1381 GSS (Demo)

Home demo for a forthcoming studio production. A love song from a photo resolution target in the Mojave desert to the aerial reconnaissance pilot flying overhead.

Lyrics:

Mojave, come in
Blackbird bearing 35°16’
Over the alluvial
Traveling at recon speed
Can you see me, 3x3, here?
I’ll wait another year
On the same route again
Flyover one more
With your secret eye again

High desert summer
Geodetic winds blow Cuddeback
Over your tracks
Dry lake devils swirl
Camera, calibrate to me
‘til you see “1381 GSS”
On the same route again
Flyover one more
With your secret eye again

(Blue valentine, blue valentine)

[Modern aerial techniques. Precision visual mapping photography. Electronic geodetic surveying. And electronically controlled photography. Precision visual photography is used to produce detailed topographic maps and charts of extensive areas by the science of photogrammetry. Maintaining a constant altitude, the aircraft flies along a series of parallel lines laid out on existing maps or charts, taking pictures of the terrain. These photographs provide complete coverage of all natural and cultural details on the ground.]

On the same route again
Flyover one more
With your secret eye again

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posted by mykescipark (9 comments total)

This would make such a great road trip song! The lead-in resolving into the first verse is really nice and the lyrics are unique. The only thing I'd suggest (and I seem to say this more often than not here on MeFiMusic I think) is that I wish I could hear the vocals better, in this case above the drums especially, so I'm glad you posted the lyrics here. I wouldn't have guessed what some of the lyrics were until I read the More Inside.

Out of curiosity, where is the "Modern aerial techniques..." voice from?
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 1:04 AM on May 2, 2017

Brilliant. The audio insert fits perfectly.
posted by Flippervault at 7:10 AM on May 8, 2017

Out of curiosity, where is the "Modern aerial techniques..." voice from?

Out there in the real world, I am loath to reveal my sources, but MeFi is my home, so here ;-)

And thanks for the kind words, both of you!
posted by mykescipark at 10:26 AM on May 8, 2017 [1 favorite]

Please let us know when the album comes out. Although the song's inspiration was in the Mojave, I can confirm it transposes well to the Sonoran Desert too, filling the wide open gaps between ranges with sonic ease.
posted by Flippervault at 7:42 AM on May 10, 2017

Just heard this on the music podcast. I love it, really good.
posted by billiebee at 8:34 AM on June 8, 2017

Hi pals: Finished version is out!
posted by mykescipark at 11:21 AM on June 19, 2018 [1 favorite]

I bloody love this mate. Just listened to it on proper speakers with the video playing. The mix is beautiful, love the bass, vocals sound great. Video is cool as. Reminds me of the Foos and a bit early snow patrol and I hope you take that in the complimentary spirit it's intended. Love the wooziness in general. Great, great job. Thanks so much for posting.
posted by billiebee at 2:53 PM on June 19, 2018 [1 favorite]

I woke up with this in my head today, just FYI.
posted by billiebee at 10:44 AM on June 23, 2018

Thanks billiebee. The whole album is out now! [Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube (playlist)]
posted by mykescipark at 11:24 AM on October 5, 2018 [1 favorite]