slinky saturday

A sunshiny ode to arcs and Saturdays.

This is probably 3 years old at this point and was recorded for our latest album, but I could never figure out what to do with it. I've always really liked it the way it is and couldn't see cutting it down or adding lyrics, so any suggestions would be appreciated at this point. It's always reminded me a bit of something like Amon Düül or later Boredoms led by Brian Wilson (for some people, that's actually a selling point!).

I also just realized there aren't any drums on here, just handclaps. Huh.

(Get Flash to see the track player.)
posted by sleepy pete (9 comments total)

This is still so basic, still very tabula rasa. There's so many different directions you could take this in. One thing I'd offer for suggestion (since you asked!) relates to what you mentioned:

there aren't any drums on here, just handclaps.

Don't put drums on it! That is, not drum kit. Maybe try some other percussion instead. Tabla could be sweet, as if Brian Wilson, while producing that Boredoms track, just happened to have Alla Rakha drop by the studio and lay down a track. Maybe also some big fat sub bass, maybe?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:46 AM on July 29, 2008

This is exactly what I needed to hear this morning. This is fantastic sleepy pete.
posted by dobie at 6:18 AM on July 29, 2008

This is lovely, and it's just begging for 3 to 5 voices doing oooooooooh aaaaaaaah and then being reversed, but, the problem with that is that it would be taking it to (IMO) it's natural conclusion, when you/the Harvey Girls always take something that is perfectly well defined and take it in unexpected directions.

Following that line of thought, perhaps you could try something like this. In it you'll hear a Mexican folk dance band, dancing on top of a wooden floor. The stomping in the floor is very rhythmic and in the track they leave it be for a couple of minutes and then they start playing with it, cutting it up, reversing it, and doing all sorts of stuff to it.

So, perhaps you could, not arrange your track in terms of composition, but to edit it electronically in a way that would sound new, interesting and that would respect the track which, to my ears, is perfect as is.
posted by micayetoca at 6:40 AM on July 29, 2008

Don't change it one bit Sleepy Pete. Don't do it! ;)
posted by dobie at 8:43 AM on July 29, 2008

That's a great track/idea, micayetoca. I've actually thought about something like that before using the sound of feet but can never get them to sound right (I think it was after listening to a Flamenco record, maybe? Someone was playing the guitar while someone was dancing... it was beautiful).

And thanks for the idea as well f@m. There was a sub bass at some point, but it didn't quite work. Maybe I'll have to do something else with it.

Don't worry, dobie, if I change it you can always still download this one (thanks for liking it, though, that means a lot).
posted by sleepy pete at 6:40 PM on July 29, 2008

Like dobie, I think this is great as is. If you're looking for something more, though, I think I'd second micayetoca's suggestion to add voices (even if you don't do the reversed bit). Even though I read the comments before listening, I still found myself waiting for them -- they just seem like they're meant to be there. I have faith that you could do it in a non-cliched way, if you so chose!
posted by danb at 7:19 PM on July 29, 2008

I feel like I'm floating in space listening to this, and I like the feeling.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:46 PM on July 29, 2008

oooo, it's like "What if Mark Mothersbaugh produced a Stereolab album?" Me likey.
posted by not_on_display at 6:11 PM on August 2, 2008

I really like it a lot - much of the beginning made me think of the Flaming Lips' Sleeping On The Roof. If I could make a suggestion, it would be that I wanted the repeating melody in the middle part to change or not repeat quite so many times. The ending is lovely too.
posted by Ira_ at 4:37 AM on August 6, 2008