The Old Man's Machine - Hallowe'en

When I was a small boy, there was a house at the end of the street, nestled in a wooded ravine. It was the only house in the ravine, which was often wet and swampy. In the house lived an man, a man who never seemed to age, he was ancient already. His eyes were white with cataracts, his shoulders slumped with time.

Around that time children had gone missing in our neighborhood. Oddly it was all the boys from the local church choir. A few hours after my friend Billy, the soprano in ther choir went missing, Mark, Stuart, Jeff and myself were sure it was the old man in the house kidnapping them, and took it upon ourselves to investigate.

We snuck up to the house through the swamp and entered through a broken basement window. We quietly climbed the steps that led to the main floor, listening for sounds of the old man. We left the basement and started down a hall where the sound of tinkering could be heard. We peaked into the room at the end of the hall and could not believe our eyes.

There hovering in some sort of greenish liquid above the floor were the missing members of the boys choir. Attached to their heads was some sort of contraption that plugged into a huge pipe organ. We entered just as the old man finished making some adjustments and played his first notes. We were frozen in place, as if paralyzed by the ghastly music. This is what we heard.

(note - this was originally supposed to be the second movement in the double reed concerto, but it became this instead. This is also an improv.)

The Old Man's Machine

Cheers
Shad

Shad,

You've definitely got your creative head on at the moment. Another really interesting piece. I enjoyed this a lot. What did you use for this?

Yeah, real nice. I like how you wait and leave space between each phrase. I wish I had a big stereo to listen to this with. Ara www.aratunes.us

Shad, fun stuff. Another great improv.

Now, this was really cool! You madman!!! Even my cats' got his ears all perched up listening to this... This is soooo different for you. Great sounds! Love these 'improvs you do'. Very creative spirit my man and I thought the story line fit well. Someone finally put those choir boys to good use...

Very cool, man!! Interesting sounds. I'll have to loop this while the kids come trick-or-treating...

Dave

www.soundclick.com/steakbone

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Well than you Frank.

Mark - I used an old Pipe organ and 12 Choir Boys suspended in green ooze (OK< it was really just Z3ta and the Korg M1). Glad you enjoyed this.

Tom - Thanks. Freaky cool was what I hoped to make so I am glad it worked for you that way.

Ara - Thanks man. I appreciate the listen.

Jon - LOL. Thanks bro. It means a lot to me to know you are here.

Tom - Thanks again for the listen. When are you going to give us some more of your magic smoothness?

Bob - Your words are like candy to my ears. Its great when the passion I feel is transmitted to my art or music and sensed by others. I know then I am on the right track.

Larry - LMAO. The cat is probably going "holy sh*t man, that pitch hurts my ears" (and of course saying it with attitude if its at all like my cat Those choir boys sing (scream) pretty good eh? heheheh. I am thinking I should flesh out the story fully. Make for a good Stephen King like short.

Rick - thank you. When I first started this I was not at all sure what to play. I just added a D and G to the mix and out came this. To be frank, I have no idea where the last two songs came from. I felt like I was not really part of the process. I was as surprised by the songs as anybody when I first listened to them. This one took two takes (I pooched the first one after about the first 30 seconds).

Dave - I was thinking the same thing. But as I live in an apartment, few kids come here, so I would be happy to know somebody played it.

Janet - I was worried some people might be slightly offended by the story. I hope it did not freak you or anybody out (it is pretty dark).

AJ - The answer is 42.

Reece - I have been learning a lesson in life. One I even made a "saying" about - "The less I think the more I am" . The more I practice, the worse I get. So far (in my humble opinion) my best work has come spontaneously (for art and music). Its means a lot to me to know you listen to my music Reece. I do appreciate it.

Thanks All.

Cheers
Shad

It's a pretty cool synth sound. I would lilke to hear this idea developed more though.

Reece,

In all honesty I do practice - a lot. But never a whole song, not even mine (except after its recorded). Just some bits and pieces. Over time I get to know better and better what works with what.

The question I have for you is this: Is it actually a lack of ability, or a lack of confidence? Have you ever just thrown one out there and see how it flies?

Give it a shot. Let it free!

Everybody sing!! #born free, as free as the wind blows...# *cough*... ahem. *blink blink*

Cheers
Shad

Are you saying it sound like a song by The Police? If so, which one? I would like to hear it.

I do not own any Police, but I do have a few Sting solo albums. But it would not surprise me if a lot of what I do sounds like other stuff hehe.

Cheers
Shad

OOOHHHHH - LOL

I stole it from the Anime (Ghost in the Shell), but now that you point it out I am sure it came from that (a Freudian type thing). I agree it needs to be retitled. I think maybe...

Yes, that will do..

Shad

You didn't end the story. Did you live or die?

My money says your in the greenish goo now, singing for your supper.

Nice little piece and very relevent and contributory to the season

Ron

Have you ever just thrown one out there and see how it flies?

Give it a shot. Let it free!

Couldn't agree more.
Reece, go for it. It is an amazingly freeing experience.

I like this very much Shad, fantastic sound palette, and the tap delay is spot-on through headphones, makes for a great listening experience. There's a really nice yearning melody floating through this, reminiscent of Tony Banks' with Genesis circa Trick of The Tail/Wind & Wuthering. Lovely piece, good on you!