Feb 2022 prog progressive-rock odd-time-signature current-affairs curses
Going back to my prog roots for this one, which has Mellotron in it, a guitar track count that's well into double figures, and is in 7/8. But there's some funk elements in the mix, too. I used the entire fingerboard of my JayDee from one end to the other here.
(If you want to count along, it's 129 BPM.)
Given up pretending
I know what's going on
The news too condescending
to be relied upon
Now that I'm older,
I understand the curse
"Dull" to the beholder
is when things aren't getting worse
Interesting times
At home, the same abroad
Grabbing the attention
That we can ill afford
Interesting times
Refuse to be ignored
As the tension climbs
It's better to be bored
Stuck underneath
a growing avalanche of stuff
But can we ever find relief
In knowing when to say, "Enough!"?
I try my best to be affirmative
So I'll say in my defence
that I've considered the alternative:
It's best to be kept in suspense
@ryako Mar 2022
Oooh, fun odd time signature! I like that you experiment with odd time signatures. I'm getting some King Crimson vibes from this!
@johnpeekstok Feb 2022
I once wondered what would happen if Frank Zappa collaborated with
Robert Fripip. Thank you for clearing that up for me. Very nicely done.
@heliosonorous Feb 2022
Lots of cool things going on in this track, really like the timing and feel of this one!
@janeg Feb 2022
Consider me impressed! Hard to add to the praise I see below from other FAWMers.
@tomslatter Feb 2022
Fun groove, makes me think of early 80s King Crimson with the lop-sided riff and the lyrics/vocal approach. Feels to me more like 7/4 in the verses, with the riff on the beat the first time half of the bar and off the beat the second half.
Like it.
@mikeskliar Feb 2022
Funny, my first song here, posted a day or two ago, is also called 'Interesting times" (its certainly true these days!!)
That prog-rock odd time thing is really catchy in its own mathematical way, and this whole thing is quite powerful!! Great job! those descending guitar lines that appear here and there are really effective. Amazing guitar and bass work (drums too)
@ayehahmur Feb 2022
Love that shuffle on the kit. Really suits the 7/8 and invites that grumbling bass to do its funky thing. So many other grand wee elements to this too - the twin guitars descending in chromatics are ace. All the stuff you've got providing a hefty platform in the chorus. The anxiety-inducing modulation staircase that end. AND whatever amazing magiv you've got on with the vocal processing - I think this is the best treatment of your voice I've heard. It's got the clarity and some of your natural tone but it's also got that deep growl behind it and it all works really really well.
@doggolito Feb 2022
Timing was impeccable. I learned to play drums in 7/8 last week ^^
Highlight for me is the bass. Magnificent bass line, making me want to dance (not sure how I'd do in 7/8 though)
Very 70-80s prog vibe
@erucaesounds Feb 2022
Cool..... (is that a ref to Amon Duul) Pretty clever timing and dissonance.... nice work!
@altum Feb 2022
This is really cool! 7/8 is always so groovy. The Fripp/Belew style harmonies are tasty too. Looking forward to what's coming next.
@djtjb Feb 2022
My god that bass line is so funky! Interesting times signature for sure! The whole listen is so fun.
@jackdawfactories Feb 2022
Echoing the 80s Crimson shouts from further down the page, but there's also some early-era Gabriel feel to some of the vocals. Really cool track!
@ductapeguy Feb 2022
It is immersive, disorienting and so beautiful.
@ianuarius Feb 2022
It is interesting times indeed.
I really like the chorus. It's got a very 80s feel to it, the vocals sound powerful, and the bass is crazy!
And I appreciate how bonkers the drums go in the outro. :D The constantly rising progression adds a bunch of tension... thinking how far can this go!
Excellence
@tseaver Feb 2022
Good write: urgent, driving, and hooky, yet still with the proggy vibe.
@fuzzy Feb 2022
I think @downburst hit it on the head; this has all the wonderful disorientation of early 80's Crimso.
Really great lyrics here.
Yeah, definitely another winner.
@aeye Feb 2022
Love those guitar harmonies. You've got a really cool mix of sounds going on in here. It just meshes well but I love those guitars. I keep going back to them
@spazsquatch Feb 2022
I've got to echo @elesimo that the combination of the first line and the 7/8 is inspired. Well played.
@beyondthelimes Feb 2022
Digging the off-kilter time signature and the guitar harmonies.
@nadine Feb 2022
My head is bursting counting along. Interesting combination of 70s prog and 80s synth sounds. The funky solo is super cool!
@dragondreams Feb 2022
I love the fusion of sardonic wit, rock-solid prog chops, and skilled arrangement. I gave up counting how many layers you'd stacked in this.
And when that chorus lift first happened... well I reached for the volume knob and tweaked it nearer to 11!
@beat Feb 2022
Am all in a bass mood now. Sehr schön!
@downburst Feb 2022
I... guess it's 7/8. The drums make it hard for me to count--super disorienting (in a good way, like Belew-era Crimso). The jaunty chorus sounds like some lost classic 80s's synthpop. And then it modulates off into the stratosphere at the end. Wow, this is quite a trip. (Ack, I typoed "tripe" there! Fixed it.)
@elesimo Feb 2022
Ohhh, love how the song starts with "Given up pretending / I know what's going on" and a very staccato rhythm in 7/8, they match each other perfectly and was definitely not what I expected! And that descending line on the guitars before the chorus works really well!
This is a great song, I really enjoy listening to it!