I managed to maintain my snippet per day pace for three days. Only three more to go before I start shaping a half hour’s worth of raw materials into actual songs!
Swing Vampires is a rare dalliance in swing time. “Vampires” just popped into my head, like most of the names of these snippets (which aren’t meant to be actual song titles, btw). This one is both dark and uptempo, two qualities which usually negate each other.
White Mantra is one of my favorites. I’ve already got a soaring vocal melody in mind, and I’ve no doubt that at least that and the main piano vamp will make it into a song. 3/4 isn’t exactly an odd time signature, but it will provide a nice contrast to the rest of the album.
Grey Squares is shaping up to be one of those dark quirky tracks that I tend to gravitate to, and others tend to dislike (see “Sagittarius” and “Monochrome”). It’s got a snappy groove though – you’ve got to give it that much! That high lead that starts in the middle sounds exactly like a part in Martin L. Gore’s Counterfeit EP, though I can’t remember which song it’s from.
p.s. For those of you who subscribed to site updates via email, you’ll need to visit colortheory.com to actually hear these snippets.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I love it that you are posting snippets in the morning for the first thing I see during my coffee/oatmeal/email routine. Canyon likes Swing Vampires, and I would definitely put that on my walking playlist. Excited at the prospect of a new Color Theory waltz, also at a perfect walking tempo, though I did have a little difficulty finding the steps. You put a more challenging spin on the timing. Cowboys probably couldn’t waltz to it, but you don’t exactly market to them. I found all three to be totally danceable, but had to listen a little more thoughtfully to catch the steps in White Mantra.
I agree that parts of Grey Squares sound ultra-familiar. Reminded me of Dido’s “Honestly OK” (the lower part, and the trailing end.) She is heavy on the electric guitar which should clearly set you apart. And you are a much better lyricist! Here is a link to her song so you can see if you agree with me.
http://popup.lala.com/popup/504684663599095948
PS, if your snippets look like they have a ton of plays, it’s because they’re so short that I have to listen to them over and over to figure out what I’m really thinking about them. =) By the time I was done with all three, Canyon was humming along! Good sign.
I usually write before bed and schedule it to post at 5:00 a.m. PST. I really appreciate your consistent feedback Britt!
I do have a nasty habit of starting the snippets with an offbeat part, so that when the drums enter, you have to juggle the beat around in your head. White Mantra would certainly be easier to follow if I laid down the beat first.
I can hear a little similarity to that Dido track. I think I had that album and couldn’t really get into it, though I do enjoy some elements of the production. I dunno… I get her and Jem mixed up in my head, and never really caught on with either one of them.
I’m loving grey squares, probably mainly because i love monochrome so much. Quite some slinky electronics.
Can’t wait for the album.
Thanks Jordan! I’ll move that one up in the “rankings” then!