Darkness

Description

Using a combination of Tape manipulation and the use of Logic Pro X, I have re-created a song that I originally created on a Fostex four track tape machine sometime around 1997. This one is a weird and dark song that had such an amazing vibe to it that I wanted to revisit it, and make some improvements.

Originally, I was limited to only 4 tracks, but with some bouncing I think I got it up to 5 or 6. I was also limited to the 4-5 effects/guitar pedals I had. But, with the ease of recording with a computer, this newly created version features over 100 tracks, with effects and possibilities that were unavailable to me 24 years ago. Many of these new sounds were bounced to a four track to recreate that original tape vibe.

The entire piano performance was recorded, the tape flipped over and then played in reverse and bounced back to the computer. Tape was used heavily as a color, vibe and an effect. I feel the studio should be played as an instrument.

Some of the strange sounds I used in this recording are whistling, blowing into bottles, clanking on the bottles with a tool, various items (such as coffee cups, stones, glasses, etc) being slid across a tile, my 19 year old son, Tyler, screaming at full volume, and finally my own voice telling this dark, strange and twisted tale of woe and death. I also played real strings on this song on my acoustic guitars and using the Pickaso Guitar Bow, the sound lends such a creepy hand to an already dark song. Many of the sounds were slowed down, reversed and/or saturated with my 4 track tape machine.

The whistling was recorded through a vintage mic that was used in an aircraft control tower, then run into a Digitech Whammy Pedal and then a Line6 DL4 delay pedal.

The recreation of this song has turned into an EP. There were a couple songs and melodies I had originally recorded on the 4 Track that fit right in with this song, and they will be recreated next.

Intermission
This was another song I created on my four track, but have now done a “proper studio” version. There are a couple tracks of Ibanez acoustic, a couple with my Yamaha classical guitar, and the lead part was done with the Fender parlor.
No Fancy tape tricks on this one, just a peaceful break before more chaos.

Darkness Part 2

The second part was meant to be a continuation of the same theme as part 1. I had originally planned on using acoustic guitar for this one, but the original riff was also used in another song featuring my late friend Ozzie so I plan on saving that riff.

The vocal part was slowed down again on tape, the weird noises are piano being run through the Korg Kaoss pad.

If you made it through listening to this entire 12 minute piece I thank you and apologize for any anxiety this music may have caused.