Al Stravinsky
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If only If only
Written in late April 2005, this song is about the regret of lost opportunity, and how it can consume everyday life.
Twilight run Twilight run
I wrote this in late January 2006 as a poem about running and my father; only then did I shoe-horn the lyrics into folk song, with just guitar and some guitar-tapping effects.
Winter is coming Winter is coming
A folk song featuring (all sequenced) fretless bass, nylon-strung guitar, cellos and violins, bass clarinet, oboe, Rhodes, pipe organ, a brushed drum loop; with up to 10 backing voices behind a single-tracked lead vocal.
My old guitar My old guitar
In July 2005 I got my old classical guitar out of the loft to play on one of my songs, re-strung it and was surprised to find it sounded as good as I remembered...
What kind of life is mine What kind of life is mine
This is a song about loving, indecision, and waiting, and how the whole world seems to stand still when love is no longer a certainty.
You Explode You Explode
This 'true story' song was recorded in early July 2005 with 5 live guitar tracks, live bass, a drum loop, sequenced cymbals, 3 or 4 tracks of harmonies and lead vocal.
Where do you keep your love Where do you keep your love
A simple folk song with just voice and open-tuned acoustic guitar. It was written and recorded on the 20th and 21st of July 2005.
Emotional Ocean Emotional Ocean
A song about temptation. Solo piano and voice are all that are on this track, though a more lush arrangement beckons. I wrote it in late June 05, and recorded it early July.
The Snowman The Snowman
A folk song featuring vocal and sequenced instruments: acoustic guitar, violins, cellos, bassoon, flute and triangle.
All Alone All Alone
I wrote this in 1978, and recorded it in December 2004. It features a 4-bar jazz drum loop, acoustic bass, vibes, tenor sax, alto sax, muted trumpet, and piano samples, 4 part backing vocals, and a 'live' electric guitar solo.
Fading Fading
This song was completed in April 2005. It's based on tabla and finger-cymbal loops with 3 tracks of sitar-type instuments, double bass, drums, piano, cellos and violins, bells and gongs, lots of harmonies, reverse reverb and eerie whispered parts.
Let go Let go
Based on the true story of a 1920s female baloonist/parachutist which I heard on BBC Radio 4, whose name escapes me.
Crossing Crossing
A jazzy/funky number, inspired by the guy who de-railed a train by parking on a level crossing; this could be about anyone merely coming to a crossroads in their life, and using a train to escape.
Copernicus Copernicus
A jolly, poppy, 80s sort of a song, about being at the centre of the universe... and whose universe is it anyway.
Away, be a stranger Away, be a stranger
...meanwhile, on Earth, things aren't quite going as planned... God: 'I know what to do! I'll send my amazing, wise, brilliant, beloved son for them to berate, abuse and crucify. That'll show 'em!'
