In response to a recent email string discussing the making of drum sounds, I decided to make a bunch of un-effected, un-eq’d, isolated drum files for us to play around with. Here is the challenge:
1. Take these tracks and convert into something more interesting.
2. Report back here with your refurbishments and let us know how you did it.
3. Discuss.
That’s it! This is really open ended, so there’s no need to create anything finished sounding. Little riffs are just as good as a full song.
bass drum
snare drum
floor tom
crash cymbal
ride cymbal
fills
mallets
It’s not that we’re bored or anything. Really, we are having a blast with the string of monthly mini-eps. But it is month five, and we all need a change of routine every once in a while. On this note, we introduce to you the May EP Challenge: Reduce, Reuse, and/or Recycle a 
While reviewing the opening track “Brother” 
Aryn’s Songs
Bonus: I know its only supposed to be 5 songs, but Antichrist Television Blues by the Arcade Fire from the album Neon Bible came on next. Wow this is really an awesome song. A nice change from the out-funk I was just listening to. Thats it. If I were a professional reviewer I would give the Neon Bible 4 out of 5 possible Gideon bibles on the Motel sidetable reading scale (note: this scale not commonly used anywhere outside of the States)
Yet again, the segue from the jazz of the last song to this here is a bit too serendipitous to be just random. But it was nice. The Sea and Cake are one of those bands that when I discovered them around 2002 or so instantly clicked as something I loved. Their mixture of rich jazz chords, pop sensibilities and their often electronic approach sounded like something that I envisioned as a genre mixture that The Missing Trio (our band at the time) could accomplish. This song could very easily fit into that style that I was aiming for on our own song “
Aryn’s Songs
Having seen the undeniably great Dave Holland Quintet twice, I can very easily say that it is one of the most talented collection of jazz musicians ever. Their skill in deeply layered composition writing with contra-puntal arrangements full of odd time signatures is better than any group out there. But it is when they take those same qualities of composing and apply it to a group improvisation style that allows all those interlocking melodic, harmonic and rhythmic elements to converge into a wall of sound that would rival any Phil Spector production. This song seems to be a bit more drawn in than most of their repertoire, but its more of a trombone feature for Robin Eubanks. Its interesting to hear the interplay of trombone, Dave Holland’s bass, and the ocassional drums of Billy Kilson lock into such a straight ahead, yet adventurous groove.
Aryn’s Songs
Must be a pop-inspired shuffle experience. Sometimes I think the iTunes shuffle feature isn’t quite as ‘random’ as we think as I think it can sort similar types of music (and often artists) together. Then perhaps my music on my iPod is curated by my own tastes, that while diverse, are more familiar in connection than I let on. You can’t top the crisp flanged\chorus of Summer’s guitar and the firmly pounded drum beat of Copeland. Oh yeah, and Sting’s groove, voice and songwriting is great on this song. As one of their more radio friendly songs from mid-career Police, the chorus is incredibly catchy — with such inspired refrains as “de do do do, de da da da, is all I want to say to you” — how can you not at some point start to sing along?
Aryn’s Songs
While it might sound funny, and though this is a solid pop confection, the synth electronic pop of the last few years (Frou Frou, Postal Service etc) is starting to sound a bit dated to me. Perhaps its just a bit more bubblegum sounding than what I am looking for right now, but this song is a bit too clean. When I saw Imogen Heap almost exactly a year ago, she took the basic construction of these songs and was able to bring them to life right in front of us. I think that allowed her to develop ideas in a more raw and less calculated way…and it payed off. The songs were livlier and more fresh. The way Imogen’s lilting and resonant voice fits with the flairs of synths and broken beats later in the climax of the song are quite nice. After this and her solo record, I am curious to hear whether she takes a step forward into something more eclectic or at least what she comes up with next.
Aryn’s Songs