Washademoak [1:44] A complement to Canaan, this is another early GarageBand experiment that contributed to the soundtrack of a documentary I produced for a local non-profit organization. More details here.

Starsky Goes Clubbing [1:36] My very first experiment with GarageBand, recorded in 2004 and now preserved on the ‘net forever. A fun li’l tune.

Space Baby [3:00] The perfect come-down after “Canuckistan”, “Space Baby” features filtered keyboards, a sine wave bass drone, and processed hand drums; the latter providing a subtle, heartbeat-like percussion.

September 1st [1:58] This tune was recorded to test the glorious M-Audio FireWire 410, which quickly became an essential piece of gear (and is now indispensable for performing with Guitar Rig). It’s also the only recording of my late Godin Radiator, the first electric guitar (outside of basses) I ever owned. Poor li’l Godin. Swapped it for a Strat, tho’ :)

Release [2:28] An early experiment with digital technology to see if it could be as useful a tool as my old analog gear in producing quick, off-the-wall soundscapes. The key is Db harmonic minor, with layered guitars and sampled drum loops. Everything’s in 4/4, but the accents on the guitars shift cyclically on some tracks and randomly on others. Sometimes it all comes together, sometimes not, but that’s kinda the idea. All the right notes are there, tho’ ;)

Prairie [3:57] Inspired by my two years in Saskatchewan, this track has a light, open, and somewhat melancholic feel, much like that engendered by the humbling prairie skies and landscape.

Plateau [1:50] Another li’l tune in the same vein, and from the same time, as Ascent.

Little Drum [1:49] Another analogue 4-track recording from ‘96/’97. Voice was sampled from a BBC Radio show earlier that morning. The title refers to an earlier version of this tune where the drum track was laid down using a small dumbek.

Green Starfish [1:31] Another early GarageBand experiment, this time tweaking the basic settings to achieve dub echo on the drum track.

Circus Girl [1:29] An old, old tune (early 90s). Recorded on borrowed equipment in order to experiment with delay and reverse recording.

Canuckistan [4:11] Flexing my GarageBand muscles again. A few interesting layers and changes of mood here. Rahab, oboe, sax, and voice are samples (courtesy of Apple’s World Music and Remix Tools Jam Packs), everything else is either MIDI-programmed or recorded direct to disk. Insight regarding the song’s title can be found here with Mutatron providing further satire.

Canaan [4:15] An early GarageBand experiment that ended up forming part of the soundtrack to a documentary I produced for a local non-profit organization. More details here.