An old friend recently got in touch with me and we quickly got onto the subject of our old musical collaborations back in the day. Long story short, this track is a joint effort between me and Rob Gill (his lyrics, my music). Hope you like it.

One Thing in Your Life

One Summer

A little instrumental track that finds me gazing sadly into the whirling storm of a snow globe…

Winter colours

Uploaded with AudioShare app - http://kymatica.com/audioshare

Secret sidelong glance

Another instrumental track produced entirely on an iPad mini using NanoStudio 2. Not sure what genre I’d call this. Synthwave perhaps?

You know it’s true

A new song after 8 months! It feels good to have finally got one 'over the line' after many, many failed attempts. This was made mostly in garageband and then I tweaked the mix in Auria using things like Turnado (very very subtle - just to sex it up a little). Vocals done hastily in the car using an irig mic. 

I dare say

You can't beat a bit of good old-fashioned existential angst. 

I'm taking a brave step in attempting to do brooding macho vocals here. And check out the 'oh my god, oh my god' tremble in my voice as I go for the big note at the end...   

song picture to follow when I have the time to think of something.

Alice in Sunderland

The return of Mr Cheerful... 

a big thank you to Darcie for allowing me to use a detail from her painting for this track 

Tuesday

for Greer - who always keeps a smile handy     

U always hurt the 1 U love

This is a brand new version of one of my older songs.  There used to be a version I made on the iPhone on here, but this is rewritten and rather different. 

Summer everyday

This track began on my laptop and was then further developed and arranged on my phone while riding on the tube

Futility for beginners

This is a collaboration with itneverhappened whose work I have admired for a long time.  It's my first track on Soundcloud that wasn't entirely produced on an iphone. It's also my first collab on SC and indeed the first song I've written with someone else for a very long time. I had great fun and I am incredibly grateful to INH for his patience, encouragement and being prepared to share his god-given talent with me! 

Shot down in flames (itneverhappened/clocktoys collab)

Vocals recorded in the car, in a car park. Curious bystanders. 

She moves in mysterious ways

Just another poor fool with big dreams and a crappy old iPhone

World turned blue

This track is included on the new album Fractal Recurrences (out 15-06-12) which is a Cricketsmakemath remix collection. You should defo check it out - and it's free!

Thanks to Daniel for letting me mess about with his brilliant track angelface. Check out the original on the ep Together in This in Us at  http://www.cricketsmakemath.com/

Angelface - original by Crickets Make Math - iphone remix and vocal by the clocktoys

This is an iphone track I made for a collab some months ago. It hasn't come to anything yet - probably never will - but I thought I'd put it out there as some sort of evidence that I'm not dead. 

Girl in a Thunderstorm

I may re-record some little sections of the vocals but for now, here's a slightly less raucous mix for those whose ears can't take a bit of a hammering now and then. You delicate souls. You probably wear mittens in the winter... 

song words

Oh my god! What have I done?

Righteous turned to Reason and rolled her eyes
Reason shook her head and said 'it's no big surprise'
Sympathy gave up on me and pushed me aside
Friendship lit a cigarette and blew in my eyes

(freestyle howling) 

Arrogance, she heaved a sigh while turning away
Charm just threw a face palm - she simply couldn't stay
Nonchalance was horrified - like somebody died
Hope wrote me a little note entitled... 'Goodbye'

(more howling)

Have mercy on my soul

Oh my dear, dear friends...
Must this be how it ends?


   

Oh my god what have I done

Every once in a while I have this foolish compulsion to go a bit orchestral. Now I've added some ambient howling... just for good measure. I can't help it.  This track was inspired by the novel of the same title which is hauntingly, magically beautiful and holds a special place in my heart. 

Love in the Time of Cholera

I've been watching a lot of Japanese anime. Track was started on my Mac and dirtied up a bit with fun new iOS plug ins. Maybe overcooked it a bit!

Robot Police Adventure

Stars collapse

Journal entry 61,537,021

Hartlepool Marina that is...
Forgive the crap fade out at the end - I was just too tired to do a proper job. It feels good to post something new for the first time in ages. Download it if you like.

Marina

Well, at last, here is an actual new song. It's a bit 80's gothwave, so be warned! You may want to throw yourself under a bus...     

Christina falls apart

I'm a singer songwriter and for the last few years I've been making my music with nothing more than an old iPhone and an iPad mini. I have tried to overcome the obvious limitations of having no actual instruments by exploring the world of music making apps. Hopefully along the way I have created some ear-catching, toe-tapping music with complex and unusual arrangements, bleakly evocative lyrics and a big indie atmosphere.  As a result, I think this collection of songs is unlike anything else you will hear on SoundCloud. Lend me your ears and find out for yourself! 

Drop me a comment (good or bad) - I will usually reply.
 
BIG Love to all those who actually listen.

Don't be a stranger...

With love, hope and despair, 

pete : )

About the clocktoys: me plus occasional others (but usually just me). I have written songs from a tender age and never let the hysterical laughter grind me down (well, not often). I taught myself to play keyboards with the mighty Casio VL 1 perched on top of my little sister's toy organ (the old asthmatic wheezing kind made from elastic bands, glue and the cheapest plastics known to man).
I enjoy the creative freedom of writing alone and my music is, frankly, a muddle of influences veering off in different directions. Which is a good thing in my book.
As well as my music I may also eventually get round to reading some short stories (do i hear a a low murmur of pleasure at the back?). Basically, I'll be boring the arse off you in as many different ways as I can think of.
I like: music from many different styles past and present but in my writing I often look back to classic indie music like: the smiths; aztec camera; cocteau twins; the associates; badly drawn boy; new order; teardrop explodes; japan; early omd; echo and the bunnymen
I wish: i could play the guitar like Johnny Marr; sing better

If you've read all the way down to here, can I please say a little thank you, embrace you in a manly way, and ask that you keep listening. One day I'll get it right!

The Clocktoys

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