So uh...I'm kinda nervous about showing this but I would like some feedback, and I suppose the bread is baked enough for you to get an idea of what it tastes like, so to speak. So, an explanation is in order.
This is the leadoff song from an album that has been YEARS in the making. The piece is called Ten Thousand Things, based off the Eastern philosophical concept of the same name. I wont go too far into the spiritual stuff, but lyrically its sort of a reflection of my own spiritual journey over the course of the last decade. This has been a hard project, and alot is my doing. Procrastinating, losing focus, taking on something probably too ambitious for my skill level, so right now I'm shelving it for a short time while I complete a competing project that will be done far quicker. I need to refocus myself. However, I do at least have this to show you.
The recording posted here is comprised of two movements: "Skycycles" and "Yet Still".
"Skycycles" is fully instrumental, taking cues from similar part of Kansas's The Pinnacle and themes inspired by Yes' Future Times/Rejoice. Its not really an overture, but a statement of the main theme followed into various subsections branching off it. Sort of like "here's a thread, let's see where it goes", type thing. The main theme is intended to be cyclic, so it basically ends where it begins and can therefore in concept repeat forever. At the time I was getting into classical music concepts, namely the reoccurring motif that if simple enough can be played in different keys and modes, acting as a connecting thread through the length of the song regardless of what's going on. Musically, probably the most complex junk I've written. Doesnt mean its good, just means its difficult, like taxes. There's still issues, instrument levels, some of the guitar harmonies are slightly off proper tune or timing, getting rid of "scaffolding" that's still there, working out some of the counterpoint melodies with the bass here and there, reverb levels...just many little things.
"Yet Still" has lyrics and is more straight forward. This part introduces the closing theme, well...80% of it anyway. It's a bit rougher, some things arent as synced up as they should be. I was inspired by a bit of "Frame by Frame" by King Crimson, and "Close to the Edge" by Yes. I have issues with timing in certain areas, still some "scaffolding" that needs to go or needs to get cleaned up, program in the OB-3 in more places.
So uh...the rest of it. Probaly six-ish movements, maybe....18 minutes total? I dunno, there's more work to do. ALOT more work. I hope you enjoy, let me know what you like, what you dont like, etc. Oh yeah, as far as credits, I played everything, all guitars, bass, keys (a combo of actual playing and fishman triple play for more complicated stuff), and drums are Superior Drummer 3 (combo of playing live triggers and note-by-note building in editor). Its a nightmare.
