some ambient and addicting sounds I had forgotten about. listen and forget. forget you listened. let them repeat.

phoenixremix w/ lethaldisk

at the oscillator diner

GRIFFONNE est une de mes créatures imaginaires visuelles et sonores.
GRIFFONNE is one of my visual and sound imaginary creatures.

GRIFFONNE

John Paul Ⅱ

The Ocean - P a b l o | muterial

Composed by Charles Chambaz
Freely inspired by Christmas Songs revisited by me ;)
All instruments, effects are performed, recorded, and mixed by myself.
For more information, see my public Profile
All rights reserved.

Snowman Interlude - Charles Chambaz

Recorded in Modesto, Ca.   Featuring...Gibson 335 Electric Guitar solo. Harmonica solo. Acoustic Piano Rhythm. Baritone Electric Guitar Rhythm. Horn Section, Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Trumpet. Fender Electric Bass Flanging, Fender Electric Bass Regular. Trap Drum set Rock Shuffle. Percussion Tambourine, Cowbell.

Blues City

Clay County Blues

My first song of 2021. Lots of piano, synths, clarinets and bouncy bass. 🎶🎤🎵🎧💕

Heavy

Background

This is my take on an old traditional song. The earliest reference I've discovered is around 1847.  It supposedly had other titles 'The Grinders' and 'The Saddle on the Right Horse'  

It is a vivid description of the lot of Sheffield Grinders, working and often dying early in life due to their trade. The 'Grinding Hull's' mentioned in the lyrics were grim places, full of particles of metal and dust from the grinding wheels. Historical evidence suggests boys were often apprenticed from nine to twelve years of age.

Through my working career I was employed in the Steel Industry engaged in scientistic work and environmental research, quite a bit of it related to occupational health problems, So it is no surprise to me and very fitting that I wanted to get this song recorded. As a Sheffield lad born and bred it connects for me I guess. 

Apparently a version of this traditional song was recorded by 'The Ian Campbell Group' in 1972 and the band 'Afterhours' from their eponymous cassette only album from 1988. After hearing the 'Afterhours' 1988 version, I decided to work up a DADGAD guitar arrangement of my own.  Here is the result.
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Instrumentation and Arrangement

I wanted a simple arrangement for this song as really it's all about the lyrics and overall message. I used a DADGAD guitar tuning and aimed for a strum pattern that hopefully reflects the cyclical rhythmic quality of the grindstones in use.

After the main vocals was recorded I decided a bit of backing vocals would add a bit of extra spice to the overall song. Sometimes voice and guitar is all you really need. :-)
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The Sheffield Grinder (Lyrics around 1847)
**( with small revisions for this version)
(Photograph taken from the Illustrated London News 1866)

The Sheffield grinder's a terrible blade.
Tally ho, the grinder!
'Fore he sets his little 'uns down to trade.
Tally ho, the grinder!
He sets ‘em all down to grind in the hull,
Till their bodies are stunted and their eyes are dull,
And their brains are all dizzy and dazed in their skulls.
Tally ho, the grinder!

He shortens his life and he hastens his death.
Tally ho, the grinder!
And he’ll drink steel dust with every breath.
Tally ho, the grinder!
And he won't wash his hands ‘ere he eats a meal
And he won’t wear a mask as he grinds at his wheel
And he’ll die as he’s lived, as hard as cold steel.
Tally ho, the grinder!

(Instrumental)

The Sheffield grinders of whom we do speak.
Tally ho, the grinder!
Well they’re men who’ll earn just one pound a week.
Tally ho, the grinder!
But of Sheffield grinders another sort
Methinks ought to be called to court,
Aye, and that’s the grinding Government Board.
Tally ho, the grinder!

At whose door lies the blacker blame?
Tally ho, the grinder!
Oh where lies the heavier weight of shame?
Tally ho, the grinder!
Is it the famine-price contractor's head,
Or on the workman who’s under-fed,
And who grinds his own bones and his children’s for bread?
Tally ho, the grinder!

The Sheffield Grinder

Round The Bonfire

remix of and additions to (!) the second half of the epic Mood Exhibit track:
https://soundcloud.com/r-salchaks-mood-exhibit/mood-exhibit-mokyo-lotus