(Hallam | Sharbaugh)
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: vocals, synthesizers, sampler, drums and drum programming, and 'found sounds'
Adrian Hallam [ https://soundcloud.com/adrianhallam ]: guitars and bass synthesizer
Composed and Recorded ca. July to August 2, 2013.
sm9b [CB HH + Bass mix] [24WAV].

Ambient samples from Hawkdream and Manny Leigh’s “The Sun without a Sphere”:
https://soundcloud.com/brian-brown-16/the-sun-without-a-sphere-1

Percussion sample from OBH Beats’ “Scene without Colors”:
https://soundcloud.com/obh-beats/scene-without-colors


Warm and special thanks to Hawkdream, Manny Leigh, and OBH Beats for allowing us to sample their works!

You can hear more of Adrian Hallam's (Blue Room Green's) music here:
https://soundcloud.com/blue-room-green

Venusian Smile

>> DOWNLOAD <<

"Venusian Smile" [Michael Ash Sharbaugh and Adrian Hallam]

(Traditional; arr. Michael Ash Sharbaugh)
Gary Reeves [ https://soundcloud.com/mountain-songs ]: 'facilitation' and co-production
Jamie Rhind [ https://soundcloud.com/jamie-rhind ]: organ
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: vocals, synthesizers and sequencer programming, drums and drum machine programming, 'found sounds,' and production
Composed and Recorded ca. ? to April 17, 2021.
sm65 [CB05] [24WAV].

-

"I am desirous to thank both Gary Reeves and Jamie Rhind for their expert opinions, patience, perserverence, and art-work on this song; it would not effervese with such life had they not been part of the project!"

~ Michael

-

"The House of the Rising Sun" contains varied Creative Commons licensed samples:

"Vocodor" by tripjazz
"G_Ghostchord_128" by DWSD
"women_scream_AAA" by thanvannispen
"sidechained build up at 128bpm" by djfroyd
"synth loop at 128bpm" by djfroyd
"EDM style Hook" by SSS_Samples

-

The House of the Rising Sun

>>> DOWNLOAD <<<

"The House Of The Rising Sun" - Michael Ash Sharbaugh [feat. Jamie Rhind and Gary Reeves]

(Sharbaugh)
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: piano, synthesizer, tape manipulations, and found sounds
Composed and Recorded ca. 1988 to October 24, 2013.
sm3 [LANDRlo].

While constructing this improvisational piece, I envisioned a skeleton playing a piano in a 1920s Victorian era ballroom.

It is a improvised work, recorded in 1988 on a four-track recorder. Forgive the tape noise; forgive the drop-outs; forgive, forgive, forgive.

I am releasing this as an ode to Halloween 2013. Enjoy.

1920s Ghost Piano

(Duran Duran; arr. Sharbaugh) 
Bonetender [ @bonetender ]: electric guitars 
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ @michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: vocals, drums and drum machine programming, synthesizers and sequencer programming, and 'found sounds' 
Composed and Recorded ca. 1982 to March 16, 2022. 
sm83 [eM-The Mellow High Mix 02] [24WAV].

-+-

"The original version of this song made Me who I am today: I heard #duranduran 's original version for the first time when I was 13, whilst doing homework at the dining room table, and was floored by its beauty.

By the time the song was halfway through, I knew that I wanted to make something as #haunting -ly beautiful, and set out to write #music and #poetry for the rest of My life.

This cover is a #homage to that ‘forever feeling’ -- of #dedication, and of the endless #devotion to My #musical craft. (’Till #death shall #music and I part!)

I have a #video in the works for it, and plan to release #remix -es soon!"

~ Michael

-+-

Anyone Out There? (feat. Bonetender)

... on Spotify >>>

"Anyone Out There?" (a Duran Duran cover [1983]) - Michael Ash Sharbaugh (feat. Bonetender)

(Farrar; arr. Sharbaugh)
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: vocals, guitars, synthesizers and sequencer programming, drums and drum machine programming, and 'found sounds'
Composed and Recorded 1979 to May 26, 2022.
sm75 [edit 01] [VOX] [em 01] [2022 REMASTER] [24WAV].

-+-

"This song is dedicated to Heather Vanderpool: 'Thanks for introducing Me to 'Xanadu-proper.'"

~ Michael Ash Sharbaugh

-+-

come take My hand
You should know Me
I've always been in Your mind
You know I will be kind
I'll be guiding You

building Your dream
has to start now
there's no other road to take
You won't make a mistake
I'll be guiding You

-

Ya have to believe We are magic
nothing can stand in Our way
have to believe We are magic
don't let Your aim ever stray

and if all Your hopes survive
destiny will arrive

and bring all Your dreams alive
for You

-

from where I stand
You are home free
the planets align -- it's so rare
there's promise in the air
and I'm guiding You

through every turn
I'll be near You
I'll come every time You call
I'll catch You when Ya fall
I'll be guiding You

-

Ya have to believe We are magic
nothing can stand in Our way
have to believe We are magic
don't let Your aim ever stray

and if all Your hopes survive
destiny will arrive

and bring all Your dreams alive
for You

and bring all Your dreams to life
for You

-

[ haaaaaa >>> ]

-

Ya have to believe We are magic
nothing can stand in Our way
have to believe We are magic
don't let Your aim ever stray

and if all Your hopes survive
destiny will arrive

and bring all Your dreams alive
for You

and bring all Your dreams to life
for You

-

Magic

"Magic" [a "XANADU" cover] (originally Olivia Newton-John) [2022 REMASTER] - Michael Ash Sharbaugh

(Konstantinidis | Sharbaugh)
DarkStar83 [Konstantinos Konstantinidis] [ https://soundcloud.com/darkstar83 ]: [software] synthesizers
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: guitar [feedback], synthesizers, samplers, and sequencer programming, and 'found sounds'
Composed and Recorded ca. July 25, 2022 to March 11, 2023.
sm13 [2023 (1st) MASTER] [eM 01] [24WAV].

-+-

Damoclesian Demons

"Damoclesian Demons" [2023 (1st) MASTER] --- <|> --- DarkStar83 + Michael Ash Sharbaugh

(Sharbaugh)
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: synthesizers and sequencer programming, sampler and sample editing, and 'found sounds'
Erokia [Jordan Dean] [ https://soundcloud.com/erokia ]: synthesizers and sequencer programming
Composed and Recorded April 29, 2023.
sm5 [eM 02] [24WAV].

-+-

" ... just another 'exercise' to end-out the hallowed month of April [2023]. April always holds much promise for My creative musical output -- has since I was 17-years-old in '87. Cheers to April!!!

This tune utilized the chirps of tree frogs for its percussive background, and the simple, rambling twiddlings of dreamy synths and percussive accents.

In the [humourous] [paraphrased] words of a Friend ... : 'these sound[s] may or may not have been altered via stretching, scrunching, delaying, reverbing, panning, EQing, distorting, frequency filtering, layering, cutting, chopping, truncating, and altercaton via numerous, other sound-processing techniques.'"

~ Michael

-+-

My pitch for Spotify radio:

"A meditative, calm, and soothing, ambient-electronic piece adorned with the hallowed sounds of nature, "Jaded" features Boards-of-Canada-ish textures and loops, yet tips-its-hat to nature, as it features -- for percussion -- the soft, rounded chirps of tree frogs and other night-time jungle beasts! It began -- like most of My works -- as an 'exercise; that is, I don't ever await inspiration to strike, but actually sit down intentionally to compose, audience to peaceful, inspiring 'randomness.'"

~ Michael Ash Sharbaugh, May 22, 2023.

-+-

"Single Frog Chirp 'cluster'"
by Tom McLaughlin:

https://freesound.org/people/The_Sample_Workshop/sounds/631429/

-

"MSfxp11 - 72 - (Synth Loop 100 BPM)"Check out Erokia on #SoundCloud [ Check out Erokia on #SoundCloud [ 
https://on.soundcloud.com/VDKnB]:

https://freesound.org/people/Erokia/sounds/664475/

-+-

Jaded (feat. Erokia)

"Jaded" - | - Michael Ash Sharbaugh (featuring Erokia)

([Sharbaugh] -> [all tracks] | [Konstandinitis|Sharbaugh] -> [track 5])
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ @michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: vocalizations, synthesizers and sequencer programming, sampler and sample programming, guitar, and 'found sounds'
DarkStar83 [ @darkstar83 ]: synthesizers and sequencer programming and 'found sounds' [track 5]
Composed and Recorded ca. 2013 to March 26, 2023.
sm5 [non-stop].

FOUND [ I ]

Solar Wind [2023 REMASTER]

Solar Wind [EP -  FOUND [I] ] [sm5]

Balm [eM 01]

Balm [EP -  FOUND [I] ] [sm5]

(Sharbaugh)
Katarina Rose [ https://soundcloud.com/womb_affliction ]: 'upper-register female' vocal
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: drums and drum machine editing, synthesizers and sequencer programming, sampler and sample editing, and 'found sounds'
Composed and Recorded ca. May 4 to May 14, 2023.
sm33G [eM 01] [24WAV].

-+-

"This track was composed whilst appreciating the 'sonic spirits' of two inspirational Friends ...

David Grace + Jonathan Akira Hartnett."

~ Michael

-+-

womb_affliction:

"whimsical female vocal"

https://freesound.org/people/womb_affliction/sounds/330662/#

-+-

Fall Again  Rise Again (feat. womb_affliction)

"Fall Again, Rise Again" - | - Michael Ash Sharbaugh (feat. Womb Affliction)

(encym | Hanrath | Kitzmann | Sharbaugh)
Andreas Kitzmann [ https://soundcloud.com/andreas-kitzmann-27370936 ]: [electric?] guitar loop improvisation
encym [ https://soundcloud.com/encym ]: acoustic and electric guitars improvisations
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: editing, mixing, and 'found sounds'
W:I:L-o´the-wisp [ https://soundcloud.com/flyingtonefish ]: 'theremin' and synthesizer 'solo' improvisation
Composed and Recorded ca. April 19 to 21, 2023.
sm13-02 [eM 03] [24WAV].

-+-

"I was completely enthralled by Andreas', Roland's, and Wilfried's musical 'answer' to the last Junto assignment (0593 -- a trio recorded at 'asynchronous' times and places). I lovingly dissected their sonic opus, and concocted My own answer to this week's Junto challenge -- 0594, the 'Threemix.'

I first diced the intro of Andreas' initial, guitar loop, kept only its first two 'notes,' expanded and looped them to 64.35 BPM -- and repeated them throughout the piece.

encym's guitar meanderings were sliced into brief phrases. I ended up with thirty of them, yet used only two of them to offset Andreas' forceful drones. Also featured are two improv sections of His at very low volumes, in order to suggest an subtle 'undulation' in the piece.

encym's tonality was originally pitched one semitone higher ('Western-scale'); thus, I lowered (pitch-shifted) it a single semitone. The result is consonance.

(One of My fave 'happy accidents' occured while isolating a brief, percussive 'dink' during encym's guitar part [a fingering error?]; that dink -- when saturated, and run through a slap-back and ping-pong delay series -- provided a 'drum' beat that backed the piece.)

As the work nears its cadence, enter Wilfried, with His wond'rous 'theremin' riff, of which I isolated one recorded flourish, and repeated it four times. The motif He played introduces itself at a low volume level, fed through two delays and a reverb, which deepened in intensities as the motifs progressed. 

What makes this piece special for Me is the highly complex -- and joyfully painstaking -- effects automations I crafted throughout it. It took hours of mathematical computations, and programming, in order to make the piece -- itself seemingly 'simple' and 'droney' -- to 'sound' so complex."

~ Michael

-+-

"Disquiet Junto Project 0594: 'Threemix'

The Assignment: Remix an asynchronously produced trio.

Step 1: You’re going to make a remix of a track from the most recent Disquiet Junto project, which was a collection of trios constructed over the course of three weeks. Listen through the playlist, and check out any additional tracks in the discussion forum:

https://soundcloud.com/disquiet/sets/disquiet-junto-project-0593

https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0593-the-charm/

Step 2: You might elect to use some of the constituent parts of the series, so do seek out the solo and duet that led to your chosen trio and feel free to employ those, too. Check out the respective llllllll.co threads:

https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0591-the-loneliest-number/

https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0592-better-than-one/ "

~ Marc Weidenbaum

-+-

"The complete work from which this remix borrowed constituent parts can be found here:

https://soundcloud.com/flyingtonefish/wilfried-hanrath-with-andreas-kitzmann-encym-encounters-in-the-disquiet0593

-

The subsequent duet penned by Andreas Kitzmann and encym can be found here, at disquiet0592:

https://soundcloud.com/encym/tete-a-tete-disquiet0592

-

Andreas Kitzmann's lone, discrete track, which was destined for the initial Disquiet Junto assignment, "disquiet0591," can be found here:

https://soundcloud.com/andreas-kitzmann-27370936/disquiet0591 "

~ Michael

-+-

Trinkets + Tatters (feat. encym  Wilfried Hanrath &amp; Andreas Kitzmann)

"Trinkets + Tatters" - Michael Ash Sharbaugh (ft. Andreas Kitzmann, encym, and W:I:L-o´the-wisp)

(Walden; arr. Sharbaugh)
Jon Lock [ https://soundcloud.com/jon-lock-5 ]: bass guitar and guitar
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: vocals, drums and drum machine programming, synthesizers, and 'found sounds'
Composed and Recorded ca. 1981 to July 17, 2021.
Remixed and Remastered ca. May 24, 2023.
sm50exp [2023 REMIX + REMASTER] sm1 [em 02] [24WAV].

-+-

"How 'bout Us" [2023 REMIX + REMASTER] -+- Michael Ash Sharbaugh (feat. Jon Lock)

(Sharbaugh)
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: base composition and electronic manipulations
Composed and Recorded ca. July 29, 2014 and May 27, 2023.
Base Composition: "Balm" [disquiet0135-soundofsummer] sm4lev.
sm1 [RAW] [32AIF].

-+-

"For this week's Disquiet Junto assignment -- 0595 ("Filter Progression"), I was called to "make music by processing a static sound."

White noise or a field recording had been suggested in the assignment's notes, and My mind harkened way back to a junto assignment in July of 2014, when We were called to "try to record one minute of sound that would suggest to the listener the pleasing experience of air conditioning — of the air being cooled on a hot summer day" [disquiet0135].

I recalled how much that junto assignment had been the closest I had done professionally to a field recording (an air conditioner), and used that track -- "Balm sm4lev" -- as the basis for this week's study in frequency and resonance.

In My DAW, I first saturated it with the FabFilter "Saturn 2" saturator, then ran the signal through WAVES' "Renaissance Bass" in order to accentuate the track's lowest, prominent frequenc[y/ies] (65Hz to 75Hz), and then put it through FabFilter's "Pro-Q3," and, finally, SoundToys' "Phase Mistress."

Throughout all steps, I set out to accentuate the bassiest freqs present in the track:

1] I saturated 65-75 Hertz;
2] I automated the high-pass and low-pass filters of the "Pro-Q 3," slowly rolling both poles up/down -- respectively -- to 65 to 75 Hertz just prior to the tracks highest volume level;
3] I phased the signal, concentrating on 70Hz as the accentuated target frequency and resonance concentration, peaking the effect and its mix to apex at the track's loudest point.

Voila! Whoop (there it is!)."

~ Michael

-+-

"More on this 595th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Filter Progression (The Assignment: Make music by processing a static sound), at: https://disquiet.com/0595/

About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/

Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/

Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0595-filter-progression/"

~ Marc Weidenbaum

"Balm (A Frequency + Resonance Study)" [disquiet 0595-filterprogression]

(Sharbaugh)
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: vocals, synthesizers and sequencer programming, drums and drum machine programming, and 'found sounds'
Composed and Recorded ca. July 4 to July 13, 2023.
sm48D [VOX] [RAW] [32AIF].

-+-

i'll make a bet with myself
and give it some time
animal magnetism rarely keeps me waiting in line

it's far too early
to give up the wine
'cos loves gonna happen, and life's gonna treat me fine

(STEP OUTSIDE YOURSELF)
(LOOK AROUND)
(JUST BREATHE)

funny ...
you never answered before
but somethin's pricked your ears, and you don't wanna lose your score

i've been uneasy
just biding my time
trapped in a corner, anxiously awaiting some sign

(LOVE YOURSELF)
(LOOK AROUND)
(JUST BREATHE)

love ... oh, love ...
(you need love)
bad ... so bad ...
(you need love)

-+-

Trapped (You Need Love)

"Trapped (You Need Love)"

(Sharbaugh)
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: guitar, synthesizers, and 'found sounds'
Composed and Recorded July 5 to 21, 2014.
sm7 [2023 REMASTER] [eM 03] [24WAV].

Ellipsis

"Ellipsis" [2023 REMASTER]

(Sharbaugh)
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: synthesizers, 'found sounds,' and 'found sound' manipulation
David Seidel: [ n/a ]: sine wave generation and manipulation
Composed and Recorded ca. March 7 to 13, 2014.
sm5b [2023 REMASTER] [eM 01] [24WAV] [from iTunes].

-+-

"(This finished piece is based upon an unfinished work that was intended to fulfill the requirements for the 114th March 7-10, 2014 Disquiet Junto project, 'disquiet0114-60Hz,' which -- to paraphrase for simplicity's sake -- was 'to compose a piece of music using only pre-recorded sine waves.' Below is my description of the process.)"

~ Michael

-+-

"Prior to importing the sine wave chunks, I first fixed the tempo of my DAW to 60 BPM to reflect the frequency of the sine waves within. Therefore, with respect to the piece’s title, “Infrastructure” (named in deference to a phrase in Marc Weidenbaum’s liner notes in David Seidel’s release), I could introduce sonic elements at exact temporal multiples and divisions of the number, “60”—reflective of the frequency of those electrons flowing throughout my native United States [US].

Unsure as to whether I broke the rules or not, I layered the five chunks together, muted sections of chunks 1 and 5 in order to form a seamless bed at the instant of one minute, with beginning chunk 1 left raw and ending chunk 5 fed through a distortion and reverb.

I then chopped sections from each of the others. Those sections I had chopped up were multiplied and pitch-shifted several times to form a Bb-minor chord, a Db-diminished chord, and an F-major chord. Each ‘chord’, strained as it sounded, was fed into the same distortion bus as chunk 5, which sometimes overpowered the smaller chorded chunks due to its immense low frequency power; thus, some were barely audible.

After hours and days thinking of how to make this piece musical, I realized that all waveforms are made up of sine waves. Seeking a piano waveform and a vocal waveform, I experimented. I time-compressed several sections of the chunks and layered them, which resulted in several usable sounds distinguishable from the longer, droning chunk beds—a percussive, which I elongated by 11 measures, a ‘bleep’|‘blip’|‘bloop’, which I elongated by 4 measures, and a wind sound, which I elongated to 11 measures and then shortened yet again to 4 measures. I used these sounds to punctuate the chordal changes—the Bb-minor, the Db-diminished, and the F-major chords.

Even the reverb settings were dialed in to represent the infrastructure of the US, what with rectangular room spaces (skyscrapers) and reflective surfaces representative of concrete.

After the Disquiet Junto deadline had passed, I took up the project again added a multitude of synth lines, Rhodes-ey piano licks, and muted percussion tracks. I topped the piece off with subtle throat-singing samples from FreeSound.org:

storm#16.wav: http://www.freesound.org/people/djgriffin/sounds/22023/
tibetan chant 3.wav: http://www.freesound.org/people/djgriffin/sounds/15363/ "

~ Michael

-+-

"More on this 114th Disquiet Junto project — “Combine elements of Dave Seidel’s album ~60 Hz (Irritable Hedgehog)” — at:

http://disquiet.com/2014/03/06/disquiet0114-60hz/

More on the Disquiet Junto at:

http://disquiet.com/?p=16588

Join the Disquiet Junto at:

http://soundcloud.com/groups/disquiet-junto/

The source audio is from Dave Seidel’s ~60 Hz album, released on the Irritable Hedgehog record label. More on the album at:

http://recordings.irritablehedgehog.com/album/dave-seidel-60-hz "

~ Marc Weidenbaum

-+-

Infrastructure

"Infrastructure" [2014] [2023 REMASTER] [based on (disquiet0114-60Hz)] ~ Michael Ash Sharbaugh

(Sharbaugh)
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ @michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: drums and drum machine programming, synths and sequencer programming, sampler and sample editing, and 'found sounds'
Composed and Recorded ca. August 21 to August 30, 2023.
sm31CE [eM 05] [24WAV].

UNTITLED 13

"UNTITLED 13"

(Sharbaugh)
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: synthesizer and sequencer programming, sampler and sample editing, drums and drum machine programming, and 'found sounds'
Composed and Recorded ca. September 3 to 4, 2023.
sm5 [eM 01] [24WAV].

-~-

"I often just sit down with the intention of 'writing' an [audio] track. When I experience no inspiration, or have no idea for a concept of an original recording, I usually turn to the Diquiet Junto prompt of the week to set-out to compose one. 

This week was no different:

I read the disquiet prompt -- 'record a simple track at 60 BPM in 4/4 that will be reworked subsequently by other musicians' --  Sunday evening, and started that minute. I worked seven straight hours on it without getting out of My seat.

I set-out to create something simple, tonally, and mode- and key-wise, and something that did not have a bunch of changes or sections, that COULD be easily reworked into a more, highly complex piece.

Recording a lone, aggressive, staccatto, string patch and looping it led Me to recording another variation with slight percussion, and then I just added a long, time-expanded bed of a violin being tuned judiciously in sections.

I added a 'head' [introduction] and a 'tail' [cadence], and that was it.

Here is, ' ... to the Beach, Asunder.'"

~ Michael Ash Sharbaugh

-~-

"More on this 609th weekly Disquiet Junto project, Speed Limit Pt 1 (The Assignment: Record a track at precisely 60 BPM with the intention someone will subsequently rework it), at: https://disquiet.com/0609/

About the Disquiet Junto: https://disquiet.com/junto/

Subscribe to project announcements: https://tinyletter.com/disquiet-junto/

Project discussion takes place on llllllll.co: https://llllllll.co/t/disquiet-junto-project-0609-speed-limit-pt-1/ "

~ Marc Weidenbaum

-~-

"... to the Beach Asunder" [disquiet0609] - Michael Ash Sharbaugh

(Sharbaugh)
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: vocals, synthesizers and sequencer programming, sampler and sample editing, drums and drum machine programming, and 'found sounds'
Composed and Recorded ca. 1991 to [September 7 to] October 8, 2023.
sm89 [VOX] [RAW] [32AIF].

-+-

you seem to know your way around here
a wake of devils paved our way
i've spent time in your garden
my way i could not find

i sought entrance to join with you
a convocation, but i can't stay
i want out of this garden
i ain't wastin' no more time

-

ooo adam and i
we walked together
without knowing why
we walked
[so] --- don't tempt me ---
[no] --- don't tempt me ---
into your garden

-

you had beckoned and so i followed you
into a forest to a darkened clos
and there was a stranger
with an apple in his hand

i deemed pernicious this malignant man
he spoke of seraphim as both 'friend' and 'foe'
but he made us wide-eyed and fruit-full
yet laughed when we were banned

-

ooo adam and i
we walked together
without knowing why
we walked
[so] --- don't tempt me ---
[no] --- don't tempt me ---
into your garden

-

... into your garden ...

-+-

Adam & I (Into the Garden)

"Adam & I (Into the Garden)"

(Sharbaugh)
Womb Affliction (Katarina Rose) [ https://soundcloud.com/womb_affliction ]: [lyrics and] vocals
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: drums and drum machine programming, synthesizers and sequencer programming, sample editing and sequencing, and 'found sounds'
Composed and Recorded ca. October 9 to October 30, 2023.
sm66M [VOX] [RAW] [32AIF].

-+-

[ Image by balintseby on freepik.com ]

-+-

The lyrics and vocal affects have been 'lifted' -- borrowed -- from Womb Affliction's [Katarina Rose's] two songs, "Deeper" [ https://soundcloud.com/womb_affliction/deeper ] and "I Feel Colors" [ https://soundcloud.com/womb_affliction/i-feel-colors ].

-+-

"Katarina, thank You. You are a true talent and inspiration." ~ Michael

-+-

My Thoughts Scatter Like Colour

"My Thoughts Scatter Like Colour" - Michael Ash Sharbaugh (feat. Womb Affliction)

(Idol | Sharbaugh | Stevens; arr. Michael Ash Sharbaugh)
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: vocals and [mid-section] lyrics, drums and drum machine programming, synthesizers and sequencer programming, sampler and sample editing, and 'found sounds'
Billy Gewin [ https://soundcloud.com/billy-gewin ]: bass guitars
Jacob Kersey [ n/a ]: trumpets
Colt Elvis Simmons (C Fo Fifth) [ https://soundcloud.com/cfofifth ]: "breathy gasps" and "hey"; inspiration for My mid-section rhythm, 'rap,' and lyrics
Composed and Recorded ca. 1983 to April 17, 2020.
Remastered ca. October 15, 2023.
[2023 REMASTER] [eM 03] [24WAV].

-+-

"My #ode to Billy Idol and [My Favorite] guitarist, Steve Stevens, took 8 months to complete, and [the 2023 remaster] was just [rte-]released today [-Halloween 2023] [on all streaming services and retailers] across the interwebs.

I wish to thank trumpeteer, Jacob Kersey, bassist, Billy Gewin, and Good Friend, Colt Elvis Simmons, for their creative contributions toward this project!

David Grace [ https://soundcloud.com/david-grace-songs ]: thanks for the rap section suggestions!

I am very proud, and highly thankful!"

~ M

-+-

#eightiesmusic #darkpopsong #eyeswithoutaface #billyidol #stevestevens #michaelashsharbaugh #rebelyell

-+-

"
I realize she's a siren disguised
her lullaby is injected as her teeth incise
she's highly infectious
she's makin' me feckless
I follow a deathwish when I hear her breath hiss
eyes without a face
her lips do encase
she's like Eve with an apple
'Arsenic and Old Lace'
[yet I'm drinkin' her down]
what's all this fuss 'bout a psychedelic trip
[when she can murder me and still be hip]
I'm so blue --- she's out there
so ... I'll say my prayers
say my prayers
say my prayers
"

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Eyes without a Face

"Eyes without a Face" [2023 REMASTER] - Michael Ash Sharbaugh

(Sharbaugh)
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: synthesizers
Composed and Recorded ca. March 20 to 23, 2015.
Remastered ca. October 15, 2023.
sm4 [2023 REMASTER] [eM 08] [24WAV]..

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Michael Ash Sharbaugh on March 23, 2015:

"In an attempt to accept this week's Disquiet Junto assignment — 'create an original, multi-part piece with a single audio source,' I chose a prerecorded track of a single atmospheric pad to form an aural bed of sound. I then time-compressed it greatly, so I could use it for a droney, low-end, 'percussive' background and, also, as fodder for a higher-frequency, foreground melody. I recorded these three tracks together, but was disappointed with their resultant complexity; thus, I abandoned hopes of entering it into this week's Disquiet Junto 0168 -- 'Three of a Kind,' -- project, and began to add parts using various synthesizers.

The resultant piece, 'Dwaal I,' is spacious and hazy, and named after an informal word of South African origin, 'dwaal,' which means 'a dreamy, absent-minded, or befuddled state.'"

~ Michael

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"More on this 168th Disquiet Junto project — 'Create an original, multi-part piece with a single audio source' — at:

http://disquiet.com/2015/03/19/disquiet0168-threeofakind/

More on the Disquiet Junto at:

http://disquiet.com/junto

Join the Disquiet Junto at:

http://soundcloud.com/groups/disquiet-junto/

Disquiet Junto general discussion takes place at:

http://disquiet.com/forums/ "

~ Marc Weidenbaum

-+-

Dwaal I [2023 REMASTER]

"Dwaal I" [2023 REMASTER]

(Gore [arranged by Sharbaugh and Klevling])
Ivan Klevling [ https://soundcloud.com/ill-dub-productions | https://soundcloud.com/wizardshoes | https://soundcloud.com/dark-korvettes ]: guitars and 'steel-stringed atmospherics'
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: vocals, electronics, drums and drum machine programming, synthesizers and sequencer programming, sampler and sample editing, and 'found sounds'
Composed and Recorded ca. 1990 to January 19, 2019.
Remastered ca. October 17, 2023.
sm185 [The Seared Searatonin Master] [2023 REMASTER] [VOX] [eM 02] [24WAV].

-+-

... the instrumental version:

https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh/blue-dress-ambient-inst

-+-

... for other Michael Ash Sharbaugh + Friends' Depeche Mode covers, see ...

https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh/sets/depeche-mode-by-michael-ash

-+-

[tempo = 65 BPM]

-+-

put it on
and don't say a word
put it on
the one that I prefer
put it on
and stand before my eyes
put it on
please don't question why
can you believe

something so simple
something so trivial
makes me a happy man
can't you understand
say you believe
just how easy
it is to please me

because when you learn
you'll know what makes the world turn

put it on
I can feel so much
put it on
I don't need to touch
put it on
here before my eyes
put it on
because you realise
and you believe

something so worthless
serves a purpose
it makes me a happy man
can't you understand
say you believe
just how easy
it is to please me

because when you learn
you'll know what makes the world turn

-+-

Blue Dress (The Seared Seratonin Master) [2023 REMASTER]

"Blue Dress [The Seared Seratonin Master] (2023 REMASTER)" - Michael Ash Sharbaugh + Ivan Klevling

(Gore [arr. Michael Ash Sharbaugh])
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: vocals, drums and drum machine programming, synthesizers and sequencer programming, sampler and sample editing, and 'found sounds'
Composed and Recorded ca. 1987 to January 19, 2019.
Remastered ca. October 17, 2023.
sm428 [VOX] [short] [2023 REMASTER] [eM 01] [24WAV].

-+-

... the instrumental version:

https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh/i-want-you-now-drums-bass-instrumental-mix-instrumental-michael-ash-sharbaugh

-+-

I want you now
tomorrow won't do
there's a yearning inside
and it's showing through

reach out your hands
and accept my love
we've been waiting for too long
enough is enough

I want you now

my heart is aching
my body is burning
my hands are shaking
my head is turning

do you understand
it's so easy to choose
we've got time to kill
we've got nothing to lose

I want you now

and I don't mean to sound
like one of the boys
that's not what I'm trying to do
I don't want to be
like one of the boys
I just want you now

'cos I got a love
a love that won't wait
a love that is growing
and it's getting late

do you know what it means
to be left this way
when everyone's gone
the feelings they stay

I want you now

-+-

I Want You Now [2023 REMASTER]

"I Want You Now" (2023 REMASTER)

(Sharbaugh)
AnalogByNature [ https://soundcloud.com/analogbynature ]: mixing and final mash-up mixdown
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: vocals, drums and drum machine programming, synthesizers and sequencer programming, sampler and sample editing, 'found sounds,' mixing, production, and mastering
Composed and Recorded ca. January 2014 to July 13, 2023 to October 21, 2023.
(The mash-up was composed ca. October 21, 2023.)
sm2 [eM02] [24WAV].

-+-

Michael Ash Sharbaugh's original recordings:

"Divinity" [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh/divinity ]

(MTWD | Sharbaugh)
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ @michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: vocals, drums and drum machine programming, guitar 'flourishes,' synthesizers and sequencer programming, and 'found sounds'
MTWD [ @mtwd ]: synthesizers and drum programming
Adrian Hallam [ @adrianhallam ]: guitar (solo)
Composed and Recorded ca. December 2013 to January 2014.
sm13 [LANDR].

+

"Trapped (You Need Love" [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh/trapped-you-need-love ]

(Sharbaugh)
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ @michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: vocals, synthesizers and sequencer programming, drums and drum machine programming, and 'found sounds'
Composed and Recorded ca. July 4 to July 13, 2023.
sm48D [VOX] [RAW] [32AIF].

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"The 'Divinity' + 'Trapped (You Need Love)' Mash-Up" - Michael Ash Sharbaugh (feat. AnalogByNature)

(Gallup | Hartley | Smith | Tolhurst)
Liam J. Boyle: bass guitar, guitars, and drum programming
Michael Ash Sharbaugh: vocals
Composed and Recorded ca. 1979 to February 2, 2016.
sm15 [ARIA (B)].

To hear more of Liam J. Boyle's musical works, visit his SoundCloud page: https://soundcloud.com/liamjboyle

A huge thank you to Liam J. Boyle for 'taking me in' on this track. I loved the experience, and hope to do it again!

"A Forest" (Gallup | Hartley | Smith | Tolhurst)

Come closer and see
See into the trees
Find the girl
While you can
Come closer and see
See into the dark
Just follow your eyes
Just follow your eyes

I hear her voice
Calling my name
The sound is deep
In the dark
I hear her voice
And start to run
Into the trees
Into the trees

Into the trees

Suddenly I stop
Though I know it's too late
I'm lost in a forest
All alone
The girl was never there
It's always the same
I'm running towards nothing
Again and again and again and again and again and again …



A Forest

Buy on iTunes ...

"A Forest" [a The Cure cover (1980)] [Liam J. Boyle and Michael Ash Sharbaugh]

(Gore [arranged by Sharbaugh and Klevling])
Ivan Klevling [ https://soundcloud.com/ill-dub-productions | https://soundcloud.com/wizardshoes | https://soundcloud.com/dark-korvettes ]: guitars and 'stringed atmospherics'
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: vocals, electronics, drum machines, synthesizers, 'atmospherics,' and found sounds
Composed and Recorded ca. 1990 to January 19, 2019.
sm185 [CB Deep House master] [24WAV].

... the instrumental version:

https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh/blue-dress-ambient-inst

...

Tempo = 65 BPM.

-~-

put it on
and don't say a word
put it on
the one that I prefer
put it on
and stand before my eyes
put it on
please don't question why
can you believe

something so simple
something so trivial
makes me a happy man
can't you understand
say you believe
just how easy
it is to please me

because when you learn
you'll know what makes the world turn

put it on
I can feel so much
put it on
I don't need to touch
put it on
here before my eyes
put it on
because you realise
and you believe

something so worthless
serves a purpose
it makes me a happy man
can't you understand
say you believe
just how easy
it is to please me

because when you learn
you'll know what makes the world turn

Blue Dress [Deep House mix]

Apple Music | iTunes

"Blue Dress" [a Depeche Mode cover (1991)] ['Deep House' mix] - Michael Ash Sharbaugh + WizardShoes

(Idol | Stevens, arr. by Michael Ash Sharbaugh)
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: vocals, synthesizers and sequencer programming, drums and drum machine programming, sampler and sample editing, and 'found sounds'
Billy Gewin [ https://soundcloud.com/billy-gewin ]: bass guitars
Jacob Kersey [ n/a ]: trumpets
Colt Elvis Simmons (C Fo Fifth) [ https://soundcloud.com/cfofifth ]: "breathy gasps" and "hey"; inspiration for mid-section rhythm, 'rap,' and lyrics
Composed and Recorded ca. 1984 to April 17, 2020.
sm167 [eM] [24WAV].

-

"My #ode to Billy Idol and [My Favorite] guitarist, Steve Stevens, took 8 months to complete, and was just released today across the interwebs.

I wish to thank trumpeteer, Jacob Kersey, bassist, Billy Gewin, and Good Friend, Colt Elvis Simmons, for their creative contributions toward this project!

David Grace [ https://soundcloud.com/david-grace-songs ]: thanks for the rap section suggestions!

I am very proud, and highly thankful!"

~ M

-

#eightiesmusic #popsong #eyeswithoutaface #billyidol #stevestevens #michaelashsharbaugh #rebelyell

-

"
I realize she's a siren disguised
her lullaby is injected as her teeth incise
she's highly infectious
she's makin' me feckless
I follow a deathwish when I hear her breath hiss
eyes without a face
her lips do encase
she's like Eve with an apple
'Arsenic and Old Lace'
[yet I'm drinkin' her down]
what's all this fuss 'bout a psychedelic trip
[when she can murder me and still be hip]
I'm so blue --- she's out there
so ... I'll say my prayers
say my prayers
say my prayers
"

DOWNLOAD >

"Eyes Without A Face" [a Billy Idol cover (1984)] - Michael Ash Sharbaugh

(Sharbaugh)
Michael Ash Sharbaugh [ https://soundcloud.com/michael-ash-sharbaugh ]: prepared piano, synthesizer, and electronic percussion
Composed and Recorded ca. May 3, 2013.
DJ 2013MAY02 sm2 [16bit][LANDRlo].

In picking my two notes, I sat in my studio chair and blindly reached over to the keyboard of my synthesizer twice. The first time I reached I touched a G key; the second time, I struck two keys—an A and an A#|B. I had three notes. Thus, I kept the G [392 Hz], and then summed the frequencies in Hertz of the A and the A#|B and divided the result by two, which gave me 453.08 Hz for my second note. Since 453.08 Hz is not part of the usual Western tempered scale, I tuned my synthesizer to the frequency using a signal generator.

I recorded the first note—a G on a prepared piano—and butted it right up to the beginning of my ‘sequence.’ I then wanted to fill the minute, so I time-expanded it by over 600 percent—to exactly the end of the minute. I then copied it and pasted it to a location at around 30 seconds into the piece.

The second note was recorded from a synthesizer—a Korg DW-8000. As soon as the sequence began, I started playing a patch tuned to 453.08 Hz. I held down the note until 58 seconds had elapsed, leaving room for the reverb tail to fill the remaining two seconds.

I combined the notes as directed into one stereo track, leaving the prepared piano dry and adding reverb to the Korg synthesizer.

Careful to be sensitive to the piano’s subtle beats, I listened back to the prepared piano track and added my favorite drum sound—a 909 kick tuned all the way down. I then added a reverse tambourine to punctuate the kick drum, putting it through a random panning plug-in effect, “Orbit.” Next, I solo-ed the DW-8000 drone. The beats in the tone were plainly apparent, enabling me to easily add a bongo played with a drumstick to match them. I added the same reverb to this bongo as was used for the DW-8000 drone. I then bounced the percussion tracks down to one stereo track.

All drums and percussion were added in real time without the use of a sequencer.

I summed the two recorded stems, feeding them through a limiter. This is the result.


More on this 70th Disquiet Junto project, which involves creating a single piece of music from two tones and three beats, at:

http://disquiet.com/2013/05/02/disquiet0070-2tones3beats/

More details on the Disquiet Junto at:

http://soundcloud.com/groups/disquiet-junto/

"Afternoon in the Woods" [disquiet0070-2tones3beats]

POP | SPACEROCK | AMBIENT | EXPERIMENTAL

the PERSON, the SOUND : Michael Ash Sharbaugh is a composer of music and poetry, a lead vocalist and synthesist who hails from Philadelphia, PA. Since 1985, Michael has released hundreds of recordings, but known primarily for his atmospheric pop ("Give Yourself Completely"), jarring spacerock ("Dying in the Killing Jar"), and ambient-experimental works ("Infrastructure," "point65c," "Three Aimless Clouds").

Michael's sound is a synergy of 'darkwave-y' electronica and 'trip-hop-y' psychedelia: bass-laden rhythms form the gravity for his own breathy vocals and his soundscapes of dizzying synths and 'found sounds.' His ambient and experimental musics are soothing, and somewhat 'alien' to the ear: they float and shimmer, meander, and -- more often than not -- haunt.

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the INFLUENCES : Duran Duran, The Weeknd, Blondie, Depeche Mode, Billy Idol + Steve Stevens, Stone Temple Pilots, Dead Can Dance, Siouxsie & The Banshees, This Mortal Coil, Air, Naked Eyes, Tears for Fears, Alice in Chains, John Barry, Leslie Bricusse, The Chameleons [UK], Brian Eno, The Cocteau Twins, ABBA, The Bee Gees, Claude Debussy, Frederick Chopin, Guillaume de Machaut, Early Music, Renaissance music, Baroque music, and Joe Meek.

- + -

#duranduran #theweeknd #blondie #depechemode #billyidol #stevestevens #deadcandance #siouxsieandthebanshees #air #tearsforfears #johnbarry #lesliebricusse #claudedebussy #mauriceravel #frederickchopin #eriksatie #brianeno #thecocteautwins #abba #beegees #joemeek #chameleons #octoberproject #patbenatar #haroldbudd #lindseybuckingham #nakedeyes #aha #ceefarrow #omd #thismortalcoil #stonetemplepilots #aliceinchains #baroque #renaissance #earlymusic #theweeknd

Michael Ash Sharbaugh

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