Happy Birthday OTO

Today Odd Time Obsessed Radio turns one year old.
Yes, its been 365 days since the day I pushed that "start your own radio station" button. Its been great. Thanks to all the listeners and obsessers and writers and musicians, you have made this year quite interesting and fun. Here's to another year of obsessing the boundaries of FOUR.

Keeping it ODD,
Yours truly,
Countess B
OddTimeObsessed.com

American Airlines

Did you know.... or notice... if you took a flight with AA this holiday season...

that the music on the safety video shown on American Airlines is in 8/8 with a 3-3-2 pattern? I thought that was cool.

I love when these patterns sneak into the Corporate World and I can't wait to start writing them myself.

Always listening,
Countess B
OddTimeObsessed.com

Mixed Meter Metal Mania

New this week on Odd Time Obsessed Radio
Mixed Meter Metal Mania w/Metallica and King Diamond

King Diamond Makes Odd Time History
KD rarely uses odd meters, and when they do its usually just one mixed with 4/4. On their new release "Give Me Your Soul ..... Please" they really mix it up with their first mixed meter song ever! Very exciting..

Is Anybody Here? 3/4, 6/8, 12/8, 10/8, 4/4

and another treat
Never Ending Hill 4/4, 5/4

For a more complete diddy on this release: Odd Time Obsessed - Reviews

Metallica from ....And Justice For All
Blackened 7/8, 6/4, 4/4, 7/4, 9/8

Ahhhh old school done up right!

Odd Time Historian in the Making,
-Countess B
Odd Time Obsessed

King Diamond - Give Me Your Soul... Please CD Review

Give Me Your Soul…. Please

Its always nice to be polite when asking for someone’s soul.

King is still up to his old tricks on this 13th studio effort – an epic tale with all the familiar ingredients: going to, talking to, wanting to go to, being pulled to the other side, shadows, apparitions, am I dreaming?, THEM, black, bloody, galloping drums, flawless recording/playing, requisite guitar solos, signature guitar harmonies, bass you can’t hear and of course the unmistakable vocal range of King himself.

For better or worse I will always be a devoted KD fan (which is still an unsettling mystery to people who know me). So much so, that I was him for about 3 Halloweens, didn’t get the make up quite right, but it worked. No matter what he does musically (within reason) I will always follow him. It was “Conspiracy” that won my ears so many years ago, then I heard “THEM” and “Abigail” and there was no turning back.

KD (referring to the main writers Kim Bendix Petersen & Andy LaRocque) does not really delve into the oddtime realm, but there are a few nuggets here and there in their discography. This album, I am excited to state, has their first song with mixed meters in it. So very cool… Check it out…..

The tracks:

The Dead – 4/4
Never Ending Hill 4/4, 5/4 (about 6 bars)
Is Anybody Here? 3/4, 6/8, 12/8, 10/8, 4/4
Shapes Of Black – 6/8, 4/4
Black of Night - 4/4
Mirror Mirror - 4/4
The Cellar – 4/4
Pictures in Red – 4/4
Give Me Your Soul -4/4
The Floating Head -4/4
Cold As Ice – (No not a Foreigner Cover) 4/4
Shapes of Black – 12/8, 4/4
The Girl In the Bloody Dress – Kinda Punkish 4/4
Moving On – 4/4

This album offers a little more depth to their tried and true dimension. They get creative with some odd rhythms, riffs and sounds. One thing is for sure, they have not sold out and are extremely true to their form. I would almost venture to say they are stuck in a rut. Mind you I enjoy this rut, but it would nice to hear another dimension of KD. Maybe a Romanian Minor or Chinese Mongolian scale, or how about singing between his range, some growls, some syncopated vocal riffs, or vocal harmonies – to go just a little bit out of their comfort zone is, that too much to ask?

All this aside, this is Odd Time history being made, even if I am the only one who is that completely obsessive to acknowledge it – KD now has a mixed meter song! Am I dreaming? No. But I have a dream and its in 13/8. When the day comes and its finally time to go to the other side, the other side of the dollar that is. When my bank account gets to the 8 digits, I am going to commission KD to write a song in 13/8 (my fav) with breaks in 9/8 & 5/4, with a Bhairavi Raga scale and a three bar bass solo that I can hear and no 4/4 allowed. What else could a girl want? Not just a regular Diamond, but a ....

So…. King Diamond Rocks and they are still rockin’ in the same way… so have a go at their tried and true KD grooves, but don’t give your soul away, even if they are polite.
CovenWorldWide.org

Countess B
Odd Time Obsessed

Day of the Grateful Dead

Serving your weekly Odd Time needs...

New this week...

Day of the Grateful Dead
from Go To Heaven
Easy to Love You 15/4, 4/4
Don't Ease Me In 10/4, 4/4

The Beatles - St. Pepper
Good Morning, Good Morning 9/4, 6/4, 4/4

Special Requests...

Balkan Folk Music
Philip from Norway pointed out that there wasn't any sign of Balkan Folk Music on this station or website. And yes Philip you are absolutely right, and I appreciate all feedback, and I listen.. so here you go ... this is just the start of the journey into the Balkan Folk Realm..

Celebinisko 9/8 Trakia, Bulgaria
from the site Dunav.com.il and here is what they have to say about it:

Celebinsko is a choreography by Belco Stanev with great music in an interesting meter. It's 9/8 divided : 2 3 2 2. In the vocal part, the steps are exactly on the meter: QSQQ, but in the instrumental refrain, half a bar is added 2 3 (QS). The steps are in 2 2 2 3 (QQQS) and the missing half bar 2 2 (QQ) is added at the end so that is missing (mathematically).

Two requests from Guy via email: The Look People & The Mars Volta

The Look People
Guy suggested that I check this band out, and that they are a cross between Zappa and the Muppets. Sounds like something to obsess about. So I looked into obtaining some of their music - no luck at Ameoba or online. The only info I have is from their page on MySpace and I was able to download one song.

Heres a diddy from their MySpace page MySpace.com/TheLookPeople:
"LOOK PEOPLE were a Canadian alternative rock band in the 1980s and 1990s. They were the most outlandishly quirky band on the Canadian music scene of their era, known for their “cuisinart fashion statements”, “turrets syndrome time signatures”, and high energy live performances."

Gotta love the Turret Meters....

"Really Mean Guy" from Crazy Eggs 4/4, 5/4, 9/8
Prior to this suggestion, I've never heard of this band. Therefore I am assuming that this is one of their most straight ahead songs. Its mostly in 4/4, with one or two bars of 5/4 & 9/8 as transitions, maybe not on purpose. If anyone can lead me to some more of their tunes, it would be most appreciated. I wrote to the band, we'll see what happens there.

And my favorite song from...

The Mars Volta
"Cygnus...Vismund Cygnus - Sarcophagi - Umbilical Syllables - Facilis" from Frances the Mute
This song uses Zappa Meters 17/16, 13/16, 5/16, 5/8, 11/8 and so on - when I retire I will do a thesis on this song.
all night... I want you... let me show you what I mean...
are the only lyrics I can understand, but atleast this one is not in Spanish, then I wouldn't understand anything, only manana, arro, beno, hola, uno, dos....
This song brings about the coolest energy and every time I hear it I want to be there with them playing bass - especially during the first section... funky.
This 13 min song has been on rotation a few times, and glad to play it again.

Thanks for the request Guy..

Odd Enough,
-Countess B
Odd Time Obsessed

New This Week! Cubanismo! Amon Duul II

Get outta town!!!!! okay lets go to Cuba - these guys are amazing!
(upsidedownexclaimation)Cubanismo!

From their album - Reencarnacion

"Jamming In Nijmegan"
you are not going to believe me when I tell you this
15/4 - yes a very fast 7/4, 8/4

"Donde Esta Coto"
now you really got to listen to this
you might think I'm just testing you to see if you are paying attention...
14/4 - again a very fast 6/4, 8/4


Amon Duul II
from their collection - 3jahrzehnte 1968-1998
"Archangel Thunderbird" - 6/4
This is the sh*t, now you really have to listen

when four is a bore,
Countess B
Odd Time Obsessed

Huun Huur Tu Concert - Witnessing Natural Musicians

Huun Huur Tu
Walt Disney Performing Arts Center
October 13, 2007

Odd time is natural.

Huun-Huur-Tu are real natural musicians, “throat-singers” from Tuva, a Russian republic on the Mongolian border. These four channelers of nature, three string players and one percussionist all share in the over-tone singing, and make their own instruments igil, khomus, doshpuluur, tungur and others.

This concert took place on a Saturday morning at the Children’s Amphitheater as part of the World City Art program, geared towards children. They only played 6 songs with vocal solos which lasted for about 25 mins and I had wished that it went on for about 2 ½ more hours. Their songs are in 4/4, 7/4, 10/4 and other meter types. There is never a “back beat” type of groove. One song about a horse was in 10/4 and you swear you were right there on the horses back. See nature doesn’t always move in 4/4.

Tuvan are nomadic people and through their music they create sonic “maps” of their topography. By imitating or aesthetically representing the sounds of nature, human music-makers seek to link themselves to the beings and forces that most concern them: in the case of the Tuvans, domestic animals, the physical environment of mountains and grasslands, and the elemental energies of wind, water, and light.
To sum it up here, they are just a different breed of musicians than in the Western sense. In this day and age, we can barely fathom the value of their expression. There are no egos apparent and how could there be? They are playing nature, not for bling, stardom but just to be with their land. So what does that teach us in 4/4 land here? How are we mimicking our environment? Stuck in mainly one 4/4 time zone? What does that say about this (Western) culture?

Huun Huur Tu, has much to teach us. The are fascinating to watch and to listen to. They are an experience to be witnessed whether they wander through your town, iPod or computer screen don't miss them.

HHTMusic.com

Naturally ODD,
BetZe
Odd Time Obsessed

Prong at the Whisky - Sunset Strip 10/14/07 Concert Review

Prong at the Whisky A Go Go
(Club on Sunset Strip, West Hollywood 10/14/07)

You gotta pick up the Broken Peace…

because its… Unconditional

Prong performed on Sunday night at the Whisky Club
Prong is the Industrial Metal Hardcore band on its 5th studio album (I think)

The Venue
Okay let me just get this out of the way… The “famous” Whisky really needs to get over itself. I haven’t been there in a while and they have completed some renovations and boy are you gonna pay for that. Seven dollars for a cup of beer, thirteen for a mixed drink and one hundred dollar min just to sit in a booth… What? to see some crappy bands that had to pay $250-300 to play for 35 mins? Its venues like these that really know how to kill a good time, let alone good music. Some place not so pretentiously Nazi, such as a underground industrial warehouse would have been much more fitting. But I am only here for PRONG ! They did not have to pay to play… cash that is … they have already paid their price…. years of being under-rated.

The Band
Prong is Tommy Victor. With many different line ups, he is the common denominator. Tommy Victor is a pioneer who has successfully invented a genre. He is a style – I haven’t heard anyone quite like him, they can try but no cigar my dear. As far as guitar players go, he is in my top five. By using unconventional intervals (lots of 4ths), chord progressions and song structures along with grooving hardcore rhythms he proves to be one of the most creative guitarists around. You can tell his creativity has not been washed by conventional means (music school, wannabeism, too many lessons and shoulds). He is a true raw artist, this is his soul. He has no choice but to create and play this music.

The Show
They played for a good 90 mins that covered much of their new album along with the requisite classics – Broken Peace, Unconditional, Whose Fist is it Anyways?, Beg To Differ, Snap Your Fingers Snap Your Neck, Prove You Wrong… They sounded great throughout, tight and together. I would have never guessed that the bass player, Monte Pittman was Madonna’s teacher and guitarist, talk about switching gears. He kinda looks like he would be in Kyuss. He was good, although it erks me when guitarist double like that, don’t know why. The drummer, Aaron Rossi was just a little “bouncy” for me. His kit was just a little too small for some reason and I don’t think it would hurt him to hit the woodshed a bit. But he did the trick. About 5/8ths through the show Tommy asked how the drinks where here… are they expensive… is that why no one is buying us them? (yes, $11+ for a shot) So someone bought them Jager – Tommy said “Finally” and his voice immediately grew some more balls. I wanted to buy him the whole bottle – what would he sound like then?

Anyways, it was a great show and I am glad that I went despite the sucky venue. It was good to see them again. The last (and only other) I saw them in SF around 2003 – with a completely different line up and look (Hawaiian shirt, dirty blond hair) after his hiatus (ie. incubation, darkness) from music. I have been digging Prong since the early 90s and their songs have helped me pick up the Broken Peaces along the way. But what does all of this have to do with odd time? Well, some of their songs are in odd time – mostly 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 7/4 type of groove. Damager has some – once I get it I will write a diddy. It is in alignment with their style – I doubt that Mr. Victor sets out to write a song in 7/8, but writes what the song dictates.

If you are looking for something different, heavy, original… you can’t go wrong with Prong.

Countess B
Odd Time Obsessed

Ten Sixteen

10/16 can not be reduced to 5/8
In 6th grade math its okay and even expected, but not when we are talking about the fine art of hearing, creating and analyzing odd metered music.
You can be so crass as to assume 5/8 & 10/16 are the same, but it would technically be an odd time lie. (It happens ya know.)

oneeana twoeana threee onee twoeana threeeana oneeana twoe threeeana

Truly ODD,
-B
Odd Time Obsessed

Whats Your Signature?

... so he said his middle name was MathRock....

.......did I believe him???

... I wanted to...

...and then he asked...
Whats your favorite meter to play in?

(finally, finally, someone finally asked)

I thought you would never ask...

why 13/8..... 123,123,123,12,12

his was five - five four five eight five sixteen he did not say....

Ms. Mathrock,
-B
Odd Time Obsessed

Ten Eight

10/8 - 2 bars of 5/8? no

10/8 - really 5/4? no

10/8 has a distinctive feel with variations which is much different that 10/4.

Some examples:
"Necro Feel" by MindRape uses the meters 7/8, 5/8, 10/8, 4/4. The 5/8 & 10/8 sections are two distinctive sections both with eight note themes.

"Wandering Child" by Gov’t Mule uses the meters 10/8, 4/4, 8/8, 4/8, 9/8 (+). Over the 10/8 section there is an eight note theme which dominates the first part to the song.

Check em out..

-BetZe
OddTimeObsessed.com

My Dad

My Dad
is a rocket scientist
(aeronautics engineer for MIT)

He suggested that I write in 9/11 - he said that would really screw up the orchestra. Yes he does realize that I would have to invent my own system..... I might need his mathematical help - can it be done.....???? nothing is impossible right???
God love him...
so instead of eighth, quarter half notes it would be just eleventh notes..... where is Zappa when I need him....

let me think about this..
-B
Odd Time Obsessed

Ten Four

ten four - Message Understood - Affirmative - OK - Understood - ten four

Usually 10/4 to me is really 5/4, but if the phrase is carried for the ten count, then it would be in 10/4 - not five.....

Here is a few examples from OTO's playlist:

Gluey Porch Treatments (New and Improved) – Melvins - 10/4, 4/4
Kill Switch – The Fallen - 10/4
My Ass is on Fire - Mr. Bungle - 4/4, 10/4

And some examples from Wikipedia -
I'll have to add them to my collection.

1968) "Wanderlove" by Mason Williams
(1971) "Playing in the Band" by Bob Weir and/or the Grateful Dead (4+4+2)
(2000) "Everything in Its Right Place" by Radiohead
(2004) "Destroy Glass Castles" by Venetian Snares
(2004) "Bonivital" by Venetian Snares
(2004) "Looks Good (But You Looked Away)" by Helio Sequence
(2004) "Vida" by Venetian Snares
(2005) "Storm" by Björk
(2006) "Grammy Family" by DJ Khaled featuring Kanye West, Common, John Legend, and Consequence

Oddly yours,
Countess B
OddTimeObsessed.com

on.... the .... radio....

This week on .... the ... radio........

.....did the internet kill the airwave star???

can't wait until they get these cyber stations portable.....


Shard Villa - who what where when????
This is a very cool progressive metal band from Washington State/Vermont/Montreal. How do they rehearse? The Internet is magic. Don't know too much about them but I think this is their second demo w/a new line up. But one thing I heard, which I don't find too often is that the singer is a true musician. He understands and is comfortable singing in odd time a member of the band - not the just the face. I wouldn't be surprised if he actually writes some of the music. Some singers don't really know what to do over 7s to 15 to 9s - its not natural to them. But to this singer, he feels it, he's in it, he lives it. Plus he's got a wide range and is creative with his cords. Can't really understand the lyrics but
In their music you can find hints of Estradasphere, Malmsteen, Queensryche, many time changes and killa bass riffs/sound.
Have a listen - They are on MySpace too.

The Gathering
Ancient Geometry
Time Now

Steve Vai - from Flex-Able
Okay I am going to be honest, (Aries Rooster can't help it) I don't like SV. Period. I think he takes himself way too seriously. He needs to get over it. But I do have some of his music and here are some odd time examples. Not sure of the meter because I can't bare to repetitively listen to it.

Little Green Men
odd odd odd

Bledsoe Blvd
more odd odd odd


Rush
Leave that Thing Alone (Counterparts) - Geddy tops himself with this bassline - he's so funky.
6/4, 4/4

RUSH not in ODD TIME (barely)
Natural Science
I just have to say.... Natural Science is one of Rush's coolest songs and the verse is almost in 15/16 (3,3,3,2,2,2) but nooooooooo they had to hold that one note a sixteenth longer (3,3,3,3,2,2).... why do they do that???

Subdivisions
Starts in 7 for a few measures, but I am not going to play it just because of that... cool song though.... reminds me of junior high.... (how original of me).

Oddly yours,
Countess B
OddTimeObsessed.com

O.S.I. - Free CD Review

Jim where did our love go wrong?

Whats he doing? I know what he’s doing, he’s breakin’ my heart.

Before I dramatically go on:
O.S.I. stands for Office of Strategic Influence which consists of Jim Matheos (Fates Warning, Solo work) on guitars, keyboards, programming and Kevin Moore (Chroma Key, Porcupine Tree) on vocals, keyboards and programming. Free is OSI’s second release with special guests Mike Portney (Dream Theater) on drums and Joey Vera (Fates Warning, Armored Saint, Anthrax ) on bass. Free is their second release, with Office of Strategic Influence being their first.

Okay back to the drama:
Jim Matheos is one of my most treasured writers/musicians. It was his force that got me started on this odd time path back in the late 80s. I was in love with this music and it was my mission to be able to write like this. The first Fates Warning show I ever saw was in Boston and Jim and his manager helped sneak me in because I was too young. How cool of them to help this distraught stranger. Ever since then, I have seen every one of their shows that I have known about and almost everything he’s written I’ve resonated with (sans solo). I heard him write 4/4 before mainly during his solo efforts– but this “Free” is just a little bit too much for me to handle.

Sure You Will 4/4
Free 4/4Go 4/4
All Gone Now 3/8, 5/8, 11/8, 6/8
Home Was Good 4/4
Bigger Wave 4/4, 11/8, 5/8
Kicking 4/4Better 4/4, 7/8
Simple Life 4/4
Once 2/4
Our Town 6/8

There is simply too many FOURs in this equation. I think there is about 7 mins worth of odd time here (yes I did count it) which in turn makes it about 14% (OCD ya you know me) in odd meters. Jim please come back to your oddness, this is where you belong.

Okay deep breath… at least he didn’t go way off the deep end and start involving himself with sunshine, rainbows, smilely hearts, that I couldn’t take. The whole feeling of the album is perfectly reflected in the cover: the isolation of conformity, creative desolation and more than a bit of hopelessness. There are a lot of cool musical ideas and sounds here but its just not the same when its in four. I like the bass on "Sure You Will" and "Free". “Once” has some interesting poly-rhythms and moods. “Free” and “Kicking” are rockin’ as far as 4/4 songs go and of course my favorites were “All Gone Now” and “Better” – now we’re talking.

Anyways, back to Jim and this meter situation. Its sounds like he is trying to be something his is not – and that’s a 4/4 man. It just doesn’t suit him at all and takes from his magic. Now he’s Plain Jane Jim, not Magical Matheos. Please don’t tell me he is trying to appeal to a larger audience – I will forever be in denial of that if its true. It is a musical album, but Mr. Matheos’s signature is barely there.

Okay, enough of me selfishly holding on to someone’s expression (my new name: Loco B). Its healthy to experiment that is when you get to the gems. If you don’t have any OSI, go get the first one "Office of Strategic Influence" then hope he comes back to his senses for the third one. OSIBband.com

Loco B
(Countess B)
Odd Time Obsessed

Equinox is Equal

I tried with no luck to find a song out of four titled Equinox in my collection.... Maybe because the equinox represent equal day and night??? Anywho, I do have Jaco Live in NYC - but no odd time on that song, he really wasn't big on that... and some new age album - but no oddies...

New this week on Odd Time Obsessed Radio...

Note: Every week the songs are rotated on the playlist (6 hour loop) and each week I try to find new ones to add to the collection... some weeks I find more than others, this is what I found this week....

Some Classics
Black Dog - Led Zeppelin Live in Berlin - their last concert
4/4, 5/4 + it is rumored that they wrote this rhythm to thwart cover bands, I bet they succeeded in that ...

Guinnevere - Crosby, Stills & Nash - Wooden Ships beautiful song... recently discovered this at a neighbors and had to play it 5 times in a row to get the timing and buggin' the sht out of him in the process
4/4, 3/4, 7/4

Classic Players...
Gov't Mule
Wandering Child 10/8, 4/4, 8/8, 4/8, 9/8 plus a couple meters more that will require a few more listens to catch...

Some Classic Classical....
Rite of Spring - In celebration of the Autumnal Equinox (today at 2:51am PDT) yes I know 6 months too early..so in place of an equinox song we are celebrating with this classic.
There are 2 parts and 14 sections. For breakdown got to the playlist Odd Time Obsessed - Playlist

and some classic SURU to continue with the ritual theme...
Witch Doctor 6/4
A Healing Chant 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 7/4

Classically yours,
Countess B
Odd Time Obsessed

Its 9/16

Okay who out there can name some songs/compositions that use 9/16? Talk to me - the search is on. As far as I know, this meter is rarely used and when it is its usually mixed in with other meters and sometimes hard to hear. It can feel like fast 9/8, 9/4 depending on where the accents fall and surrounding meters. When I was trying to think of a straight 9/16 example I happened to remember a project that I did for my Traditional Harmony class back at Berklee. The professor challenged us to use uncommon keys and meters, so I composed a lovely piece in 9/16 in B flat minor (5 flats). It doesn’t sound that interesting, but I got an A. Anyways if your ears burn for this a sample can be heard on front page of Odd Time Obsessed by clicking on 9/16 star.

New this week on Odd Time Obsessed Radio

Stoner Rock out of FOUR???
Yeahhhh, can you believe that I found some stoner rock out of four? First I have to thank Rocksanne from 420TrainWreck.com/ for broadening my stoner rock horizons – her station ROCKS! If it wasn’t for her, OG and Fu Manchu would not be in my collection today!

Orange Goblin
Hot Magic Red Planet 7/8, 4/4
You’ll Have to Go to the Moon in That 6/4

Fu Manchu
Pick-Up Summer 7/4, 4/4

Melvins – They can be kinda stoner - they sure do go on and on and on and on.....
Gluey Porch Treatments (New and Improved) 10/4, 4/4
Resolve (New and Improved) 7/4, 5/4, 4/4

MattyO - Matt O’Connor is a friend of mine who is stoner-like and a songwriter/guitarist who has a unique blues/reggae/rock/70s sound.
Slop the Barking Dog Band 12/8, 5/4, 7/4, 6/4

Enjoy the Oddness….

Keep it ODD,
Countess B
Odd Time Obsessed

Happy 9/8

(oh seven that is..)

There are many ways you can play 9/8 such as:
in groupings 3222 - 2322 – 2232 – 2223
441 – 414 – 144
432 – 324 – 234 etc etc
or combo feels 6/8 + 3/8, 7/8 + 2/8, 4/8 + 5 /8
or 3/4 with a triplet feel
or just plain 9 with an eight note feel which is quite different from a quarter note feel.

In celebration of this odd metered day
these fine examples will be on this weekly broadcast:

The Start of Something Beautiful – Porcupine Tree 9/8, 4/4
Igor Russo – Drums & Tuba 9/8
Mucous Music - fred 9/8, 7/8, 4/4
Auroa's Aura - Lindsey Boullt 9/8, 7/8
Brain Seed - Kreator - 9/8 intro

To hear the contrast these 9/4 tracks will be in the broadcast as well:
Blue Rondo a la Turk - Brubeck, Dave Quartet 9/4
In the Absence of the Sacred - Lamb of God 7/4, 6/4, 9/4, 4/4
Jambi - Tool 9/4
Straight Outta HK - Say Bok Gwai 9/4


Also this week some new finds:

Drums & Tuba - odd metered tracks from Vinyl Killer and Mostly Ape
Funky creative art rock trio from Nawlins - why haven't I heard of them before? Where have I been?

Ekova - World Fusion featured tracks from "Space Lullabies And Other Fantasmagore" and "Heaven's Dust". There wasn't too much info on this artist, but she is a one of a kind singer with other worldly sounds.

- Have an ODD week -

Keep it ODD,
Countess B
OddTimeObsessed.com

This is going to be a LONG week

This week on Odd Time Obsessed Radio for your odd time listening needs...

Epics by Opeth
Some of their longest, heaviest, oddest and growliest....

Mahavishnu Orchestra - Live Wild Strings
This was "given" to me by a seller at a yard sale in WDC in May. He wouldn't take any cash for it because......

Meshuggah - I
Their longest composition, I think it has like 52 parts in it, you won't be bored.

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
Finally got out my collection - I was missin' Wooten.

Katatonia
In celebration of their upcoming show at Whisky here in LA in Sept!!

Philip Glass
Some opera, some orchestra, some cool composition..

Have an ODD week!

Keep it ODD,
Countess B
OddTimeObsessed.com

The Fallen – Front Towards the Enemy CD Review

The Fallen – Front Towards the Enemy CD Review

The Fallen was a four piece death metal band out of Southern California and this is their first (and only) major label release. These fine fellas go back to my Berklee days (sans bassist). I think they were called Crestfallen at the time. When I started this station (Odd Time Obsessed) I was in need of material and I happened to find them on MySpace. Mark Venir (guit) kindly to sent me this and their second self released CD "Tones in Which We Speak". Glad he did, they are excellent musicians using multi-meters quite naturally.

Here's the obsession:

Short Fuse 4/4, 7/4
Front Toward Enemy 4/4, 6/4, 7/4
Killswitch 10/4
In Loathing 4/4
The Hopeless and The Frail 4/4
Blessings 6/4, 4/4, 10/4
Shifting Our Vision 4/4, 9/4
From Fragile to Strength 11/4, 4/4
Eleven Years 4/4, 9/8

They give death metal a good name. I dig their meter use that is oh so smooth and the acoustic guitar has a nice place too. They keep within the confines of the genre but also add a new dimension to it. It would have been nice to hear them expand out of the parameters and maybe use some of the jazz/classical/bossa nova skills that I know they have. But none the less this is a great metal album.

Unfortunately they are no longer together. It's a shame when musicians of this caliber split… and no where to be found in the music world. But if you happen to see this album or anything by them – get it. MySpace.com/TheFallenOriginal

Countess B
OddTimeObsessed.com

Fred CD Review “Notes on a Picnic” – Studio and “Live from the Bitter End”- Live

Fred CD Review “Notes on a Picnic” – Studio and “Live from the Bitter End”- Live

I heart fred

Fred is a fun cool jazz/rock/fusion experimental band that was around the fringes in the late 60s/early 70s. With the magic of MySpace they have been brought to me. On a lucky (for all) day in 2000, one of their 45 rpm was discovered in a German flea market by World In Sound, an indie record label and shortly after, their music catalog was re-released.

Which one is fred? Actually the band is named after peace in Swedish. Are they Swedish? Don’t know, but it’s the 60s/70s what do you want? Anyways, fred (no its not a typo, they don’t capitalize it) did most of their creating and recording in and around Lewisburg, PA while some of the members attended Bucknell University then later moving to a farm/commune. What cool music came out of that! Ah, what it would’ve been like to be there with those free spirits. Peter Eggers the keyboard player and composer was nice enough to send me the dissection of meter use. Thank you Peter for being obsessed as I.

His words…..

“Notes on a Picnic”


Track 4: “Mantra” is heavy hypnotic fusion dosed with psychedelia7/4 verse/chorus 6/4 guitar solo + 4/4 violin solo + 7/4 piano solo

Track 6: “The Head’s the Best Part” combines lyrical jazz/rock with the sweet harmonies of the Allman Brothers.
4/4 intro + 6/4 verse/chorus with alternating 6/4 and 4/4 solos

Track 8: “Chaos in the Conservatory” is a bunch of rock ‘n’ rollers wandering around the corridors of classical music.
3/8 + 2/8 and 3/4 + 2/4 and 6/4 + 4/4 plus a section in 5/4

Track 9: “Perverseerance” ” is visionary, perverted jazz rock
11/8 verse/chorus + 6/8 transitions with solos in 11/8


“Live at the Bitter End”

Track 3: “Freefall” is a wild fusion jam
contrasting sections of 6/4 and 4/4

Track 5: “Pachanga” (7:48)
3/4 + 3/4 + 3/4 + 5/8 verse/chorus with solos in 4/4

Track 6: “Cathode Ray Fantasy” is your brain on too much TV
6/4 + 5/4 and 4/4 + 4/4 + 3/4 (different divisions of 11)
Track 8: “Mucous Music” is “Psycho” meets Funkadelic, demented rock for an imaginary horror film
4/4 guitar solo + 9/8 violin solo with 7/8 + 7/8 + 9/8 + 7/8 ensemble riffs

All of the remaining tracks are in FOUR.

Back to my words..

It's a rarity to find musicians so deeply bonded. Sometimes seasoned & studio musicians can really lock with one another, or bands that have been together for years will have a bond, but there is still a formality between them. Fred takes it much deeper to a freedom that I imagine many intuitive musicians long for. One of the coolest examples of this is heard on Perverseerance in the communication between bass and drums during the bass solo and when the guitar and violin are "trading 4s" (really 2s and 1s) in 11/8 and 6/8. This then turns into a conversation that only old friends can have. It is a phenomenon that is not really easy to explain, so have a listen. It would be cool if we all could live on a farm and create music, then I would get cabin fever and be jonesin' for a death metal show and a soy chai latte… ah the city life.

Anyways, these guys are great, top musicians with their own sound and at such an early age. I enjoyed all of the songs, especially Perverseerance, Variations and Immersions …and an obsessive favorite, one that will probably be on my fav list for at least the next decade…. “Mantra” – It is simply perfect – the theme, the meters, the dynamics, the instrumentation, the composition - perfect. I have to restrain myself not to over listen and cause song fatigue.

I appreciate these artists and the label that brought them back to life. These CDs are a must for your Prog/Rock/Fusion Back in the Day collection. MySpace.com/FredWorldinSound

Countess B
OddTimeObsessed.com

Darryll Dobson - The Mind Electric CD Review

Daryll Dobson – The Mind Electric CD Review

Please don’t make me do it, I know that it can be difficult to compose and come up with an inspired end product… then have some chump review it. All of your hard work summed up in a paragraph by someone who probably has never written anything in their life… Well I have many times… so I am just going to say it….

This album is masturbatory. I listened to it I dunno maybe six times and every time I found myself getting bored… Me… when there is odd meters going on?? blah blah blah blah that is what I heard from the guitar, like he was talking some gibberish to himself and could care less to whom he was playing to or with. I said no, I have to listen to it again to at least count it out… then I got annoyed with all the guitar scaling repeating licks over and over again. There was no obsessing going on here, just with the off button.

In all fairness, I didn’t get to hear all of the songs. At the fifth track or so it kept getting stuck in my computer which caused it to freeze up a few times. Although I did enjoy some of the tracks off of his “Reality Check” that he sent at the beginning of the year, especially his singing. He sounds a little bit like Jimi Hendrix. Darryl Dobson is quite prolific and I would love to hear more songs with his voice on it. I can see with the right arrangements the classic guitar rock type of stations and listeners would pick him up. SolarGuitars.com

-B
OddTimeObsessed.com

Lindsey Boullt - Composition CD Review

CD review Lindsey Boullt “Composition” world/fusion/metal filed under “easy listening”

Move over Kenny G here comes Lindsey B.

This is my kind of easy listening.
(Quite obviously this was a mis-categorization and which I think has been remedied to Rock.)

Lindsey Boullt is a guitar player from San Francisco who has an impressive roster in attendance on this debut; Stu Hamm, Jerry Goodman (Mahavishu Orchestra), Jon Herra (Bass Player Magazine) and Mingo Lewis (Miles Davis) to name a few.

“Composition” consists of ten compositions each with its unique sound. Each sound as if they were written with the history and styles of the musicians involved in mind. Lindsey has his own virtuoso style and remains diverse throughout. He is also an accomplished composer who likes to use odd meters which gets me to….

…..the obsession – here’s the tracks:

(Thank you Lindsey for your dissection.)

Page Revisited 5/4, 4/4
Chasing the Whirling Dervish 12/8
Moving Panvishnu 7/8
Calling for Peace 4/4 some 6/4, 2/4
Bravo Davo de la Torre 4/4
Aurora’s Aura 7/4, 9/4, 5/16, 9/16
Groovin’ with Stu 4/4
Taste of Hate 15/8, 9/8
Farewell 4/4
Cleopatra’s Third Eye 7/8, 4/4, 7/4, 6/4, 6/8, 9/8, 15/8, 10/8

He sure likes to keep it interesting. There is a diverse assortment of rhythms and feels on this album. I like the tasteful use of straight and mixed odd meters. I have to say, my favorite track is “Aurora’s Aura”, not because of the cute name, or because of its mixed meters but it has succeeded in sounding like a resurgence of Mahavishnu Orchestra with a new guitar player. I also like “Page Revisited” and the use of the 12 string. Here comes Page that has practiced 12 hours a day and now knows 5/4. Also, the sitar playing is amazing and feels right at home on “Taste the Hate” and “Cleopatra’s Third Eye”. All of the musicians on this album are quite seasoned, proficient and have their own distinct style.

This album has succeeded in capturing the spirit of its musicians through composing and performance. It sounds as if, as Lindsey chooses his musicians, he hones in on their style/history and builds the composition around that. I wonder how much improv was going on it all sounded inspired yet pre-composed, a hard balance to achieve.

Lindsey Boullt is quite the shredder with his own style and sometimes reminds me of Satriani and sometimes Jason Becker. He plays for the music with out sounding like he’s taking a typing test or is a MIDI program. If you dig this genre, or are in the mood for some different rhythms, then this CD comes highly recommended LindseyBoullt.com. Add it to your cool easy listening collection.

Countess B
Odd Time Obsessed

Zappa and Gentle Giant This Week

This week Zappa and Gentle Giant will be featured on Odd Time Obsessed Internet Radio
Tune in this week to hear selections from...
Weasels Ripped My Flesh
Chunga's Revenge
Zoots Allures
Hot Rats
Joe's Garage Pt 1&2
Sheik Yerbouti
You Are What You Is
One Size Fits All
Strictly Commercial
Ship Arriving Too Late To Save a Drowning Witch
-AND-
Octopus
Three Friends
Acquiring the Taste
Check it out -

Keepin' it ODD,
-B
OddTimeObsessed.com

Will SoundScan get to my bank account????

Odd Time Obsessed is the name of my game. Its a mini station that plays across many nations on virtual waves of Live 365’s gyrations. Sharing the beats that are so unique, in a free form format that does not lack a style, so that you can compile a broader spectrum in your music collection.
Countess B is my key. A hostess with the mostess, I share my obsession with out aggression and find other rhythm fanatics that become B addicts.
Odd Time Obsessed is my musical game. It is a shame this station is going to go lame in the name of an unfair act that was not exact in its calculations in balancing the economic factors of these creations.
Silence can cause inner violence. To me this would be on of the most tragic days in history if we can no longer have diverse verse in our internet ears.

Countess B,
OddTimeObsessed.com

Symphony X at House of Blues in Hollywood 7/31/07

A blurb about the show...
Oh Romeo, Oh Romeo.... Ro - may - o as I have been corrected... but I am a chick and I would like to call him Romeo (as in Juliette). Can I just have one percent of your chops???... whats the longest you have gone without your guitar in your hands??.. I know thats your real wife... This guy leaves me speechless along with the rest of the band.

A simply amazing and flawless show. Now I can't remember the last time I could say that about a concert. They are on tour this summer to support their latest release "Paradise Lost". Haven't got that one yet and please don't ask me their set list either. Lost track after the first few songs. They played for about 2 hrs and without any mistakes, hesitations and very close to the recorded version. They played menacing changes, like it was normal or something... It was a great show and this is not meant to be a formal review... just a blurb..

Countess B
Odd Time Obsessed

First Blog

Welcome to the Odd Time Obsessed Blog - First Entry

A place where I get to go on and on about my obsession with odd metered music....
So if four is a bore for you...

and if you are a fan and fanatic that braves the boundaries of four...

please join me...

So tonight I am going to see Symphony X at HoB in Hollywood. Will report on these master metal musicians.

Countess B
OddTimeObsessed.com