Dissonance makes me feel good

Hmmm, yes it does. Something about two clashing notes that send my senses into overload. My earlier life as a cellist gave me the opportunity to play and experience some of the most exciting music that's ever been composed, that of the 20th century composers such as Shostakovich, Martinu and Stravinsky. So, I wrote a song about it. When I used to gig this song around the traps with my acoustic duo, I had a rather obvious question once "huh? but where's the dissonance in the song?" (the question came from a drummer who once did a session for a very internationally famous group and I think likes to cling on to that glory).

However, my question is, do I really have to write dissonance into a song about dissonance? Do I really have to be that obvious? Hmmm, I grant my listeners with a bit more imagination and intelligence. The song is more about the feeling that I get from a little dissonance, how it sends my body a quiver and my ears a tingling and well, you get the drift. I hope that it will not be dubbed as banal as Alanis Morrisette's "Ironic" which had no trace of ironic content in the lyric, although I guess the fact that a song written about ironic moments in life without irony is slightly ironic...but even that's pushing it.

As I write, I am mixing the intro to A Little Dissonance, which may be the very first song on the new album. Haven't decided yet...

A-L

Song list

I've been going through my song list and these are the songs I am looking at for the new CD.

The Weather (a definite)
Felt So Good
Could You Be The One?
Rest Of My Days
Just A Little Sadder
A Little Dissonance
Same Old Thing
Mundane Blues (this is going to have a reworking of existing lyrics & possible title change)
World Keeps Spinning
A Bossa Nova without a name - possibly called "Don't Make It Real"
Gotta Keep Moving
Automobile

"The Weather" is a definite as I've already started getting ideas down in sound. I've felt out this really great little keyboard groove that adds a bit of syncopation against a simple walking bass line. Tonight, I burned the unfinished demo copy of it to a cd to have a listen to it on my stereo and I'm extremely happy with how it's coming together.

The seduction of production

I've never really fallen into the category of being seduced by a crisp, clear production sound. It's probably because I've listened to rock a lot throughout my life, and many debut albums sound really dodgy. To me, that's a really endearing quality that I love and gives the musicians a slightly more tangible quality.

I suppose that why I'm feeling ok about producing another set of songs for myself. It's not that I'm arrogant enough to think that I have all the answers. Far from it, but I'm taking what life is giving me and running with it. With input from others, I'm sure my next offering would be different and possibly better arranged, creative ideas I'd never thought of would arise and so on. It would be lovely, but the more you add to the mix, the more complicated it all becomes. I quite like being in control of my musical destiny now, and I am thoroughly enjoying the little discoveries I make every day.

As I've mentioned before, my EP was a bit learning experience and it's helped me greatly to know how to approach things for a better result. My vocal recordings will be better, which I am extremely happy about. I also have a better idea of how I want it to sound overall, and know that I don't have to put something out in the hope that it might appeal to people. This time it's just about a musical journey and it's good to feel comfortable in that, because I can afford to be more creative.

Work has begun on my first full length track for the album, "The Weather". It might not be the first track in running order, it's just the first one that I've begun (apart form the secret hidden track which is finished...). Already it goes along with a nice little groove that actually has me bobbing my head while I listen to playback. Not going to rush though...it will take as long as it takes.

Anne-Lise

The new work

Well, it's begun. I've made the commitment and there's no turning back. The new album is in underway. I'm going to use my blog as I did before on the trials and tribulations of recording the album, so check back often.

This time, as plans are for it to be a full length release with ten + songs, it's going to take me quite a bit longer to get it all together. It's also going to be something I experiment with. I've learned some lessons with my EP and I'm ready to apply my newly acquired knowledge with aplomb! :)

Anne-Lise