Artwork, Track Information and Credits
Artwork
Track Information
First off... about the recording process:
We discussed this a bit before we got deep into the process of recording, but both of us feel that when we record it's important to focus on nailing tracks as much as we can and not get caught up in doing more than 2 takes at the most. Much of the music below was captured after one or two takes. Of course there were plenty of false starts, and this practice doesn't seem to work when using Midi or Sequence-based parts in the recording process (since computer-based digital recording allows the user so many different options for tweaking and/or cheating). I am definitely guilty of this with drum and synth parts! We're happy to say that we adhered to our rule-set as much as possible.
Besides, why would you want to listen to an overly polished and produced album instead of ours? Mistakes and sonic blemishes are what keeps music human.
Anyhow, below are some notes for each track. We hope you enjoy the music as much as we did making it.
Cheers!
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01. Mountains of Smoke
A nice "Smokey yet Mellow" guitar reflection.
We grab Michael's Danelectros and Bill Nash Custom Telecaster and tune em' up. Damon ends up playing all the guitar parts and Michael decides to man the board. Michael later adds Magnatone Lap Steel and Damon adds the final track: a Fender Rhodes Bass part.
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02. You Will Be Replaced (Mechanical Teeth and Gums)
In 2014 The Robots® wage war on the human race resulting in complete annihilation of all living things. Suddenly the Supreme Robot Being® descends and orders all Robots® to put down their weapons and love one another - 10... 9... 8... Music!
Heh! This started out with Michael loading up some 8-bit Commodore 64 and Atari samples for Damon to play. We were aiming for a German-flavored Kraftwerk experience but never thought the track would sound like this. Damon started it by adding annoyingly abrasive percussion. Giggly, yet so confused about the future of what was just laid to the hard drive we decide to let the track stew for a while. In our minds we both dismiss the track as a total waste of time and space - but, late one evening Michael decides to give it another chance and proceeds to take the 8-Bit samples over the top. Suddenly the direction of the track is reversed - more synths (Pentagon, impOSCAR) are added and we venture into chillville. Oh what a looming deadline will do for the creative process!
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03. Suspension of Disbelief
After their big debut on a Las Vegas stage, Damon and Michael stumble backstage to flirt with showgirls. Left with only $42.73 to their name, the two musicians try looking for a cab but after no luck they stumble into the Nevada desert only to witness strange lights in the sky.
A nod to all our favorite Lounge and Moog Exotica vinyl. Michael loads up a Rat-Pack drum kit, slows it down and adds some Realistic MG-1 Concertmate Moog licks. Damon then commands the Fender Rhodes (cranked through an old Ibanez Auto-Filter Pedal) and proceeds to seriously dominate with a One-Take recording. F-n-Funky!!! Michael then adds Optigan (Mattel Organ) to cheese it up more. What do you do when both musicians can't seem to play a solid melody on the theremin? Well... you combine all 4 tracks into one! Serious Air-Raid sounds and Top-Secret UFO noodling!
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04. Dr. Quay Presentz... Sizzurp!
Inspired by my co-worker Paul's stories about the "Chopped and Screwed" Houston Rap Scene. Check out DJ Screw or this jam
Damon's Casio Rapman skills SLAMMED through the RE-501 Space Echo - totally in the Red baby! Michael adds Juno 106 noise and then some Pentagon doubling. Trying to sound like we're drinking "Pharmaceutical-Grade" Cough Syrup (codeine and promethazine) makes this track shine. Actually it sorta fits in with the style of the album - We like it slow... with Sprite©!
Seriously messed up Mr. C. - We be Leanin' with the Purple Drank Yo!
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05. Vril-Ya ?
The Vril-ya is a race of superbeings, which are handsome giants of 12' or more.
Michael always wanted to use that Wind Patch on his Juno 106, but he never realized he'd be composing an ambient piece based on conspiracy theories related to the Antarctica, Atlantis, Nazi UFO's, Secret Societies, and the Fourth Reich. Actually, the structure of the piece is purely based on a math algorithm. Cool huh? Additional use of Pentagon.
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06. Spoonie Gee... Stop Crankin’ Me
Hi ummm... this is Spoonie Gee and ummm... We're doing some music productions and we're just wondering if you have ears and you can hear... Ha Ha that rhymes!!! Anyway ummm... we're just ummm producing ourselves and we have some songs and they go like this:
"F@$k Michael Miller in his @ss... F@$k Michael Miller in his @ss... Spoonie Gee Rules... in his @ss! F@$k Michael Milla in his @ss - We have our own Christmas Special and... Reinforcements have arrived! Yes... It goes like this, ummm... it goes like this... Goes like this... Ack!" [Remaining rap unintelligible...]
What more can be said? These 2 kids crank-called Michael and his wife for about a year. Unfortunately they stopped. This was the highlight of getting home from work and checking phone messages in 2001. I really do sincerely miss them. Michael added a Juno 106 bassline and Stratocaster riffage thru a really low-battery operated Fulltone Fulldrive pedal.
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07. Ocean in the Sky
Pensive Rhodes playing by Damon. He really knows how to bring tears to Michael's eyes.
Damon Plays the Fender Rhodes and Michael later adds a Space Echo Guitar loop in the background.
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08. The Lost Obituary
"They're floaters. Not much more than a suitcase full of nothing between them and the gutters."
An improvisational piece for Theremin and Rhodes done in one take. Michael hits record and proceeds to massage the Moog Theremin (Thanks Kirk!) whilst Damon whittles away at the Fender Rhodes Seventy Three's Ivory (or is it plastic?) This is an edited version, since Damon and Michael decided to refrain from subjecting the listener to masturbatory noodling.
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09. Word on the Street is that You are Just Recycling Old Material
When Michael told Kirk he was making an album Kirk's reply was the title of this song.
Another nod to our influences: Stoner/Krautrock jams.
Michael starts off with a mellow Danelectro Convertible groove and also adds some E-Bowed Guitar. Damon keeps the pulse going with Harmony Bass. Beautiful ugliness erupts from Damon's Bass as Michael trades in the Danelectro for the Teisco Beater II (Thanks Kirk!). We isolate some feedback through our trusty RE-501 Space Echo and proceed to lay down KrautRock-esque grooves. The Teisco Beater II guitar is tuned to all E strings (the Glenn Branca Alto Guitar Tuning). Homer makes an appearance on this track too!
Credits
Special Thanks to the following individuals:
Phoebe & Aimee
Veronica
Kirk Hellie for the theremin and Beater II
Paul Yuergens for letting us borrow his Fender Rhodes Seventy Three
Steve Kutay for his mixing and mastering advice and expertise
all RPM Challenge 2008 participants
and lastly you - the listener!
For our other musical projects see our Other Music Web page.