On Long Pig I Started with a simple step sequence that I ran through my modular. Several hours later I’d dragged the modular screaming and wailing into some rather dark territory. The base of this track is made from a section of the modular recording during my evening with it.

To build on the base of the modular I decided to stick to focusing on pure analogue Instrumentation that didn’t fit within tempos or pitch. To do this without going back to the modular again I decided to use an old mixer as a no-input mixer to create a collection of accompanying hums bloops and crackles to make a bleak track suitable for a horror film.

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This week I had more time in front of my computer, which enabled this week’s track to be more Ableton Live focused. Apart for the vocal sample which was done entirely with the OP1. I would like to thank someone who doesn’t want to be named for allowing me to use her voice in the track.

This week started on my OP1 but I slowly added extra textures from my new modular synth. As it’s all new I’m still getting my head around what you can do with it and that was more time-consuming than I originally envisioned.

Have a listen Here:

This weeks piece of music is a more beat driven orientated affair and I’m very happy with the outcome. This mellow track was composed and built on the Teenage Engineering Op1. I then added a few clap samples from a 909 at the end and about halfway trough an effect soaked Melodica comes into the track.

Give it a listen below:

This Week I wanted to crate something with a more summary mood. I started with the initial OP1 brassy pad sound that you hear from the beginning and iterated on it to build up the track.

Unfortunately midweek I managed to fall whilst climbing and badly injure my left arm. Although I haven’t broken anything it’s made playing instruments over the past few days painful and I was worried that I wouldn’t finish the track. Luckily a close friend and collaborator John George stepped in to provide the bass line and help me with some of the arrangement to get it out on time:

I recently picked up M01d, A Software Replica of the Famous Korg M01 for 3DS. Although still getting used to it, I thought the perfect way to give it a baptism of fire would be to use it solely to make the track of the week.

Krubera is a dark and roomy sounding track that was made using purely the sounds available on the M01d including effects. The reverb available on the M01d was also a deciding force for the track and was a major contribution towards its composition.

Give it a listen on Weekly Beats Below:

The original idea for this track was to create something along the lines of Acid house. It didn’t take long before it had gone in another direction but the use of the 303, 909 and Piano samples are still there although re-appropriated for the track.

This is also the first track where I’ve had a direct collaboration with another musician. Adam Wheeldon provided Live guitar and Bass for the Piece.

This week’s track was a little different. I wanted to create a track representing a sunrise. I knew I wanted a wall of sound approach to imitate the suns awesome power and after a few Ideas I decided that the use of radio static (the audio remnants of the big bang) was a perfect imitation.

This track is made up of many layers of different recordings of static with pitch shifting and automated EQ to add rhythms and melody’s to the track. I then accentuated elements that I liked with a heavily distorted electric guitar and a bass line from Monark, which I recorded through an FM radio using a transmitter: