Viewing entries tagged
1996

Into My World

Into My World

 

Much of the concept and arrangement on "Into My World" was written in 1996, along with so many guitar pieces that I've lost count. 

It's a crossover between baroque and latin styles, and some African as well, at least in my mind (though I didn't care much about styles then, and still don't). 

This version was recorded in 2008.  The guitar pieces are always fun, both electric and acoustic. Because of the fun they've given me over the years, I don't take them too seriously.  It almost feels like a child's game, and not "proper" and "serious art"

The rhythm and bass arrangement is minimalistic, the guitar is the opposite, and drives the song. Even though the song is basically acoustic, it it feels electronic. The tempo is kind of frantic so it can be almost overwhelming to listen to, which was the point.

I dot have much "sympathy" for redoing (any of my own parts) in the studio but I easily record a song on several occasions to find the right mood and ambience for it. Much more effective, I think. 

The song was recorded on the cheapest classical guitar you'll find. The ones that cost  under 100$/€. You can find some pretty good guitars for that price since there are so many of them out there. And here in Norway it's almost cheaper to buy a new one then bother to change the strings! 

It's pretty strange that I've not released more acoustic music over the years, since it's been a vital part of my day to day life since my childhood. 

Well, that will gradually change now


Stills from an upcoming video: at my studio FutureRevisited

Recording an upcoming acoustic song.

March Of The Moors

March Of The Moors

Originally composed for strings and marching drum, with a high emphasis on cellos.The goal was to make a cinematic score more than anything else.

We discussed how the story should outplay and the goal of the composition was to reflect that story.

The song was composed by me around 1996 in collaboration with Rune Bjørneset: a classically trained piano prodigy. He was the perfect candidate to throw ball with and we made some absolutely insane stuff together. 

We allowed ourselves to go way over the top with everything. First and foremost this included talking and making huge plots around the songs, we discussed the best scene for certain compositions, the best scene and state of mind for improvising and practicing etc.

I remember one time we were allowed to use one of the local venues for recording on a Sunday night when it was closed, we found out that we could get access to the live mixer and other equipment if we climbed through the roof and over a wall into the equipment room. And so we did. 

We borrowed the 40-60 channel mixer, along with microphones and recording equipment, climbing through the roof, recorded all night and climbed back with the gear the next morning.

We recorded the first version of “March Of The Moors” at Audiofarm studios around 1996. With a secondhand Korg Wavestation purchased partly for the occasion.

Since the sample libraries at the time was not all that much, the guitar had to do the job as the leading cellos and violins, resulting in a guitar orchestra more than anything.

We got drummer Geir Arne Ose to play for us in the studio, and I was so impressed by what he came up with that I decided then and there that he would be my drummer in the future, if he liked it or not.

The song was played frequently through Woo's later reformation and usually made the crowd go crazy. 

The release is based on a live show from 2001. Recorded by Erik Valderhaug at Lydkjeller'n AS. Some overdubs have been made on the recording, as I wanted some of the original instrumentation present. There are no other releases of this song  but several versions exist.

There is also a recording with real strings that may be released in the future.

I still love the vibe of this song and its always fun to play it, even after all these years.

 

Live in Ørsta, 2001 where the released version of "March Of The Moors" was recorded.

The show lasted 2 hours, "March" was played in the second set (shown here)