Song: No Good  
Written by: Heart Collector 
Artist: Heart Collector - Vocals, Lead, Guitar, Drum
Artist: Tainted Icarus - Bass

Production : DLM, Jeff M. , Chris S.

Notes:
Super excited about this piece and with the opportunity to work with such a talented local artist.  I got a chance to take in a couple of his live shows and the wow factor is there in both arenas. 

I have heard some of the things this gentlemen has in store and if you are a fan of AIC or a fan of bands from that era...man does this guy have some stuff that is going to get your attention.  

Peace and love my brothers and sisters! 


Revision #:  1G A 1 C 1 MIX RX Thtn Analog MS

No Good

No Good (By Heart Collector)

Lyrics:
You speak of love as if you know.
And touched by gods as you go.
The pain of hands as they land.
Inflicted by your lovers hand.

Fuck the one who loves to hurt you.
And fuck you cause you care.
And fuck me cause I'm stupid.
Cause I'm the one who is still here.

Fuck the one who loves to hurt you.
And fuck you cause you care.
And fuck me cause I'm stupid.
Cause I'm the one who is still here.

You tell stories so hard to believe.
Depths of pain with no relief.
The sacred things you must endure.
To keep yourself in line and pure.

Fuck the one who loves to fuck you.
And fuck you cause you care.
And fuck me cause I'm stupid.
Cause I'm the one who is still here.

Fuck the one who loves to hurt you.
Fuck you cause you care.
And fuck me cause I'm stupid.
Cause I'm the one that is still here.

Notes: 
This track starts out on Skype with the three of us sharing a drink and Jay pulling up his guitar and sharing his idea for a bass line.  I proceed to work on it and next call I send him a couple of revisions.  

Jay says "no, I mean like this"...my response was did you just Dave Grohl me? You could see the look of horror in his eyes as he begins processing what was said... I busted out laughing as I knew what he meant...but couldn't resist the opportunity to for a little mischief.  

We started this out trying to capture a bit of a NIN'ish type of vibe with the bass being the central focus driving the track.  We all jumped around to new positions on this one...and pushed boundaries.  

I think that is the musical binding that ties The Welcome Parade together.  It is that no one says I am this and only this.  

I hope when you listen to this you can feel that friendship and inclusiveness.  The subject matter on this track is dark and perhaps difficult to see the unity behind the scenes.  At least in part that is always why I put in some notes. 

Peace and love brothers and sisters! 

Track Info - Fuck 2 G 1 A 3 MS 2 RX OZ

Fuck

Fuck (by The Welcome Parade)

Happy New Year from The Welcome Parade!!

We hope 2022 will be the start of something quite exceptional for everyone.  I think we are all due a bit of a respite from the current state of affairs! 

Lyrics:
I'm moving slow and steady
wind your watch here comes the ready
looking so unsteady
I think you had enough already

Time is slowly finding time to leave you without time
now you've seen the time you've taken was you're own decline

1234

I'm moving slow and steady
wind your watch here comes the ready
looking so unsteady
I think you had enough already

4321


The Welcome Parade is proud to release our first two tracks of 2022

The Ready - This piece starts with our usual Skype call and some drinks, after a few rounds and a lack of focus that requires another call. The next call we dedicate to getting the music business accomplished before we drift off topic. First on the list to complete is "The Ready" a heavy piece that has a unique frenzy to it.  

Edges with a bit of fury and finesse,  Jay's tense vocal work pushes this beautifully in the punk direction.  Perhaps something you might encounter in a Tarantino movie...preferably one with Selma Hayek in it! Thom with his top shelf fret board dancing, creates a complex texture that keeps you on the edge of your seat.  Finally Jeff keeping the piece grounded with some pounding bass work! 

On a final note...this track gets me off the hook for a request made to me by Jay's bride!  To have Jay perform something as an Englishman!  Huzzah and mission accomplished! 

Not Today - See "Not Today"

I hope one day the world looks at us and says...we got to get these guys together!  If not I am just very happy to have a couple of friends with a musical connection that exists as something so natural, it is difficult to keep the components separate, to realize where one ends and another begins. 

You guys rock and I am so glad to have you as friends and musical companions...rock on mi amigos!

The Ready

The Ready (by The Welcome Parade)

Happy New Year from The Welcome Parade!!

We hope 2022 will be the start of something quite exceptional for everyone.  I think we are all due a bit of a respite from the current state of affairs! 

Lyrics:
I can feel the fire living in the rain
Pay witness to the pleasure hiding in the pain

To hear the craziness of those that you deem sane
A circle left unbroken we'll travel once again

If not today, maybe tomorrow… 
If not for joy, maybe for sorrow…
If not to lead then maybe to follow…
If not to steal then maybe to borrow…

To feel as broken, as I seem to be
All surrendered out my friend, embracing my defeat

The mirror changes nothing except the point view
A gap, a hole,  a thing that takes my place,  takes my place with you

If not today, maybe tomorrow… 
If not for joy, maybe for sorrow…
If not to lead then maybe to follow…
If not to steal then maybe to borrow…

If not for joy, maybe for sorrow…



The Welcome Parade is proud to release our first two tracks of 2022

The Ready -  See "The Ready"

Not Today - This ones development followed a different path than what normally happens in our band.  As usual it starts on Skype...ends up discarded to the "we will get to that later" pile.  The melody however simply refuses to leave my(Jeff's) head.  I string together a rough rhythm guitar track and send it off to the crew and say in the email....this is what this is about for me and I am compelled to finish this. 

Thom sends back a written chorus....and what a chorus it is.  I do a quick performance and once I can hear the thoughts in real time... the verses slide right out of my head on to paper.   Jay moves to the Rhythm guitar, Jeff to lead vocal and bass,  Thom on the lead and aux & rhythm guitar work.

Normally in development the drums and bass get locked in first so everyone can grab on to the vibe once its all figured out.  In this case...the bass was the last instrument to be figured out.  It was a wonderful opportunity to play off my band mates with the bass.  There are times where I rotated to the speakers and imagine my friends in studio/stage across from me as I start digging deeper on the bass.  Something I don't always get to enjoy but something so seductive to feel! 

I hope one day the world looks at us and says...we got to get these guys together!  If not I am just very happy to have a couple of friends with a musical connection that exists as something so natural, it is difficult to keep the components separate, to realize where one ends and another begins. 

You guys rock and I am so glad to have you as friends and musical companions...rock on mi amigos!

2022

Not Today

Not Today (by The Welcome Parade)

A lot could be said about this track...but suffice to say...I managed to pull together a top notch crew and we did something that makes me feel...well like a rocker.

Chris S. Guitar. Lead Vocals.
Al Z. Rhythm Guitar
Thom Dust. Lead Guitar 
Jeff M. Bass, Production.

This is a high water mark for my journey...I don't necessarily need you to understand it...but perhaps just pay witness to it!  

Much love my friends

Left To Drown (Feat. Chris. S, AL'Z & Thom Dust)

The Tear, a song written by one of Sound Cloud's very own, Behold The Sludge(BTS).  BTS is an incredibly talented individual.  When not knee deep in projects you can typically find me obsessing about his works and making a mess of his comment section.    

I approached BTS about re-mixing The Tear and he graciously opened up the doors and let me walk in and make a mess of everything.  I am deeply honored to have gotten an opportunity to play on and re-imagine The Tear.

I can't thank you enough BTS for opening your art up to me.  I would encourage all my fellow Sound Cloud brothers and sisters to stop by BTS's profile and check out his other works.  A word of warning BTS and Prought Thocess teamed up for a viral number call "After Doomsday"  click at your own risk,  that track is so infectious that spouses everywhere are taking notice!!!!  

https://soundcloud.com/beholdthesludge/tracks

Credits:
Original Song: Behold The Sludge 

Vocals & Guitar: Behold The Sludge
Guitar & Bass: Tainted Icarus
Mixing & Mastering: Tainted Icarus

P.S.  Thank you BTS for everything man...as you already know huge fan of what you do brother!!

The Tear - Remix

The Tear - By Behold The Sludge - Remix

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZEZnxZzhMw
Mix & Master Update: 12/17/2017

A salute to you Sound Cloud artists who aren't afraid to say something with a song.  You have ruined my ability to enjoy commercial radio and I thank you for that... keep writing, singing, yelling and rocking.  

Lyrics included below

Lyrics:

Verse:
Another dreary day
In this life of mine
Obscuring the details
And the truth's so hard to find

Looking for a way
To escape the haze
But these fuckers have locked me up
Inside the maze

Chorus:
An I'm a sludge whore, yes its true
Simply opened up my mind, to a different point of view

And now I'm coming, for you and you and you
Revolutions under way, it's time to choose

Verse:
Henry Rollins - and let them be stuck with their Nicklebacks and the Rascal Flats, fuck, you can have em and the poor kids that get suckered into that musical miasma.  I tried to help...we played really loud....you could've listened. 

Man how they dance
Ohh and how they sing
And prance around up on the stage
But don't say a god damn thing

Chorus:
An I'm a sludge whore, yes its true
Opened up my mind, for a different point of view

And now I'm coming, for you and you and you
Revolution under way, it's time to choose


Verse:
Steve Albini - as a consumer of music, as a fan...when a band is thrust at me in this fashion and wiggled in front of me like a severed head...then...it makes... makes me hate them.  

Enlightenment for sale
If you can pay the fare
And if you can't they burn it down
Without a care

Chorus:
And I'm a sludge whore, yes its true
Simply opened up my mind, to a different point of view

And now I'm coming, for you and you and you
A revolutions under way, it's time to choose

Sludgewhores

Sludgewhore

Desecrated by Tainted Icarus
Featuring the wise words of Chief Oren Lyons 

This is a piece dedicated to Sam Prock's(https://soundcloud.com/samprock) Climate Change Challenge.  A noise with purpose what could be better.  In constructing this piece I broke a few rules, a little experimental and out of my comfort zone.

The vocals are a speech from Chief Oren Lyons about climate change.  He was remembering a elder meeting from his youth.  Reciting Louie Badwound's address to the elders.. and how from his own perspective much of what Louie wanted the elders to do has come to pass.  

Lyrics:

Put our medicine together  he says and bring them rain and flood em out
Bring the fires and burn em
Bring the wind, our grandfathers
We can do it
They'll never listen until they have to suffer

Destroying the greater part of Earth's civilization yourself
Destroying yourself

Put our medicine together he says and bring them rain and bring the fire 
Our brother brought it himself
It's here now
The fire he's talking about is here and burning right now
The wind he's talking about is just beginning

There is no mercy in nature,  none

There is no mercy in nature,  no mercy

Has only law
Only rule
You don't abide the rule
You suffer the result

Destroying yourself 


Climate Change -  In my world...we live such short spans of time... its hard to really know anything for sure.  So maybe there is some room for interpretation on the data... but regardless here are the truths of my short may fly existence. 

People were using to much leaded gasoline that it was poisoning the food chain,  the meat, fish and grain.  So we had to get rid of it to keep ourselves healthy.  

People used so many aerosol spray cans,  that it began to destroy the ozone layer.  We had to stop to prevent further damage. 

The ocean used to be filled with all the fishes we liked to eat.  Now they are getting harder to find.

So with my limited knowledge and logic, yeah.. I think the people on this planet can change the climate by their actions...because they already have done it 3 other times in just a single, yet unfinished life time.

You can only have a legacy.. if the species survives.
Peace and Love Tainted Icarus.

Desecrated

Is It Real 
By: Tainted Icarus

Lyrics & Notes:

Lyrics: 
Is this really happening?
Well isn't that gonna work out well for everyone.

With all the bullshit going on, you mean to tell me this is the best we can do?
There's something fucking wrong with you then.

I keep on hoping that I am gonna wake up from this dream any minute
Have a good laugh.
Think well that was kind of funny wasn't it?
But you know what,  I keep waking up and I'm not laughing anymore.

One way ticket to an unknown destination. 
Well they say,  fact is stranger than fiction.
Guess sometimes there's no arguing with the old adage.
And I am really not sure what the hell that even means.


Is it, is it real

It'd be nice if it were just a dream.
Then we could all wake up together have a good laugh.
And think to ourselves well we ain't never gonna let that happen again are we?

This is another reality
It kind of bothers me that's what it is
Has me questioning things
Looking inside 
Trying to understand what it all means

I guess this one question keeps coming up

Is any of this real?

One more time on the merry go round
Enjoy it while it lasts
One more for the road I guess

Maybe there's some hope,  then again,  maybe not

Is it, is it  real
Is it, is it  real


Notes:
What's a song without a story behind it?  The last week and a half I have had a lot of long detailed conversations with a local studio owner/musician. It has been a very enlightening time and filled with new ideas and revelations.  

Part of our conversation lead to modern engineering techniques to get large bottom end tracks...which is where this song comes in.  We listened to a couple of songs and discussed how they might be achieving those results.  We started exchanging information and viola about 3 different experimental ways to possibly get to that point.  

When we finished our discussion each of us had a path to Rome.  Mine is trying to squeeze everything out of a single bass instrument...but keeping it in a single bass track... or the path of the purist. 

My friend had the path of engineering perfectionist...splitting, compression, multiple passes with various gear...synth augmentation etc.

This exchange has advanced my understanding 6-8 months.  Allowing me to bypass an entire stage of trial and error.  We traded knowledge and we both gained something from the exchange. 

So without further ado here is my attempt to squeeze every ounce of energy out of the bass track and produce as fat a bottom as I can muster.   

Peace and Love - TI

Is It Real

Visions

Music written, performed by The Old School - https://soundcloud.com/ldchool
Lyrics written, performed by Tainted Icarus

Mix & Master:
	Music: The Old School
	Vocals: Tainted Icarus

Producer:
	The Old School & Tainted Icarus

Lyrics:
Can't you see the world I see
And tormented by the things that can't be

These are the visions I see
The ones you won't believe

A scream that you, will never hear
A terror that you, will never fear
From a life that you, will never know

These are the visions I see
The ones you won't believe
These are the visions I see

Notes:
Some months ago I ran across this beautiful piece by The Old School.  A line had started forming for people to write and sing on it understandably.   Fast forward about 5 or 6 months and I was on TOS profile and I see his re-mastered version of the track with no vocal work.  What a stroke of luck and after my mixing session on Saturday,  I decided it was time to quench my creative thirst on a fantastic piece of music. 

Musically the piece was perfect. The only instrument the piece needed was a voice and the words.  It's the one instrument that I am the least comfortable using.  John however had forced my hand and if I wanted to be a part of this it was the only spot available.  

So I put my heart and voice into it and this is where we ended up.  I reached out and John came back with a couple of minor tweaks and viola. 

The Old School (John) is a fantastic musician and producer.  I have a profound respect for his ability to get really rich sounds out of a track.  Highly recommend if you have a few minutes stopping by and supporting his efforts... you won't be disappointed. 

Peace and love brothers and sisters of the cloud
Jeff

Visions

Visions - Collab - The Old School & Tainted Icarus

I'd Die Tomorrow

Credits - 
Song writers: Deadlover80 (https://soundcloud.com/deadlover80), ThomDust (https://soundcloud.com/ask0the0dust)  
If you get a chance head on over to their profiles and share the love. 

Artwork: ThomDust

Music: 
Vocals & Guitar: Deadlover80
Lead, Bass & Drums: Tainted Icarus

Mix and Master:  Tainted Icarus, Deadlover80
Production: Deadlover80, Tainted Icarus

Lyrics:
I could not see you cry through all of the tears 
I could not see hear you cry through all of the jeers 
I could not see you there because you got in the way 
I was too busy living fast to hear them say 

I'd die tomorrow

Poor Henry Chinaski 
Too drunk to read the words that he wrote 

Ain't that the way

I could not see you cry through all of the tears 
I could not see hear you cry through all of the jeers 
I could not see you there because you got in the way 
I was too busy living fast to hear them say 

I'd die tomorrow

Poor Henry Chinaski 
Too drunk to read the words that he wrote 

Ain't that the way

I'd die tomorrow

Notes:
Spoke with some one and they said "hey man,  too much typing".  Sad but probably true.  

First and foremost I want to take a moment to say thank you Jay(Deadlover80).  You have endured months of weekly updates and have been a fantastic production partner though the whole thing.  I have enjoyed every minute of it.  Honored to have your back for another great song.  Love what you do my friend!

Inspiration projects are a flash in the pan, they resolve quickly and are done before you know it. Sometimes its a crafting project and those can take a while to get through.  What we had here was a crafting project that started back in Feb 2017.  

Jay sent over the central riff and vocals and we set terms.  We agreed that this run we should push to move the bar forward.  I am sure there are moments Jay was at his wits end with me as a result

Recordings were rejected and re-done over and over looking to capture the right moment.  My recording track counts are in the hundreds in an effort to nail a take that made me say, yeah that is the right one.

Some stuff was crafted stitched in and then dropped,  things that originally sounded great until things got tightened up....then it was back to practice and recording.  In the end Jay and Thom crafted a song that deserved a musicians sweat and honesty.  We drove hard to deliver that. The cutting room floor is littered with sessions that required too much editing, were the wrong vibe, parts that just weren't going to fit.

Finally the central theme that ran through this project and I feel really good about, comes from an early conversation Jay and I had about re-recording.  "It's art, not a race, keep going until you have right take."  Think that pretty much sums up this project for me and I hope that is the feel that comes across on your side of the paper cone. 

 It's not perfect,  it however feels right and I think when it is all said and done... that's the thing that really matters. 

I hope this inspires you to learn about Bukowski's works yourself if you haven't discovered them.     
Peace and love my brothers and sisters of the cloud!
Tainted Icarus

I'd Die Tomorrow

I'd Die Tomorrow By DeadLover80 & ThomDust

Heat, Drown...Die!!

Credits -
Vocals - Behold The Sludge (https://soundcloud.com/beholdthesludge)
Guitar  - DeadLover80 (https://soundcloud.com/deadlover80)
Bass & Lead - Tainted Icarus
Percussion - Mother Nature 
(If you have a few minutes to spare stop by their profile and share the love)

Mix and Master -
Tainted Icarus

Production - 
Everyone

Lyrics -

Heat Drown and Die

Notes -
@omcb posted a track that turned me on to this project and I thought to myself no better use of the noise than to talk about the things that matter.

The central core of the track is the sound of melting icebergs and glaciers calving, sounds were recorded in the Antarctic Weddell Sea by scientists from the Alfred-Wegener-Institute.. Sounds provided www.icebergsongs.com. The project is run by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Mother Nature reigns supreme on this track, mostly kept the sounds she made intact and sculpted ours around it.  Broke a few rules and we are running heavy with low end energy.  In the raw wave forms of the glaciers calving there are some really cool things to see...weird oscillations and rhythmic pulses. 

Normally I keep myself out of publicly saying anything... that old saying about opinions being like a**h****...everybody has one.  

This topic however it's near and dear to my heart.  Others may see it differently and if that is you... then I can offer you these alternative meanings for the song. 

1.  Song is about cooking lobsters. - Sea food chef who enjoys his work a little more than is allowed. 
2. Song is about intimate relations.  

Heat, Drown...Die!!  is acknowledging the domino effect of an event.. one leading to the other.  The heat causes - (something, Drown could be replaced with, war, famine, plague etc.) which leads to the end result.  The origin, the path and the destination.   

To help me get to the finish line, reached out to a couple of friends on the cloud.

Behold The Sludge and DeadLover80,  just wanted to take a moment and say thank you gentlemen you made this possible.   

The legendary Sludge on the microphone with a scream that can only be described as soul piercing.  A fantastic add brother and happy to share the stage with you again. Big fan of what you do my friend and you are exactly the voice this track needed.

DeadLover80 manning the rhythm guitar... his heavy handed riffing was just the thing the song needed to power up.  Happy to share the stage with you again my friend and really it was exactly what the track needed to come to life. 

A million thanks you two and know that I deeply appreciate the effort. You guys kicked some serious tail and a 5 day run time on a collaboration is something awesome to experience.. Tip of the hat gentlemen!!!

Peace and love my brothers and sisters of the cloud
Tainted Icarus.

Heat, Drown...Die!!

Heat, Drown..Die!! - Collaboration (Behold The Sludge, DeadLover80)

Same Mistake 

Concept/Open - This track is available without vocals on Al's profile if you want to take a stab at what we were trying to do,  or maybe something completely different. The project was in vocal development when we ran out of time.  All assets and rights have been released to Al'Z to manage. 

DeadLover80: Vocals ( https://soundcloud.com/deadlover80 )
AL'Z: Lead Guitar ( https://soundcloud.com/alzzed )
Tainted Icarus: Backing Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Drum programming

Honorable mentions: David Vazquez ( https://soundcloud.com/david_vazquez )

Mix & Master: Tainted Icarus/Dark Light Music

Lyrics:

The impasse is reached
No where left to go
Back up against the wall
I thought you'd like to know

Tempers are flaring
The wounds run deep
And when the blood starts flowing 
The talk don't seem so cheap

Can you hear me
Reaching out for you

Trying to connect the dots
Between our opposing point of view

You love me, you love me not
What difference does it make

When were stuck on an endless loop
Of repeating, of repeating

The same mistake
The same mistake

Notes: 
Welcome to my first producer failure.. deadlines can be such cruel task masters.  While a bitter pill to swallow.. part of learning anything new, is failing at it...embrace it, learn from it and dust yourself off and get back into the fray. 

This was originally going to be a competition track and it failed to come together before the competition dead line.  Long story short, I have some other things going on and started prepping the track to be archived (aka: The place my songs seem to go to die).  I kept the unmarked mp3 on my desktop and would occasionally click play to figure out what it was.  When I would hear it and think...f**k,  that's to friggin cool to be left like this.  

So talked it over with Al and decided to finish the demo with the pieces available and AL would release our full completed instrumental track under creative commons for others to finish, rewrite, remix. 

This demo is the direction I was pushing the track to go as the producer. Where you choose to go with it....well that is squarely in your own two hands.  

You can find the full instrumental track here:
https://soundcloud.com/alzzed/same-mistake-full-instrumental

YouTube video of me practicing the bass here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgJfpDFauhw

Remainder of the lyrics (unfinished)
Verse 2
When all these harsh words are spoken
The damage is done
It's a scorched earth campaign
With no where left to run

Verse section or something cool like key solo

Chorus 2
But can you hear me
I'm reaching out to you
Trying to build a bridge
Between our opposing points of view

You love me you love me not
What difference does it make
When we're stuck in an endless loop
Of repeating,  of  repeating

The same mistake
The same mistake

Same Mistake

Same Mistake - (Concept/Open)

Hate Reigns

Credits -

Song Writing: Linnon, Bonetender, Tainted Icarus
Art: Linnon

Vocals & Keys: Linnon ( https://soundcloud.com/linnon )
Lead Guitar: Bonetender ( https://soundcloud.com/bonetender )
Rhythm, Bass & Beat: Tainted Icarus ( https://soundcloud.com/taintedicarus )

Mix & Master: Tainted Icarus

Lyrics - 

Go and tell your master, that I've arrived
And never you mind the deep red stains

And do as your told as the story slowly unfolds and
its really best if you don't complain

Hate Reigns
Hate Reigns

Oh its plain to see, why it is you needed me
something about a lack of spine

Oh but you seem a little dense, running low on the common sense
I'll bet its all gonna work out fine


Hate Reigns
Hate Reigns

Open doors, invite me in, every situation sink or swim
and really let your hate run free

I'm every thing you need to know I'm with you where ever you go
Blind you to the things you need to see

I'm every thing you need to know I'm with you where ever you go
Blind you to the things you need to see

Hate Reigns
Hate Reigns
Hate Reigns
Hate Reigns

Notes:
Welcome to the conclusion of project 812 an Alt Rock/EDM fusion attempt.  Arguably one of the most challenging projects I have run to date.  A wonderfully talented crew to run with and everyone slotted into a strong suit.  

I think we found something cool at the end of the path here.  If you get a chance stop by and check out some of their other works.  Bonetender, Linnon just wanted to send a thank you out into the ether for a job well done!

Hate Reigns

Hate Reigns (Linnon, Bonetender)

Greed
By Tainted Icarus

Lyrics:
Open my eyes
Only to find
I've been lost in the race
And left somewhere behind

I reach out for you
But there's no reaching back
Gotta keep your place in line
For the pat on the back

For the greediness and all the pain it brings
The quiet and hidden hands pulling all the strings
For decadent piles of collected things
And my silent acquiescence and what that means

Just no telling what this means
You keep on collecting shit that ain't worth a hill of beans
And you keep on saying it's worth its weight in gold
And I keep on questioning the bill of goods that you've been sold

For the greediness and all the pain it brings
The quiet and hidden hands pulling on the strings
For decadent piles of collected things
And your silent acquiescence and what that means

For the greediness and all the pain it brings
The quiet and hidden hands pulling on the strings
For decadent piles of collected things
Our silent acquiescence and what means

Special thanks to:
Bill from November Sound for your time and ears...as always my friend a total respect for your talents!

Notes: 

If you are here for the second time a deep thank you.  Someone asked how far I thought I could push this track on the production end.... here is my answer and challenge accepted.  I ended pulling the track to see how close to Stone Temple Pilot's - Sour Girl I could get.  

What a ride it has been as I delved into new things and endless moments of frustration.  If Tainted Icarus were a group of other people and I was doing their mixing,  I would have choked them all at least once.  Organic, dynamic and each of them powering up their performances...but damn does that make for some difficult mixing. 

Sour Girl is a dark, heavily compressed and tricked out track...plus some killer low end

At the end of the day or weeks in this case I pushed, pulled prodded, twisted and worked with no limitations.... yeah... maybe you shouldn't use an EQ like that... but if it seemed to get me closer away I went. 

A lot of dead ends and dark, lifeless tracks as I pushed...

Something important still eludes me and I think it may be something analog.  The slight pitch shifts and elongated/slurring of the drum track and Scott's vocal tonal shift are a clue... tape brake? tape machine? reel size?  I could go on and on.  

A fun and demanding engineering project and forced me into learning more about the tools of the craft.  

Always about moving the ball forward!

With today's final print and bringing the project to a close.  I got close enough to be proud of what I achieved.  Sour Girl is peak STP and peak era of big budget productions.  Difficult to say the least and certainly a bit outgunned... but the challenge is how I learn best and there is always next time.

I hope when you hear Greed you enjoy it, you hear the hours of labor spent at the dead ends... hours spent trying to tweak a second of the track to fall in line with the theme.  It's not perfect.... but nothing I ever work on is going to be.  Its about inviting you into the space where the music was made and to share the moments captured. 

Peace and love my brothers and sisters
Tainted Icarus

Greed

STFG - Open Collab
by Tainted Icarus
Bass & Programmed Drums
BPM: 94

Groove Surfers:

Divided Fingers: ( https://soundcloud.com/user-888204745/stfg-jamming-with-tainted-icarus )Cinematic with swagger!
Tainted Icarus: ( https://soundcloud.com/taintedicarus/groove-surfing )Grungy


Notes: 
There are so many people on the cloud that I would love to collaborate with this year.  Here it is already the end of April so I thought maybe an open collaboration jam session with the low end of Tainted Icarus might be just the thing to make some of these happen.  

STFG - Surf This Funky Groove or Surf The Fu**ing Groove,  I am okay with either name, is a another "Naked Inspiration" type of jam track.  

My inspiration for this track is a track by Stone Temple Pilots, called Press Play ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkYVo0wgLq4 ).  I can loop that piece over and over,  it is just a fantastic groove and at the end I am always left wanting more.  So I wanted to craft something makes me feel that way, can stand on its own...but to leave room for anyone who wants to jam it out with me.  

Downloads enabled and if you do something with it, PM or drop a link in the comments would love to hear what you do with it.

STFG

STFG - Open Collab

As I Am

Written by: Deadlover(@deadlover80), Thomdust (@ask0the0dust), Tainted Icarus (@taintedicarus)

Art Work by: Thomdust

Performed by:
Deadlover: Vocals, Backing Vocals, Guitar
ThomDust: Lead, Guitar
Tainted Icarus: Backing Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Drum Programming

Mixed & Mastered by: Tainted Icarus

Produced by: Deadlover, ThomDust & Tainted Icarus

Lyrics:

As I am
As you are
As we were
Till we fell apart

As I am
As you are
As we were
But we fell so far

You will take me as I am
No more breaking
No mistaking
No more faking who I am

Notes:

As I Am is a true collaborative effort from conception to finished execution. This project fired up in March and has been a whirl wind of recording, re-recording and more recording.

What we have today is not what we started with and it took everyone on board to get to this place. Jay, Thom you guys brought your "A" game to the table and I am honored to have shared this moment with you two.

Take a break and drink down your share of the accolades, you've earned it! Very much looking forward to the next project gents!!

Peace and Love
Tainted Icarus

As I AM

As I Am (DeadLover, ThomDust)

Just  a Jam -  yep that's it!  



Peace and love my brothers and sisters! 
TI

Reminder: Improv Jam4a DBG MS

Improv Jam

Just a Jam

Welcome to a work in progress -  This session was experimenting with recording technique and the phrasing of the backing tracks.

I have been experimenting with using dynamic mics for the recording process.  Conventional wisdom says that you can get a better recording with condenser... but I am finding its easier to get a better performance from a mic that can be handled.   

Its all a work in progress but the star of this and one of the main reasons I posted is my lovely lady actually took the controls and mixed a bit last night.  

I had the lady of the house take a listen for some feed back and she said "Can I try some things?"  I grabbed another headset vacated the seat and proceeded to ride shot gun for a few hours.  

She setup the processing on the backing tracks.  

Lady Icarus you kicked some ass.

BSA - The Path

BSA - The Path - Teaser

Update: Well another AA competition down...maybe next year!  Hope you had some fun and certainly creating music is a reward all by itself!  

Seek The Seeker by Tainted Icarus
Photo by Tobias Zielony, The Opening, 2005

Opened my email Saturday morning and lo and behold in my inbox was an invitation to join this years Adam Audio Competition. 

This years picture had this impending feel.  An event is pending for these two...and from the looks on the faces, it felt like some stress was on its way too.  

Welcome to my entry into the fray, to win a beautiful pair of custom Adam Audio A8X.  

This project is a huge departure from my normal production methods and is truly the first time where I can say this is a Tainted Icarus engineered project. Shredded the rule book and used the knowledge to pursue the desired sound.  

If you get a chance my friends, jump in to the competition, have some fun...maybe win some prizes.  

You can find it here: https://www.adam-audio.com/en/soundtrack-competition-2018/

See you on the battlefield!!
Peace and love
Tainted Icarus

Seek The Seeker

Competition - Adam Audio Competition 2018 - Seek The Seeker

Sadder Still By Tainted Icarus
Lyrics:

And I'm made sad, oh by your world
And I'm made sad, by a girl

And I'm made sad, from the things you choose to say
And I'm made sad, from the ignorance on display

Sadder Still
Sadder Still

Open my mind, just like a book
Flipping page after page, for what I've overlooked

Sum of my fear and how it seems strange
Your pointing your finger, screaming how I have changed

And I feel
Yeah I feel

Sadder still
Sadder still

And I'm still sad, oh by your world
And I'm sad, by the girl

And yeah I feel
Yeah I feel

Sadder still
Sadder still
Sadder still

Notes:  A trip off the beaten path.  A lot could be said about this piece but sometimes life just hurts and from the first note penned it was about excising something dark.

For those of you stopping by for a second time to see the finished project... a heart felt thank you for the love and support!

Peace and love my brothers and sisters!

Sadder Still

Green Star Dreams

By Behold The Sludge(https://soundcloud.com/beholdthesludge), Al'Z (https://soundcloud.com/alzzed), Tainted Icarus

Lyrics:

What is the dream?
What is the dream!

Time to wake up
Time

Living in a dream
Dream world
You've been living in a dream world
It's time to wake up

Notes: https://taintedicarus.com/discog/index.html

Green Star Dreams

Green Star Dreams (Feat. Behold The Sludge, Al'Z)

Defined 

Preacher man says he knows the way
All I have to do is kneel and pray
He can show me the streets of gold

And now the boys are home
In the dark and all alone
Learning the grace of god on their knees

And now you're pissed with me
Instead of the pedo priest
That kind of thinking I don't understand

And all you got left to say 
Is that he works in mysterious ways
The last refuge of a broken mind

The last refuge


Yes the world is so defined. 
Gotta break the dogma down one brick at time
Yes the world is so defined
Gotta break the dogma down what's taking so much time

Leader man is in the way
Wants me to hear what he has to say
A vote for him is a vote for me

Meanwhile behind the scenes 
Big men with bigger dreams
And lots of cash to grease the wheels

And now the waters brown 
In some mid Michigan town
Better hope you never need to drink

Justice has run amok
If your the vic you're outta luck
Better learn to take it on the chin

Justice has run amok
If your the vic you're outta luck
Better learn to take it on the chin

Better learn to take it on

Yes the world is so defined. 
Gotta break the dogma down one brick at time
Yes the world is so defined
Gotta break the dogma down what's taking so much time


Notes:  Hi everyone,  think I am going to steal the line from my friends, November Sound, and say if you are reading this...I appreciate you.  This track has been in development for a while and another learning experience.  

This song is meant to rail against the systems that claim moral superiority and victimize their followers. Events as they are happening in our times and the frustration with the silent acceptance of this behavior. 

How defined these systems of control are and how we are born into blindly accepting these chains.  Then we spend our lives trying to figure out why happiness is so hard to find.   

Some major milestones on the engineering side and while I could rattle on about this... lets just say that the microphone recorded tracks out number the DI 5 to 1.  Custom processing chains, coupled with the best performances I could muster on the bottom shelf gear. 

Perfect...certainly not... but most definitely Tainted Icarus,  I hope you enjoy it and always my brothers and sisters.. peace and love! 
Tainted Icarus.

Defined

In The Shade Of You
Written by Al'Z (https://soundcloud.com/al-zheimer-un-autre-jour)

Al'Z on: Vocals, Guitars, Lead, Drum Prog
Tainted Icarus on: Bass

Mixing: Al'Z
Mastering: Tainted Icarus

Lyrics: 
I wake up after a restless night
I had a very bad nightmare
I feel you moving in the morning light
I see you're here brushing your hair.

Life is much safer in the shade of you,
I cannot give it back, shame on me.

At noon, when the heat becomes too strong
You take my hand and hold it tight
You tell me it's not going to last long
"Everything's gonna be alright".

Life is much cooler in the shade of you,
I cannot give it back, shame on me,
Life is much safer in the shade of you,
I cannot give it back...

All the walls are just scary stairs
Small or tall, we don't have to care,

There are so many reasons
To live so many seasons.

All in all, hope is everywhere.

The time has come to believe in our wildest dreams,
To realize all the things that have not been done,
Traveling the land, climbing mountains, and crossing streams,
We'll find a place where I'll protect you from the sun.

In the evening, as the light fades,
Every shadows fly away,
Yours mixes with a thousand shades,
'til tomorrow I'll be astray.

Life is much safer in the shade of you,
I cannot give it back, shame on me,
Life is much cooler in the shade of you,
I cannot give it back...

All the walls are just scary stairs
Small or tall, we don't have to care,

There are so many reasons
To live so many seasons.

All in all, hope is everywhere.

The time has come to believe in our wildest dreams,
To realize all the things that have not been done,
Traveling the land, climbing mountains, and crossing streams,
We'll find a place where I'll protect you from the sun...

... in the shade of me.

Notes:
A big thank you Al for letting me join you on this great piece of art.

In The Shade Of You

In The Shade Of You (by Al'Z)

Update 2/15/20 - Another year down... another lesson in humility,  always next year!  

https://hofa-contest.com/song/3738/

Welcome to what looks to be my the last competition for 2019.   HOFA is hosting its annual Christmas mixing competition.   When I got the invite a few days ago I took a listen and was like.....ugggghhhh!!!  An "a cappella" which puts me in my weakest spot for a starting position.  

The human voice when on a piece of music, ends up being one of the most important/relatable parts of the piece.  A great vocal performance can prop up a band... but it very seldom works the other way around.  

It's been one of the more challenging things for me to mix properly.  Here is the 2019 HOFA competition and the only thing on it, VOICES!!.  Challenge accepted HOFA and here is where I ended up brothers and sisters.  

The competition closes out in January so still plenty of time to get into the competition if you want to have some fun....working the faders.  I mean common what else could be more fun?....(blushes)  Really people, such dirty minds!!  haha

https://hofa-contest.com/

Happy Holidays brothers and sisters

Special thanks to Bill from November Sound( https://soundcloud.com/november-love-680008043 ) for being an advisor on the project... Big thank you for this and all your support in 2019. 

On a slight comedic note to one of our own:  Sunnidayz always mentions not being a techie...  If you get here sister.... I fought my production rig for 3 hours this morning to print the final mix and master...  Had everything set last night... wanted to sleep on it before finalizing.  This morning bam..kerchunk..bzzzt....with every session crash... I was reminded of those things you mention, about it getting in the way!  Three hours of fighting for 20 minutes worth of work!!

Let There Be Snow

Competition - Let There Be Snow - HOFA 2019  Mixing competition

Mirrored Things by Tainted Icarus

Things of Things of Things you've lost and the Things you need to find
Things of Things of Things you've lost and the Things you've left behind

Things of Things of Things you've had and the Things that you once knew
Things of Things of Things you've had and the Things you once thought true. 

Once thought true
Once thought true

Yes the mirror it always lies
Distorted views with no compromise
Yes it always lies
Yes the mirror it always lies 
Always lies
It always lies

Things of Things of Things you've found as you try take control
Things of Things of Things you've found as you try to save your soul

Save your soul
Save your soul

Yes the mirror it always lies
It always lies
The mirror it always lies
Always lies
Always lies

Notes:
My arrow into the heart of darkness...my middle finger to the void...one for the seekers!

The verse like honey...the chorus a bit sour... something perfectly Tainted Icarus!  

I could type a small book about this track. Rough start... and nagging doubts every step of the way.  This track commemorates Tainted Icarus being 4 years old.  Huzzah I say!  

Peace and love brothers and sisters

Mirrored Things

Thirteenth Kiss  By The Welcome Parade (https://soundcloud.com/deadlover80), (https://soundcloud.com/ask0the0dust)

Oh my god

Thirteenth Kiss
Pure bliss
On shattered lips
My shattered lips

The Thirteenth Kiss
The purest bliss
On shattered lips
My shattered lips

So you really want to know
How I get so high
I'd lie for you
I would die for you
I would kill for you
You're all it takes, just to get me by

Thirteenth Kiss
The purest bliss
On shattered lips
My shattered lips

So you really want to know
How I get so high
I'd lie for you
I would die for you
I would kill for you
You're all it takes, just to get me by

So you really want to know
How you get so high
I'd lie for you
I would die for you
I would kill for you
You're all it takes, just to get me by

Notes: 

	Nothing exists without the pieces...each piece adds its sliver of magic to the whole.  As the project grows, the magic grows beyond the boundaries of what was capable by the pieces alone.  The slivers ignite, they burn like a forge and melt the pieces together into something uniquely its own.

	Sitting in the production chair waiting for the pieces arrive... where the story starts and where it ends, is miles apart.  At some point in the process the magic seeps in and I marvel at how that comes about.  One moment you open the session and it is simply different...more alive...more of something. That's the thing worth chasing... it's worth witnessing...it's worth touching if only for a second.  

Tainted Icarus (Jeff) : Working on this has made me feel cooler than I have any right to feel.  I got to work on, play on and sing on a great song.  Jay nailed something great right from the start.  From the moment I heard it... I thought "Hell yeah... I want to be part of that".  Our first meeting, we all agreed  we are going to focus on crafting a piece of music that was something we wanted to listen to. Mission successful for me!!!

We have some things in the works as a band going by the name: The Welcome Parade.  I am very excited and hope to start sharing details soon!

13th Kiss (Feat. Deadlover, Thom Dust)

My Indifference 

Inspired by Xanylovem's "I Flirted with indifference, Never do that " 

By Tainted Icarus & AL' Z (https://soundcloud.com/al-z-z-z)

Lyrics: 

What happened to the green
And to those who love to dream
About living in peace and harmony

The world turned upside down
Green gives way to the brown
Never learned to leave it be

No, no,  don't you cry 
Wipe the tear drops from your eyes
I've given you a chance or three

The rich they've had their way
And the debts you all must pay
And you can blame that on yourselves

Blame my indifference on yourselves


What happened to the blue
And the creatures that swam with you
Not a drop that's left to drink

Fret not and roll the dice
Ignore the facts the price
Not a lot of time left to think

No, no,  don't you cry 
Wipe the tear drops from your eyes
I've given you a chance or three

The rich they've had their way
And the debts you all must pay
And you can blame this on yourselves

Blame my indifference on yourselves

My indifference on yourselves

My indifference


Notes:  Much could be said about this piece...but probably best covered by...something I care about and something I worry about preserving for those who have yet to arrive. 

As is customary with my work... is it perfect...no...but something I hope will move you none the less!

If you get a moment I would encourage you to stop by Al' Z's profile and share some love with one of Soundcloud's very own guitar gods!  He will refuse that compliment...but its one he deserves! Great artist and certainly a brother!   

I hope everyone is well and staying sane in these crazy times!

Peace and love my brothers and sisters! 
Tainted Icarus



ref: My Indifference Master Session

My Indifference

My Indifference (Feat. AL' Z)

Downloads Enabled
Folks who tore it up with me: 
Boilerman - https://soundcloud.com/boilerman-615719656/no-one-ever-says-by-tainted-icarus-ft-the-boilerman
Thom TWP - https://soundcloud.com/thewelcomeparade/no-one-ever-says-thoms-retort

As I mentioned, last month I broke my leg!  6 weeks in to this I am realizing its going to take a while to get back to normal.  

This track, well more of beat is open for anyone to take and finish.  Originally Jay and I had discussed it being a Beastie Boy type of piece.  Time has gotten away from me...as well as a leg. 

The Welcome Parade has 6 tracks in production and I am behind schedule on everything.  

So hey if you want to take this and do something cool to it.. you have my blessing and just be sure to give me a credit!  

Peace and love my friends and see/hear you soon!

No One Ever Says

No One Ever Says - Open Offer

Crash (25/8) By The Welcome Parade

Just echoes in my mind
So much is lost in time
Language sold to the dollar
Cause your king needs food and wine

Crash 25/8
We ain't gonna die
Die that way

Control is everything
Then there's nothing left to lose
Language sold to the pound
Just let me know ill write them fucking down

Crash 25/8
We ain't gonna die
Die that way

Notes: 
The leading track off the debut album for The Welcome Parade. An indie effort through and through with a group of people who wanted to make some noise.  

This was the last song in for the album and it show cases what 8 months of working together has changed.  Jay sent this out, with a description of his vision.  I think both Thom and I were floored and a bit dazed, as we tried to get our footing on this beast. 

I think this is the first time Jay uniformly received push back from both of us.  The things he wanted changed, simply refused. He had nailed such a strong performance in every spot he occupied.  

We had our first all hands meeting yesterday as a band and everyone got a few laughs out of this piece.  Jay's story about his voice being hoarse 2 days after recording this.  Thom's story "I am not sure I want to play on this".  Jeff's refusing to do backing vocals "How the f**k do I do better than what you already did, no absolutely not".

A fellowship of music lovers with a penchant for something honest out of our work.  I hope you will join me in supporting The Welcome Parade(@thewelcomeparade).  

Peace and love my friends and here's to a happy and hopeful 2021!

The Welcome Parade

Crash 25/8

Crash 25/8 (By The Welcome Parade)

News: Well a lot I could say...but going through some issues right now.  So I am on occasionally...though a lot less than  I would like.   You are always my peeps and  I love you clouders as brothers and sisters.   Peace and love my friends!

Member of: 
The Welcome Parade (https://soundcloud.com/thewelcomeparade)

Musician, Songwriter, Recording, Mixing, Mastering, Producer and general noise maker.   If you don't get that..that's on you!  

Tainted Icarus has a protest/grunge/rock type of feel.   Sharing a similar vibe and feel of great bands like Alice In Chains, Nirvana, Cult. 

Slogging it out my home studio and trying to understand the deep sorcery that is Music Recording, Mixing, Mastering.    Jesus if someone had told me how damn complicated the topic was... I might have reconsidered.   

I keep it real, listen to your music and comment.  Be supportive of myself and others and I have your back.  I stay out of the rampant game playing and focus on finding real people making music. Is that you? If so pull up a chair and PM me.  

It takes me a while to make the rounds.  If you are releasing a new track and want me to stop by sooner... send me a PM.  

Relax and enjoy a tune...or make one.  No need to run around in that haze of fury.  Peace and love!

Tainted Icarus

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