmospheres in the 9 mins.

I mostly thinks it's because it's to much "Western" and/or "Medieval" influenced.

I don't like either one of those to, so it was in some cases hard to listen to, for me.

However, the ambient/chillout elements made it somewhat worth while

[Paladin on a Horse]

I did like Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and company back in the 1960s. This is obviously in that same area - different, dramatic, varied and it tells a story ins my head even without a film - like those Morricone medley cassette tapes of film music that were sold in HMV. I still have one - A Fistful of Dollars. It is not quite the same as Mr Morricone of course but it is a fitting tribute to his genius.

Thank God it did not go BOOM CHIGGA BOOM CHIGGA BOOM CHIGGA BOOM CHIGGA BOOM CHIGGA BOOM CHIGGA for 9 minutes.

[Bansaw]

Really interesting and unique.
Mixing was really good.

[ChameleonMusic]

This wasn't really my cup of tea, but I must say it sounded really well produced!

Cheers - thanks for the listen and comments about the production...you've no idea how complicated it was on this one! Took me two weeks to mix and master it!

This wasn't really my cup of tea

100% fair enough, I can understand that entirely...Just curious ( I always am with my music)...any particular reason...just asking as it does go through a lot of different atmospheres in the 9 mins.

I mostly thinks it's because it's to much "Western" and/or "Medieval" influenced.

I don't like either one of those to, so it was in some cases hard to listen to, for me.

However, the ambient/chillout elements made it somewhat worth while

Ha! If you're NOT keen on Western soundtrack music, then listening to a 9 minute Morricone tribute was brave!

Thanks again for the feedback.

[ChameleonMusic]

The production and orchestral parts in particular are meticulously and well done. It did not remind me of a Spaghetti Western but to be fair, I have not watched one in quite a while. I was not sure how the vocal parts fit in or how the different sections were connected but I am sure it would be more apparent to me if I saw it with the accompanying film. Well done!

Many thanks for the listen and feedback jcub...always appreciated!

It did not remind me of a Spaghetti Western...

I think it's in that area (I've listened to a lot of them over the years), but it is definitely my own individual take on the idea!

I was not sure how the vocal parts fit in

Not 100% sure what you mean by this... Any particular vocals, as there are a lot of them!?

...or how the different sections were connected

They're connected in two ways...

1) An imaginary narrative thread in my head - see my section titles above...feel free to use your own!

2) Musically there are various connecting threads in there...for example - 4 out of the 8 sections use variations on the same melodic and harmonic content.

[jcub]

Thanks! On second listen, I noticed the connecting themes between sections or perhaps I paid better attention as the song moved from section to section.

My issue with the vocal/whispering sections at 8 second, 47 seconds, 2:14, 2:38, 6:18, and 6:56 is that I felt like I was hearing a lyric or whispering but couldn't quite understand what was being said.

The experience is a bit like being around a table in a noisy restaurant trying to pay attention to a conversation but not being able to quite hear it (I guess none of us will have that issue for a while). As a listener, it distracted me from the music which is very strong. The yelling (maybe that isn't the right word?) that started at the 3 minute mark was also distracting to me.

As on the first listen, the composition, production, and mixing is very strong and I enjoyed the piece.

[kingozrecords]

I like what I've heard but initially after the orchestral swell the guitar is a bit too simple to emulate picking; it improves in complexity.

However, I enjoyed this; this drop whistle though, hmm. Interesting if not unprecedented?. The huaws as if to prompt a horse to gallop, but by not being accompanied with the feeling of motion or movement or those sounds; the stuff of adventure in the genre and style like cocunuts; like bells and chimes, timpanies and violins at times; alternatively gunfire even, whips, swells of a sort with chamber orchestras commonly.

Without the layering; above mentioned: Impact was weak. Studying those things timed can be trying but it's every detail that counts.

A slight twang on the mechanical string instrument perhaps prudent too. The rest is enjoyable. Like a movie from then on in. Perhaps the movement came easily to you due to its natural grace.

[thomekk]

Impressive how much work you did here with all the details. Great!
Being also a huge Morricone-Fan here. So I of course get all the special instruments used here. I guess I like part 7 the most. If I dare say it though: It was soundwise brilliant, but - only for my special humble taste - somewhat too clean and in the face. Missing some dirt (I cannot say what this could mean specially, sorry)
I guess it may come because of the brilliant sample-libraries used here (?), dunnow.
Good work anyways, senor!

[The Noodlist]

Cool, I also appreciate the effort gone into this.

[Frantz]

I really enjoyed most of this. I do wish the listener was given more time to soak up the ideas. There are constant transitions, some of them jarring, in between short sections. It seems like the highlights of what could be a longer work were stitched together.

I especially loved 0:00-1:44. I wanted to linger in this space for a while but it jumps into a compressed "A Day In the Life"-style orchestral transition and then jumps to the enjoyable Francesca section. So while all three of these sections are brilliant, taken together, the effect is kind of dizzying.

To quote the philospher Flavor Flav, "Hey yo Chuck, I don't understand this man! Yo, we got to slow down man, you losing them!"

[ChameleonMusic]

Really interesting and unique.
Mixing was really good.

Cheers - thanks for the listen and feedback!