The Ominous Shoreline can best be described as an emotional and reflective experience. If you like Patrick O'Hearn, you will enjoy this recording. As you will see, the title could have been called, Beauty In Darkness.
Specifically, the themes of the CD represent my experiences with the Pacific Ocean. All of the soundscapes and rhythms represent different aspects of the ocean and the culture surrounding the area.
1. Enter Mission - Paints a mood of eerie surroundings. Utilizing haunting flute sounds and expressive percussion, the listener is transported to an inhabited land of a mysterious culture . . .
2. Drift - One of the more upbeat pieces on the CD, this composition lends itself to a bit of jazz styling, rock-solid drumset drumming, interspersed with guitar and synth textures. This piece represents the magic of sailing and the freedom of drifting through the water with nothing but the open sea . . .
3. Scattered Moonlight - This composition represents a night on the ocean in a small boat, with slightly rough waters. The moonlight reflecting off of the water was paralyzing beautiful. I remained transfixed for countless moments and felt as though I had become one with the sea. The sounds used in this piece are mysterious, lush and seem to flow through your body and mind . . . just as I felt, in the vastness of the ocean.
4. Tytlal Wave - Thanks to the incredible talents of the author David Brin, I have imagined many an idea that I would love to combine with music. This composition is specifically about the enigmatic species, Tytlal, in his wonderful Uplift novels. Lush strings and mischievous cellos permeate throughout this piece which the author himself described as, "lovely and whimsical chamber-piece" and went on to describe the CD as, "Huge fun and very engaging. The rhythms are most enjoyable."
Thank you, Mr. Brin!
5. The Ominous Shoreline - Inspired by a memory of an untamed island in the Pacific. Uninhabited? Most likely. Very mysterious and scary. I tried to reflect an image by use of many different rhythms and subtle soundscapes. A haunting synth flute (heavily processed to sound like a ghostly cry) dominates most of the song . . . only to be interrupted by many rhythmic styles. The different styles remain true to the title, ominous.
6. Storm - I remember many storms while enjoying the ocean. In particular, a dark and windy day whipped me around to see many different views as to where I was heading . . . further out to sea. The aggressive rhythms and synths dominate while a very accessible beat underlies it all. Many fun and interesting sounds on this piece. The strings at the end represent a break in the storm. This is a fun piece.
7. Undulate - Have you ever walked along the sands of an unknown island . . . alone . . . not knowing what is making those SOUNDS. In fact, the island seems to speak to you in it's unique way. Echoes of indigenous life. Throughout the song, there is a seemingly constant pattern. Upon closer listening, you'll hear subtle (and not so subtle) variations with a "plea for help" synthesizer sound and pattern. I have been told that his would make a good Halloween song(!).
8. The Seastrand - Originally, this piece was to be sung by a woman with a beautiful voice. You would think that I would find room for her in a 12 and 1/2 minute song! The music speaks volumes and I plan to use the lyrics that I had written for this song on my next CD. Perhaps it will be "Beyond The Seastrand." Perhaps. Many, different instruments on this piece. I really enjoy composing with strings, integrating them with different styles of music. In this case, I have a tribal groove going throughout most of the first 3 minutes but then, a very emotional string section with haunting textures find their way in the background, making this one of my favorite compositions on the CD. The story behind the song is the struggle between moving on (towards the ocean) or staying behind (on the land) while pondering this somewhere in the middle. The different string sections represent the ebb and flow of one's emotions while making a decision such as: "I am comfortable here but something could be waiting for me out THERE." "Why does the land seem alien and familiar at the same time?"
9. Prelude - A bouncy drumset pattern is interrupted by underlying rhythms and synths begging the listener to ask the question, "Is there more here than just what I see on the surface." I asked the same question while sailing to
another destination. Always searching. Waiting for the next discovery. Always finding something interesting . . .
10. Epilogue - This is mostly a dark piece. The picture it paints is one of cautious discovery. A couple of interesting rhythms, in the middle of the song and mostly to the end, utilizing an old drum machine pattern. That was a lot of fun. Integrating haunting landscapes and many sythn effects, you may want to leave the lights on while listening!
This CD practically created itself. I wasy visualizing many of my excursions in the Pacific Ocean, specifically, north of Washington State, and music, not words, came to mind. This music represents a series of overlapping memories. Please use it for your own memories . . . let the music and your imagination take you to a distant place where there is beauty in darkness . . .
This recording will also be available as a 5.1 surround sound version. Details coming soon.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.sidereus.us
Track List:
1. Enter Mission
2. Drift
3. Scattered Moonlight
4. Tytlal Wave
5. The Ominous Shoreline
6. Storm
7. Undulate
8. The Seastrand
9. Prelude
10. Epilogue
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
Specifically, the themes of the CD represent my experiences with the Pacific Ocean. All of the soundscapes and rhythms represent different aspects of the ocean and the culture surrounding the area.
1. Enter Mission - Paints a mood of eerie surroundings. Utilizing haunting flute sounds and expressive percussion, the listener is transported to an inhabited land of a mysterious culture . . .
2. Drift - One of the more upbeat pieces on the CD, this composition lends itself to a bit of jazz styling, rock-solid drumset drumming, interspersed with guitar and synth textures. This piece represents the magic of sailing and the freedom of drifting through the water with nothing but the open sea . . .
3. Scattered Moonlight - This composition represents a night on the ocean in a small boat, with slightly rough waters. The moonlight reflecting off of the water was paralyzing beautiful. I remained transfixed for countless moments and felt as though I had become one with the sea. The sounds used in this piece are mysterious, lush and seem to flow through your body and mind . . . just as I felt, in the vastness of the ocean.
4. Tytlal Wave - Thanks to the incredible talents of the author David Brin, I have imagined many an idea that I would love to combine with music. This composition is specifically about the enigmatic species, Tytlal, in his wonderful Uplift novels. Lush strings and mischievous cellos permeate throughout this piece which the author himself described as, "lovely and whimsical chamber-piece" and went on to describe the CD as, "Huge fun and very engaging. The rhythms are most enjoyable."
Thank you, Mr. Brin!
5. The Ominous Shoreline - Inspired by a memory of an untamed island in the Pacific. Uninhabited? Most likely. Very mysterious and scary. I tried to reflect an image by use of many different rhythms and subtle soundscapes. A haunting synth flute (heavily processed to sound like a ghostly cry) dominates most of the song . . . only to be interrupted by many rhythmic styles. The different styles remain true to the title, ominous.
6. Storm - I remember many storms while enjoying the ocean. In particular, a dark and windy day whipped me around to see many different views as to where I was heading . . . further out to sea. The aggressive rhythms and synths dominate while a very accessible beat underlies it all. Many fun and interesting sounds on this piece. The strings at the end represent a break in the storm. This is a fun piece.
7. Undulate - Have you ever walked along the sands of an unknown island . . . alone . . . not knowing what is making those SOUNDS. In fact, the island seems to speak to you in it's unique way. Echoes of indigenous life. Throughout the song, there is a seemingly constant pattern. Upon closer listening, you'll hear subtle (and not so subtle) variations with a "plea for help" synthesizer sound and pattern. I have been told that his would make a good Halloween song(!).
8. The Seastrand - Originally, this piece was to be sung by a woman with a beautiful voice. You would think that I would find room for her in a 12 and 1/2 minute song! The music speaks volumes and I plan to use the lyrics that I had written for this song on my next CD. Perhaps it will be "Beyond The Seastrand." Perhaps. Many, different instruments on this piece. I really enjoy composing with strings, integrating them with different styles of music. In this case, I have a tribal groove going throughout most of the first 3 minutes but then, a very emotional string section with haunting textures find their way in the background, making this one of my favorite compositions on the CD. The story behind the song is the struggle between moving on (towards the ocean) or staying behind (on the land) while pondering this somewhere in the middle. The different string sections represent the ebb and flow of one's emotions while making a decision such as: "I am comfortable here but something could be waiting for me out THERE." "Why does the land seem alien and familiar at the same time?"
9. Prelude - A bouncy drumset pattern is interrupted by underlying rhythms and synths begging the listener to ask the question, "Is there more here than just what I see on the surface." I asked the same question while sailing to
another destination. Always searching. Waiting for the next discovery. Always finding something interesting . . .
10. Epilogue - This is mostly a dark piece. The picture it paints is one of cautious discovery. A couple of interesting rhythms, in the middle of the song and mostly to the end, utilizing an old drum machine pattern. That was a lot of fun. Integrating haunting landscapes and many sythn effects, you may want to leave the lights on while listening!
This CD practically created itself. I wasy visualizing many of my excursions in the Pacific Ocean, specifically, north of Washington State, and music, not words, came to mind. This music represents a series of overlapping memories. Please use it for your own memories . . . let the music and your imagination take you to a distant place where there is beauty in darkness . . .
This recording will also be available as a 5.1 surround sound version. Details coming soon.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.sidereus.us
Track List:
1. Enter Mission
2. Drift
3. Scattered Moonlight
4. Tytlal Wave
5. The Ominous Shoreline
6. Storm
7. Undulate
8. The Seastrand
9. Prelude
10. Epilogue
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
- ELECTRONIC: Soundscapes
- WORLD: World Fusion
- MOOD: INTELLECTUAL