This review inspired me to layout a playlist of the current project, and it feels like it's happening! In the larger context, this song really works well. I'm really glad you dig this one, as it's certainly one of the more subversive grooves!

Nice! I hadn't heard that at all in this until reading your review here. Wow. There's a hidden history about the musical influence of the Irish in the Caribbean and naturally the Native American influence is equally neglected. I think your on to something - and it reinforces one of the best aspects of music and musicians - we tend to roll around together and mix it up. Thanks for that!

Sector7even - this one really was a happy accident at the launch. The rhythms I was constructing juxtaposed with the Irish ballad to me shouldn't work - but it wanted to! Lots of trial and error and experimentation, it really does. What a trip, huh? Funny I feel exactly that way too with this one. Cheers.

Hi BigReeg - First welcome to the site. Big time fortuitous discovery, and in my estimation the best site like this around. Thanks for the listen and review, and alerting me to your presence! I'll be checking out your page to see if you've got tracks up yet. Cheers.

It was an "unnatural" marriage to be sure - lol! This actually took several attempts to get the music and vocals working together, and then several more attempts to make them sound right together. The result - why hasn't this been done before? I'm actually coming to grips with the fact that the Irish and African slaves together created the foundation that later became the Delta Blues. Thanks for the review and thumbs up! Will be by to check out your tracks.

Hey Abe,

This is a funny track and doesn't lend itself to ambivalence in the audience. People either seem to love this or hate it, but indifference just isn't there. I may come back to it again, but at this stage I just want to create more, you know? Thanks for all you do for me.

rei - when I joined this site and started playing with loops I put up my first tracks as "Trance" because of their hypnotic quality. I'm glad I can still create this mental/emotional space with my work. I'm delighted and flattered that you improve! And I'm really delighted to see you've got more tracks up! Will be listening and reviewing more of yours shortly! Thanks much for the listen and review.

Experimentation is so much fun! If I'm giving you license then run with it. Thanks for the listen and review friend. I'll be swinging by to see your latest offerings next. Cheers.

StÃÂphane,
Merci. Un favori personnels auprès de vous est un grand honneur et je voulais rÃÂpondre dans le même esprit. S'il vous plaÃÂt pardonnez mon fossilisÃÂs et inadÃÂquate Français.

I feel the same way about your music, and why I love it so much. You really do have your own signature sound.

Thanks for the kind review and adding this one to your favorites! Cheers - Sean

Thanks. Constructive criticism played heavily in getting this one to this point, but I'm largely satisfied with it. I'm considering doing a "Music to Have a Rebellion To" project, and I think this one will have to go on it. Cheers.

Heya profplum - glad you approve. I think Irish ballads lend themselves well to a certain form of tribalism, but didn't realize it until making this track. Cheers.

Hey Marius9 - you know, I hadn't even considered this...thanks for the suggestion, and I'll certainly give it a spin and see how it takes. That's the great part of this for me, the suggestions that wouldn't be considered otherwise. A counter melody just might smooth the tension a little more in this one - but I'll be careful not take it out altogether. I like how it feels somehow rebellious in this version. Thanks for the listen and review! Cheers.

I wasn't aware you were away, which says something about the volume of traffic here, doesn't it? First, welcome back brother! Second, thanks for the encouraging words on this one, and I look forward to your feedback on others. I'll certainly be visiting your music again, sooner than later! Cheers.

Welcome fellow Cascadian! It's a weird track (but Fusion nonetheless - lol) and to me still shouldn't work. The juxtaposition is just too awkward. But it does work somehow (I suspect a non-native English singer helps) and I feel really good about this version. Thanks for the review!

Hey Kid Khaos, you're right up the road from me. Suddenly wondering if you might know my friend Judd as he's been spinning turntables about the same time span as you. Glad you liked this one, though it's not representative of my other work. I'll be checking out your tracks next. Cheers.

Be careful around well played bag-pipes - you might have the urge to pull a broad sword and start a rebellion! Thanks for the review and the fave, ShojoBeasty!

Cheers! I think alividlife's "Pseudo" makes it seem unique, even though everything's grounded in some sort of tradition. I'm thinking Celtic Fusion's a genre that's been dying to happen.

Hey siensystem - thanks for the thumbs up. If anyone understands the creation of sonic space, it would be you! This is a strange piece (for me as the creator), and I'm still struck by how it seems to work. I think you've articulated why - it's in the dancing delay where everything weaves together. Thanks for the review, and I'll be by today to respond in kind. Cheers.

Prophetic Dave. I've actually got a couple of remix versions of this one already on the table. I'm dropping the vocals altogether and adding MIDI melody and harmony from Foggy Bottom. Naturally, the effects stacks are so high you could get a nosebleed from up there. Anyway, the dynamic really changes and I'll shoot you an email so you can hear your suggestions in track form. Thanks for the encouragement and kind words. It's a good thing having you as an ally. Cheers.

Stephen, you were totally right on the call regarding the vocal level. I've gone back in and addressed this, and think the beats are sounding a lot better because of it. Well called friend. Thanks again!

CalifKen, strange that something so weird works isn't it? Still is freaking me out, but I've submitted to the process. I've dropped the vocal levels since this review, and I'm feeling it's working better. Thanks for the listen friend.

Stephen, oiy! Looks like you've got new tracks up that have slipped right by me. Guess that's what happens when I take time away from the site - soon to be rectified!

I only started this one about 4 days ago, and mostly as a way out of my frustration from the writing I've been doing. The first WTF? moment I had with it is when I realized that it's something worth pursuing. I really like the contrast of the Hip Hop sensibility to the Irish Tragedy/proto-Blues vibe of the vocals - it's unexpected and surprising on several levels.

"Yearnings for the old country..." I wonder if this is why I want to drop my suspenders and quest for a brawl sometimes when I listen to this piece? lol. Even a wee dram doesn't dispel the urge.

The glockenspiel sounding bit is from "deleted account 216244" and I'm sure glad I snagged that one when I did! I think the next version will include a bit more of this loop as I really like how it plays to the vocals.

Glad you approve of the first draft. I'm curious to where this one leads. Cheers.

Hey Nabil - great singing indeed! Thanks again for posting this acapella!

I used Psychotropic circle's Hip Hop bass loop to drive this one, which is the principal reason that I've designated it as such.

One of the things I've been reading about with music lately is Hip Hop's ability to absorb other genres which is what I'm attempting here. I think maybe using both "Funk" and "Reggae Dub" drum loops might have pushed the boundaries a bit. Certainly the Celtic Ballad challenges the genre even further.

How much absorption is actually possible?

Great fun experimenting with this one! Thanks for the review - and the Fave!

Say, how would you like to do some electric guitar work here? I'd love to hear the melody line in a howling drone - like with an ebow, or at least without attack on the notes.

To me, this track's got serious "wtf?" happening - and even my expectations are shaken by it. It's still draft #1, so we'll see where it goes by the time it gets done.

Glad you're around - somehow the site feels a whole lot friendlier with your presence here.