james brown

At first it was two guys with laptops, which is more and more common now a days, twisting knobs and trying to beat the software package Ableton Live. But really, it was these sessions that gave birth to tiny tron or more generally, gave birth to composition via software based music applications for me.

While we didn’t have a full 45 minute set, but we did have a set of tunes that we were proud to put out there and did at one of my favorite Chicago venues, Schubas. Sadly, that was to be the only show. Why now? I was digging around this weekend and found this gem and it seemed worth posting.

I simply call this James, but more correctly it should be called James Brown as high as a kite. Yes, we used a now very old internet meme of James Brown in a brilliant TV interview where he could barely complete sentences, but rather chose to blast out lines from his songs instead. Once the sample is established a driving minimalist piece rolls through out the length of the piece and James is smattered around in blessed beastly fashion. Warning: this track is low low fi and mono, but I think it is still worth posting. Disagree? Comment me and tell me why.

I hope you enjoy this as much as Rick and I did on Sunday night pining for a flash pan moment of creation and steamed dumplings.

Onoffono is a project I started with Molly Norris, Chad Harrington and Ryan Jedlicka about 6 months ago.  It was to be a collaborative effort which it has been and I’ve gotten to know some of their songs and they mine. It’s also been a learning experience in leading a band.  I didn’t expect to be a leader, but I felt a void and slowly took that role. Not only was it about teaching a tune, but on the spot arrangement changes, teaching listening skills and forming the flow of rehearsals. After a few times at the helm it became comfortable.

Right now onoffono is in limbo, which I hope is undone soon, but one of the first tunes of mine I decided to bring to the group was and is the first ‘new’ song to be posted on tiny tron X.whatever version you want to call this.

Spinning Circle

Name: Not sure yet (the folks in onoffono called is something like Spinning Circle)
Meaning: nothing coherent, just phrases and composition
Tempo: 135bmp or some sh*t
Sense of accomplishment: fairly high since it’s one of the few vocal tracks I actually don’t cringe hearing.
Righteous: You tell me.

Hope you likey. Tiny tron Ben gives it to you in the form of a watermelon.