DAW: Ableton Live + various plugins. 

Core building blocks of the track are:

1) the bassline - an Ableton synth bass patch with a Massive ditto overlaid (both filter modulated and tweaked slightly with some warming distortion.   
2) The electric piano sound, which has been created in Max for Live's Granulator using a mate's vocal sample + EQ'ed
3) A vocal sample from a a sample CD, which has simply been transposed. Very little FX using on the vox, except for the occasional send to a delay channel 

In the case of the chorus,  the follwing are core components: 

1) Cheesy DX7 (FM8) strings for a bit of melancholy 
2) Arps - a key component on many of my tracks. Can't honestly remember the plug-in initially used, but it's certainly been re-sampled a number of times over and even overlaid with a double-speed version, which was cut up to fit in 
3) An 808 hit pitching down and a Massive synth patch, which I discovered interacted quite nicely with the 808  sound 

In terms of the feel I was after, there was no masterplan - the track was constructed over a long period of time. A second iteration of the track was scrapped after much effort and the track was returned to the fairly simple starting point that is also much closer to what "Spoons" sounds like now.

Personally, I like the contrasts contained within the track - stuttery and relatively unforgiving beat, simple section carried almost exclusively by the voice sample and then a more elaborate chorus where the synths are layered on thick.

The cover was created by Dan Buckley and although it still works, it obviously was even better when the track was submitted to the good people at CDR as a WIP! 

Spoons

If like me you're wondering what happened to the brilliant Lassi Nikko a.k.a. Brothomstates, then this one's for you. At least as cool as a pair of ripped jeans and with a sample of someone deeply intellectual thrown in for good measure. Amen.

Lassi Nikko Where Are You?

Cowbell Concerto

Don Guerra

New Signs of Life

Alien Intelligences

Del Boy

Sonido del Sureste

One from the back of the Mikkelsen audio cupboard to kick start a hopefully more productive 2016. Some would say there's two tracks contained within this one and they may well be right. 

Pærevælling

Fresh version of, dare I say, my most liked track. Torn out of its original Boards of Canadaesque surrounding and thrown into a cosmic world a la heroes Lindstrom & Prins Thomas.

Raumschiff Enterprise (2011 edit)

Fellow fearless producer Tom's brief was a simple one: do anything you like within the allocated 180minutes, but the only weapon in your arsenal is the TAL UNO-LX. That's right, no effects, no other plugins, just this nice little Juno 60 emulation. I must have used about 40-50 instances of the plug in on this track. It was just one of those cases of it needing (?) layer upon layer. Whilst it sounds slow and building, it's actually fast at 140bpm. Hope you enjoy!

Juno Ad Libitum

Create a cover version of any number 1 single from the 90s, from any country.

It could be an acoustic cover, such as on a guitar or piano, or the cover version could be electronic, or a combination of both.

This is not a remix challenge. As is tradition with cover versions, the original song needs to be identifiable in it to the average listener (but it doesn’t have to be identical, or the same genre, or feature the same instruments). No sampling the original.

Vocals would be amazing if possible, it could be you or someone else singing, or instrumental is fine.

Extra credit to those who choose a single that isn't too similar in genre to your normal output.

Animal Nitrate (MSOM version)

Raumschiff Enterprise

Rude Audio - Pipeline Screaming (MSOM Remix)

Ali Renault - Forbidden Mind (MSOM Remix)

Buy on Bandcamp

These Are The Faces

Probably Better Technology (Ali Renault Remix)

Electronica from Margate via Scandinavia. Founder of 180-minute production challenge collective / DIY label @TheFearlessFew and co-curator at Margate Electronics

All enquiries: fearlessfew2020@gmail.com

Michael son of Michael

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