New Fodder For Your Ears
Last night I added the final version of my latest techno album to the 'Original Music' page.
That's ten tracks of dark melodic electronica for your aural pleasure...
I can't even remember when I started this album - quite possibly 2012, although the bulk was written and recorded in 2013 and 2014. All I know is that it was a long drawn-out process that was often derailed and left neglected in the cupboard for various reasons.
The last album I made was in 2010, so I can at least claim that I'm not as glacial in my delivery of product as Kate Bush.
Usually, after completing a project, I switch my time and attention to other pursuits, say photography, or perhaps think about making a guitar-based album after a suitable break.
This time, however, I feel so inspired that I've already got the starting points for three new techno tracks, one pretty much completed, and this on the same day as I completed the artwork for the last one.
Native Instruments "Monark" mono MiniMoog emulator
This drive and enthusiasm comes directly from the acquisition of three retro synth software packages. Unlike with my photography, I've always stuck with the vast array of instruments and sounds provided in Apple's Logic Pro X, my digital audio workstation of choice, but I wanted to treat myself to something and stumbled on some renowned instruments that sounded intriguing.
I realise that this may be analogous to a painter getting excited about a new shade of paint, and that the tools should not hold centre-stage, but I find the creation of electronic music to be a little different to conventional songwriting. A sonic texture can often be the seed for the organic growing of an entire piece, and actual notes might be secondary (although melody is still very much in the forefront of my compositions).
U-He's Diva...
Just for the record (pun intended), the new plug-ins are the Monark, a mono synth emulating the classic MiniMoog , Diva, which replicates a whole host of retro synths, and finally Virtual String Machine, which is based on actual samples of 1960s and 70s instruments used by the likes of Jean Michel Jarre, Joy Division, Gary Numan and so many prog rock outfits that I'm ashamed to mention their names.
This has inspired me to learn how to programme these beasts. I have occasionally tweaked a preset sound or two, but usually just by randomly pulling sliders and flipping switches. Now is the time to finally find out what LFO stands for and what pink noise could possible be used for.
Gforce's Virtual String Machine
One of the new synths (the Diva) did actually make it onto the new album (I had a usable demo version of it): check out track 5 'Rex Mundi' to hear its gentle nuanced sound ...