Feb 2022 alternative modal impressionist piano cajon mixed-meter
@seanbrennan: This was actually my first fruit of FAWM, but I had to sit on it to make it cohesive. The lyrics are essentially Symbolist - allusive, without presenting any specific conclusion or message. I guess I had in mind innocence, or naivete, or any sort of ideal that gets challenged, weathered, and hardened by the world. (I'm all over the place in my outlook on mankind this FAWM! Anybody relate?) Just like my tune "Frozen Lake" from last year, I was happy with the concept but lukewarm on the product, and then Andrew completely reinvigorated it with his playing.
@deadhead: Yeah so... before recording the piano, I had to record a voiceover to let me know when the different sections were. Apparently counting to 9 in 7/8 is hard.
Track Credits
Andrew Russell: piano
Sean Brennan: lead and backing vocals, cajon
Lyrics by Sean Brennan.
Music by Lavish Dude.
Lavender gardens
Extend to infinity beyond the horizon
Late summer blooms
They'll all be consumed
They glow in the deep crimson sunset
Deep beauty unmet
Lavender gardens
Thunder and lightning
Extinguish the burning of a deep summer passion
Warnings were stark
The thoughts all grow dark
The mind that has nothing to burn through
Always returns to
Lavender gardens
Winter is coming
A blanket of gray descends around the horizon
Snow starts to fall
It covers us all
The winds grow so harsh as to freeze them
Nobody sees them
Lavender gardens
@ofishell Mar 2022
I will admit at this point that I hate lavender. The slightest whiff and I get a migraine. I adore this song, because when everyone goes on about how much they love lavender, the tone of this song encapsulates my thoughts about it.
But enough about me...this is so fantastically written, performed, and produced. I totally get the "impressionist" tag.
@liz561 Mar 2022
The way this piece was put together is fantastic. The 7/8 meter gives a slightly unsettled feel, and the jazzy piano skittering about really supports the melody. Love the cajon too!
@wylddandelyon Mar 2022
The piano is absolutely gorgeous, and highlights the very nice lyrics well. I love gardening, and sunsets and storms and even (so long as I'm not out in it) winter. Very nice.
#tit4tat
@driftwood1 Mar 2022
Seasons in the garden, seasons in life. The Lavender Garden doesn't have to be a perfect metaphor, in fact the openness of the lyric allows the listener to take their own meaning. It's a strong image to center the song. Real nice piano backdrop for the whole thing too.
@sheilerk Mar 2022
I loved the title, and it plays so well through the verses. The rhyming is particular nice, as nowhere does it feel in any way forced, it just flows. There are some wonderful lines, in fact every other line seems to feel really special to me. I especially liked "the mind that has nothing to burn through always returns to Lavender gardens", and the winds grow so harsh as to freeze them, nobody sees them, Lavender gardens."
This is just beautifully written!!
Not to leave the music and vocals out, they carry the words with just the right cadence and the beats and piano were excellent. The build to winter is coming, and the harmonies there, really set it off so nicely. I'm so glad I got to hear this one.
#ListeningSkirmish
@fearlessflight2014 Mar 2022
This is such a gorgeous, ethereal lyric! And that shift up a semitone is really delicious. The little break with the ascending riffs is the perfect release! Great collab!
@jwhanberry Mar 2022
The tag was right on the money. Very spacious modal impressionism. It weaves a spell and the psychedelic lyric sits nicely in it.
@tunecat Feb 2022
Love the vibe- the quiet seven pulsating is excellent and with the voice floating along top.
@dulcimeric Feb 2022
This is a cool vibe. The piano playing is especially mesmerizing, but the whole thing is hypnotic and darkly beautiful. A unique find!
@nuno Feb 2022
This is really interesting. So nice to hear something in a less used time signature. A great write and nice work with the piano too. The vocal harmonies work really well with the feel of the piece. Really enjoyed listening to this.
@angelo Feb 2022
Nice and drifty. I get why it's a fave of yours, but think you were too hard on "Adam's Rib." That's up there too. :)
@gwyn1234 Feb 2022
Intriguing. both lyrically and musically. Well done!
@hummingbear Feb 2022
It's the rhythm that captured me first, it held me in a relaxing way, wending through the lyrics. Very nice.
@jorh Feb 2022
This song has such an interesting and captivating rhythm. It feels wholly unique, and as such held my attention throughout. I loved the ‘lavender gardens’ metaphor too. Great work
@candle Feb 2022
Almost psychedelic & full of emotion. This is just wonderful!
See You In The Shadows…
@chrisshepard Feb 2022
Had to stop by again to study this.
@chrisshepard Feb 2022
Isn't a cajon just the greatest? What started this song? Rhythm? Piano? Lyrics?
@metalfoot Feb 2022
This is a gorgeously beautiful track... that piano and cajon blend and then the vocal line does exactly what it needs to, in order to set the scene. I like the poetic lyrics a lot too!
@wolfkier Feb 2022
Lovely, and groovy, just transportive. Great job on a rich jazzy chill track.
Thanks for your kind words earlier, Sean. Much appreciated. Great to see you here making music again this year!
@lowhum Feb 2022
Great modal tune. Feels a lot to do with outer space. Catchy meandering vocal melody, don't get me start on the piano!
@rayboneor Feb 2022
This has a sort of quiet intensity. I was under the spell of the drum and low end piano rumble, while the tinkling piano and vocal made me dream. I think I'm going to have "lavender gardens" echoing in my head for a while
@timfatchen Feb 2022
Some things do need to be sat on to hatch properly. The "allusive" lyrics allow the listener to allude, elude or elide even...! The doubled vox lifts the last ominous stanza. Cajon...[envy] Andrews piano, I couldn't really imagine this without it. [My outlook: we're in the early stages of a new Dark Age]
@bootlegger Feb 2022
Cool song. Nice lyrics. It definitely evokes a mood. It gets you there. Twisting and turning and always moving. Really nice.
@theodamus Feb 2022
Hypnotic and expansive, love the twists and turns as different elements (lyrics, vocals, instrumentation) build and take centre stage at different times but never competing or showing off - this feels like such a cohesive collab, really interesting to listen to!