7 Nov
2016
7 Nov
'16
1:11 p.m.
Hi all,
Just a quick note to say my new album (Patchwork Cacophony, Five of Cups)
was released today.
Once again, almost everything was produced on Linux using Ardour and other
Open Source software (though there are very few soft synths -- it's mostly
olde fashioned drums, guitars, voices and physical keyboards).
Same as last time, if anyone mentions Ardour when buying a copy I'll
collect up £1 per sale for a donation to Ardour development. In truth with
music sales being what they are these days it's unlikely to feed a proper
developer caffeine habit for even a week, but it should be able to eclipse my
all-time revenue from Spotify ;)
The music is prog rock, with a strong emphasis on keyboards and classic-era
sort of sounds rather than more metal-influenced which is seeing a bit of
a rennaissance these days.
You can stream the whole thing for free on Bandcamp:
http://patchworkcacophony.bandcamp.com/
Thanks again to everyone in the Linux Audio world, from the ALSA and FFADO
guys, obviously Ardour, but also things like Scribus and Gimp. It constantly
amazes me how much support there is for producing a thing like this without
recourse to proprietry software. Long may it continue!
Ben
8 Nov
8 Nov
7:55 a.m.
Holy smokes, Ben! This was truly a joy to listen to. Congratulations on
completing such an awesome piece. It being done in Linux makes it even
more worth what you're asking. I encourage anyone who appreciates good
music to support this awesome musician. GREAT work.
On Mon, Nov 7, 2016 at 5:11 AM Ben Bell <bjb-linux-audio-user(a)deus.net>
wrote:
Hi all,
Just a quick note to say my new album (Patchwork Cacophony, Five of Cups)
was released today.
Once again, almost everything was produced on Linux using Ardour and other
Open Source software (though there are very few soft synths -- it's mostly
olde fashioned drums, guitars, voices and physical keyboards).
Same as last time, if anyone mentions Ardour when buying a copy I'll
collect up £1 per sale for a donation to Ardour development. In truth with
music sales being what they are these days it's unlikely to feed a proper
developer caffeine habit for even a week, but it should be able to eclipse
my
all-time revenue from Spotify ;)
The music is prog rock, with a strong emphasis on keyboards and classic-era
sort of sounds rather than more metal-influenced which is seeing a bit of
a rennaissance these days.
You can stream the whole thing for free on Bandcamp:
http://patchworkcacophony.bandcamp.com/
Thanks again to everyone in the Linux Audio world, from the ALSA and FFADO
guys, obviously Ardour, but also things like Scribus and Gimp. It
constantly
amazes me how much support there is for producing a thing like this without
recourse to proprietry software. Long may it continue!
Ben
_______________________________________________
Linux-audio-user mailing list
Linux-audio-user(a)lists.linuxaudio.org
http://lists.linuxaudio.org/listinfo/linux-audio-user
9:25 a.m.
Wow, this email has certainy improved my morning! Thank you.
I must admit there are times when I've wondered whether I should switch to
another platform for music to make interoperability with others easier, but
I'm sticking to my guns.
bjb
On Tue, Nov 08, 2016 at 06:54:48AM +0000, Jason Jones wrote:
Holy smokes, Ben! This was truly a joy to listen to.
Congratulations on
completing such an awesome piece. It being done in Linux makes it even
more worth what you're asking. I encourage anyone who appreciates good
music to support this awesome musician. GREAT work.
On Mon, Nov 7, 2016 at 5:11 AM Ben Bell <bjb-linux-audio-user(a)deus.net>
wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Just a quick note to say my new album (Patchwork Cacophony, Five of Cups)
> was released today.
>
> Once again, almost everything was produced on Linux using Ardour and other
> Open Source software (though there are very few soft synths -- it's mostly
> olde fashioned drums, guitars, voices and physical keyboards).
>
> Same as last time, if anyone mentions Ardour when buying a copy I'll
> collect up £1 per sale for a donation to Ardour development. In truth with
> music sales being what they are these days it's unlikely to feed a proper
> developer caffeine habit for even a week, but it should be able to eclipse
> my
> all-time revenue from Spotify ;)
>
> The music is prog rock, with a strong emphasis on keyboards and classic-era
> sort of sounds rather than more metal-influenced which is seeing a bit of
> a rennaissance these days.
>
> You can stream the whole thing for free on Bandcamp:
> http://patchworkcacophony.bandcamp.com/
>
> Thanks again to everyone in the Linux Audio world, from the ALSA and FFADO
> guys, obviously Ardour, but also things like Scribus and Gimp. It
> constantly
> amazes me how much support there is for producing a thing like this without
> recourse to proprietry software. Long may it continue!
>
> Ben
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Linux-audio-user mailing list
> Linux-audio-user(a)lists.linuxaudio.org
> http://lists.linuxaudio.org/listinfo/linux-audio-user
>
8:43 p.m.
On Tue, 8 Nov 2016 08:24:57 +0000
Ben Bell <bjb-linux-audio-user(a)deus.net> wrote:
Wow, this email has certainy improved my morning!
Thank you.
I must admit there are times when I've wondered whether I should switch to
another platform for music to make interoperability with others easier, but
I'm sticking to my guns.
bjb
Listened right through this. Absolutely first class work!
Great range of tunes/songs, yet all fit together and follow each
other beautifully.
--
Will J Godfrey
http://www.musically.me.uk
Say you have a poem and I have a tune.
Exchange them and we can both have a poem, a tune, and a song.
10:39 a.m.
On 11/07/2016 07:11 AM, Ben Bell wrote:
Just a quick note to say my new album (Patchwork
Cacophony, Five of Cups)
was released today.
Outstanding work, Ben, really first-rate performances and recording. I'm
not especially savvy about contemporary prog-rock, but this sounds like
the Right Stuff to my ears. :)
Impressive achievement. Well-done, sir !
Best,
dp
11:01 a.m.
Hi Ben,
Am 07.11.2016 um 13:11 schrieb Ben Bell:
Just a quick note to say my new album (Patchwork
Cacophony, Five of Cups)
was released today.
I'm listening to it right now, and this is very enjoyable and professsional.
Once again, almost everything was produced on Linux
using Ardour and other
Open Source software (though there are very few soft synths -- it's mostly
olde fashioned drums, guitars, voices and physical keyboards).
Can you tell us a bit about the keyboards used? I see a Nord Stage and a
Yamaha in your Live photo on the bandcamp site. Anything else?
The music is prog rock, with a strong emphasis on
keyboards and classic-era
sort of sounds rather than more metal-influenced which is seeing a bit of
a rennaissance these days.
Just my cup of tea. Very retro-proggy indeed. The (your?) high singing
voice is not exactly what I prefer (I hate Jon Anderson's style of
singing) but it's not in any way off-putting and the delivery is
top-notch (sometimes reminds me of Supertramp as well).
Thanks for sharing!
Chris
9 Nov
9 Nov
10 a.m.
On Tue, Nov 08, 2016 at 11:01:47AM +0100, Christopher Arndt wrote:
Gladly ;)
Yamaha P90 piano, mostly with its own sound though I used PianoTeq for a
more classical sound in "From A Spark".
Hammond XK3c organ.
Prophet 08, played from the Nord Stage which appears a bit in its own right
too though it finds its place more as a live tool in my rig than it does in the
studio.
Apart from that there's some small cameos from some 80's synths and sound
modules, and from Calf Organ as a String Synthesizer emulation.
Effects and processing almost all C*, TAP, SWH and Calf plugins, though
there's a Line6 M9 on the Prophet 08.
Thanks for the feedback!
bjb
Once again,
almost everything was produced on Linux using Ardour and other
Open Source software (though there are very few soft synths -- it's mostly
olde fashioned drums, guitars, voices and physical keyboards).
Can you tell us a
bit about the keyboards used? I see a Nord Stage and a
Yamaha in your Live photo on the bandcamp site. Anything else?
15 Nov
15 Nov
5:04 p.m.
Sorry for the delay in reply -- all very busy here.
I've had a look and I don't think I saved a preset. I can tell you roughly
what I would have done though: set the waves to SSaw or Saw, and use the
16', 8' and 4' lengths. Take off all the filter envelope stuff, make the
amplitude envelope generator into a fairly straightforward fast-ish attack,
fast-to-medium release (100-500ms?) with sustain at 100%. Get rid of any
harmonics and foldover. What you'll end up with is really simple sounding
but that's the point. You then sitck it through a multichorus and phaser
to get the sorts of effect you'd normal expect on a string synth and it
starts to take shape.
So, nothing staggeringly authentic but in a mix did a nice job of providing
some warmth and shimmer behind things.
bjb
On Wed, Nov 09, 2016 at 10:42:56AM +0100, Christopher Arndt wrote:
Am 09.11.2016 um 10:00 schrieb Ben Bell:
[...] and from Calf Organ as a String Synthesizer
emulation.
That's interesting. I never thought of using this plug-in for this
purpose. Do you have any presets to share?
Chris
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Linux-audio-user(a)lists.linuxaudio.org
http://lists.linuxaudio.org/listinfo/linux-audio-user 
8 Nov
8 Nov
12:59 p.m.
On Mon, 7 Nov 2016 12:11:40 +0000
Ben Bell <bjb-linux-audio-user(a)deus.net> wrote:
The music is prog rock, with a strong emphasis on
keyboards and
classic-era sort of sounds rather than more metal-influenced which is
seeing a bit of a rennaissance these days.
The mix balance is quite good. I'm not listening to prog rock much
although style-wise, for a certain kind of prog, this sounds like it.
The vocals blends well with the music. As a product, it will not let
down people who like this style, both technically and musically,
considering that it is a one-man band in a home studio, which is a very
nice effort that can be put alongside many professional offerings. The
live drums contributes to the liveliness. It would have been very
difficult to produce the same quality of output with canned drums.
Cheers.
4:06 p.m.
Wow, you got a full world in there! Reminds me when I came back from the
record store with Rush's "Moving Pictures" I always kept a soft ear for
prog rock ; I really like "chasing rainbows" with the classy verse time
signatures and the powerful chorus. My only critic is about the artwork.
Colors, Font, general composition and overall appearance, let's just say
like /nothing/ about it. Like, come to think of it, a lot of record
artworks from my prog-rock years ;)
Thank you very much for the sharing!
yPhil
On 07/11/16 12:11, Ben Bell wrote:
Hi all,
Just a quick note to say my new album (Patchwork Cacophony, Five of Cups)
was released today.
Once again, almost everything was produced on Linux using Ardour and other
Open Source software (though there are very few soft synths -- it's mostly
olde fashioned drums, guitars, voices and physical keyboards).
Same as last time, if anyone mentions Ardour when buying a copy I'll
collect up £1 per sale for a donation to Ardour development. In truth with
music sales being what they are these days it's unlikely to feed a proper
developer caffeine habit for even a week, but it should be able to eclipse my
all-time revenue from Spotify ;)
The music is prog rock, with a strong emphasis on keyboards and classic-era
sort of sounds rather than more metal-influenced which is seeing a bit of
a rennaissance these days.
You can stream the whole thing for free on Bandcamp:
http://patchworkcacophony.bandcamp.com/
Thanks again to everyone in the Linux Audio world, from the ALSA and FFADO
guys, obviously Ardour, but also things like Scribus and Gimp. It constantly
amazes me how much support there is for producing a thing like this without
recourse to proprietry software. Long may it continue!
Ben
_______________________________________________
Linux-audio-user mailing list
Linux-audio-user(a)lists.linuxaudio.org
http://lists.linuxaudio.org/listinfo/linux-audio-user
--
Yassin Philip - New album out NOW
http://yassinphilip.bitbucket.org
7:28 p.m.
On Mon, 7 Nov 2016 12:11:40 +0000
Ben Bell <bjb-linux-audio-user(a)deus.net> wrote:
The music is prog rock, with a strong emphasis on
keyboards and
classic-era sort of sounds rather than more metal-influenced which is
seeing a bit of a rennaissance these days.
Since there were some comments about 'prog rock', I would like to
mention that the style is not limited to a few typical, if not
overdone, musical expressions. Progressive rock encompasses much more
than a few archetypical styles, flanked by more or less the same set of
sounds and arrangements. Contrary to bossa nova and tango, progressive
rock has many expressions. It it not limited to the outdated keyboard
riffs.
Here are a few listening links to demonstrate.
For instance, Magma (France). After 47 years of existence, a film is
being made about the band this year. Musical excerpt:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fksb0op4sY
Film trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V80oFyeJh1g
Another progressive rock expression is Deus Ex Machina (Italy) who
released an album recently and an official video last week:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRrDJntwsa8
Yet another is Koenjihyakkei (Japan) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAHzuXt4nBw
Isildurs Bane (Sweden) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXEEm50Lw8k
After Crying (Hungary) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL4UhNZPuFI
And there are more examples.
I have had the experience first hand, with what people stick to when
thinking of progressive rock as I had the opportunity to give a few
examples (CDs) to a journalist, along with a talk, to show the
differences in the category. Unfortunately, for the actual report on
radio the guy has chosen to cling to the same old definitions of 'prog
rock' which exploits the same more or less stale musical progressions
and pompousness, as if there is nothing else in that genre, not even
sub-genres. It is very unfortunate for progressive rock in general
since much people turn their ears away as soon as they hear the term
'prog rock', going away from what they expect to be music stuck in some
era of time, characterized by a limited set of riffs and antics.
Cheers.
7:37 p.m.
New subject: Progressive Rock (Was: New Music: Five of Cups)
Am 08.11.2016 um 19:28 schrieb jonetsu:
It is very unfortunate for progressive rock in
general
since much people turn their ears away as soon as they hear the term
'prog rock', going away from what they expect to be music stuck in some
era of time, characterized by a limited set of riffs and antics.
Find other people to talk (about music) to, then. I've stopped years ago
trying to interest other people, even friends, in the kind of music I
like, if they don't want to. For most people, music is not about
artistic expression or enjoyment, but about defining oneself and your
peer group, so they disregard artists or genres that don't fit into that
picture.
Anyway, I enjoy music with "outdated" keyboard riffs! :)
Chris
8:44 p.m.
New subject: Progressive Rock (Was: New Music: Five of Cups)
On Tue, 8 Nov 2016 19:37:32 +0100
Christopher Arndt <chris(a)chrisarndt.de> wrote:
Find other people to talk (about music) to, then.
The happening with the journalist happened by coincidence. I was not
looking for it and he was looking on something on the subject of 'prog
rock'. And again, it was a journalist. Even so, if someone asks I
would give an answer no problemo. If the brother-in-law wants to know
about the music I listen to I will not go "aw, you wouldn't understand".
I've stopped years
ago trying to interest other people, even friends, in the kind of
music I like, if they don't want to. For most people, music is not
about artistic expression or enjoyment, but about defining oneself
and your peer group, so they disregard artists or genres that don't
fit into that picture.
This also goes in 'prog rock' crowds. There is a gathering function of
popular music. At many levels of popularity. In some, their is an
actual musical listening aspect to it. In others none whatsoever. In
others, they like a beat, any beat. Etc.
Anyway, I enjoy music with "outdated"
keyboard riffs! :)
I must say I did listen to a lot of the Flower Kings as they brought a
nice twist in a good number of their productions. Saw them in
Würzberg once. There is a lot of giving in composition and playing,
which I appreciate.
Eg.: "Love Supreme" live:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfNKuezjDno
But they also go into 'epic finales' which goes on and on and on and
on ...
9 Nov
9 Nov
10:09 a.m.
On Tue, Nov 08, 2016 at 01:28:10PM -0500, jonetsu wrote:
Since there were some comments about 'prog
rock', I would like to
mention that the style is not limited to a few typical, if not
overdone, musical expressions. Progressive rock encompasses much more
Agreed. For me it's the "anything else" category for stuff that doesn't
fit neatly into the more strict genres. It's certainly a label that puts
a lot of people off but I figure that labels only get you so far. In the
end, the only way to understand music is to listen to it and see whether
it floats your boat.
bjb
2931
days inactive
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days old
linux-audio-user@lists.linuxaudio.org
14 comments
7 participants
participants (7)
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Ben Bell -
Christopher Arndt -
Dave Phillips -
Jason Jones -
jonetsu -
Will Godfrey -
Yassin Philip