Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Review - Viktor Mastoridis


You can learn from Viktor…

What’s a Bouzouki? a Tamboura? a Tambouritz Prim???? how can use them to create a cool fusion of Rock, Blues and Macedonian music? how can you mix baroque & jazz? make 5-8, 7-8, 9/4, 9/8, 11/8 all sound so natural? write a piece in 7/8 with swapping patterns of 2+2+3 & 3+2+2? Well have a listen to Viktor and all will be revealed.

Viktor Mastoridis is a creative Balkan Folk Fusion (with Rock & Blues) multi-instrumentalist that is based in London. He is a prolific writer that has 9 albums under his belt ranging from Children’s Music to World Prog Fusion. He likes to write in odd time, play traditional Balkan and modern rock instruments and fuse a variety of genres. He sent me two of his albums; Bridges (Mostovi) & Restless (Vol 2 World of Music Quatrology) and here is the oddness breakdown:

Bridges (Mostovi):
1. Taga Za Jug (Sadness for the South) 7/8 (3+2+2)
2. Pokazi Mi (Show Me) 5/8 (3+2)
3. Evdokia Dance 9/4 (2+2+2+3)
4. Go Fanale (Maiden’s Song) 4/4
5. Bol (Pain) 4/4
6. Hram (Temple) 7/8 (3+2+2)
7. Anazitisi (Show Me, Gr. vers) 5/8 (3+2)
8. Dalga 5/8 (2+3)
9. So Maki (with Sorrows) 4/4
10. Brzonogo Mashko Oro (Fleetfooted Mans Hora) 4/4


Restless (Vol 2. World of Quatrology)
1. Green Landscape 5/8 (3+2)
2. Dawn 9/8 (2+2+2+3)
3. Biljana 5/8 (3+2)
4. Dreams in Colour 4/4
5. Why 11/8 (2+2+3+2+2)
6. Rush Hour 9/8 (2+2+2+3)
7. Tamboura Dance 4/4
8. Ah Your Eyes 9/8 (2+2+2+3)
9. I Was Made For Love 7/8 (2+2+3 swapping with 3+2+2)
10. Spree 9/8 (2+2+2+3)
11. Baroque Jazz 4/4
12. Near East 4/4
13. Green Landscape 2 5/8 (3+2)

He is certainly a diverse writer that makes odd seem even. My favorites are “Dawn” because it sounds Opeth-esque (due to the use of minor classical chords) & “Near East” even though it’s in 4/4 its interesting because blends dance beats with eastern scales and accordion sounds (now if it was in odd time that would be way cool, say maybe 13/8 hint hint). The mix of Baroque & Jazz was quite creative too, definitely brought me back to my musical schoolin’. Also, many of the tracks on Bridges have great old world charm that brings me to the scenes of the Spaghetti Westerns with southeastern European costumes.

So, if you want to learn more about Balkan Fusion sounds, hear exotic instrumentation and odd meters and/or just want some interesting new music, then check out Viktor’s music site:

He also has a free song of the week to offer. Very Cool.

Naturally ODD,
-BetZe
for more reviews:

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Rap in 7!!

Alright!!! Rap in 7! Where have you been all my life?? Check out this video by Woody Pak with Prime - I hope this is a trend! They make 7 so sound natural - hint hint it is... and 13 is next... plus ck out the badass bass..... This is so exciting I can't stand it!



Foreva ODD,
-B
OddTimeObsessed.com

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Happy 3/8

Since March 8, 2008, I have been on a mission (a slight one) to find a song solely in 3/8. Nope, nothin' - its an odd little meter that really isn't odd at all, sort of. Is it a fast 3/4- or just an accent meter? I have heard/counted it mixed with other meters especially with 9/8 & 7/8, which creates a cool affect. Here are some examples of mixed 3/8 that I know of....

All Gone Now - O.S.I. - 3/8, 5/8, 6/8, 11/8

Chaos in the Conservatory - fred - 3/8, 2/8, 3/4 , 2/4, 6/4 ,4/4, 5/4

MIDI Treat - BetZe - 11/8, 7/8, 3/8, 5/8

Quartokoda the Third - Pfly - 3/8, 4/8, 5/8

Rhythm Method - Flobots - 7/8, 9/8, 3/8

Rite of Spring - Stravinsky, Igor
Thec. Ritual of Abduction - 9/8, 4/8, 5/8, 12/8, 6/8, 7/8, 3/4, 2/4, 3/8, 2/8
Thek. The Naming and Honoring of the Chosen One - 5/8, 9/8, 7/8, 3/8, 4/8, 7/4, 3/4, 6/8, 5/4, 2/4, 6/4
Then. Sacrificial Dance (The Chosen One) - 3/16, 2/16, 2/8, 5/16, 3/8, 5/4,3/4, 4/4, 2/4, 4/16,

Stick It In - Say Bok Gwai - 3/8, 4/4

When Acting As A Particle - Dillinger Escape Plan - 6/8, 9/8, 3/8

Wrecksuite - Ryan Rapsys - 3/8, 11/8

Tell me what 3/8 means to you - and tell me please if you have ever written in just 3/8.

Merci, Merci, Merci,
-B
OddTimeObsessed.com

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Happy 3/4

FYI - 3/4 is NOT odd time....

(I am sure that you already know that...)

But it can be fun to use for variation in your writing..... and its not just for Waltzes anymore

I have two favorite examples:
Iron Maiden - off of Piece of Mind - beginning starts in 3/4

Symphony X - a good part of the song is in 3/4 so very cool (they also incorporate 5/4, 4/4, (5/8 + 13/8), (13/8 + 14/8)) I was impressed...

Oddly Yours,
-B
OddTimeObsessed.com

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Finish Line


So I finished the RPM challenge – that was fun. Most of the month consisted distractions... wrestling with my computer and joining a jazz band that had 2 gigs. So I ended up writing my first album effort in 3 days. Needless to say it has a very distinctive first draft feel. But it was so fun and got a bit of crust off of my writing chops. Here are the tracks and I will be playing some of them on the station, because they are all ODD of course. I named it BetZe - Take One (how cute hun?)

CLICK THE SONG TITLE FOR A SHORT SAMPLE

5/4 distorted bass & drums

17/8 spooky orchestral piece

New Age Space with licks in 11/8

13/8 bass & drums groove

Another New Age Space but with licks in 15/8

9/8 guitar & drums a strange 9 that I don’t know where it came from

10/8 with some 3/8 and 9/8 bass & drums with lots of Wah

7/4 bass, drums, keys cool groove

This was so fun because I never have written in 17 or 15 – ahhh now I think that I am addicted! Next - Take Two...

Keepin’ it ODD,
-B
OddTimeObsessed.com