This Blog Is Retroactive

I can’t remember where it was that I heard this song recently, but I was immediately smitten with it and also curious as to why I hadn’t heard it before. Not new, but oh so good. Listen to it, and then listen to it again.

This song is all over the web, so yes, I too am currently listening to Yeasayer’s Ambling Alp, and you should be too, because it is awesome.

There are many things that I’m passionate about but visual stimuli, technology, and music are definitely on the short list.  So, when these three things get combined into a brilliantly engineered hand-held device like the Tenori-On, I can hardly contain myself.  What is the heck is a Tenori-On anyway? Is it like a Keepon? No, it’s not, but I do love those things.  The Tenori-On is a 16 x 16 LED button matrix performance instrument with a visual display that allows anyone (hey that’s me!) to play music intuitively.  They have a great website that will tell you all about it.  Check out this demonstration below.

I don’t have a Tenori-On.  I would very much like to have a Tenori-On but I don’t have $1000 to drop on one.  Not to worry, because I’ve found the next best thing.  It’s not as advanced, and it’s not hand held, but it is easy, and lots of fun, and free.  It’s a website with a 16 step sequencer called iNudge.  Now, everyone all over the internet is raving about Andre Michelle’s Tone Matrix, which is cool enough, but iNudge is better and I’ll tell you why.  iNudge has eight different sound layers, including drums and electric organ, and I can embed iNudge in my blog, or send a link of the song I’ve created to my friends.  I’ve spent the better part of my Saturday fiddling around with it and come up with some really entertaining and satisfying results.  Try it out for yourself.

As I said, I’ve been playing around with this thing all afternoon.  Below are a couple iNudges I came up with.  There are quite a few 16 step tone matrix sequencer apps on iTunes as well.  I used the free version of TonePad to compose one of these on my phone in about five minutes.  Then I went to iNudge and popped it in and added a drum beat for a little more depth.  Like I said, this first one was thrown together in a manner of minutes, and is kind of silly and whimsical sounding, but I really like it.  I think it’s a testament to these little tone matrix sequencers that it’s so easy to compose something catchy and melodic so quickly.

This next one sounds a little more dramatic. I was really trying to make it sound like something else, and it didn’t work, so I just decided to try a bunch of other stuff. I’m actually quite pleased with how it turned out. I originally composed it at 120 BPM, and then realized I could slow it down to 72, so I did.

So, if you haven’t already, go here and get your nudge on.  Paste the links to your nudges back in my comments.  I’d love to hear what you come up with!

I saw the coolest commercial for Cadillac the other day while watching the Cowboys game. I didn’t know what it was at first, but I was definitely intrigued. When you first start watching it, you might be tempted to think that we’ve all seen enough commercials of cars driving really fast through the desert. It quickly becomes obvious, however, that the camera work, editing, audio engineering and special effects in this one are a step beyond all those other car commercials. They do a great job of using the action, sound effects and background music to build toward the anticipated climax, and when it happens it’s not at all what you expect. I think that contrast between the first 45 seconds and the last 15 is also what makes this commercial memorable, as does the music they chose for the last part. The song is Spacewalk by Lemon Jelly, which Cadillac pulled right out of left field. That album came out back in 2002. Kudos to them. Lemon Jelly is awesome, and this song is a perfect choice for what they were trying to accomplish in this commercial.

I don’t give a hoot about GM or their cars, but I do have to say that they consistently choose some rare musical gems for their commercials. I remember a spot for Hummer (not owned by GM anymore, I know, but it was then) that used a song called Swamp by Midwest Product. When I saw the commercial, I had no idea who the music was by but I found out as soon as I could, and that particular Hummer ad has stuck with me ever since. Let’s also not forget the Cadillac Escalade commercial with Sofia Vergara (rowrrrr!) talking about cup holders. The first part is somewhat forgettable, but they finish it off with Genesis by Justice. That song is bad ass. You know what else that commercial has. Neon lights reflecting off of glossy black surfaces.

I’ve always believed that choosing the right music for any video or commercial is critical. It’s one of the most effective components of any visual piece at ensuring that your video is something that others will delight in and remember for years to come.

Listen to the songs I was talking about below:

Lemon Jelly - Space Walk
Midwest Product - Swamp
Justice - Genesis

My sister’s boyfriend showed me this video weekend before last and I’ve been meaning to share it since. It’s a video and song put together by a guy known as Pogo, from Perth, Australia. You can find all his videos on his YouTube page. He takes small samples of classic family films and sequences them together with electronic beats to make whole new songs. He’s done quite a few using films such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Alice in Wonderland and Hook but I think this one made from bits of Mary Poppins is by far his best. This particular video is full of silliness and wonder and is also a great reminder of how enjoyable the original songs were. After watching it I immediately wanted to go back and watch the original.

Sometimes I think it’s a shame I don’t take hallucinogens. I imagine watching something like this while on them would, like, totally blow my mind, dude.

I was not always a fan of Iron and Wine.  Frankly, the first song I heard by him was his cover of Such Great Heights off of the Garden State soundtrack.  I wasn’t really impressed.  Don’t get me wrong.  I have a special place in my heart for Lo-Fi, but it has to grab me, and nothing I’d heard by Iron and Wine before this song did.  However, when I first heard Someday the Waves on Pandora I was smitten, and only then fully aware of the quiet genius of this musician.  This song is very slow, but it’s also one of those songs that feel so good to be sad to.  Press play and enjoy.

Who is Harlem?  Who is Q Lazzarus for that matter?  Who cares.  I like this song.  Press play so you can like it too.