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cubest by the cube orchestra A Cubest album comes about when I think there's enough material floating around from previous sessions to collate and edit down to a package of around 35-40 minutes and there are numerous musicians contributing to the tracks. This time I've honed in on a single session from 15th April 2015, mainly because there was enough material for such a collection, but also because I thought it would be interesting to see how cohesive the overall sound is using the same seven musicians

There are omissions from the session, 'The Grinder Motel (Now Sadly Closed)' being one, but there are always casualties in this process, as there are when editing sections of a particular track. I think I went further than before with some of the edits, agonising over whose contribution I was hacking at, but I'm liking the result, especially as there're vocals on all eight tracks ...

The theme for Cubest 010 is seven musicians over eight tracks. Here follows some 'sleeve notes' ...

Jump to Download link ... Back to Cubest series ...


Bring Me My Zimmer

2015 04 15 - Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney; Sharleena Ray: Vocals, Ukelele; Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion, Bass, Piano, Saucillator; Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals; Jon Shepherd: Bass, Guitar; Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad; Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

It's extraordinary where a theme for a piece will come from. We don't talk much at our sessions, but a chance chat about work brought up a great subject - the Zimmer frame - and before we're done laughing about it a tune has formed and we're off. Nice jangly guitar from Jean-Michel, great bass line, restrained piano, expressive drums, plus Sharleena's humorous stream of consciousness. There's some nice interplay with Daniel's flute and other instruments. Lots of space. Lovely stuff, with a funny end

Spring Is Here

2015 04 15 - Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney; Sharleena Ray: Vocals, Ukelele; Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion, Bass, Piano, Saucillator; Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals; Jon Shepherd: Bass, Guitar; Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad; Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

It had been a surprisingly sunny day outside, so perhaps it was apt we found this lazy groove, with lovely light organ lines from Marcus, Jean-Michel complimenting him on piano and a woozy vocal from Sharleena, her words well found. Once again Jon's bass provides a strong melody under it all. Good ending again

Stride With A Purpose

2015 04 15 - Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney; Sharleena Ray: Vocals, Ukelele; Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion, Bass, Piano, Saucillator; Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals; Jon Shepherd: Bass, Guitar; Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad; Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

This was actually the first track from the evening's session, but I think it fits here better. There's Jon's bass line, strong and insistent, and some really sterling drumming from Ramon. There's space for my melodica, Daniel's flute and Jean-Michel's guitar. Sharleena sings some great scat across us. But it's Ramon's drums that stick in my mind. Fabulous. And another good ending!

Spook Geek Journey Time

2015 04 15 - Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney; Sharleena Ray: Vocals, Ukelele; Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion, Bass, Piano, Saucillator; Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals; Jon Shepherd: Bass, Guitar; Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad; Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

Eerie start to this one. Jean-Michel is using an app called 'Saucillator' on his phone, like a bowed saw, and I'm using my iPad as an echo chamber for the whole stage. Sharleena and the drums get the track going, yet the sound most prominent to me is Jon's missing bass! He's playing electric guitar, plus there's some lovely vibes in the mix and Sharleena's soulful vocals. Wow, another good ending

Shuffle the Deck

2015 04 15 - Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney; Sharleena Ray: Vocals, Ukelele; Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion, Bass, Piano, Saucillator; Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals; Jon Shepherd: Bass, Guitar; Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad; Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

Odd groove to this one, like some 60s comedy show from the States. Nice atonal chords and lovely flute over the top, with good vocals from Sharleena. I particularly like the mobile phone interference cutting in near the end

Ketamine Walk

2015 04 15 - Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney; Sharleena Ray: Vocals, Ukelele; Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion, Bass, Piano, Saucillator; Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals; Jon Shepherd: Bass, Guitar; Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad; Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

A tour de force from Jean-Michel on guitar here, truly playing the guitar like it's not a guitar. Jon provides a great bass line and Ramon shuffles the beat along. Jean-Michel hits a particularly sweet hook and Sharleena comes in, utilising an operatic style. Marcus, Daniel and I do what we can, but it's Jean-Michel who steals the show throughout. At one point Jon steps on his lead and the bass goes quiet, but he returns with great timing. The progression turns Iberican and dramatic, groans from Sharleena and insanity from the guitar. Then Jean-Michel grabs a slide and the sound turns mental before dropping out. Sharleena comes in with some excellent vocal stabs as it slows and staggers to a halt, with another great ending

The Art Of Pushing The Buttons

2015 04 15 - Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney; Sharleena Ray: Vocals, Ukelele; Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion, Bass, Piano, Saucillator; Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals; Jon Shepherd: Bass, Guitar; Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad; Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

There's a devotional feel to this track. We feel our way around Jon's bass, with atmospheric guitar and synth sounds and Ramon providing a mantra. Weirdly, I was playing drums from a different start point throughout the first section and simply kept my place, thinking Marcus was out with his timing. It was only afterwards that I realised who the real culprit was. I don't know whether it's fine or it if creates tension in the structure? Jean-Michel takes a good solo, then Marcus takes charge of the tune and Daniel follows nicely on the flute. The beat changes, building then dropping with stabs. I'm attempting to conduct with the drums again. Excellent ending

Crash Course For The Rovers

2015 04 15 - Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney; Sharleena Ray: Vocals, Ukelele; Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion, Bass, Piano, Saucillator; Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals; Jon Shepherd: Bass, Guitar; Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad; Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

A bit of madness. Sometimes the sound on stage is totally insane, yet it usually finds some point of harmony. Not here. Jon is on electric guitar again and is not letting go of the riff. Ramon's drums are nice and punky. There's even a punky mumble from me on vocals. It peters out quickly, but it was a good release. Perhaps our worst ending in this collection, but I like it for that reason. The title comes from misquoting a line from Bowie's 'Drive In Saturday', giving it a more English twist

I doubt I'll return to this format purposefully, but I think Cubest 010 holds its own ...
- keef chemistry

Download the zip file here (8 tracks @ 320kbps = 81mb):
https://orchestra.cubecinema.com/downloads/cubest010.zip
(The files need to be zipped before download. This may take a while, so please be patient ...)

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Last edited November 9, 2023 4:18 pm by Keefchemistry (diff)
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