From the local Cable TV archive – a show I co-created & produced back in the day. My favourite Quietaphobics song in all their alt-folk glory. A walk down memory lane… Enjoy!
Category Archives: Music You Need To Hear…
The Top 10 Prog-Rock Songs That Influenced Me…
Progressive Rock has had a strange history. From its early days in England in the late ’60’s, its arena-rock success of the early 70’s to its cultish status since its heyday; Prog Rock has seen a lot of changes. Some of the Prog Rock bands have had a lasting influence on music, whilst others are so obscure even the most knowledgeable music guru takes pains to think of one of their songs. There has been much criticism of Prog over the years – both negative & positive. That the musicians are talented & highly skilled has never been in doubt. That they can be seen as pretentious and flamboyant, perhaps. But Prog Rock has always enraptured my imagination because of its artistry – the way it uses music to tell stories & build pictures in the listener’s head. Plus, I’ve always liked the idea that some songs just need to be longer then four or five minutes.
I used to play a bit of a game with some friends of mine – something to just pass the time. We would imagine we were stuck on a deserted island with a single ninety minute mix tape as our only musical solace. The game was to pick the songs that we would put on that Deserted Island Mix Tape. I always laughed that mine wouldn’t hold all of my “must have” songs – since most of them were beyond the six minute mark. Well, the below list is my Prog Rock Desert Island Mix – if I could only have ten Prog Rock songs, these would be them.
CANDLE’S NEW SONG ASCENDS TO NEW HEIGHTS
“Man is but a bridge to the Übermensche.” This is the statement being made with Candle’s latest single: Übermensche, released today on Layaway Records. Übermensche is the second single from Candle’s sixth studio album: Vibrations, which was released in the fall of 2014. The song & its B-Side were written in February 2014 as part of the annual online song writing challenge February Album Writing Month (http://www.fawm.org). Ken Ficara, a fellow FAWM participant, writes of Heartbeat: “The very pretty little piano melody over the wall-of-drone is extremely effective. This is quite a track.”
Darby Spicer’s ongoing experimental space rock project Candle fuses psychedelic & progressive rock stylings with ambient sounds & textures that create emotion driven soundscapes that only need to be experienced to be understood. Darby composes various pieces built on the idea of feelings that can be provoked in the individual listener. It is his intention to stir up true emotions through the medium of music & philosophical poetry. Like a candle burning brightly, he wants to show the contrast of light & dark in the greyest area of human existence: that of the soul.
Übermensche & its B-Side, Cær Sidi (Ancient Sources Remix), can be downloaded from Candle’s Bandcamp page: candle.bandcamp.com; where listeners can name the price they feel the download warrants. The download also includes album artwork, printable liner note collector cards, CD label, as well as bonus material. For more information, promo requests or to set up an interview, contact: Darby Spicer: candleexperience at gmail dot com
Flog – Vol 6; Issue 4
FAWM is over.
I am quite proud of what I accomplished this February. I was able to write & record fifteen songs (one more then the required fourteen to complete the challenge). I collaborated with two other awesome FAWMers on two of those songs: Titan Spring with @johnny and Ouroboros with @popmythology. I’m not quite satisfied with the final demo for Ouroboros, but it was recorded in the closing days of FAWM & I hope to re-record a better quality version sometime after I have a chance to rest.
Until then, I’ll be listening to songs posted on FAWM that I’ve yet to have a chance to hear. I’m hoping on catching up on my Watchlist (the list of FAWMers I am following) & maybe even find some new gems. Here are a few of my favourites from the final week of FAWM.
The Eternal Return by Sapient & Caterwauler. A mix of metal & ambience by two of FAWM’s best. Sapient is probably the most recognized Metal-Guitarist/Composer on FAWM. His heavy & dark songs are just what those head-bangers of yore (& of today) crave. And Caterwauler’s amazing soundscapes are second to none with their ability to create images in your mind (even if you don’t read the liner notes detailing the amazing stories she tells with her music). But then @popmythology (who I collaborated with) challenged them to collaborate & the result is amazing. I’m not a huge fan of the really dark & heavy metal that Sapient is known for, but every once & a while he’ll write & record something mellower that is just a gem. This is one of those songs. I really enjoyed every moment.
Hop This Train With Me by The Energy Commission. One of the fun things about FAWM is discovering new artists. This year, one of my favourites is a FAWMling (someone doing the FAWM challenge for the first time) whose band is named The Energy Commission. He completed the challenge using YouTube videos where he described his writing process – a bonus that was very insightful. I liked all of his tunes, but this last one stands out for me. The song is catchy & the lyrics are fun. I’d love to hear what he’d do with the song with his full band.
The Earth Beckons by Howling Horse. As someone who writes space-rock, it’s always great to hear other space-rock tunes by other indie artists. There are a lot of deep tones that form the bed to this track, but then you hear a piano playing an eerie melody & a guitar crying. The entire effect is amazing, haunting & sure to please those who enjoy ambient soundscapes.
Ramiel by Bodhisvaha. Another neat part of FAWM are the community challenges that get posted in the forums. There are weekly FAWM challenges posted by the guys running the site, but there are also challenges & song writing games that you can participate in during the month. This song is the result of one such challenge – The Angel Challenge posted by @donna in the forums. Basically Donna would give participants the name of an Angel & the participant would then have to write a song about that Angel (or involving the Angel). Bodhisvaha got Ramiel & I must say he did an amazing job. This acappella track layers chanting vocals repeating the name of Ramiel, building to a climax that then finishes with a single voice. The effect is surreal & mystical.
I’m sad FAWM is over for another year. But now I have some work mixing & mastering the tracks I composed. That will probably take some time – long enough for me to finish just before FAWM starts again next year. Starting the cycle all over again.
Until next time,
See You In The Shadows…
Flog – Vol 6; Issue 3
Week three has passed. There are only five full fays left to complete the February Album Writing Month challenge. I’m two songs away. Song number 13 has been written – I just need to record it. I have some ideas for song number 14 which I will begin to explore as soon as I am finished recording song number 13. So far, I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from various people. I have to mention that the FAWMer known as @popmythology mentioned my song Eagle Landing on his weekly FAWM Blog of his favourite FAWM songs of the week. Thanks so much @popmythology!
For my own part, I’ve been trying to keep up with my watchlist – with varying degrees of success. I’ve finally passed into the FAWM Century Club (making at least 100 comments on other FAWMers songs). I’m hoping to add to my FAWMling & ZONGBust totals (FAWMlings = first time FAWMers; ZONGBusting = Commenting on a song with Zero Comments (ZONG= Zero Comment Song)) in the next few days & on into March.
So, are there some great songs written during FAWM that I would recommend? Well, here’s a few that sparked my imagination:
Klein Gitaar by Sapient I’m not normally a Metal fan, but this one is too cute to not appreciate. Sapient & his little friend Ina did this great song together. It has his normal Metal styling infused with her lovely vocals. A great combination. I’m liking the idea of Kinder Metal!
Bow To The Boatswain by Captain Vulpine The musical & theatrical genius that is Captain Vulpine has at last returned to FAWM & his output this year does not disappoint his rabid fans. His wonderful mix of pirate lore, sea shanties, metal & vaudville knows no equal. Bow To Boatswain is no exception. The use of the Bosun’s Whistle along with the banjo & mandolin is wonderful. And the lyrics scream out to be sung by every crowd – no matter their state of sobriety.
The Gorges Of Dalardes by Caterwauler Joanne Gabriel (a.k.a. Caterwauler) never ceases to amaze me with the way she is able to build vast vistas of sound that create images in your head. And when she attaches these Soundscapes to an amazing story (as she has done for the past couple of FAWMs), you get a potent combination. If her story doesn’t draw you in – her music definately will!
Insomniac by prsrose One of the few FAWMers who is building experimental songs in all sorts of inspiring ways. This odd song has a sense of being uncomfortable, yet the chill textures sort of lull you into a sedated mood. Its an amazing juxtaposition of senses created by a large array of tones & textures.
Aftermath by Electrocelte Another great concept album that tells a story. Electorcelte fuses synth sounds with the organic tones of a traditional Scottish Bagpipe (he’s a Piper by trade). This is the final chapter in the album’s story (song number 15 for Electrocelte so he has won the FAWM challenge! Congrats Electrocelte!). This song represents this album very well – tho, it might be a bit of a spoiler for those who want to listen to the whole story from the beginning.
That’s about it for this week. I’ll probably do one more issue of this year’s FLOG, probably once FAWM is over. Until next time…
See You In The Shadows…
Candle Experiænce 