This song was recorded on a 4-track cassette and mailed to each participant, in the order below. Each person added one track to what they heard on the tape until the song was done. https://fawm.org/forums/topic/12033/
1: @vomvorton - bass
2: @wobbiewobbit - melodica
3: @zecoop - drums
4: @burrsettles - vocals & guitar
with the melodica on there i really, really wanted to try and make this a goofy instrumental with other "atypical" instruments (tried kalimba, stylophone, banjo, toy piano, modular synth, etc.). but in the end, with only a few hours to go i just picked up a guitar and turned it into an early 90s college radio tune, as you do. or, as i do.
used a vox amp in hono(u)r of this tape's british origins! :) also, my wife reminds me that both nightingales and blackbirds are british songbirds, and florence nightingale was a british nurse, statistician, and social reformer.
there's a lot of crazy in the world right now, and i just wanted to try and write something positive. also i don't think i've ever written a "list" song before...
i am a nightingale
i am a blackbird in the night
i am a melody
here to tell you it will be alright
alright
i am a speck of truth
i am the grey between black and white
i am living proof
thats seeds grow into forests full of might
alright
i am a mystery
i am a rainbow in the storm
i am the fire in your heart that keeps you warm
i am a passing wave
i am a beacon full of light
i am a window to the world and its delight
i am the morning mist
i am a whisper in the night
i am a messenger
here to tell you it will be alright
@dugganensis Mar 2022
beautiful. Fun and sunny. Everyone sounds great together. I love the solo tone on that guitar hook. It's almost an 8-bit style signal breakup.
@yarimurray Mar 2022
This is so cool! College radio rules and this takes me right back to those magical days. Once again, the whole from the disparate parts sounds organic and planned out somehow. Nicely done everyone!
@guatecoop Mar 2022
Yeah, this is a really cool song! I just love how each part plays an important role--like a good band does, but you guys never even discussed it! Wow. excellent playing, the recording/mixing is perfect, and the words! The lyrics are very positive and timely, for sure. Excellent song and collab!
@audrey Mar 2022
What a great collaboration! It sounds so tight, and that catchy melody is fabulous. Love these uplifting lyrics too. This is so well put together. Great song!
@richaaaay Mar 2022
Wonderfully done. Love these lyrics and the vocal delivery. Each track contributes to make this four track recording a gem. Well done you all…
@emplate Mar 2022
Ahh, I really love this idea and the warm sound of that 4-track! Absolutely great. That lead guitar tone is awesome, too. I like it how it distorts and cracks. And those drums. They sound so good. I'd take this kind of production every day over massively produced pop, this has so much feeling in it!
@danvaillancourt Mar 2022
Sweet 4-track collab. This reminds me of some of the local bands that I knew that put cassettes in the 90s. I forgot how awesome drums sound of tape. Vocals are spot on for the style and love the fuzzed out guitar tone. Melodica works really well and adds a cool vibe. Great work all around. Catchy melody and lead lines.
@beyondthelimes Mar 2022
Love the sound of melodicas, harmoniums, etc. This is a fun toe-tapper that kind of has a great "if GBV played psychedelic pop" vibe.
@bethkille Mar 2022
Love this lyric! Great guitar solo too. What a fun collab here!!
@nuerdetjuligen Mar 2022
So impressive you guys! Intercontinental analog musical sorcery. God bless you all and the magic of mail! Really sounds awesome.
@roblincoln Mar 2022
Nice to know a cassette can hold great music still. LIke the singing, playing, chord progression, melody., guitar, bass, drums and of course the melodica. Like the talking at end too. I like it all!
@ductapeguy Mar 2022
90s indie rawk for the win. The melodica sets the tone for the whole beautiful jangly groove. Your vox are spot-on form @burrsettles . Great 4 way collab.
@nancyrost Mar 2022
This has such a pretty indie-pop sound!
@vomvorton Mar 2022
Hell yeah! Just finished filming my reaction too - love hearing how this ended up. Great work from everyone, drums, melodica, guitar and vox all sounding great! So cool that this all came from my bassline at the start of the month!
@wobbiewobbit Feb 2022
just filmed my first listen too, top work everyone, i love the drums, and that guitar sound is deliciously on the edge of breaking. but the vocals and lyrics steal the show for me, i love the melody - esp the verse endings and the lyrics are such a comforting tease. can't guess the riddle though ;) it all gels so nicely, was fun to be part of this project, thanks :)
@eargoggle Feb 2022
Such a great indie rock tune right here, great lyrics, love the list aspect because it just seems to gather momentum as you keep going with it...beacon full of light and window to the world, like that. And such great fuzz! Really good job all around.
@midwayfair Feb 2022
Sounds great! What’s on the guitar there Burr?
@elesimo Feb 2022
Such a sweet song! Love how festive this sounds, and Burr's vocals are so calming. Great guitar solo, solid bass and drums, and that harmonic is just perfect. Love it!
@zecoop Feb 2022
I just filmed my first listen...
This turned out so great. It was a very fun song from the start and I had a really hard time figuring out what to play (which is interesting that Burr did too). Maybe with more time I would have gone with the other instrument (you'll have to watch the video to see what that was), but ultimately I am very glad that I went with the drums. I am also glad that Burr went with what he chose, because the song became something deeper, while still retaining the fun it started with. This was awesome! The 4-track challenge is awesome!
@b3nut Feb 2022
Really cool song, great imagery in the lyric. Love the sound you guys got from a 4-track! It gets this crushy-crunchy-smeary thing on the drums that has a cool attitude and edge...sounds really full too!
@swampjaw Feb 2022
Really nice to have an upbeat song, and some solid lyrics. The distorted guitar tone is super sweet, and well done all around!