Leonard Smalls

I've already got an improvised bass line down, as well as a drummer falling down the stairs. Now I'm off to record some chickens.

Excellently done, y'all - all cracking songs this month. And I got the wooden spoon... Whodathunkit?

I've always been into new music (51 now!) and have no desire at all to play covers unless it's interesting versions of songs you rarely hear covered. So I put an ad in the Black Sheep (local Shropshire/Wales/Herefordshire free music and arts listings) asking for folks who wanted to be in a band playing mainly originals with influences ranging from Parliament to Ornette Coleman via Motorhead. I knew it was a long shot, but twas worth a try... So I got 2 responses; one was from a singer/songwriter who thought I could get him gigs, and the other was from a drummer and guitarist who wanted to do exclusively Beatles covers.

[quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1424897372' post='2701753'] I guess that is up to you , but I always look for one , especially as the image is the inspiration for the piece , but then interpretation of that is totally subjective. [/quote] Aye! Personally I just use the image for inspiration; whether that's a [i]photo-reality [/i]type rendering of every detail or a Daliesque flight of fancy matters not. And voting-wise, I vote for whichever song(s) I like best having assumed that all of them are inspired by the image!

Awesome drum and bass sound...

You're not wrong... Over to you!

The singer has acted in numerous movies, including Johnny Mnemonic, and has collaborated with William Shatner...

Better late than never! Anyway, this band's guitarist once played in Dredd and the Badass Weeds, along with me and Jay Rayner! [i]You think you're going to live your life alone, In darkness and seclusion, yeah, I know[/i]

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1424639500' post='2698691'] Kawai Sleekline Jon. [/quote] That was my first bass - cost me £90 from some no longer existing shop in Denmark St. I customised it with EMGs, and now it hangs on my wall. I've also got a Parker, which is a bit odd:

I liked it!

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1424702914' post='2699334'] I must admit, Douglas crash landing onto an offering from Leonard, is a Basschat moment I Iook forward to each month. Congrats to both of you for the entertainment. [/quote] Ta! I might even produce something with a tune next month, perhaps with a sweet female voice singing about pretty flowers and nuts in May over a beautifully strummed acoustic guitar. Or mebbe it'll be something that makes John Zorn's Japanese noisecore bands sound like easy listening.

Cheers Douglas! Admirably demolished... I call my particular brand of music "Dulcolax Jazz", after the relief one can obtain from said medicine. The NHS are interested, but a bit worried about anxiety after-effects.

I started off playing piano - my mother was a piano teacher and she pushed me as far as grade 7. But funnily enough, I always preferred pieces with groovy left hand stuff, like Bach or Schubert Impromptus. Then I heard "Hit me with your rhythm stick", which got me into the idea of bass guitar. Then we got a school band together as a pet project for our RE teacher (me on keys) - a mate had just started playing bass in his own band and he let me have a go on the Worst Bass In The World Ever (i.e. a Hofner violin bass with rubber strings), and I was hooked. And bizarrely, my mate had borrowed That Bass from his brother - our very own Lurksalot! I'll bet he's still got it...

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1424698639' post='2699235'] ('[i]Sfunny, I don't get these same thanks from Lenny. Hmm[/i]... ) [/quote] I'm always grateful, and in some cases rather amazed, when anyone takes the time to listen or even comment on some of the racket that I churn out... As these quotes from me show: [quote name ="Leonard Smalls"] Cheers Douglas! I didn't expect it to appeal to lovers of nice melodies, or even music! But someone's voted for it, Gawd 'elp 'em![/quote] [quote name = 'Leonard Smalls'] Cheers Douglas - nice review as always![/quote] Still, I'm looking forward to the thorough drubbing this month's entry [s]deserves[/s] will probably get! And someone's voted for it already... PS I voted for "Clangour"

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1424334981' post='2695151'] Nice setup Leonard Does the turntable have a lid ? [/quote] Nope! [IMG]http://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/v/t1.0-9/581960_10150842727836672_210105221_n.jpg?oh=cdd350a5dfa624fe3da1ceb8f6b41904&oe=5589E9DC[/IMG]

As an ex-BBC sound recordist I'm a bit obsessive about sound quality:

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1424265751' post='2694505'] Nevertheless, the fact remains that, before recording the composition, you need to write/compose it. If anyone is recording stuff they have not yet written, I suggest they stop immediately. [/quote] You'll probably not be surprised that my beautiful composition wasn't so much composed as completely improvised... But I won't do it again, honest!

[quote name='alibabu' timestamp='1424250307' post='2694246'] On the other hand, listening to the submissions so far, my entry [b]would probably have ended up with no votes anyway[/b]:-D. Good luck to all! [/quote] Don't worry, I've gone for this month's [i]nul points[/i] crown!

Sisters of Mercy, 1959?

More like this: [MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zHBN45fbo8[/MEDIA]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1423963942' post='2691062'] (Yeah; not like that there Lenny bloke..! ) [/quote] You need to get hip to the jazz, Daddy-o! The tune and rhythm are all in there, just a bit re-arranged - like an anagram...

Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables - Dead Kennedys Stretchin' Out _ Bootsys Rubber Band Mind Transplant - Alphonse Mouzon

I can play better than Al Di Meola, if that helps. He's got no chance against me at gin rummy!

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1423242057' post='2682739'] [size=4]It's failing so far. I was tapping my foot to part of the piece, and found myself whistling an extract a few minutes ago.[/size] [size=4]No; no cause for concern. The meds will be kicking in, shortly.[/size] [size=4]Ah..! I hear there's someone at the door. That'll be the medics kicking in the door...[/size] [size=4]Maybe I should stop playing this track so loudly..? [/size] [/quote] Glad you've seen the light! And I've just had the greatest possible compliment for this future no.1 (not no. 2!!!); a friend just played it to her little boy, he looked at her beseechingly and said "please Mummy, make it stop!"

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1423240475' post='2682713'] [size=4] Paul was second; Len is third (pronounced with an Irish accent...). Time for an anecdote... I've not seen it around for a while, but tucked away in our 'museum of horrors', we've a MIDI expander, Roland D110. It worked well for a few years, then, suddenly, started rejecting all control, to generate instead completely random sounds, some of which were very interesting, other less so; many completely unpalatable. If I can dig it out (and if it now even turns on..!), I'll see if I can post a sample of it gurgling and chuntering away. "Why the anecdote..?", I hear you ask, scratching your chin and upper hairline... Well, I suspect Len to have a similar D110, with the subtle difference that our one did, at least sometimes, come up with some usable random noises. I could be wrong... [/size] [/quote] I knew my offering would be right up your street! As you can see, I'm on a mission to promote a lack of harmony, to pooh-pooh melody, to reject the concept of time. [Bond villain mode]The world will soon be mine![/Bond villain mode]