The lighthouse keeper by apb
Genre: Pop (Alternative)
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Fan List
Keywords:
catchy (31), fun (183), romp (3), lighthouse (2), keeper (4), chewing the fat (1), pootle (1), flumps (1), wall of sound (7)
Description:
Something infinitely sad about lighthouse keepers: a harsh and lonely existence; a breed destined to die out and be replaced by automation .. but exquisitely funny.. if you consider two of them, with one playing constant practical jokes on the other to relieve the boredom:
Fun romp featuring the lighthouse keeper characters by Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill. Those spoken samples from http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/tv/chewinthefat/downloads/sounds.shtml
Influences: Compulsion, Green day, early Faster Pussycat, Foo fighters, the Who.
I only just noticed there was a song by Peter Hamill and Van Der Graaf Generator called "plague of lighthouse keepers" - spooky that.
Why 'Pootle' from "The Flumps"? Well .. he just looked like the cutest little lighthouse keeper ever.
Samples used from Freesound, license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/sampling+/1.0/
By pcaeldries (http://www.freesound.org/usersViewSingle.php?id=97826)
Tide.wav (http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=23454)
By genghis attenborough (http://www.freesound.org/usersViewSingle.php?id=205108)
Herring & Great Black backed Gulls 2 edited.wav (http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=27942)
Background: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5vXjwznaJU (6 clips on youtube)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1mMQtk3IUE
Fun romp featuring the lighthouse keeper characters by Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill. Those spoken samples from http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/tv/chewinthefat/downloads/sounds.shtml
Influences: Compulsion, Green day, early Faster Pussycat, Foo fighters, the Who.
I only just noticed there was a song by Peter Hamill and Van Der Graaf Generator called "plague of lighthouse keepers" - spooky that.
Why 'Pootle' from "The Flumps"? Well .. he just looked like the cutest little lighthouse keeper ever.
Samples used from Freesound, license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/sampling+/1.0/
By pcaeldries (http://www.freesound.org/usersViewSingle.php?id=97826)
Tide.wav (http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=23454)
By genghis attenborough (http://www.freesound.org/usersViewSingle.php?id=205108)
Herring & Great Black backed Gulls 2 edited.wav (http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=27942)
Background: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5vXjwznaJU (6 clips on youtube)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1mMQtk3IUE
Lyrics:
Gonna nae dae that [Please don't do that]How? [Why?]
Just, gonna no. [Just don't.]
You've taken that too far.
Gonna nae dae that [Please don't do that]
How? [Why?]
Just, gonna no. [Just don't.]
Hardware:
Intel Mac mini 1.66GHz, 2GB RAMMOTU Traveler firewire audio interface
Kawai K1 (master keyboard)
Gibson Les Paul Studio (EMG-ZW pickups)
Yamaha APX-8A acoustic guitar
USA made Fender precision bass
Rode NT1-A mic (with pop-shield) for vocals and acoustic recording
Software:
GBv3,Drums on demand,
JP4,
Ampeg SVX,
Ozone 3.
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davisamerica
Wonderful as always man !
apb
Shucks- glad you liked it.
Skean
You've done a nice pop tune and as always you have one of the best mixing to your songs... Cheers
apb
.. fun to try that popular style of guitar playing these days. Always trying to improve my production: quality in less time is my aim .. shh ... ;o)
Feter
Nice pop rockin song ...I m enjoyin he guitars
with the keys ...Good rockin there for sure !
thnx alot for sure !!!!
apb
.. not much in the way of keys .. just for the strings .. the melody is in fact 2 tracks: one GB el. guitar .. the other (harmony) is in fact my vocals, heavily effected/vocoded kinda etc.
steck
Nice one ALan. Loved the vocoder melodies and overall richness.
Treble bonus points for using CC samples. I must check oot dem links.
apb
.. I'm surprised more don't use it. Was going for that rich, lush guitar 'wall of sound'... and 10 out of 10 for spotting me vocal part :o)
Enrique Gil
I really enjoyed it
apb
glad you stopped in for a listen and left your kind words of appreciation- it's the only rewards that really count.
egobandit
Some parts are like goin mobile by the who. Excellent all around!!!!!!!!!!
apb
.. I hear what you mean. Cheers Tim.
craft
Love the guitar.. great arrangement and groove...
apb
.. it's nice to pretend your guitar is slung round your ankles and just go for it .. from time to time .. lol. :o)
lavalamp
Excellent production. Pure energy.
LL
apb
.. I find a good sound inspiring... so I try my best.
sonnyjim
Very fine! I like these weirdo ones you do the best of all. They just kind of take the gas out of rock/pop music without sacrificing any of the really important stuff.......
apb
.. what was odd about this one? lol ;o) Yup, I do like to poke the occassional finger in the eye of something or other from time to time .. I'm not into sacrificing much .. :o) Cheers SJ. I was genuinely surprised to find there was a VGG song with similar inspiration...I only noticed when it appeared along side this in my iTunes.
Cori Ander
HiHo,
was that Swedish? Sounded fun anyway :)
Nice rocky go in this one .. good production.
apb
..hehe .. some Scots slang does sound Swedish .. darn those Vikings! ;o)
drakonis
Where does all this great tuneage come from? You are always great to listen to... the only two things this is missing... are some kind of lead (singing?), and a little boost in the lows and highs (mix seems ever-so-slightly thin.) I love the wah. Do they have wah-pedals in a lighthouse?
ttfn,
Drakonis
apb
.. do the wah-wah's come out. The vast majority .. well perhaps about 50% now .. are tunes I wrote years ago .. I manage about 1 new one every couple of months or so .. I dunno really where it comes from .. I get inspired from many different things. Vocals I'm always up for applicants .. or looking myself when I don't fit the bill .. which is often. EQing the master I'll re-look into as you suggest .. lows and highs.
caroline
no seagulls were harmed in the making of this song! everything that they all said - you do this stuff very well alan - we never know what you are going to surprise us with next - thank you - as ever - brunch xox
apb
bread laced with baking soda was used. :o) I surprise myself too .. scares the bejesus out of me .. lol.
RazorsKiss
everything. really nice drum programming. the production is stellar for GB, in any version... performance top shelf, and i liked the spoken word dropped in here and there... great post...
AD
apb
I did spend a bit more time on the drums .. taking soem comments from Einar on-board .. it's a kinda experimental production piece .. chosen to focus on certain things: bass, guitar .. headroom for melody .. and I wanted to try heavily effecting my voice/vocoding .. and singing a wahed harmony part .. why? just for fun ..
tempie
this is GREAT. can't find the words to properly describe it, but it's a joyful tune dude, like the spray off the waves. seagulls are wonderful. thanks for the download. this will be on my ipod in 5,4,3,2...
apb
.. it's fun vocoding and singing wah vocals .. :o) .. and I loved those characters from the "chewing the fat" show.
TEXASFEEL
I enjoyed the vacation atmosphere. The guitar is right on especially when it doubles up.
apb
.. it's true. A brisk sea spray vacation in sunny Scotland ;o)
Joe Brady
That's a great set of vocal clips used effectively with some great music; my preference being the power chords from guitar. Great rhythm section put together there. Nice one, Alan.
Joe
apb
.. you mean the Green Day-esque stabs? I kinda like the chunky bits beefed up with strings/cello... but I'm not going to argue ;o)
jiguma
Cool track Alan. Love the soundbites.
:)
apb
sorry for the late reply .. you should watch the video clips... makes more sense.
Char
And so happy. Great, Alan. Thanks.
apb
.. I walk around like I'm an extra in a Romero film rest of the day. ;o) Thanks for listening Char .. and I hope you have made a full recovery.
DWL
useful being in a lighthouse sometimes.
Very nicely done.
Cheers
Dick
apb
.. yup, this one should be played loud .. how are we going to get all the amps to MJ UK 2009? We can't sacrifice the guinness .. oh no .. ;o)
Cheers Dick.
Drew Kopr
Man, you're getting great sound from your guitar and bass...sweet.
apb
glad you enjoyed this: yes, the 'sound' was the main thing I was chasing .. glad it's noticed.
apb
..and thanks to Harold, Marc, EZamor, Lena, ManateeChili and regulus for the listens and faving .. your quieter sign of appreciation is noticed and welcome too.
haribo
i like the seagulls honking about in the intro section
this scottish-infused rock is so witty in its lyrical content
the line with wah effect is so edgy
apb
HONK! .. hehehe. Thanks man .. glad you enjoyed it and thanks for stopping in for a listen, been a while. Take care and seasons best to you.
SmokeyVW
i missed this one when it came out...
this is GREAT. lots of fun - just plain euphoric!
i love the effects in there too.
thanks
abfkingsport
Love the beat and the energy. Cool beans baby.
The King