Week #41 - Torment

Starting to get caught up. 2 songs this week, and I hope 2 more next week. I actually started this as a piece for 'awkwardness', but it's apparently a song of torment in a way I never intended. I've always imagined these songs as being a sort of soundtrack to a film scene in which the intended emotion dominates. But I think this song is actually much more visceral than that as, according to my girlfriend, just having to hear it from the other room is a torment. So a new direction then, not evoking the feeling of torment, but actually tormenting the listener. This seems like a good idea, so let's get to it then:



Description:

Upon further listening, I can hear how this displays torment more and more. It's all about that frenetic, never-stop lead line that just builds more and more tension. The constant beat pushes things even further. I attribute it as much to the sounds I chose as the notes that are playing, and I'm afraid to wonder where I was mentally when I wrote this song.

Tools:
Propellerhead Record 1/Reason 4

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Notes:

- I recently went in for Propellerhead's new program, Record. I did the beta test over the summer, and I wasn't sure about whether I needed it, but I've decided to give it a go. Since I already use Reason, it wasn't too expensive so I didn't feel too bad about taking a risk.

- So I'm using this and the next few pieces to get to grips with things. I have to say that I love the sound of the final product even with relatively quick mixes, and it is totally a breeze to use. Combining my guitar with Reason instruments is a snap.

- The main drawback is that there are some plugins I use in Live that I've really come to like.

- What I see happening is that I use this as sketchpad to get ideas for riffs and song sections, but then I eventually bounce everything down and create Live sessions for the final arrangement and mixing. The parts will benefit from Record's mixer, and I can still rewire into Live if need be, but

- As for this piece, I'm not sue what's going on. The whole thing is based on a clavinet riff that I took and split between the bass and horns. Then I brought the clavi back in for the lead, and finally I added the beat at the end. Obviously, it's not a particularly developed piece, but it started to drive even me batty after awhile.

- All of the sounds come from Reason's factory sound bank, mosly preset combinators, though the drums are a custom combi I made for another track and reused here with a new beat.


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