Big Block 454 - The Sun Unconquered

From the very beginning, Houtakker was meant to be an outlet for songs that I didn't think had a home anywhere else. I worked on them alone, and sent them out to my friends. Somewhere along the line someone asked me to play a show, so naturally I asked some of my favorite Chicago musicians to join me. In the last year we have managed to turn it into a real "working band" thanks to the encouragement of friends, musicians, and the dedication of my bandmates Justin, Paul and Matt. I especially want to thank anyone who has taken time out of their day to listen to these songs, or come out to one of our shows. We love you. 

Seeing as how this is a compilation of songs from the past four years, this album had to be named Houtakker. Anything other than self-titled would feel trite. I hope you enjoy these songs as much as I enjoyed making them. 

-Joseph

You Didn't Have To Be So Nice

In many of my compositions I have tried to eplore the way we perceive sounds. Using this to effectively transform one recognisable sound to another, or travel from a ‘real’ space to an imaginary one. So far, this has been done in pieces which are purely for fixed medium alone. In 'Flute Melt', however, I have endeavored to extend the work I have done into a piece which includes a live flute performance. I have tried to make the flute and the tape ‘melt’ into one another. Sometimes a sound made on the flute will transform into a sound on the tape. At other moments the flute will imitate sounds in the tape part. The listener should be taken from the real space of the concert hall into a realm where anything can happen, and back again.

'Flute Melt' was composed in the electroacoustic music studios at Bangor University between 1999 and 2000. 


Flute Melt

Cherry Jello

Red sails in the sunset

I played the first few bars from Carulli's Larghetto Espressivo on one of my ukulele's - I then added some vinyl sounds for good measure, I like the vibe that gives to recordings every now and then.

Larghetto Espressivo

Narwhals in the sky

Twins
Introvert Twin
Darling sister sexy thing                                                                                                                                                                                                        I’ve covered for you and all of your bling.
Taken the blame for all that you’ve done
Staying at home, whilst you’re out having fun.
I’m now offended by this last stunt of yours
Get out of my life, and never darken my doors.
Extrovert Twin
Steady prissy maiden, don’t get them in a twist
Are you talking of the date? Don’t say that you are pissed.  
You are so ungrateful. Did you stay with him all night?
Don’t say you let him slip away. Don’t say you looked a sight.
He’s good and kind and funny, and never takes a drink
You know that I like nasty men, and the champagne glasses clink.
Introvert Twin
You scheming nasty bint, who the hell do you think I am?
Setting me up with a date, which I know is just a scam.
He looked so old and bald, oh sister, you are weird, 
He is very very stout, with a long grey straggly beard.
And he reminded me of grampy. I simply won’t be bought.
Very worst of it was, he was so incredibly short. 
Extrovert Twin
I thought that you were desperate 
So I set you up with my boss
Won’t be generous again,
I’ve never seen you quite this cross.
I’ve seen your jealous eyes before, when I have another man
We look identical my twin, you can be sexy too
Oh yes, oh yes you can. Oh yes, oh yes you can,
We look identical my twin, you can be sexy too.
Introvert Twin
He was such a gentle gentleman. The kind I’d love to meet
The sort that is extinct now, but he had such tiny feet.
And as we walked through pavements damp, I couldn’t believe my eyes,
He was leaving a trail of fox paw prints after each and every stride.
He said he buys his shoes in the children’s department. And,
It’s even more embarrassing when he walks along the sand.
I know why you want me, to date this quirky man
It’s to gain you, a promotion. That’s your nasty plan
Instead of me though, oh twin of skimpy clothes
Add him to your bed-post. The one, that everyone knows.
Extrovert Twin
How dare you!! You, who never has a man,
Surely you know I do have, as many as I can.
I thought you’d like a nice one, with ne’er ‘ere, a kink
A good and kind and gentle man, who never takes a drink.
Why would I want a loser? A loser such as him?
He is so very cheery, yet shrinks at the thought of a gym.
Both Twins
I know he’s old and bald, but you’re much more weird than I, 
He is so very fat and grey, to be seen with him, I’d just die.
And he does remind me of grampy. This time I won’t be bought.
But the very worst of him is I agree, that he is so incredibly short.

Lyrics Richard Underscore
Music Wim Oudijk
© 2013 


Twins - Petra de Winter

Hey, Destiny
You may think you've got the best of me
But I've got some chances left, you see
And I'm gonna take 'em
I'm gonna make 'em shine
Hey, Destiny
I'm still workin' on my legacy
Right now, I don't know who I'll be
I guess my date with Destiny is destined to be
Some other time

Sweet Destiny
When I catch up to you eventually
It will be just like it's meant to be
Yes, I'm workin' up to
Our rendezvous divine
Hey, Destiny
I know you only want the best for me
Someday we'll cook up that fine recipe
Till then, my date with Destiny is destined to be
Some other time

You'll wanna be there when my ship comes in
Ride beside me in a ticker tape parade
But if that boat don't float
Or they run me out of town
Feel free to flee that charlatan charade
But don't forget those long-term plans we made

Believe me, Destiny
I know it's wrong to procrastinate
It won't be long--now I can hardly wait
Soon I'll be as ready as I'll ever be
For my one and only date with Destiny

Lyrics Pete McCabe
Music Wim Oudijk

Destiny d

Outside

Eugene Feldman @eugene-fluteman — flute, vocals
Konstantin Negodaev @konstantin-negodaev — guitar
Nikolay Yakovlev @nikolay-yakovlev — bass
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Евгений Фельдман — флейта
Константин Негодаев — гитара
Николай Яковлев — бас

Break — Fluteman Trio

Eugene Feldman is a singer and flute player best known for his live performances with Tikhy Don barbershop quartet at Carnegie Hall, New York. He leads chamber electroacoustic jazz ensembles, Fluteman Quartet and Fluteman Trio collaborating with Albert Kandrachyan (keyboards) @albert-kandrachyan, Konstantin Negodaev (guitar) @konstantin-negodaev and Nikolay Yakovlev (bass) @nikolay-yakovlev. He performs in jazz clubs of Rostov and Volgodonsk (Russia) visiting Ukraine and Israel now and then. He also enjoys playing incidental world music with his band and solo.

Евгений Фельдман — певец и флейтист, известный по своим выступлениям с барбершоп-квартетом «Тихий Дон» в концертном зале Карнеги Холл (Нью Йорк). Среди известных проектов Евгения — камерные электроакустические джазовые ансамбли, Fluteman Quartet и Fluteman Trio, в которых он сотрудничает с Альбертом Кандрачьяном (клавишные) @albert-kandrachyan, Константином Негодаевым (гитара) @konstantin-negodaev и Николаем Яковлевым (контрабас) @nikolay-yakovlev. Квартет выступает в джазовых клубах, участвует в фестивалях в России, Украине, Израиле. Евгений Фельдман с удовольствием дает также сольные концерты, исполняя спонтанную произведения в стиле world music.

Outside

Eugene Fluteman