All the recordings in this playlist include at least one track played on a Korg Volca Keys. 

Other instruments used on some tracks include Stylophone S2, Nord Electro 3, iPad autoharp app, electric upright bass, bass guitar and programmed drums and percussion.

All tracks arranged, programmed, performed and produced by Simon Beck. All material composed by Simon Beck except "Popcorn", composed by Gershon Kingsley.

Recordings using Korg Volca Keys

Lazy 2nd Max, with Simon Beck on Electric Piano

1960s-style secret agent theme. Organ, Mellotron strings, synth, lead bass guitar, autoharp, double bass, Latin percussion.

Organ and Mellotron strings: Nord Electro 3
Autoharp: iPad app
Double bass: Stagg EDB 3/4
Lead bass guitar: Encore Precision copy
Synth: Korg Volca Keys

One Of Our Agents

Duke Of Earl Bogdon

An experimental composition using synchronised sequences whose lengths are derived from prime numbers; 3, 5, 7, 11 and 13. The sequences are fragments of a C Major scale, all ending on the same highest note. 

Past My Prime

Another experimental piece based on prime numbers, The notes of a C7 chord (C, E, G, Bb and C') are repeated with spaces forming sequences of 3, 5, 7, 11 and 13 beats respectively, weaving a complex pattern that seldom repeats exactly.

Programmed using a Korg Volca Keys synthesisier and recorded on a Fostex MR-8 digital multi-track.

Primal Dance

A cover of Gershon Kingsley's iconic instrumental "Popcorn", played using sounds from a Korg Volca Keys synthesiser and a drum track programmed and arranged on a computer.

Popcorn

this is my custom made signature one string bass.

Exorcist (one-string bass)

A blues improvisation... with a couple of Korg Volca Keys synths thrown in! The Wurlitzer piano is from a Nord Electro 3, the bass is a Stagg electric upright and the drums were programmed in HammerHead 1.0.

Volca Shuffle

Lead synth with portamento and pedal wah, backed by 1980s drum machine, random-filtered polysynth loop, and fretless bass.

Drums: Yamaha RX-21
Backing synth: Yamaha Reface CS, processed via Behringer Crave
Lead synth: Behringer Neutron with control pedal
Bass: Squier P-Bass Special with removable fretless fingerboard

Solid Fluid

Backing sequence: Stylophone DS-2 
Drums and sync pulse: RD-6 
Synth brass: Yamaha Reface CS
Strings: Behringer Solina
Wind-synth: Stylophone DS-2 
Bass: Stagg electric upright. 

The title means "Seize the moment" in Latin.


Carpe Momentum

Recorded entirely using a Korg Volca Keys, The bass line is a sequence recorded in Poly mode, allowing me to improvise over it using up to two notes at a time, I recorded the bass/steel drum/marimba onto my Fostex MR-8, with the Volca synced to the Fostex's MIDI output. I then recorded Volca loops for first the cowbell sound, playing four-to-the-bar and then the woodblock sound playing a clave rhythm, again synced to the Fostex. The last overdub was an improvised whistle/flute part using portamento. No external processing was used, and all parts were played using the Volca's built-in keyboard, 

VolCalypso

A tribute to the Beach Boys (and other surf bands). Music, lyrics, arrangement, all instruments and vocals by Simon Beck.

I got a '52 Woody with a surfboard tied to the roof
(Surf, surf, baby I can't surf)
But it's made outta cardboard; it ain't even waterproof
(Surf, surf, baby I can't surf)
And ev'ryone else knows how to hang ten,
Ride a pipeline and do it again
I don't know
How
To 
Surf!
Well, I'm wearin' my baggies and it looks like I'm catchin' a wave
(Surf, surf, baby I can't surf)
But I don't wanna drown and end up in a watery grave
(Surf, surf, baby I can't surf)
It's a surfin' safari for everyone
But I ain't havin' no fun, fun, fun
I don't know
How
To Surf!
(instrumental)
I don't know
How
To Surf!
Here comes the surfing instructor, she's cute and she knows how to teach
(Surf, surf, baby I can't surf)
And I'm the only one who needs surfing lessons right here on the beach.
(Surf, surf, baby I can't surf)
If she starts giving me surfing lessons right now
It'll take all summer for me to learn how.
I don't know
How
To
Surf!
(Surf, surf, baby I can't surf) to fade

I Don't Know How To Surf

https://grahamkartna.bandcamp.com/album/tmp2
https://open.spotify.com/album/04JNRIRvf7Bvp8nbSWWMKE

scratchingMyEarsLikeACat TMP


This is a new release by Adie and Cam from We Happy Few. Their fourth album 'More Empty Boxes' is a stripped back acoustic project, bringing blues music back to its roots, with a contemporary spin on the genre. It feature's the playing and writing of two members of the full band and is a follow on for their 2010 release 'Empty Boxes'. These simple yet effective arrangements mix slide and finger style guitar with ukulele, double bass, and baritone vocals. It is also available for download on Amazon and Cdbaby. Thanks for listening!
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/more-empty-boxes/id580461523
http://cdbaby.com/cd/wehappyfewacoustic
http://www.amazon.com/More-Empty-Boxes/dp/B00ABL8HLC
http://wehappyfew.co.uk/

05 City Blues

Another Baroque-style improvisation, this time using two Behringer semi-modular synths, a Neutron and a Crave, patched together to create a 3-oscillator, two-filter monophonic system, with the resulting sound fed into the Neutron's analogue delay to provide incidental harmonies.

Gavotte

This song's nearly done! (even if the mix is still a little sloppy and hard to listen to).
I've been busy working on my new home's acoustics and will be building a silent PC before I get too scrutinous with my mixes though.

I've been posting my music and animation's progress on my Patreon if you fancy a visit! https://www.patreon.com/HarveyRothman

Scampish Scampi v2.0

I'm a self-taught multi-instrumentalist living in London, England. My main instruments are keyboards, bass guitar and double bass, but I also play electric and acoustic guitars, ukulele, 6-string banjo and chromatic harmonica, and I will have a go at anything else that makes a noise.

My musical roots are in the Blues, but my recordings range in style from country to punk to experimental, with bits of funk, jazz and retro movie soundtrack thrown in. And hopefully a bit of humour...

VolCalypso

Simon Beck 3

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