Spoombung Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 I found an old recording of myself from years ago (1996) playing the 'Spoombung' - a solo (prepared) bass piece - so I've uploaded it on to Youtube. The inspiration for the piece came out of my interest in free improvisation and Cameroonian music. The main ingredient is a pounding beat at a fixed tempo, lots of overtones and harmonic complexity and triplets and flams to produce the rhythm. Tonal variation is provided by an 'assistant'. His job is to move the clips and other paraphernalia around. There is much rattling. If I think about it retrospectively, it's more like an art piece - you know: a performance. 'Preparing' instruments is nothing new, as any student of John Cage will tell you. Guitarists like Fred Frith and Keith Rowe from AMM have been using it for years. But curiously, [i]not bass guitarists[/i] - and I haven't really seen another example after all these years. I thought there might be a gap in the market! My own opinion is that bassists do not tend to like 'experimenting' because they're usually in a supporting role. I abandoned it years ago because I felt I couldn't really move the technique onwards or create much variation from the original blueprint. Unfortunately I never got to play it at big venues (only in front of small gatherings of people in free-impro clubs in London). I did have a go at it at the weekend, however, and it all came back after about 15 minutes. Anyway I wondered what Basschatters might think of it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 I'll be honest and say it isn't my thang. That said, I nearly made it to three minutes 'cos I was a transfixed. Anyway, it prompted me to have a root around the musical travels on your website, and.. wow. What an adventure! Nice one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted November 2, 2009 Author Share Posted November 2, 2009 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='643247' date='Nov 2 2009, 11:19 AM']Anyway, it prompted me to have a root around the musical travels on your website, and.. wow. What an adventure! Nice one...[/quote] Why, thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 I liked it! Don't think I could more than 8mins of it lol, but nice to hear someone doing something a little bit different with solo bass rather than just slapslapslapslapslapslaptapslapslapslap etc Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skelf Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 My favourite track of Kev's is Return of the Bung which I think is genius and suggest you hunt it out well worth the effort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted November 2, 2009 Author Share Posted November 2, 2009 [quote name='Sibob' post='643271' date='Nov 2 2009, 11:43 AM']I liked it! Don't think I could more than 8mins of it lol, but nice to hear someone doing something a little bit different with solo bass rather than just slapslapslapslapslapslaptapslapslapslap etc Si[/quote] It gets good about 5 minutes in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted November 2, 2009 Author Share Posted November 2, 2009 [quote name='skelf' post='643272' date='Nov 2 2009, 11:48 AM']My favourite track of Kev's is Return of the Bung which I think is genius and suggest you hunt it out well worth the effort.[/quote] Thanks Alan. I probably shouldn't say this...but my own personal favourites don't usually feature the bass too much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Love it! It's not often you can genuinely say "I've never heard anything like that" in a good way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Very cool. I like how it does sound like a whole percussion ensemble. I had to go put the kettle on a couple of minutes in and had that beat going in my head in the kitchen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted November 2, 2009 Author Share Posted November 2, 2009 Thanks for the nice comments, guys. I had a quick look on Youtube to see if there was any Cameroon music ( the inspiration for the Spoombung - that and Steve Reich) and there are bit and pieces thus: Perhaps you can hear a slight resemblance? This was the album: [i]Spoombung[/i] is an onomatopoeic word derived from the sound of the rhythm (as you've probably gathered) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarcher Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Enjoyed that. Different and interesting. I like gamelan stuff a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Ain't that Richard Bona chap from Cameroon? That guy has an awesome name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Absolutely superb - totally hypnotic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 (edited) hats off to you kev - that's a lovely piece of music. i've been working on some less "orthodox" bass playing recently using percussive sounds and a bit of looping, but that knocks my efforts into a very cocked hat. oh -sweet little HH too ! Edited November 2, 2009 by ahpook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-soar Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Steve Reich, "Music For a left hand up yours finger and Sixteen tripleting right hand digits with treatments", I think that's the name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jase Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 I've got your '...Kirby Dots' album on my mp3 player, it's definitely left field but excellent stuff. Every time I listen, I hear something new. It's strangely disturbing in places too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted November 3, 2009 Author Share Posted November 3, 2009 Thanks again, Bass Bruvs. [quote name='steve-soar' post='644030' date='Nov 2 2009, 11:52 PM']Steve Reich, "Music For a left hand up yours finger and Sixteen tripleting right hand digits with treatments", I think that's the name. [/quote] That just about sums it up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cairobill Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 [quote name='Spoombung' post='643309' date='Nov 2 2009, 12:28 PM']Thanks Alan. I probably shouldn't say this...but my own personal favourites don't usually feature the bass too much![/quote] Of course when you're making the music, the more familiar elements like the sound of your fretless playing must after a while feel a bit 'been there done that' so, to your ears, your favourites aren't bass heavy. But whenever I hear you play the bass it sounds like only you could have done it, it is a completely unique sound. That is a serious achievement on any instrument let alone the bass. Kudos! Cairo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted November 3, 2009 Author Share Posted November 3, 2009 [quote name='Cairobill' post='644326' date='Nov 3 2009, 12:45 PM']Of course when you're making the music, the more familiar elements like the sound of your fretless playing must after a while feel a bit 'been there done that' so, to your ears, your favourites aren't bass heavy. But whenever I hear you play the bass it sounds like only you could have done it, it is a completely unique sound. That is a serious achievement on any instrument let alone the bass. Kudos! Cairo[/quote] That's very nice of you to say that but I can't help thinking that a better grasp of the [i]popular pulse[/i] would have served me better on occasion! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 MB1. ..... The bass seemed rather quiet?.... ..You might want to get that spin dryer looked at though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 I think Vincent and Flavia are dancing an Argentine Tango to this on Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing. Nice work. It'll sell dozen's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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