Scrimshaw

In 10/4 for the odd time challenge: an invitation to a mild-mannered New England Bluebeard’s castle, whose secret chamber of horrors is apparently nothing more than a collection of quaint decorative arts.

My vocals here are pitchier than a Nantucket whaler in a hurricane, despite chopping up dozens of takes into a Frankenstein edit with as much autotune as I can stand. So I hope this is just a demo for someone with a bigger set of pipes.

That said, glad to hear any feedback.

Before the bees of summer
and autumn’s golden leaves
give way to the gray spruce
and the gray churning sea

I wish you’d make the crossing
and sit for the ’shander’s ivory knife
He cannot sail
He only carves from life

I’d like to see your face
immortalized in scrimshaw
I’d mount it on the wall
in its rightful place
in the row below the cameos
in the hall we call the Gallery of Greats
I’d like to see your face

I have the perfect canvas
my great-grand-uncle’s narwhal horn
It was awaiting your beauty
long before you were born

He braved the Arctic seas
and traded a fortune in ambergris
all for that tusk
and this crag you could call home

• play
• pause
• min volume
• max volume

posted by mubba (2 comments total)

I found this to be a really interesting listen. The "spastic" musical base of it is intricate and well put together, forming a great "bed" for things to go on top. The flute sound really surprised me, but it works. Then your vocal style also surprised me. Both elements feel more classical than what I thought would grow out of the very modern-sounding musical bed.

The lyrics echo that classical feel -- pretty cool. I did not find the pitch problematic, but I felt the vocal production didn't quite match the music, somehow. Maybe it's because the music is more metallic, while the vocals are a bit broader in terms of EQ range. Maybe I expected your voice to have less bass to it? Not sure. On second listen, this doesn't strike me as much.

I'm unable to count along to confirm it's 10/4 (I'm not so good at it), but I'm intrigued by the rhythm and applaud you for managing to create a kind of hook within this structure (the "flute riff").

Nice job!
posted by edlundart at 9:33 PM on April 1, 2013

This is interesting. I agree with mubba. You have done well in your challenge Luke Soundwalker!
posted by Brodyaga at 11:46 PM on April 1, 2013