Musical Meditation using Unusual All-Acoustic Instruments • does this work for you?

[dreamer7]

Hi to all,
This is intended as a musical meditation with just a little bit of an edge to it. I've used a variety of quite unusual all-acoustic instruments, recorded using a half-decent microphone while being processed with painstakenly chosen, sympathetic effects to enhance the atmosphere.

Instruments used in order of appearance are:
Tibetan Tingsha's, Tibetan Singing Bowl, Copper Goatbell Tri-cluster (from Sweden), Layered Choral Voices, Hammered 12-string Box Zither, Spoken Voice, Magic Mushroom Woodflute (hand carved by flute maker Blue Deer Spirit) and, last but not least, the Cello (after which, the Tibetan and Swedish hand percussion elements then re-appear at the end).

I've had these instruments for a while now, but this is the first time I've recorded with them. It isn't perfect but then neither am I . I wanted a very human feel to this anyway, which hopefully comes across, so with this in mind the Zither was played straight through in one take and the flute was improvised free-form and also recorded in one take.

It's called 'Escape To Your Dreams Until Morning' and here's the direct link if you'd like to give it a spin:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=662928&songID=7110542

Thanks for reading and please feel free to give me your thoughts. Let me know if this works in any way, for you personally.
Hope you enjoy the sounds from my inner space, folks!
Dreamer

 

[WhiteStrat]

Works for me. I like meditative and edgy at the same time. Edgy to me means there's something there to listen for, to keep my interest, rather than just lull me to sleep. The only nit I'd have here is that maybe it's a bit too edgy at the very beginning--there's a shrill-ness to the higher pitches that put me off a bit. Besides, I'd rather it "almost" lull me to sleep with a more traditional meditative approach at the beginning, then introduce layers of "edge" as it progresses. That's pretty subjective though. Very nice job.

 

[heatmiser]

Pretty cool man. Starts off like planet of the apes...charlton heston slugging it across the desert...next thing I know I'm half way through the second set of a '90's dead show. For me, the low point was the spoken words. No offense, but I really didn't need to hear someone tell me about my mind and my dreams at that moment...kind of intrusive and superfluous. After a minute or so I recovered though and settled back into the pleasant soundscape you crafted.

 

[Greg_L]

Those opening chimes killed my ears. Thanks for that.

I don't know, stuff like this does nothing for me. It's just a bunch sounds. I guess it's good. Nothing sounds bad except for those fucking chime things in the beginning.

 

[JordanD]

i think the opening chimes sound great, very atmospheric. i like this a lot! its really relaxing while i smoke a blunt. this would be good for a movie soundtrack too! great job, the best thing i've ever heard here!

 

[dreamer7]

Cheers for the comments guys.

WhiteStrat.
Glad you like it and your definition of Edgy is about spot on. I hear what you're saying about the Tibetan Tingsha's at the start, but they were originally much more shrill even than now, so it looks like I need to bring them down some more when I do a slight re-mix in the future.

heatmiser.
Good description about the Planet of the Apes desert impression there (great film!). I see what you're saying about the spoken voice, but I guess it's a personal thing. It seems empty at that point without it, but I'll see how I feel about it once I've lived with it for a while. Maybe I'll take it out, maybe I'll leave it in but present it differently. Glad you got back into it though.

Greg_L.
Yeah I know, the chimes – sorry about your ears man (the chimes will be sorted). I thought this wouldn't be your sort of thing, but I appreciate the fact that you've at least given it a go. I must admit though, that as much as I personally love sounds for the sake of sounds, I don't see how you can describe this particular track as 'Just a bunch of sounds'. In that one sentence you've just dissed the whole of the ambient genre from Brian Eno to Terry Riley. After all, I'm playing a variety of real, traditional acoustic instruments here (as opposed to samples) and each has it's own character. Admittedly, I've added plenty of effects, but then I'm an effects whore . It's all down to personal taste, I suppose, but like I said, thanks for listening.

JordanD.
Glad you're really digging this (even the chimes!) and the fact that you like it so much just proves how different everyone's music taste is. And I think you're right, it would suit a movie soundtrack. Now where are those Hollywood guys?

What I like about Homerecording.com is that you do get very different views expressed as well as some good advice. I'll definitely take the chimes down a bit, but is anyone else bothered by the spoken voice, or does it add something in your opinion?
Dreamer

 

[gecko zzed]

Others have commented on the opening chimes, and I tend to agree with those comments. I would have preferred a more gentle entry into this fascinating soundscape.

Ambient, meditative music is difficult to pull off . . . the challenge is to create interest, not boredom, yet maintain that interest in an un-jagged way. I think you've mastered this aspect well. As I listen, I'm led from one part of the track to the next by the curiosity you engender through its evolving landscape. I wonder what I'm going to hear next.

There is plenty of space in this track, and enough focus on one part of the landscape to let the listener get a good taste of it before moving on to the next.

I have always been a fan of music created using ordinary objects. Your instruments are not necessarily ordinary, but I like the creative uses to which you put them.

I found myself feeling a little lost when it finished, which is always a good sign.

Someone commented on the voice that appeared early on, and my thoughts were similar . . . the piece would not be harmed without them.

Someone else observed that it was 'just a bunch of sounds'. Well, in a way that's true, but I have heard stuff that really is just a bunch of sounds, stuff with no coherence, no connection between elements and little evidence of technical or artistic endeavour . . . material which purports to be avant garde ambinet, but which is just packaged boredom.

This piece shows remarkable sophistication and considerable musical acumen. There has been a lot of thought put into its construction, and lot of care taken with layering of different tone pictures.

Great work!

 

[Greg_L]

I describe it as just a bunch of sounds because that's what it sounds like to me. Maybe I'm too ignorant or not pretentious enough to get it. I certainly didn't mean to "diss" anyone.

 

[Supercreep]

I like it for what it is. It sounds like it was lots of fun to record.

I think the vocal is distracting and takes me out of the space of the song. If you use a vocal, it should be incomprehensible, or perhaps in a constructed language.

It could get a little more intense. How about some feedback?

I do think the title "Garden of Surreal Dreams" takes itself a little too seriously.

Nice work.

 

[Supercreep]

In that one sentence you've just dissed the whole of the ambient genre from Brian Eno to Terry Riley.

Greg_L is very economical with his sentences.

 

[bendbones]

I like it

I thought it was cool - I haven't slept all night (now 520) so was hoping this would help...I reckon nothing can however...think I am going to get up in a few mins and have a coffee

Stick with it though...I am very much liking the chimes at the beginning...(Listening through headphones)

Ben.

 

[dreamer7]

Cheers all, for your thoughts!

Gecko.
Many thanks for your lengthy and very positive remarks. It does make it all worthwhile when some people get what I'm doing. You're exactly right about ambient music not really being that easy and yet so many people think it is, because it can sound simple, but it's actually quite difficult for all the reasons you stated. You're also right about there being a lot of thought put into this track and it took me a lot longer than maybe others would think, once again because it sort of sounds like it would be simple. So I'm glad you picked up on that aspect of it.

Greg_L.
I'm sure you don't mean to really diss anyone and I'm guessing you're a nice guy, but I'd love to see what reaction there would be if one of the top, world renowned ambient pioneers, like Brian Eno himself or Steve Roach etc, were to put one of their own tracks up on Homerecording.com and someone described it as "just a bunch of sounds". I mean, to me at any rate, that sort of statement coming from a good musician like yourself doesn't seem to make any sense. What's the difference between that and someone saying that all rock music sounds like "just a bunch of thrashing noise", which we all know isn't actually true (don't we). Most of the time there's more to music than at first meets the ear. By the way, I don't think that you're ignorant, although you probably haven't been exposed to any ambient-like music that's really grabbed you yet, but at the same time people don't need to be pretentious in any way to enjoy or even create this stuff. At the end of the day it's just down to personal taste and I still appreciate your comments, as it all makes for a more interesting thread discussion Happy Xmas anyway dude

Supercreep.
Ah, now I like that reaction you gave: "I like it for what it is". And you're right about (most) of it being fun to record, because it was (apart from the frustrating parts of course!). Yes, I'm thinking about changing that spoken voice now, but I'll give it some time yet. As for me, or my music project, or the track taking itself seriously, well I suppose that's right and I'll take it as a compliment, as I don't really get off on doing jokey sort of pappy music or anything that's too light (it just wouldn't be satisfying for me, but I do sometimes enjoy hearing other people's light stuff). As a person I'm capable of being both very serious and very funny/laid-back in equal measures, but that's something you'd only see properly when face to face, I guess. Glad you like the track man.

Ben bendbones.
Cool is good, but I'm sorry to hear that my track couldn't help with your sleep problem (the sounds are just a little bit too edgy for that ). Glad you like the Tibetan Tingsha chimes and I'll keep them, but just take them down enough to avoid hurting anyone elses ears.

Thanks to all for your time,
Dreamer