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cubest by the cube orchestra It is time to celebrate another aspect of the Cube Orchestra's musical capacity, where the pieces serve as a platform for members to excel. While it is true that at any point in a musical journey a number of musicians can be said to be contributing, either providing a background canvas or soloing over the top, there are times when you can hear someone creating something wonderful on the fly and displaying real talent. Many of the tracks on Cubest 013 have moments like this and in the following notes I will endeavour to point this out, as if it needed pointing out, along with info regarding how much of the original recording I edited out ...

Cubest 013 is a collection of musical pieces, sometimes abstract, but always Cubesque ...

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


Twisted Mister

2015 05 20 - Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney; Ghoufran Warlow: Piano, Percussion, Clarinet; Chema Gala: Sax, Percussion; Ollie Owen: Guitar; Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion; Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals; Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Percussion, iPad; Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

Starting with a customary uncertainty, it's soon clear that there is a stunning solo unfolding on clarinet. This is provided by Ghoufran, who frequently graces the Cube stage and treats us to his multi-instrumental virtuosity. With a deft ear he steers the tune, while Marcus provides great piano stabs and Ramon gives us a lilting beat to follow. I like the bit where it sounds like someone's tripped over the kit. One minute in and Ghoufran is blowing strangely on his reed, making it vibrate deliciously and Chema comes in on sax with a fab accompaniment. There's a lazy guitar twanging away, with a soft flute following the slippery steps. Ghoufran's clarinet rises and others play around the tune, call and response. It drops out and just as you think it's about to find its end, it fires up again, limping along to Ramon's cymbal crashes. The ending makes me smile [I shaved three minutes off this track]

Heavy Breather

2015 05 27 - Claire Nicholls: Piano, Percussion; Sophie Scott: Flute, Vocals; Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney; Ghoufran Warlow: Piano, Percussion; Chema Gala: Sax, Vocals, Percussion; Ollie Owen: Guitar; Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals; Jon Shepherd: Bass; Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad, Keyboards; Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

Jon sets up a nice bass line here to maracas, which I decide I can't play and drop quickly. The drums come in, a flute blows and in comes an eastern vocal line and the scene is set. Is that a rattlesnake? Cries ring out, while Ollie sets to it with a gritty guitar solo. We're incorporating more effects into the mix and you can hear it here, as well as on Ghoufran's clarinet previously. Nice vocals, both Sophie's alto and Chema's outbursts. The sound drops off into space, kinda dubby with that fat bass line, with just the drums and piano holding it together, allowing Daniel to sign off on flute [I shaved nearly three minutes off this track]

I Wanna Love Someone Like You

2015 05 13 - Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney; Chema Gala: Sax; Kieran Gillick: Trumpet; Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion, Conducting; Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals; Jon Shepherd: Guitar; Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad; Marcus Valentine: Keyboards, Conducting;

Easy-going start to this tune, gently rising like a summer morning. Jon is on guitar, holding up the entire piece, while Jean-Michel turns out some lovely slide guitar and Daniel blows softly on his flute. There are more cries and shrieks, whistles and the like on this tune. My vocal line is deep in the mix, while Chema calls out louder, sometimes in Spanish, sometimes in English. As the lyrics unfold they're accompanied by Daniel on flute. Marcus takes up bass duties on his keyboard. The beat is drifting, a testament to Ramon's ability to feel his way and not simply drop a steady beat over everything. The rhythm picks up in intensity, helped by Jean-Michel, who has dropped his guitar in favour of the djembe. Marcus inserts a carnival piano riff, as we find the perfect place to stop [I shaved five and a half minutes off this track]

Magneto Melodrama In F Minor

2015 05 27 - Claire Nicholls: Piano, Percussion; Sophie Scott: Flute, Vocals; Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney; Ghoufran Warlow: Piano, Percussion; Chema Gala: Sax, Vocals, Percussion; Ollie Owen: Guitar; Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals; Jon Shepherd: Bass; Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad, Keyboards; Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

Here we go, the Cube Orchestra goes abstract. This happens quite often at our sessions and can be responsible for some great outcomes. This piece showcases Marcus on piano, who conducts quietly from the back when we need a prompt, but who is in full command here. There's some interesting percussive sounds punctuating the air. Flute and sax flutter in and out of Marcus' conversation, initiating and responding to his moves. After two and a half minutes it kicks in with a wonderful descending progression, in F minor we were assured. We usually play in the key of A! It has fluidity on a loose structure, until everyone comes in when a more distinct shape takes form. This made it difficult to edit! Wonderful dramatic playing, right up to the apt ending [I nearly halved this track length]

Secret Silver Service

2015 05 13 - Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney; Chema Gala: Sax; Kieran Gillick: Trumpet; Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion, Conducting; Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals; Jon Shepherd: Guitar; Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad; Marcus Valentine: Keyboards, Conducting;

Very little editing went on with preparing this piece. It was recorded during a session at which a couple of us took turns conducting. Here it's Marcus, waving his hands and pulling faces at us, letting us join in or cutting us off, lowering the sound, then raising the intensity, stopping us dead, then unleashing us all at once. It was an interesting experience. Normally we would play around a bit and find our groove, our notes, our place, but not here, Marcus directs as we go, yet the outcome is remarkably listenable, like a film soundtrack, with nice dynamics. The playing is a little tentative here and there and why wouldn't it be, when there's no time to think before playing? However, it simply adds to the dynamism when everything kicks in and we sound more confident. It drops to just Ramon's drum, then Jean-Michel's guitar, then us all, then suddenly we're all cut off. fab ending [I removed just a few beats at the beginning and some applause at the end, adding up to about 20 seconds]

Sub-Atomic Particles

2015 05 27 - Claire Nicholls: Piano, Percussion; Sophie Scott: Flute, Vocals; Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney; Ghoufran Warlow: Piano, Percussion; Chema Gala: Sax, Vocals, Percussion; Ollie Owen: Guitar; Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals; Jon Shepherd: Bass; Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad, Keyboards; Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

Great bass line here from Jon, helping set up the groove with Ramon. Dreamy vocals from Sophie, dreamy guitar from Ollie and those excellent vibes. Daniel's flute floats across the top, Chema's sax blows gently underneath. The sound is immersive. Halfway through Jon changes his bass line, while the vocals swirl around. It's worth noting that Sophie's mic on this album was incorrectly routed, so was all effect and no dry voice, but it works, thankfully. In comes Marcus, with a fine section of wild piano playing, truly excellent. Ollie's guitar bubbles away, sometimes backing everything, sometimes at the forefront. I remember enjoying this section while we were recording it. It all gets jerky and stops [I chopped a massive nine and a half minutes off this track]

A Ship In Every Port

2015 05 20 - Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney; Ghoufran Warlow: Piano, Percussion, Clarinet; Chema Gala: Sax, Percussion; Ollie Owen: Guitar; Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion; Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals; Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Percussion, iPad; Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

Another nice, loose piece here. Pieces like this are a nightmare to edit. Jean-Michel sets out on an epic pick journey with his guitar, lovely and gentle, like a warm breeze coming off the water. His proficiency on the guitar is on show here, where he is able to follow the flute, developing the pick, developing the tune. Marcus tries a few sounds before settling on a nice keyboard bass. Now Chema has a go and still Jean-Michel is there, holding the player up on a cloud. Nice playing of the drums and piano, they go well together. But that guitar playing ... sigh ... It drops out to just a pick and Marcus comes in on piano with a dramatic progression, which drops further into space. In comes the flute and it builds. We know where we are now and can shape the tune to a resounding finish [Chopped six and a half minutes off this one]

Go Ahead, Make A Mark

2015 05 27 - Claire Nicholls: Piano, Percussion; Sophie Scott: Flute, Vocals; Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney; Ghoufran Warlow: Piano, Percussion; Chema Gala: Sax, Vocals, Percussion; Ollie Owen: Guitar; Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals; Jon Shepherd: Bass; Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad, Keyboards; Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

Solemn but uplifting track, kicked off on piano, with the other instruments dropping in as it builds. I love Sophie's alto vocal, a bit lost in the mix but good for it. Ramon was sitting in the seats while I sat on the drums for a bit and you can probably hear me trying to conduct with the sticks. It's a flute and sax double act, with that delicious voice drifting in and out. I like the bass. At the session I brought this one to a sudden end because I felt my drumming was getting worse and worse [I cut a meagre two minutes off this track]

Never Trust A Man with A Beard

2015 05 13 - Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney; Chema Gala: Sax; Kieran Gillick: Trumpet; Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion, Conducting; Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals; Jon Shepherd: Guitar; Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad; Marcus Valentine: Keyboards, Conducting;

Good album closer this. It's a straight-forward riff with a slow build, but it feels like things are drawing to a close and it's time to sum up. I like the way the bass comes in, but it's Daniel who sets things up properly on harmonica. Chema follows the lead, everybody else helps structure the theme. I like the way it drops out a bit just as the bass comes in, then builds with sax, before coming in full-force, me emulating the harmonica on melodica, which share a similar sound. The drop is nice, first one with a great bass, then another, deeper with less bass, then again with just guitar, before coming in again, everybody getting a go - harmonica, sax and nice guitar bit right before a slick ending [Two minutes were chopped from this track]

Cubest 013 is a listening album showing off the Cube Orchestra's extensive talents ...
- keef chemistry

Download the zip file here (9 tracks @ 320kbps = 94mb):
https://orchestra.cubecinema.com/downloads/cubest013.zip
(The files need to be zipped before download. This may take a while, so please be patient ...)

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Licence  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License



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Last edited November 9, 2023 4:20 pm by Keefchemistry (diff)
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