Paz on APC's Orestes

dtsamples · #1 07-13-2011, 10:46 AM

A Perfect Circle's Mer de Noms is one of my favorite albums of that era. Billy Howerdel really knocked it out of the park, and the line-up was great.

Something has always bugged me about track 5, Orestes, though.

What the heck is Paz playing from 2:55-3:31? It's like every note is a half step in either direction of the implied tonality. The weirdest part is that, somehow, the implied tonality is retained.

It's like you can tell something is amiss, but your brain just can't process that what you're hearing is a departure.

Has anyone else ever noticed it? Do you think it was intentional and she's a genius, or do you think it was a mistake and the band liked the sound or just didn't have the heart to correct her? From what I hear, she's an amazing musician so it's gotta be that she did it on purpose to give it an unsettling feel. If that is the case, I have to give her an assortment of props, because that's pretty darn intelligent writing.

SonourBrum · #2 07-13-2011, 04:08 PM

There is this musical concept called "desafinado" in Jazz that means off key. It's supposed to evoke that sort of unsettled or uneasy feeling. Perhaps that's what she was trying to do... couldn't tell you for sure.
I can tell you that I agree that it was an amazing album and she is an amazing bass player. I saw her perform with a side project band called The Entrance Band. She blew me away as they say.... Would like to see her perform with APC... but I'm looking forward to seeing James Iha with the band at the end of this month.

dtsamples · #3 07-13-2011, 08:45 PM

I'm a huge Jobim fan; that's all I can think of when I hear "desafinado," which is an amazing bossa tune that uses the same concept.

I just think that if it was on purpose she deserves some props. Do you agree that there's something amiss about that section though?

Oneirogenic · #4 07-14-2011, 12:09 PM

I agree that Paz is a great bassist and overall musician but Billy Howerdel did the bass on Orestes and the rest of Mer De Noms except Sleeping Beauty.

dtsamples · #5 07-14-2011, 12:49 PM

Really? That'll teach me to read liner notes. It must have been on purpose then, huh. Man, I respect that guy even more now.

SonourBrum · #6 07-14-2011, 02:08 PM

Yeah... I didn't know that either. It doesn't take anything away form her talent however. She is a most excellent bass player.

As for the song, It does sound like it was done on purpose. The character in the song is asking for a medicated peaceful moment, and hence the chaos ensues during the ramp up to the final chorus. That's my interpretation of it anyway.