My newest tune: Despair

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Llarion

Llarion

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Hello folks! Long time no haunt! I've been really busy getting my first CD release "a dichotomy of silence" out the door (it's done! it's done! WHOOO HOO!!!) and now I'm working on the sophomore effort: Heaven. This next CD is going to be a concept piece, a fusion of Ambient and Jazz, describing musically the soul's journey through death, the uncertainty that follows, moving along the inexorable journey, through ultimate redemption.

Anyhow, the latest piece to go in is called "Despair". It's just 4 voices; my classical guitar, a pad from the Proteus 2000, and 2 Korg Triton "texture" patches. Recorded on a Korg D1600.

Close your eyes when you listen....
Whattya think?

www.artistlaunch.com/llarion is where the piece is....
Thanks in advance!

Cheers!
Phil "Llarion: The Jazzinator" Traynor
www.llarion.com
Check out my debut Smooth Jazz CD on Llarion's Lair Records, "a dichotomy of silence"
 
Hey Phil,

Sounds really good really smooth.

I thing the guitar tone sounds good but after the 1:50 mark I'm starting to feel the arrangement is a bit too minimalist for my taste. Don't get me wrong I'm no fan of shredding and a big fan of the soulful note but it seems too sparse.

I haven't heard your other stuff, but the context of this song alone it makes me feel as if you're being overly careful almost as if you're lining up your fingering well before it's time to play the notes.


Overall, very relaxing piece. Elevators and aromatherapists worldwide rejoice!
 
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You got some seriously sweet tones going on there, including the acoustic guits.
 
Llarion said:
This next CD is going to be a concept piece, a fusion of Ambient and Jazz, describing musically the soul's journey through death, the uncertainty that follows, moving along the inexorable journey, through ultimate redemption.
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Geez, Phil, doncha know music's just supposed to be about shakin' yer bootie...:)

Sound-wise this seems pretty solid to me. It's kind of hard to critique since there's so little happening. What's there sounds well-recorded and mixed. Calling this "jazz" is, I think, a bit of a stretch, but no need to quibble over semantics I suppose.

I too think there's probably room, even in this kind of music, for a little more melodic variation, but hey, it's your tune and it sounds fine.

Chris
 
Phil, it does take you to another place (sorta like an audio Quaalude:D ). One thing, is the guitar direct or did you mic it? It sounds direct to me. Well done my friend.
 
Thanks guys!

Track Rat,
Thanks dude! You're right, it is direct. (Angelica classical with built in pickup) though it is run through a delay, obviously, and compression and reverb... :)

Groucho,
It's a lot more "ambient" than "Jazz", really. I'm just applying a little Jazz chord theory to a normally more upright chordal genre. I like TR's appelation "audio Quaalude".. :) You can shake yer bootie, just real slow-like. :D

Khompewtur,
Context is VERY important with this piece. It's really a sub component of the larger body of work, and isn't even really intended to stand well on it's own. When you listen to the whole work, or at least the two pieces that will flank this, it makes more sense. :) However, that said;
as if you're being overly careful almost as if you're lining up your fingering well before it's time to play the notes.
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That is probably one of the most insightful analyses of my guitar playing that I've ever heard. You are 100% spot-on, terrifyingly correct; I am a very tentative and frightened lead guitar player. I did indeed play VERY carefully and deliberately. Which also may explain some of the melodic sparseness Groucho mentioned. Wow, nice catch, dude! :)


drstawl,
Thanks!! Much appreciated!!
 
sweet piece! I heard a fair amount of hiss, but that could be the mp3.. It also sounded like the lows were close to distorting.. I wonder if that's just my speakers..

good listen!
 
Another good catch...

Yeah, there is some hiss... noise from my classical guitar pickup, I think. But, it sounded better, more natural, with it than without it. I took it out, and it really made it sound cold and sterile, more so than it already does... :) So, I left it in... I may have to pull it out in the context of the CD though... :)

The lows are clean though, that may be your speakers. Or, at least, they thunder nicely over here... :)
 
Relaxing piece, enjoyed it. Really like the sound on the direct guitar, very tasteful (albiet a bit spartan) lead playing.

This hiss is very evident, I doubt it's the mp3. If it's just an instrument or two maybe you can either edit between phrases or eq the high end on them.

Nice track.
 
Very relaxing.....Sounds good...........Feel like a nap now..Good work!



Don
 
OOOOOOOOOoooooooo I like it.
I was bracing myself for New Age schlock - was pleasantly surprised by Enoesque ambience.
It's tough to pull-off. There's a fine line between Eno and New Age :)
This would fit right in with his Another Green World LP
Bravo!
 
Very Narada Records...

I agree that the 'jazz' label might be misleading. I'd like to see you classify yourself as 'atmosphere' music. Might lend nicely with some background film work... Maybe something you want to look into...

Levels are great, guitar does have the hiss, but I think it's excusable considering the tone of the piece. Almost accents the voice of the instrument. Allows it to breathe.
 
DimChandeliers said:
OOOOOOOOOoooooooo I like it.
I was bracing myself for New Age schlock - was pleasantly surprised by Enoesque ambience.
It's tough to pull-off. There's a fine line between Eno and New Age :)
This would fit right in with his Another Green World LP
Bravo!
Click to expand...

Thanks very much!! :) Yes, I'm aware of the line. It is indeed a tough one to stay on the right side of!! :D

I agree that the 'jazz' label might be misleading. I'd like to see you classify yourself as 'atmosphere' music. Might lend nicely with some background film work... Maybe something you want to look into...
Click to expand...

I'm been looking and looking. :) As far as labels go, understand that this type of music is a departure for me; I am first and foremost a Smooth Jazz artist... (Dewpoint on my AL page is a prototypical example of my "normal" work... That said, I have no problem with "atmosphere" music, as even my Jazz tends toward the "mood" end of the spectrum, it was once classified by someone as "music that does not *demand* your attention, but rewards you if you give it..." Others have said it's great to get romantic to... So, if that's "atmosphere", then that's great with me! :D Thanks very much!!

As to the hiss, I thought of a solution. Since the songs around it have natural sounds and weather effects, I thought of adding a gentle breeze blowing underneath this, make the noise seem more natural. Whattya think?
 
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