Have you ever had a song stuck in your head?

[crfriend]

I have, and I've had it there, pristinely preserved as neuronal wiring as it was a piece I really liked from my early teens. And every once in a while I'd play it back in my mind and wish I knew what it was.

Today, thanks to the power of You-Tube, I found it -- and I actually found it pretty darned quickly.

I've been fascinated with synthesizers from when I was a wee lad indeed (which explains why I was able to identify the "synth-ish" bits in Mugman's recent find) and electronic music in general. Now, in the early to mid 1970s "electronic music" ran the gamut from outright obnoxious noise to bleeps and bloops; there were only a few artists that were really pushing the boundaries, and amongst those were (in no particular order) Mike Oldfield, Tangerine Dream, Jean-Michel Jarre, and Kraftwerk. Here is where my memory failed. I left one out.

And so it was that in a moment of creative thinking that my old friend came back to visit -- a piece, mind, that I have not "laid ears on" in over three decades -- and gently gave my mind a shove to go "looking". This presented a conundrum; how does one "look" for music? Hard-pressed, I likely could have written the score down in musical notation, but how does one search for that? How does one "search" for audio? As far as I can tell, the technology just isn't there at the moment that would allow one to whistle the main melody, then hum the bass part, combine the two, and submit it for analysis.

So I started with the Usual Suspects (see above), and one by one, by various means, eliminated them all -- and then, furious at defeat, and at home, ran the search again and in the text-based search results was the guy I'd missed -- Vangelis. At this point, I figured, "What's to lose?", time-bounded things, and within three tries had my quarry: Pulstar! (05:49 in duration, and it's likely not for all.)

So, I'd been carrying a tune I cherished (else I'd not have been carrying it) for 30+ years, and now I know what it is -- and it's good to hear it on reproduction gear that actually does it justice. Win!

Addendum: One should also credit W. Carlos for pushing the boundaries back on what synthesizers can do. Switched on Bach was a groundbreaker for the time, and really showed the promise of what electronics -- savage as it was at the time -- could do, and be profoundly beautiful at the same time.

[mugman]

I haven't heard that one for years. Thanks for the memory. I don't think you mentioned Tomita in the list of better known synth performers - for me he's the best of the lot, and I have a few albums by him, though Spotify tends to be an easier source of music now. But you're right about having a tune stuck in your head and not knowing where it comes from, what it's called, or who played it. Luckily I have several musically minded friends here who, between us get to the bottom of such frustrations fairly quickly. I don't think any of them would have known the Vangelis answer though.
By the way, my last posted musical offering wasn't a 'find' exactly, it is actually me bashing hell out of the organ I'm afraid. Sorry about that .

[skirtingtoday]

Crfriend - For finding music, I remember many years ago that a book (it was well before the Internet) came out that you could refer to, to help with that situation. All you had to do was input the tune. The way I recalled it was that the next note was Up, Down or the Same as the previous note such as UUDSSUDD - and it would tell you what it was, or at least give you a select choice of a very few.

Found this now on the Internet nowadays at http://www.musipedia.org/ which has various choices; keyboard search, tune input via microphone and a Contour search very similar to the book noted above (only here you enter U, D or R (for repeat). That may have helped in your case if you happened to know the tune.

On the artists you mention, I remember Vangelis, Mike Oldfield (still have "Tubular Bells"), Jean-Michel Jarre (Oxygene) and Kraftwerk (Showroom Dummies and Autobahn) and have the last three artists on my I-pod. Must look up tangerine Dream and get some of their tracks. vangelis I must also get - thanks for mentioning it.

Will look at the Vangelis video at home as I am at work now.

[crfriend]

I haven't heard that one for years. Thanks for the memory.

You're quite welcome. It's still quite the piece.

I don't think you mentioned Tomita in the list of better known synth performers - for me he's the best of the lot, and I have a few albums by him [...]

You're correct, and that was an accidental omission. I've heard some of his work, but I don't happen to have any on vinyl (remember that?); I'll look around on-line.

By the way, my last posted musical offering wasn't a 'find' exactly, it is actually me bashing hell out of the organ I'm afraid. Sorry about that .

Well it was a good enough of a bash to be enjoyable.

On the artists you mention, I remember Vangelis, Mike Oldfield (still have "Tubular Bells"), Jean-Michel Jarre (Oxygene) and Kraftwerk (Showroom Dummies and Autobahn) and have the last three artists on my I-pod. Must look up tangerine Dream and get some of their tracks. vangelis I must also get - thanks for mentioning it.

I have got a lot of Oldfield, up until about 10 years or so ago (I think the most recent one I have is Tubular Bells 2). I find that I really prefer his "long-form" works to the short pieces that tend to be more commercial. Vangelis and Jarre have been around since roughly forever, and Tangerine Dream have done some positively superb work, including some motion-picture soundtracks. Also unmentioned in the thread is Kitaro; I have a bunch of his stuff on vinyl that's really very good that I haven't heard in a decade or so. Perhaps it's time to refurb the turntable and start digitising things.

[Big and Bashful]

I am not a fan of Tomita, but still love "China" by Vangelis, and even better, I still regularly listen to Soil Festivities, the first track is just sublime.
However, I am currently listening to some vinyl now that my old Rotel is fixed and I can plug my record deck in. Tonight has turned into a "back to the seventies" night (Foxtrot). I seem to remember there is a thread somewhere round here talking about hifi, amps etc. but I will look that out another time, now, off to youtube to try and see what a Korg M1 is like, I am looking for a synth to play with.

[crfriend]

I am not a fan of Tomita, but still love "China" by Vangelis, and even better, I still regularly listen to Soil Festivities, the first track is just sublime.

I looked up Tomita earlier today, and from what I listened to found his work, well, "less than satisfying" -- and the new experience is in line with my earlier memories. I believe I have "Soil Festivities" someplace, but it must be on vinyl which, at the moment, is a no-go (turntable's busted).

However, I am currently listening to some vinyl now that my old Rotel is fixed and I can plug my record deck in. Tonight has turned into a "back to the seventies" night (Foxtrot).

Sapphire and I, every now and then, put together very long playlists (it's easier now that a lot of it is in the computers) that can last an entire evening, and have a grand time with it. We are fortunate that our musical tastes, while not precisely aligned, are highly compatible and we get to "show" things to each other. My dirty mind still has fond reminiscences of Vangelis' Hymne!

I seem to remember there is a thread somewhere round here talking about hifi, amps etc. [...]

That would have been Jack Williams carrying on about the matter -- he designs and builds high-end hi-fi kit. (Perhaps someday if I'm ever independently wealthy...)

[... N]ow, off to youtube to try and see what a Korg M1 is like, I am looking for a synth to play with.

Oh, if I could ever find an ARP Odyssey in nice shape. They're positively stone-age things nowaday, but in the early '70s were quite nice, and I managed to do some remarkable things with one back when I was in "junior high school".

[mugman]

I suppose it's each to his own. I'm listening to the first movement of Soil Festivities as I write this via Spotify and the style is very irritating to these ears. The use of the underlying single note repetition is now annoying me actually, so I've just turned it off. I can understand this kind of music being attractive for some but, in turn, for me, equally less than satisfying. Tomita's music has recognisable melody and is usually a synthesised version of classical music. Maybe that's why I prefer it. Anyway, if we all liked the same stuff there wouldn't be any choices left.
I used to fool around with an ARP Axxe - a very small mono job which I got some weird sounds out of, and then later a Roland Juno 60. I lost most of my interest in playing synths about the 80's when everyone was at it.

Pete

[Big and Bashful]

Each to their own! I like the Vangelis repeating note background instead of bass and drummy type accompaniment, I find it relaxing, sometimes almost hypnotic. I must admit that I haven't listened to much Tomita, what I have heard just made me want to hear a proper orchestra playing the piece. We all have our preferences, that is what makes the variety of music out there so great!

Right, Korg M1 or Roland D50, that is the question tonight... back to demo's on YouTube to try and get an idea.

[crfriend]

Each to their own!

Indeed! In fact, if we all liked the same things, it's likely that this little corner of the world wouldn't exist!

I like the Vangelis repeating note background instead of bass and drummy type accompaniment, I find it relaxing, sometimes almost hypnotic.

My own tastes in music sometimes make Sapphire pull her hair out, although that varies very strongly with what sort of mood I am in or want to be in. I like melody very much, so never went much for jazz or other forms that mostly seem to be derivitives of musique concrete. There are times that I really like the rigid lock-step that one gets from sequencer-driven music (I find it good for working on logic and computing problems); dance music can also serve in this millieu. I adore classical music, and both Sapphire and I are well-acquainted with that genre. She likes folk, much more than I do, and I have a fondness for new-age. We both like the musical style of Steeleye Span and the Pogues.

Right, Korg M1 or Roland D50, that is the question tonight... back to demo's on YouTube to try and get an idea.

Good luck with the search! Hopefully you'll find an axe that you like and that you'll play.

(I really should recommission my clarinet and tune up the bowed psaltery again. And see if my old Casio keyboard still works.)

[Big and Bashful]

Latest on my musical spending spree:
Midi "Rock guitar" thingy is here, works well, I can play keyboard using guitar fingering, great controller.
Yamaha AW16G 16 channel digital workstation in the hands of a courier who is trying to find me at home.
Roland D50 synth, just committed to buying one on Ebay. I can't wait!

This lot will all go well with my selection of guitars, bass guitars and a mandolin.

If I can get some time at home I will enjoy these toys and try to copy a few tracks (Wish I had a creative brain that did the creative thing, but songs don't happen to me!)

[crfriend]

Midi "Rock guitar" thingy is here, works well, I can play keyboard using guitar fingering, great controller.
Yamaha AW16G 16 channel digital workstation in the hands of a courier who is trying to find me at home.
Roland D50 synth, just committed to buying one on Ebay. I can't wait!

From the sounds of it, you're a bit more than an amateur. What gives? That kit sounds rather serious -- and when do we get to hear the results therefrom?

[Big and Bashful]

Today I have been playing with the Yamaha 16 track digital recording studio thing. very intimidating to start with, but I now have got as far as me in three part harmony with myself, accompanied on acoustic guitar, played by myself. I like the machine, great way to waste time and if you had real talent you could accomplish a lot with one. As a matter of interest (for me anyway) I am producing my own recording of a Barclay James Harvest song called "One Night", it's always been a favourite of mine and since my brain isn't a creative one, but more of a Physics/ logic type of brain, reproducing my favourite tracks is probably as much as I will every manage.
One Night is a track which has stuck in my head ever since I heard it (somewhere around 1981), so I think I am alright sticking this into this thread!
By the way, the Roland D50 is ordered and should be here next week, I can't wait! a real grown up keyboard. I will try to suss out the keyboard parts on it, as a backup there is always the midi guitar, ooh gadgets! Smart!

Saddest bit is going to be the drum machine, I have no room for drums and couldn't afford a set of drum mikes to do a recording properly, One day I will find a way! In the meantime I will have to settle for an electronic drum pad thing, at least it has real drum sticks, unless I have lost them. It's not bad but the pads are small, it is still better than just clicking on a sequencer I suppose.

[crfriend]

[... I]t is still better than just clicking on a sequencer I suppose.

B.S. Sequencers can be beautiful too. Or, Are you sequenced?

Joking aside, multi-track tape is a wonderous world to explore. I have a 4-track device that I've banged down a few times to good end for eight or ten original sources. The digital realm just makes it easier and -- if you do it right -- lossless.

[sapphire]

Yes, I get songs in my head, always instrumentals. However my hearing has been sort of on the fritz for ages and the music that I hear is totally the construct of my brain and ears. Totally original. When it first happened, I remember running around the house looking for a radio that had been left on. There wasn't one. It is a strange sensation, not at all unpleasant, just out of the ordinary.

At the moment I just have a very pronounced buzz in my right ear. I injured the eardrum and the music went away.

[crfriend]

At the moment I just have a very pronounced buzz in my right ear. I injured the eardrum and the music went away.

You have a signal/noise ratio problem at the moment; please do get it looked after.

I, on the other hand, pick tunes out of general computer noises like fans and disks, some of which can be quite pleasing (my Silicon Graphics "Indy" is a remarkable provider). I believe that Sapphire thinks me quite insane and would be very happy if the house was quiet. Quiet, on the other hand, weirds me out very badly; the time we were without power for three days following the ice-storm of 2008 was rather harrowing.