• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Ambient/Post-Rock/Textural bass playing thread

#4,165
No input mixer Sunday.

V2

IMG-20200209-WA0002.jpeg
IMG-20200209-WA0000.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: monsterthompson, dukeorock and Flabzilla
#4,168
So, we did our second synthfest gig, we NAILED it. We did two ambient pieces, and then one dreamy Carbon Based Lifeforms kinda downtempo thing, people loved it.

The freeforall jam turned into a big clusterf** as the host unfortunately let a few people who showed up sit in, unvetted, which turned into a stupid noise fest (I say stupid to differentiate it from the orderly and intended noise that so many of you find endearing and that we've hashed through in endless conversations). I finally just stopped playing, as there was no point. It comes down to idiots not knowing how to listen to others.

But, while I'm waiting for the new recordings and videos, I figured I'd share the jam from the first session. There are some pretty amazing and cinematic moments in it, some blissed out ambient spots, and some total chaos from the depths of synth hell.


Also, when I get the new recordings I wanna share something else with you, there's this one guy who's been there twice, he's a real sound artist, circuit bending, he had a 5 foot tape loop playing between two cassette recorders, and he did this cool thing where he passed around a small accordion in the audience and they were able to participate in the drone, it had an awesome communal/ritual vibe to it. Had a weird melodica with a piezo in it, amongst lots of other soundmakers.

He's worth checking out, his name's Brendan Rooney:
Brendan Rooney
 
  • Like
Reactions: rutrho, dukeorock, theunknowndude and 3 others
#4,169
lordradish said:
So, we did our second synthfest gig, we NAILED it. We did two ambient pieces, and then one dreamy Carbon Based Lifeforms kinda downtempo thing, people loved it.

The freeforall jam turned into a big clusterf** as the host unfortunately let a few people who showed up sit in, unvetted, which turned into a stupid noise fest (I say stupid to differentiate it from the orderly and intended noise that so many of you find endearing and that we've hashed through in endless conversations). I finally just stopped playing, as there was no point. It comes down to idiots not knowing how to listen to others.

But, while I'm waiting for the new recordings and videos, I figured I'd share the jam from the first session. There are some pretty amazing and cinematic moments in it, some blissed out ambient spots, and some total chaos from the depths of synth hell.


Also, when I get the new recordings I wanna share something else with you, there's this one guy who's been there twice, he's a real sound artist, circuit bending, he had a 5 foot tape loop playing between two cassette recorders, and he did this cool thing where he passed around a small accordion in the audience and they were able to participate in the drone, it had an awesome communal/ritual vibe to it. Had a weird melodica with a piezo in it, amongst lots of other soundmakers.

He's worth checking out, his name's Brendan Rooney:
Brendan Rooney
Click to expand...

Awesome.
And yes....I agree some noise IS crap.
No need to further the subject.

Glad you guys nailed it. F$%^ yeah.

Sorry to "hear" about the noise @$$hats.....bummer
 
  • Like
Reactions: dukeorock and monsterthompson
#4,170
ugly_bassplayer said:
Awesome.
And yes....I agree some noise IS crap.
No need to further the subject.

Glad you guys nailed it. F$%^ yeah.

Sorry to "hear" about the noise @$$hats.....bummer
Click to expand...
Well, here's the messed up part. One of those noisemakers, I could tell was a bit out there/odd in his affect. Got the impression he didn't have much in the way of social skills. When I was talking to the host later, he conceded the guy went a bit overboard (as in did not stop making noise from the first minute to the last, regardless of what was going on), and I'd said, yeah, that's why you shouldn't treat it like an open mic, and he'd said, yeah, but it might be cool to have that kind of energy.

As I mentioned in our previous convos, the host's all about the weirdness part of things, no musical training, etc, but I was flabbergasted, as, if you're trying to get some mojo for a synth meetup, I'd think if you want more people to come and listen, and better players, you'd try to minimize the amateur clueless types. Real frustrating.

I'm still grateful for this, because it really put a torch under our asses and got us out doing our stuff in front of people. Plus, we're getting some great recordings and video, too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dukeorock, Slaymus, cosmicevan and 2 others
#4,171
lordradish said:
Well, here's the messed up part. One of those noisemakers, I could tell was a bit out there/odd in his affect. Got the impression he didn't have much in the way of social skills. When I was talking to the host later, he conceded the guy went a bit overboard (as in did not stop making noise from the first minute to the last, regardless of what was going on), and I'd said, yeah, that's why you shouldn't treat it like an open mic, and he'd said, yeah, but it might be cool to have that kind of energy.

As I mentioned in our previous convos, the host's all about the weirdness part of things, no musical training, etc, but I was flabbergasted, as, if you're trying to get some mojo for a synth meetup, I'd think if you want more people to come and listen, and better players, you'd try to minimize the amateur clueless types. Real frustrating.

I'm still grateful for this, because it really put a torch under our asses and got us out doing our stuff in front of people. Plus, we're getting some great recordings and video, too.
Click to expand...
I agree with you, he needs to ditch the amateur child crap.

Bummer cuz it takes just one to ruin it for everyone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: monsterthompson
#4,173
lordradish said:
Well, here's the messed up part. One of those noisemakers, I could tell was a bit out there/odd in his affect. Got the impression he didn't have much in the way of social skills. When I was talking to the host later, he conceded the guy went a bit overboard (as in did not stop making noise from the first minute to the last, regardless of what was going on), and I'd said, yeah, that's why you shouldn't treat it like an open mic, and he'd said, yeah, but it might be cool to have that kind of energy.

As I mentioned in our previous convos, the host's all about the weirdness part of things, no musical training, etc, but I was flabbergasted, as, if you're trying to get some mojo for a synth meetup, I'd think if you want more people to come and listen, and better players, you'd try to minimize the amateur clueless types. Real frustrating.

I'm still grateful for this, because it really put a torch under our asses and got us out doing our stuff in front of people. Plus, we're getting some great recordings and video, too.
Click to expand...

I've encountered this stuff too, absolutely. A few of my synth world friends are big into Berlin School; they tend to be the ones who can actually play keys and make melodic lines and sequences, but they also are viewed as kind of square and not-quite-cool-enough by some of the noisier types, who tend to have more "underground cred", regardless of whether they suck or are good. It's reflected not only in the music but also the way they dress, lifestyles, day jobs (or lack thereof), etc.

It's annoying, as I try to ride the line between the two camps, being a huge Berlin School guy but also appreciating the craziness of the noise crowd, in particular the ones who build their own crazy gear from spare parts. It's hard trying to get good cross talk between the various camps sometimes, but we all keep doing gigs together so at least there's that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dukeorock, Slaymus, monsterthompson and 1 other person
#4,174
lordradish said:
It comes down to idiots not knowing how to listen to others.
Click to expand...

i'm a broken record on this (maybe christian marclay ;)), but, imo, it **all** comes down to listening, not matter what genre you're in. i've played oldies gigs where the drummer didn't listen to anyone (one of the reason is stopped . . . ).

lordradish said:
Also, when I get the new recordings I wanna share something else with you, there's this one guy who's been there twice, he's a real sound artist, circuit bending, he had a 5 foot tape loop playing between two cassette recorders, and he did this cool thing where he passed around a small accordion in the audience and they were able to participate in the drone, it had an awesome communal/ritual vibe to it. Had a weird melodica with a piezo in it, amongst lots of other soundmakers.

He's worth checking out, his name's Brendan Rooney:
Brendan Rooney
Click to expand...

that's cool. there's a guy named joseph hammer here in l.a. who's been doing stuff like that for a good long time. pretty cool. the thread of weird/different is long.

re amateurs . . . well, we were all amateurs once, so i try to have some compassion for that . . . but it does tend to be age-based for me—if you're 45 and still doing that poopie, it's time to grow up. if they're young amateurs who want to grow and learn, i'm all down with that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dukeorock, Bob_Ross, Slaymus and 2 others
#4,175
Spectrum said:
I've encountered this stuff too, absolutely. A few of my synth world friends are big into Berlin School; they tend to be the ones who can actually play keys and make melodic lines and sequences, but they also are viewed as kind of square and not-quite-cool-enough by some of the noisier types, who tend to have more "underground cred", regardless of whether they suck or are good. It's reflected not only in the music but also the way they dress, lifestyles, day jobs (or lack thereof), etc.

It's annoying, as I try to ride the line between the two camps, being a huge Berlin School guy but also appreciating the craziness of the noise crowd, in particular the ones who build their own crazy gear from spare parts. It's hard trying to get good cross talk between the various camps sometimes, but we all keep doing gigs together so at least there's that.
Click to expand...
OMG I’m having the “jazz police” flashback from my University years!!!!
Teachers would tear me up cuz I liked stuff after 1958 and dared to play some straight ahead on electric.

%^&*
 
  • Like
Reactions: dukeorock, monsterthompson and Spectrum
#4,178
Spectrum said:
I've encountered this stuff too, absolutely. A few of my synth world friends are big into Berlin School; they tend to be the ones who can actually play keys and make melodic lines and sequences, but they also are viewed as kind of square and not-quite-cool-enough by some of the noisier types, who tend to have more "underground cred", regardless of whether they suck or are good. It's reflected not only in the music but also the way they dress, lifestyles, day jobs (or lack thereof), etc.

It's annoying, as I try to ride the line between the two camps, being a huge Berlin School guy but also appreciating the craziness of the noise crowd, in particular the ones who build their own crazy gear from spare parts. It's hard trying to get good cross talk between the various camps sometimes, but we all keep doing gigs together so at least there's that.
Click to expand...
Being a Berlin School,too, guy I can relate. I haven't broken out the Berlin yet, but that's the plan at one of the upcoming shows.

There is a bit of a strangeness... at these things, I'm the only one who actually has some sort of training/working knowledge of music, and it shows in our compositions. The other players are not all noisemakers, but I often do wonder if they go heavily in that route because it's easy, and if they see our stuff with actual chord progressions and melodic themes as pretentious. I don't really care, but it would be fun to show up to this thing and actually have someone else that understands melody and harmony to jam with. The underground cred thing is heavy here, I see it as similar to the punk ethos, which, as y'all know from my previous rantings here, does not fly with me as a philosophy I am interested in or can even relate to.

I don't mind making a bit of noise, as long as it goes somewhere, but I do find I don't enjoy the listening to it, nearly as much.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dukeorock, Slaymus and Spectrum
#4,179
steubig said:
i'm a broken record on this (maybe christian marclay ;)), but, imo, it **all** comes down to listening, not matter what genre you're in. i've played oldies gigs where the drummer didn't listen to anyone (one of the reason is stopped . . . ).



that's cool. there's a guy named joseph hammer here in l.a. who's been doing stuff like that for a good long time. pretty cool. the thread of weird/different is long.

re amateurs . . . well, we were all amateurs once, so i try to have some compassion for that . . . but it does tend to be age-based for me—if you're 45 and still doing that poopie, it's time to grow up. if they're young amateurs who want to grow and learn, i'm all down with that.
Click to expand...
I get what you say about the amateurs, as I distinctly remember being on the other side of that. But, I'm also at a stage in my musical life that I don't really want to play with amateurs, anymore. I want to be the worst musician in the room, cuz it forces me to grow and work harder at perfecting the craft.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bob_Ross

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back