I have been in the lab experimenting with noise and sound lately, and the result is a little bit weird.  I have been introduced to some new music recently (See Mike Patton), and I have felt a little inspired to go off the beaten track and just let the sound do what it wants.  I let it use me, like I am music’s instrument.  I am very obviously not a singer, but I want to be.  So these sessions are sort of the gateway to me trying to find my voice and style and maybe even refine it a bit as well as learn how to incorporate effects and ambiance into music effectively.

The first track is called, Snake Venom.  I used a Boss Dr. Rhythm  for drums and ambient synth.  Then I ran a bass through an effects processor with mild distortion and a very short delay.  The vocals are ran through a Behringer Virtualizer Pro, a pretty awesome effects processor that I just picked up at Richards music shop downtown.  This was actually the toy that inspired this track.  I had to test out my new toy!

-Snake Venom

The drums on the next song were done with the built in drum machine on my br600 digital recorder.  It was a preset song that I used so I could just jam out something short and simple.  Then I just added bass, and synth and some crazy effects and blended them to make an eccentric collage of futuristic sounds.  Perhaps that’s what a digital jungle at night would sound like.  Can’t forget the angst fueled  lyrics!  The vocals were recorded using the BR600′s built in preamp and effects.    Here is the song, Tired of checks.

– Tired of Checks

This last one is more of an angsty little dity, so enjoy it!

It’s Fucked Up

Things to look for soon…The next Spirals Over Norway Webisode, Episode 4, as well as a few jam sessions from the band! Feel free to leave some comments!

-Griff

If you haven’t heard the loud static-y synths and delayed screams in and around Lawrence lately, you probably are already deaf, or in a trance.  All that noise is due to the fact that local sound freaks, Spirals Over Norway(SON), have been rocking at least weekly and writing music like a rabid dog bites neighbors.  Already with 5 practices and a few Noise Lab sessions, they have 3 songs with a couple on the drawling board.  “We wanted to create something that sounded like Kansas was on fire and screaming.”, explains SON’s drum doctor, Dr. Gamage.

I had the privilege of sitting in on a few of their sessions, and can agree that it sounded pretty close to Dr. Gamage’s description.  But that’s not what grabbed my attention.  It was the fact that they were practicing with twenty or so different species of reptiles and amphibians on the loose in their giant practice space/terrarium.  “It gives us inspiration and drives us to be better every time we work on a song.”  Explains the bands only female member, Machinegun Night Queen.

Though their videos rise to anger some film majors, and their music is far from perfect,  they are still more than happy to showcase the process of forming a band and none of the naysayers really bother them.  From the writing process to  the recording aspects, and the bonding friendship that is growing as a result, its all there and out in the open for you to watch.

But some listeners have complained that the music is just a little sloppy and eccentric.  Perhaps it would be better for them to get the songs down perfect and recorded at a higher quality before posting them to the web.  Bassist Griffnasty comments, “We know its not the average sound that a lot of people are looking for, but we are really trying to come up with something a little fresh, and really loud…think T-rex humming the 1812 Overture.”.  Dr. Gamage adds, “We don’t really care what people think about the music, for us, its not about that…we know we suck, but the lizards really like it!”

All in all, I think this band is really trying to find themselves, and in the long run it will be interesting to look back at these rough puberty stricken days, and see how they progressed and formed their sound.  For now check out their latest Webisode, The Duct Tape Sessions, and leave them some feedback!  Send them questions, or trash talk them, or film your self in weird positions around your house while listening to their music and post it as a video response to their webisodes on youtube.com!  Also stay tuned for more “smaller” video updates of the band, and actual blog posts from the band….Done rambling, here’s the webisode!

Click “Continue Reading…” for an exclusive audio clip from their fifth practice session…its a goofy one

Download I’m A GM (GOD and Master) – A goofy byproduct of a sound check before practice…all in fun…never serious!

Its been three whole days since we (Spirals Over Norway) have practiced, and its killing me.  All I can seem to think about is playing music, and the next practice isn’t happening until this coming Sunday.  That’s alright though, for on Friday, Bobby and I are going to get together and plug in the synths, drum machines, and other noise makers and figure out just how we are going to incorporate these fun toys into our music.  To get into the spirit I have been listening to some good music to help inspire the fuck out of me, and put me in the mood.

If you have been following my Twitter updates, you will have seen some of these You Tube videos that have been been filling my mind with creativity.  If not, here’s your chance to see some of the music that’s pumping me up during these first few practice and recording sessions.  And thanks to Bobby for getting me into some Mike Patton.  It was only a matter of time!

Click continue reading for more vids!

So we have had our second Spirals Over Norway band practice and it went extremely swell!  We worked on our song(It needs a name!  Any ideas?) that we posted last week and flushed out what we didn’t like and added some new stuff we did like!  We also worked a little bit on Brosef Stalin, but failed on recording it.  We are hoping to get that recorded next week and up for your ears to get a glimpse. For now you can click on the read more button and listen to the new version!  The songs are a little bit rough as of now, but that’s why we are doing this practice blog, so you can watch us grow as a band and get to know us!  Thanks for listening and checking us out…here is Webisode two.  Let us know what you think!

Download Practice Session Two 01-17-2010