Picasso Project - Blind Minotaur (Led By A Girl)

[Ferryman_1957]

OK, after a lot of work and a lot of struggling, here's my contribution to the "Suffering Machines" rock opera (all based on Picasso paintings). Most of the contributions have been rather beautiful but sadly I can't do beautiful so I hope this doesn't unbalance the whole album. This experience has been very different for me, I've never tried to create a song for someone else's words and vision and it was certainly challenging to do this. I am a slow worker but this took a lot longer than it usually does for me, I could hear music in my head but struggled to get it into the instruments.

You may hear a lot of 80s influences here, because this is based on a song I used to do with a band in the early 80s. But those of you that know me also know I am stuck in the 80s so it's hard to get away from that. It was all done on the BR 800, except the vocals, which were recorded on the Micro BR and transferred over for mixing with the rest of the track. And of course there is some Kaossilator on there as well. The effects on the BR 800 are fantastic, I love the bass amp simulation. Drums are commercial drum samples fed into the BR 800. I have realised that drum programming from scratch is REALLY hard, so the drums are a bit repetitive and rely too heavily on a single thudding bass drum in places. But I would never finish it if I kept fiddling with the drums.

Lyrics:

Guided by an angel
graciously
her iron staff
comforts me

I am waking
from my state of dormancy
muscles contracting
like arcane machinery

This new world
is too bright to see
I am newly born
will you give me what I need?

Will you feed me
like an animal
wean me, teach me
the tricks I need to know?

I adore you
my life is in your hands
Do I please you?
I am merely dust and sand

The sun it burns
The ground it quakes
you know what you want
but do you know what's at stake?


These chains that bind me
could so easily break
I'll throw what's in my path
Deep into the fiery lake

Open my eyes
I can't see you
Where I come from
Is darker than this
I hate to think
Ignorance is bliss

Love burns like fire
Fire is death
The hottest fire
We cannot see
This fact we learn
With our final breath


Cheers,

Nigel

[FuzzFace]

Holy of holies!

This is awesome!  What a stellar track.

Sadly I am on my way out the door and all I want to do is play this over and over.

Beautiful work!  Seriously epic!  Well-worth the wait!

[Ferryman_1957]

This is awesome!  What a stellar track.

Sadly I am on my way out the door and all I want to do is play this over and over.

Beautiful work!  Seriously epic!  Well-worth the wait!

I'm really glad you like it. I kept thinking I might have gone a bit over the top in my interpretation of the words - I really played up the darkness, frustration and confusion angle once the minotaur breaks free of the girl.

Phew,

Nigel

[cuthbert]

Wow, this is effin' HUGE, Nigel! And proggy! And I also think it contains quite a bit of beauty.

I'll be downloading this for further evaluation. 

[Gnasty]

WOW!! I just cranked this to the tits on my stereo and glad i did. I got the full effect!!

This is a superb and tremendous track. That kaos sound you got there may sound 80`s a bit and in some areas but i like it. It`s pretty fresh sounding to me.

Another great add and different style to this album.

Awesome work!!

[Blooby]

I am in love with the chugging bass.  Really propels the tune forward.  Some cool stereo effects as well.

Blooby

[Bluesberry]

Dark and brooding and that drum and bass chugging along seems right in the zone.  Your voice sounds positively menacing.  The whole thing hangs together into a dark, menacing...its like goth-grunge or something.  I applaud your vision here Nigel, you matched music to lyrics very well.  Really good job on the mixing.  

[Gritter]

WOW what a great track...kick ass!, progressive...80's - yes, a bit but in a good way. Lots of great sounds that will deserve multiple listens! Your voice is what makes this so exciting! Great work Nigel and a perfect addition to the set.

[T.C. Elliott]

Very very good. I'm impressed. I love what you've done here.

[Satchwood]

Holy shit bro, this is great!!   Will be back for anotha listen tomorrow.... will def take a few listens to soak this Picasso masterpiece in!