Bill Vencil - Music

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Music

Over the years, I've had a fair bit of experience in what I would call "semi-serious amateur" recording. Analog, of course. Memories of makeshift studios, Tascam 3440 decks, old mics and mixers, snakes running from attic to basement and raggedy stereo speakers come to mind. I think that some of the "old stuff" sounds reasonably passable for what it was. Here's an example of what I mean. Here's another one. OK, OK, since you asked, here's one more! Quite a contrast, eh? My musical colleagues and I were all over the place. But I digress...

After a lengthy hiatus from recording activities, my interest was piqued by the rising popularity of computer-based recording. I thought to myself: "Self, you could do this. You are a computer perfessional. Piece of cake!"

To my chagrin, I found myself confused by all the technology options and processes. Took me a while to get things figured out. Trial and error, equipment and software purchases, dealing with a dungeon to record in. It's been a blast so far! Here then, are some of the fruits of my labor, sort of all over the place, as of old. Hopefully, you won't find the fruit rotten.

Play all songs - If you are in the mood for everything...

Joy Found a Way (4.6 mb) - Lowden 035. As many of my friends know, our family is into Bruce Cockburn. Listening to his album "Joy Will Find a Way", got me to thinking that Joy has already found a Way, the one described in Hebrews 12:2.

Travels (4.8 mb) - Lowden 035. A flatpicked, somewhat hammered piece. Keep on truckin', as they used to say. OK, as I used to say!

Wash Away The World (11.4 mb) - Lowden 035, FL Studio. An "ambient acoustic" piece, if there is such a thing. Long, lush, lyrical. Lots of reverb. Hopefully appropriate for a meditation upon the mystery of the covenant sign of Holy Baptism.

Encountering (7.9 mb) - Lowden 035. Some more rough and ready. A work "somewhat in progress". Might take a little patience to get through, although I like the vibe of the groove.

Line of Despair (12.4 mb) - Carvin Fatboy, UD-Stomp, Deltalab EchoTron. I am not really an ambient musician, however, I am fascinated by the textural soundscapes of the ambient genres. Recorded as 2 tracks of textural electric guitar. Be aware. The clicks you will hear are not your speakers blowing up. This piece envisions the relativism of Hegel's "line of despair" as described upon by Francis Shaeffer. The death of man, the loss of true truth...

Hammer Meditation (3.5 mb) - Lowden 035. I consider this to be engaging in artistic honesty (license). This is a pure improvisation, warts and all, from a late-night recording session. I was in the mood to hammer (a guitar tapping technique), and went a little overboard. Heh.

New World (4.8 mb) - Lowden 035. Inspiration for this simple quiet piece came from Dvorak. I'll let you guess which piece the melodic phrases are derived from.

Strong Zeal Trail (2.8 mb) - Lowden 035. Unabashed roots in Martin Simpson's wonderful Pretty Saro-Long Steel Rail on his album "When I Was On Horseback".

She Dwelt Among the Untrodden Ways (5.1 mb) - Lowden 035; Voice. One of William Wordsworth's "Lucy" poems. I am struck speechless by the words . I consider this a work in progress. If you've got some thoughts on where to take this one, leave me a message.

Seven Words (5.6 mb) - Lowden 035. This showed up while humming "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" and considering one of the Seven Words of Christ: Eli, Eli, lema sabachthanei"

Lamentation (7.9 mb) - Tacoma Thunderhawk; FL Studio. By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept...

Tears (4.2 mb) - Carvin Holdsworth Fatboy; Voice; FL Studio; Jamstix.

Sally (1.8 mb)- Carvin Holdsworth Fatboy. For my youngest daughter.

In the Presence (2.0 mb) - Carvin Holdsworth Fatboy; double-tracked.

Baritone Improvisation (4.8 mb) - Tacoma Thunderhawk.