Pages

7/27/2010

The Electric Phoenix

The Electric Phoenix is up-and-coming 8-track release from Elektropol. Tracks are filled with elektropolish soundscapes, beats, vocals and such - each having it's own story but being also a part of the ensemble.
 Cover draft v. 0.1 (Phoenix design by H-L Saarenmaa)

In-cover text draft

The Electric Phoenix itself is a mystical creature of Elektropol, electroborn from the oscillators of analogue synths (mainly Fatson 6000 and Urania Pattern Mk 3) that reborns after 888 years of living. It lands on the heat of the oscillators, disintegrates into square waves and is also given rebirth from the purest of them - new sound design, that is wiser than the previous in all fronts.

The Electric Phoenix reminds us about the chance of giving a rebirth for ourselves, finding new paths to travel, having an opportunity to change our direction. As The Electric Phoenix, we are not bound to selections we have made in the past. Our history should not be burden for us and it should not dictate our actions.

The Electric Phoenix, as flying through the air, isn't also guided by any outer force or environment it confronts. Phoenix is a super resolute, ferocious and filled with the sense of direction. It has wisdom to choose the best and the strength to achieve it. Wind makes no challenge for it, but merely reminds it that it is up for a challenge that it is yet again able to grow over with. Yet another small step to take towards the 888th year of rebirth into better self.

Tracklisting draft
  1. Electroborn
  2. Unbound
  3. Vast Array
  4. Zeniths
  5. Scapefly
  6. Harmania
  7. Fairlight
  8. 888th

Style draft
  1. Electroborn - Rising, pure-sound soundscape, minimalist drums, orchestral sounds, choir, pads, angelic chorus, distorted arpeggio, edgy and sharp bassline, appropriate vox
  2. Nonbound - More groovy and active melody, dancy yet soundscapish, ambient parts, rare and filled drum patterns, vocoder, app. vox
  3. Vast Array - Varying ambiance, lots of small effect sounds at the background, different sampled vox, underlining bass and lead (yet not dominating), offbeat drum patterns
  4. Zeniths - Glorious wind instruments, stabs and fx, glorious vox, strong and defined bass
  5. Scapefly - Maximum ambience; pads, choirs, angelic vox, rare drums, long effect sounds, piano
  6. Harmania - Darked sounds, distorted yet ambient, heavy, industrial
  7. Fairlight - Final Fantastique, grand piano, electric lead, edgy bass, ambient breaks, glorifying vox, vocoder
  8. 888th - Partly sad, melancholic sounds, minor keys, longer track, hints of happiness, app. vox
Notes for the whole album
  • Zeniths continues from where Vast Array ends, appr. 50 % same instruments.
  • Other tracks have 4 + 4 sec. silence in between.
  • Same piano sound used in every track with different effects and / or setup.
  • Same basic pad sound used in every track with different effects and / or setup.
  • Same drumkit used in every track (2 kicks, 3 snares, 2 open hh, 2 closed hh, crash, congas, bongos, rims)? Mixing, effects etc. could be changed.
  • 88-135 BPM.
  • Vocal samples mainly from the Prelinger Archives.
  • Same basic mixing setup used for the whole album (drum comp, bass comp, drum eq, bass eq, lead comp, lead eq, master comp/limiter/eq) - settings could be at least lightly varied.
  • Same mixing channels used for the whole album: lead 1, lead 2, vox 1, vox 2, bass 1, bass 2, kick, snare, open hh, closed hh and rim, bongos and congas, pad 1, pad 2, pad 3, fx 1, fx 2...
  • All the tracks (except Harmania) should be airy, sunny, pure, fresh and intriguing.
  • Some references: Giant Robot, Air, YMO, Brian Eno, Massive Attack, Portishead, FSOL, Aphex Twin.
  • Old sound elements: scratches, radio etc. buzz, Vintage Warmer, Prelinger vox, virtual analogue sounds, slight distortion.
  • Lots of velocity variations, slight timing errors, automation (pitch, cutoffs, resonances, volumes, reverb/echo/delay variables, distortion levels...)
  • Although being mostly atmospheric / ambient music, every track should have some catch; vocoder vocals, sample vocals, singing, one-line, lead or bass melody or such.