Nathaniel johnstone

Gepetto's Lament

Baba Yaga

This is the final version of the song. I changed the mix just a little bit and had my friend Jean-Paul Mayden put on some more guitar texture in the middle section.

Amanita Ocreata

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At our latest rehearsal, we decided to change up the rhythm of this to something a little more up tempo. I really like the feel from the original (http://nathanieljohnstone.bandcamp.com/track/scarlet-carpet-interstate-part-one-live) but there's something about this version that really makes me LOVE playing it.

This was recorded straight into an iPhone without any editing or processing. It's all LIVE, baby!

Mandolin: Nathaniel Johnstone
Drums: Jes Brown
Bass: Jean-Paul Mayden
Hand Claps: Mel
Shaker: Libby Bulloff

And if you like what you hear, please check this for more: nathanieljohnstone.com

Scarlet Carpet Interstate, Part One

This started with a electronic beat track made on an iPhone by Libby Bulloff. I took inspiration from that and expanded with drums (Jes Brown), zils (Libby again) and bass, guitar, mandolin, violin, and a few other things.

The version here was used by my friend Tempest for a dance presentation at TempleCon on Feb 3, 2012. 

Guitar, Bass, Mandolin, Violin: Nathaniel Johnstone
Drums, Percussion: Jes Brown
iPhone, Zils: Libby Bulloff

And if you like what you hear, please check this for more: nathanieljohnstone.com

And on this day, I learned that mp3 compression artifacts can be a real bitch to eradicate. In the case of this tune, I had to eviscerate the low-frequencies on the djembe. I triple mic'd that mother and it sounded glorious but then when Soundcloud compressed to 128 kbps it suddenly developed a case of crickets. Seriously: a djembe is supposed to go: DOUM tek tek not CHIRP EEP EEP. :/

This one, like Amanita Ocreata before it, is a narrative without a story. Just the name Elle Cambia ("She Changes" in Spanish) to offer any hints.

Ella Cambia

All instruments by Nathaniel Johnstone except for the hand claps. Those are by Jes Brown. I'd have had him do more of the percussion but I only had him for an hour or so. NEXT TIME!

Gamal

This tune needs a name. It popped out of my head yesterday and I had to get it down in its larval state. I don't know whether I'm going to expand the orchestration of this or if I'm going to leave it as is. The name will help guide me with that.

Please, you who listen to this: suggest to me a name. Or if not a name then perhaps the story or vignette that would accompany a piece of music like this.

Nathaniel johnstone

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