A list of all of the Korg Wavestation EX tracks that I've uploaded (so far). These are from the late 90's and early 00's and were originally recorded on cassette tape, then transferred to digital in 2003.

This unique instrument that sounded like nothing else!

Late 90's / Early 00's KORG Wavestation Tracks

Tonight's SoundCloud upload is another late 90's WS track, "Roll". It got it's name from the feeling I got making it and listening to it, like you're pushing something heavy in front of you, rolling it along as you go. I remember programing the very heavy rhythmic sound, a wave sequence, and then combining it with a much lighter airy-type sound that I repeatedly played over it. The programming was deliberate, the playing just seems to happen, and sometimes it comes out OK. 🤞👌

I think it makes for some interesting Soundtrack music. Even Sisyphus might approve. 🪨

#SoundCloud ☁️

Roll

Roll 𖦹 (Korg Wavestation EX, Recorded to tape in 1998)

I haven't even uploaded to SoundCloud my favorite track I did on my Wavestation yet, but here's a close 2nd, with several others nearly tied ("Roll" is a great example). This is "Monumental", from 1997. Recorded to tape as per usual back then, and then transferred to digital about 2003-2004 or so. 

The punch-you-in-the-face synth bass is the high point, but there are a lot of other things going on, some in the wave sequence, and others in the lead sounds over it. I wish I hadn't faded out the original recording as I did, because some new notes are heard at the very end, and then they vanish. 🙌

That pulsating sound is straight out of my love for Ultravox, which was one of my favorite British bands of the 80's, and also a bit of a secret love for me, meaning not a lot of my friends even knew I was such a big fan. Not as secret as say, Cocteau Twins, but that's another story ... 

I'm so glad that I've revisited these old recordings that had been sitting on burned CDs for years. It's not only made me want to share them, but also to make new recordings, which I've done. 😌

#SoundCloud ☁️

Monumental

Monumental 𓁈 (Korg Wavestation EX, Recorded in 1997)

We're heading back to the 90's, to 1998, with "Atom Smasher". This is another all Wavestation EX track. I remember wanting to build the wave sequence into something that sounded very mechanical ... and that something would be moving fast! My vision was of a retro-futuristic train. 🚅  Why not a nuclear powered one? So after it was finished, I called it Atomic Train at the time, but I like Atom Smasher better. 💫

After the programming, it all came out in one take, as they often did (and often didn't). The lead sound is simple, but it's pretty, as opposed to the sequence, which is a series of metallic noises, intermingled with a rapid bass line. It's pretty in a different way I suppose. 

The photo was taken by me last August and is part of an old steam locomotive that's parked as a display at the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel. 🚂 The toxic waste coming off of it was added by me!

#SoundCloud ☁️

Atom Smasher

Atom Smasher ˗ˏˋ✸ˎˊ˗ (Korg Wavestation EX Synthesizer, Recorded on Tape in 1998)

Recorded on tape in 2000, a brief haunted-sounding piano riff, that is repeated 3 times. You could call it a demo, as it shows a side of the Korg Wavestation EX that I haven't yet added here, but I think it's just spooky soundtrack / incidental / background music. It sounds very dark, very black, so I called it "onyx". 🖤

The photo is a heavily altered one taken from flight, made to look like a piece of black stone with white bands and chips ... just like many forms of onyx. ☯️

#SoundCloud ☁️

onyx

onyx ⛰︎ (Korg Wavestation EX Synthesizer, Recorded on tape in 2000)

This was a change of pace for me programming the Wavestation EX, with a much slower Tempo. This is "Bloom" from 1997 🌹. The notes played between chord transitions are simple and just came to mind randomly as I played and listened to the wave sequence I'd made. Like I've always said, I'm a better programmer than player. I think this is really pretty though. 🌷

The original title was Balloon, as there's a sense of floating on air here, but I think Bloom is better, because of the hopeful feelings that I had when I made it, way back in '97.

There would be some tough times ahead though. Aren't there always? 🥀

#SoundCloud ☁️

But not just yet. 🌸

Bloom

Bloom ❀ (Korg Wavestation EX Synthesizer, Recorded to Tape in 1997).

Tinkerer of many sounds, mostly just for fun. Player of many things, but a master of none.

Bloom ❀ (Korg Wavestation EX Synthesizer, Recorded to Tape in 1997).

GKS