KimyReizeger

I don't think decent narrative song writing is all that rare at all.

I just think that it's a bit unnecessary on a local level, where no-one really analyses your words. How the words sound and how they fit the music is far more important than meaning.

Definitely prefer the repetition and abstract style of Idol_wild than the lengthy, more literal story-type ones.

Is there really any point in writing a narrative when after all you're singing a tune and no-one's really following beginnings, middles and ends? I like a story in song, but you need a pretty talented person to pull it off, I think:

YouTube - Lonnie Donegan- The battle of New Orleans

Surely owning a house negates the homelessness though...

Good point. Edited.

My condenser mic is a thousand times better than my SM58 for recording acoustic guitars. It cost in the region of 150.

As far as I understand dynamic mics are basically for belting vocals in loud environments where sensitive mics would simply pick up too much background.

Dynamic microphones like the Shure SM57 and Shure SM58 are legendary for not only their good sound quality, but the amount of abuse they can withstand.

Most dynamic microphones have a limited frequency response, which makes them well-suited, along with their ability to withstand high sound pressure levels, for loud guitar amps, live vocals, and drums.

So what? Everyone has pretty shitty times in their lives, the majority don't sit on Union Street begging for change.

That's kind of a different issue. You're now just getting at all beggars.

Yes, but they are more than adequately catered for by other benefits.

Perhaps. You could only say so by looking hard at every individual case. What I meant about council flats is that you could have one yet still lead a chaotic, stressful and painful existence.

the ones who scam on the streets and rock up to their council flats/houses at night after a hard days begging. This is a shame because it is to the detriment of people who are actually living on the street (at no point did i say they were all doing it).

Possession of a council roof isn't the sole criteria of an ordinarily functioning, independent human being. You could have a flat but still suffer from all manner of physical and mental health problems which prevent you from getting a job like the rest of us.

It is based in Leeds, although some travel to other cities may be necessary.

It is based in Leeds, but you will be allowed to go to Bugsy Brown's twice a month.

While i get what you mean there it would be more believable if a large proportion of the people who beg on the streets in Aberdeen didn't have council houses or alternative accomodation in places like Torry.

What would be more believable?

Hello, I hope I can put this issue to close with this but I somehow can't see that happening. I wrote the artical(or story) about Stan the homless man. The story does not have a go at homeless people in the slightest, its a story about someone scamming members of the general public out of their hand earned cash. It may to be a serious issue, but fraud is fraud! The intro(which has caused all the fuss) wasn't written by me but by someone else and that were the comments everyone chats about came from. On reflection to some of the responses the writter of the into did appolagise for some of the things he said, but i'm sure none of you guys and gals checked that on the kaplank kapow blog. Did you? .

You were doing ok until:

The bottom line is it was a story, nothing more

A story in what sense: A fictional story? Or more like a newspaper article that is based on fact? Or was it an opinion piece? The sentiment expressed in your 'story' was of a serious nature so don't try and backtrack by suggesting it is in some way trivial.

In essence your piece fails as it is based on completely unreliable anecdotal evidence, is poorly written and full of jumbled logic and haphazard conclusions. One example being:

It makes you curious as to just how much money we donate to charities or people trying to earn their way in the street actually finds its way to these causes?

Overlooking the confusing layout of this sentence (who or what are 'these causes'?), ponder for a moment, how many more people would be on the street if it wasn't for the work of charities who support people facing the prospect of homelessness? People begging on the street are, categorically, at the bottom of the heap, so think twice before making sweeping generalisations based on worthless evidence. It's not helpful, it's not noble, it's not civilized.

Body found in bushes identified - Evening Express

NOTHING is as bad as Russel Howard. Not even that Vodafone ad with the chat up lines.

Oh jesus. That ad is so bad.

we're thinking something like Jamie Callum...

Thanks

He covers up his first major joke failure at 1.12 by saying:

but you know, when you're going through some stuff and you ask your guy for some stuff, you know

Just imagine. Bombing in front of loads of people. Then the video being on youtube. Then the next guy taking the piss out of you. Psychological black hole that. It'll be hurting for years.

...this may make you feel better.

Of course it's a clique. The same as pretty much any other group discussion website, forum, messageboard or whatever. That's kinda the point. Clique in the sense that the regular posters here have had time to get to know who the other posters are, they know a bit about their likes/dislikes and more importantly their sense of humour. Anyone coming in brand new like yourself is obviously going to be at a bit of a disadvantage to begin with, but the clever ones take a little bit of time to get the feel of the board.

It's like starting a new job - you're not going to march into the office and expect to be best mates with everyone, or shout abuse at them because they didn't invite you to lunch. You just need to take the time to suss it out, get the feel for how this place works, and I promise you will be welcomed here just like everyone else has been since this site began. The site wouldn't have got this far if we didn't give newbies a chance, but it makes a difference if you can get off on the right foot from the start...

Nonsense.

Hang the DJ made a reasonable response to the original post:

how come the conversation in this thread went from angry at the fact all homeless people who had supposedly been branded the same, ie- all smelly, junkies etc, and now you feel as an argument you can discribe all skateboarders in sucha way?

Which wasn't taken up by anyone on here, who instead took the opportunity to insult him, make absurd generalisations about skaters and doctor his quotes (Teabags) in a childish attempt to make him look silly. In fact, everything written after Hang the DJ's first post is just digression from and avoidance of the actual issue at hand. Is this a forum where ideas and opinions can be expressed or just a chat-room for a few m8s?

Anyone watching?

Six disabled people are left alone on an island with a pile of cameras to see how their disabilities affect their ability to survive. Each episode follows one of the characters on the island, and gives some background as to their life before arriving on the island. The characters are frequently rude, sexual and provocative, poking fun at one another and exploiting each other's disabilities.

It's on channel four and you can get the first two episodes now online:

Cast Offs - Channel 4

In my opinion it's good to see channel four putting out some reasonable drama that explores uncharted territory and even parodies the unchecked flow of turgid reality shows this channel has been responsible for over the past decade. It's a funny programme, which deals with disability seriously yet without the po-faced sentimentalism of other representations. Recommended.

I enjoy the fact that Giles got shredded on the KaplankKapow website for his ridiculous interpretation of a harmless, opinionated article that really does nobody any harm. You are entitled to any oppinion on it you like, but equally the people writing it are as well, and it's their experiences that are highlighted. Giles obviously ran out of arguments and felt the need to be comforted by all his fellow dic jockeys. Also, how come the conversation in this thread went from angry at the fact all homeless people had supposedly been branded the same, ie- all smelly, junkies etc, and now you feel as an argument you can discribe all skateboarders in sucha way? Giles, you need to let it go you moaning cunt, and everyone else should endeavour to arrange any argumentative statements without the blatant hypocracy.

Until your opinion agrees with ours you won't get much of an audience round here.

I know a guy who worked with Michael Forbes of Menie and the guy is inhumanly strong apparently.

Chuck Norris in disguise?

Here are some orchestral samples. Free to download, they can be used with a vst sampler. The page has a nifty little search function but if you want to just get hoards of samples go: make music > samples > downloadable sound samples.

Philharmonia Orchestra: The Sound Exchange: Make Music: Samples: Sample Library

Here is a site with a bunch of different virtual instruments; brass, keys, strings, harmonica, sitar:

DSK Music Free Virtual instruments (vsti) and SoundFonts (sf2) Downloads

Should be able to make some reasonable, appropriate sounds out of all that. But remember, a sound will always be out of place if you just throw it into your tune as it comes. The trick is making it sit properly through studio effects and mixing. You could have the highest quality violin sample ever, but it still won't fit your song. Use your ears and have fun

Piles of free ones out there for you to try your hand on before splashing the cash

This is the most romantic thread ever.

A giant mesh of the pantheon of our amalgamated influences...

Wow, sounds epic, go on...

...something sort of like, well, a farting sound

Oh, I see. A farting sound. Of course.

Hi KimyReizeger

Cheers for the question.

"What would I like to achieve?"

I would say that I am trying to obtain the unreachable through a musical journey into the unknown.

I'm not setting of with an idea to discover a certain thing for I do not know where or what that "thing" is. It experimentation, a kind of alchemy.

Define alchemy:

Alchemy (Arabic:al-kimia) (Hebrew:??????? al-khimia) is both a philosophy and a practice with an aim of achieving ultimate wisdom as well as immortality, involving the improvement of the alchemist as well as the making of several substances described as possessing unusual properties. The practical aspect of alchemy generated the basics of modern inorganic chemistry, namely concerning procedures, equipment and the identification and use of many current substances.

A lot of people get it some don't. It seems a lot of people want to be labelled as this or that and need to be given a concise remit before they feel they can step up and reply to the ad. If they don't get it then they should in no way reply.

I don't like to see a musician as being wholly defined by his influence, and in many ways I see a lot of musicians inhibited by this way of thinking.

A sculptor may only make statues of cast iron and that's all he does, another might sculptor might say what is at hand what can I sculpt, maybe materials, maybe words, maybe music, maybe mud, maybe all of that together, he is open to any idea. Both are valid with one more open to his or her approach.

Another example may be the session musician and the heavy metal guitarist. The latter just wants to play his style in a rock band that's it. That's great but he has set restrictions for himself by not wanting to play outside of his style. The session guy might do a Jazz stint one night, a rock track for an ad the next and be on TV backing an R'nB singer. He's into the guitar as a tool and open to music as a far reaching entity, and is taking part in the bigger picture.Both are valid with one more open to his or her approach.

I think through talking with a musicians who is interested about where they are at is the best way to find out if there is any common ground and if they could gel with the line-up or project. I might find a guitarist who says all these influences which suit the project, I go great and just judge things on that, turns out he's unprofessional, unreliable has a closed mind, so not suitable. I could speak to someone who says well I've played a lot of different things, I'm into a wide variety of music, is open minded about what and how they play, they want to develop and be a well-rounded musician and make satisfying music regardless of genre. May work out, a bit more info and no mention of influences at all.

The music industry will have you believe all manner of non truths and mess with your head if you let. It'll have you believe that things should be this way or that. The commercial side of the music business has nothing to do with making music.Being a musician doesn't mean you have to be a part of that industry.

Too many people are out there mimicking there favourite bands trying to be boxed into a way to be that is not all theirs.

I have previously answered comments, stating my add may not be best written. Now after some of the responses I have had I am beginning to think that the ad is worded correctly as it is showing up where peoples heads are at with regards to their outlook and approach.

So I am achieving many things as this rolls along. Musically the sound will be full textured as much as it is invisible and discreet. It will move your feet and make you think.

I will be advertising for a female vocalist soon. I will try to be more descriptive with the wording of that ad.

Many thanks for your response to the ad I hope I have answered your question.

Best regards

Handler

I like the idealism, which is generally totally absent around here. That said, I find it hard to avoid the thought that this is all just a veil behind which unmusical people make noise.

Hi

Fair dues.

I dont' take you the wrong way, it's ok to say what you think.

I can't really say what type of music and influences it is, I wouldn't know, or want to categorise it. I feel that would add unnecessary limitations and expectations to the player.

Influences are fine if you have the head on that you want to be in a band that sounds like band A or band B or have one fixed genre in mind. I think to think in influences is to set some restrictions upon yourself as people think, maybe rightly so that that is exactly the kind of music that you want to play.

It does seem a bit of an odd position to take but I don't see that saying what my influences are is either relevant to the music I make now, or to a multiplayer situation where the list of influences could be endless.

And I don't know who to suggest be the influences of whomever wants to have a go, because I don't know who's is out there (famous musicians) to say that you should be like.

I would be best suggesting what we are not looking for, or the kind of music we are not making. It's not country, or western, not Jazz, not pur4e heavy metal, not blues, it is not brit pop or indie. We dont write for the boys and girls, we play for our enjoyment and for the experience.

We are not playing at being in a band or pretending that we are a clone of our favourite bands.We don't do covers. The music is sometimes beat driven

I would like to create a full and textured sound.Done with a professional and open minded approach.

We're all happy just getting on getting the sound together with no expectations or baggage, just letting it come naturally at first.

I do have an idea of what it could be, but at the moment as I say I can't put my finger on it or put it into words right now. The players are falling into place and we have tried some different guitarists out already.

I wouldn't reply to the wanted ad if someone was wanting live the dream or has an allusions about being famous or mimicking there favourite act, this wont be there scene.

I'd rather have people get in touch and say what they are wanting to do and a bit about themselves. My ad wording my not be successfully written, but I believe I have been truthful. I know that the right people have, and will appear as they are needed.

I hope that you can maybe understand my points, I'm still working them out too.

I will say that I have some strong opinions that I would like the music to get across, and not very interested in doing any music that is commercial or mainstream.

A long winded reply I know, but I thought you took the time to get in touch and deserved an answer.

Best regards

Handler

Let's pretend this is a job interview, and I'd just asked you to 'sum up what it is you want to achieve'