I just found an old development track from 2003 – for the last 18 months it’s been sitting in my iTunes library labeled as Tush by ZZ Top – along with 270 other tracks – thank you iDump!

Download audio file (03found.mp3)

I remember working on this track – it was before I had begun to develop the idea of music2work2 and I was just busy at the keyboard; playing, writing, recording.  I wasn’t concerned with form – I was more interested in how I could write different tracks on top of the other and I would play for as long as possible to give myself enough “runway” to eventually get it right.

I’d set a click and then play the piano track – not really thinking – just playing whatever came into my head.  I’d then immediately open another track and play a string pass on top of the piano track, then another string pass and finally a melody track – in this case an electric piano.  The mix is pretty grim and I’ve lost the original individual wave files so I can’t really fix it – bummer!  I did mess with it a little before posting, which is where the image comes from.

I recognize a few of the themes in here – they went on to be developed into early tracks like 1218 and The Duel – I did eventually learn to back off the EP a bit but listening to it now – I’m kinda digging the use of the wheel bends – might have to incorporate that in something new.  For now –I’m going to see what other gems I can find in my Tush.

Strings, Electric Pianos, Bass lines and more.

$1.99 Download Now

Written in November 2005 – this track has a lot going on: piano, two string tracks, electric piano and bass. I remember learning a lot about my own composition style at the time and being very conflicted.

My natural approach to music2work2 is to just sit and play; Sexercise aside – I always start with the piano track and aim to leave room for any subsequent voices. I have an idea when I’m playing the first track what the other parts could be but I never really know until I’m playing them. This approach is of course anathema to the trained composer so I spent 2005 worrying about form and attempting to define structure and parts in advance.

I began developing themes in the traditional way: 1A, 2A, 1B, 2B etc – and played with various different forms –the end result – to my ears anyway – was lifeless. Oh sure – every part made sense, the music stood as a finite recognizable piece – but – it had no soul. It was a very frustrating time.

This track was the first time that year where I just sat at the keyboard and recorded what came into my head – no structure, no worrying about where I was supposed to go and how every part was going to work – the minute I finished one track I changed voices and immediately recorded the next, right on top. It has a flow that had been missing all year and I was mightily relieved when I went back to listen to it. Coming in at 5:10 is an early development of “Andy the Barman,” it’s a good story and will be told when the theme is ready.

If you like the track you can share it across your Networks – just click share on the right of the player.

November is part of The Thinker’s Playlist.