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Celebrate Your Uniqueness

Recorded at R Thomas Kofler's Studio in Plover, WI; Summer, 2012.   (© Copyright  2012  "Todd Ashbeck Music"  -  All Rights Reserved)

All Music, Musical Arrangement and Lyrics by Todd Ashbeck  (1998)

Todd Ashbeck  -  Lead Guitars, Rhythm Guitars, Harmony Guitars, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Special Effects Guitars ("Clocks")

R Thomas Kofler  -  Lead Vocals, Additional Keyboards (Verses)

Tim Gessner  -  Drums and Percussion

All Harmony Vocals: Todd Ashbeck

Additional Guitar-Track (Before end-solo): Axl Gessner

Mixed and Produced by R Thomas Kofler and Todd Ashbeck - September, 2012


Back-story:

I wrote this song back in 1998 for the forthcoming "New Millennium". It was written while I was playing in a band called "Unit One"; along with two more songs. We were planning on going into the studio to record some original songs for a demo. The band only played two of the three songs out in public a handful of times before splitting up. This song was originally called "Unit One - Time Travelers"; but because the band parted ways, it made no sense to keep the title of the song the same.

When I wrote the song, I envisioned "Unit One" as a group of scientists and explorers who were actually going to travel through time into the future to ensure a "better tomorrow" for Mankind. That was the "Sci-Fi" thought behind the song. But I also envisioned the REALITY of the Human Race traveling through time Naturally on the planet of Earth - our "Time Machine". The third vision that I had was that of my band at the time, "Unit One", going into the next millennium, making Music and bringing it into the New Millennium.

When I finally had the opportunity to record the song as a "Solo Project", I decided that the New Title of the song was going to be "HUMAN-KIND - TIME TRAVELERS (MISSION MILLENNIUM"), because it made perfect sense to the story; and also because it sounded similar enough to "Unit One", so as not to change the song too much.

One thing I had always planned on, was to have some sort of "Intro" for the song.  As such, I envisioned just having "spacial" noises mainly; or something that sounded eerie, like you might hear if you were moving through time and/or space. But I couldn't decide for sure just what to do for it. The Intro for this song was literally thought up the night before I recorded it while I was lying awake in bed; unable to sleep.  Besides the "Intro", the rest of the song had already been recorded, and Tom and I only needed to put the finishing touches on it, and do the final mix; which we completed that next day. So I decided to put the "Ticking-Clocks" part from the break in the main part of the song just before the main Guitar Solo ("The Journey") into the Intro as well; but changed slightly.  The Muted-Staccato Guitars are meant to resemble the ticking of clocks, as you can clearly hear the "tick-tick-tick" of the Guitar picking along with the notes being played.  I added no Bass Guitar or Keyboards so as not to take away from what I was trying to achieve.....The "Ticking of Clocks", representing "Time".

After I recorded the Intro "Ticking-Clocks", Tom suggested that I also put a Guitar Lead in there; which I had already been considering myself as well. That way, it would sound more "Musical" and tie into the rest of the song better.  I chose to make an abrupt end to the "Ticking of the Clocks" part, and to build the volume of those "Clocks" so as to build intensity and to create a clear separation from the Intro into the main part of the song for a more dramatic effect.  The entire Intro was done on the spur of the moment, right then and there; each track recorded in only one-take; a total of 3 tracks - not including the Lead Track.  It took me three-takes on the solo part, however, because the first one was too long, and the second one was too short.  (Third time the charm!)  I purposely extended the last note of the Lead Track to flow into the main part of the song, after cutting the "Clocks" part abruptly for dramatic effect.  In my humble opinion, the Intro turned out to be THE PERFECT "Intro" for this song, and I am very happy with the way it turned out!  After reading this, listen to it again and see if you can hear the things I've talked about here.....it'll help understand this babbling a little better!!  ;-)

I hope you all enjoy it!

Todd Ashbeck - Rock Guitarist from Central Wisconsin
(Lead Guitarist for the New Central Wisconsin Rock Band, "RISING PHOENIX"; Former Lead Guitarist / Vocalist for SURRENDER DOROTHY)


Lyrics:

Chosen as a special task force for this mission - a journey in time, destination unknown.
Selected for the skills we possess, and spirit for adventure - all our treasures in tow, moving into the great beyond - we go.

Heading toward a new horizon in the future - mistakes that we've made keep us looking ahead.
Will the new millennium wipe the slate clean?  So we travel ahead to (from) the edge of the century.

The future is our destiny - this is our secret operation.

Human Kind - Time Travelers.
Human Kind - Mission Millennium.

(The Journey)
(Guitar Solo)

Human Kind - Time Travelers.
Human Kind - Mission Millennium.

Human Kind - Time Travelers.
Human Kind - Mission Millennium.

(Guitar Solo)

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Dustin Dimock

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