Shaker Funk

This Friday's tune, wrapping up our eleventh week here in the Cacophonous World, is "Shaker Funk". This tune has been described as "'70s Cop Show Theme meets 'Lord of the Dance'". That description seems accurate to me and the tune itself was already long overdue when I recorded it in 2003. Enjoy!

NOTE: This song is now available on the new "Phreakbox v1.4: The Instrumentals" album, available for download from Amazon MP3, Lala.com, and available soon from iTunes and Rhapsody and on Audio CD.

Pixel

One of the more common themes in my music, when I'm doing what I like to think I do best, that is, is the elevation of the common or the mundane to an uncommon or slightly more revered state of being ("Shelly", "Coloring Monsters", "60 Ton Whale" -- though the last one does it kind of irreverently I guess). This song is one of those songs.

Is this song about your soul, or is it about the afterimage you see after looking at your computer monitor for a while then closing your eyes very tightly? Do the two have more in common than you think? Anyway, a few people like this song and I guess I'm one of them.

http://www.victorlams.com/audio/VLams_-_Pixel.mp3

Sins of Omission

Before you get too excited about this, an instrumental track from Decemeber, 2005, I should explain that it was mostly done as a demo track. I won a copy of Garritan's Jazz and Big Band software and this was my first attempt at using it (it can sound a LOT more realistic as evinced by the demos on Garritan's page). Anyway, I'm going to be playing with JABB a lot more in the future, but I kind of like this track, too, anyway.

By the way, I should also mention that this is track 20 in our musical journey through The Cacophonous World of Professor Whimsey which means we are one-fifth of the way to our goal. What surprises lie in store for us? Keep listening to find out.

NOTE: This song is now available on the new "Phreakbox v1.4: The Instrumentals" album, available for download from Amazon MP3, Lala.com, and available soon from iTunes and Rhapsody and on Audio CD.

Underground Places

This track, from 2001, is about Missionaries (of a sort). It's some of the finer songwriting I've done (though some disagree) and was mostly written to answer a challenge from my High School band friend, Moses, who was upset because on the whole "Robot Love" CD, I used not one 4-7-3-6-2-5-1 chord progression.

At some point in the future I may revisit this track, or its theme. But not tonight.

http://www.victorlams.com/audio/VLams_-_Underground_Places.mp3

Ghost Monkey Cop (Who Also Plays The Marimba)

Cop shows and cartoons about animals who solve crimes and are in bands were big in the 1960s. Also big were shows about ghosts and witches. D-list animation studio Banarama/Hibernia thought they'd do the industry one better and create a hip show for kids about a dead monkey who plays the marimba and solves crimes. They even got Charles Mingus' brother Billy Mingus to write and perform the theme song (with out of work lounge act Robbie "The Throat" Vertulli on vocals).

The creepy plot premise proved too much for even the rather permissive sensibilities of the baby boomers in the test audience and, perhaps also due to the suspcious and untimely drug-related death of lead animator "Trippin'" Joe Bostowiz, no further episodes were produced after the pilot (of which no known copies are believed to exist).

Only a single recording of the theme song lived on. And here it is:

http://www.victorlams.com/audio/VLams_-_Ghost_Monkey_Cop.mp3

Hooray for Kobe-San!

January 1, 2001: Food Network shows a 24-hour marathon of the Japanese culinary battle show, "Iron Chef". Aspiring songwriter Victor Lams, basking in the warm glow of his recent CD release, watches 18 hours of said marathon, stopping only long enough to visit KMart for more blank videotapes.

Two weeks later, out of that hilariously-dubbed haze of cod-roe ice cream and foi-gras nougat, this song was born.

http://www.victorlams.com/audio/VLams_-_Hooray_For_Kobe-San.mp3

Idi Amin Is Dead

We wrap up an unusually weird week with an unusually weird song. I did this track, judging from the last modified date on the file, August 18, 2003 -- two days after Amin died. I'm not from Uganda, but by all accounts Idi Amin was a real bastage.

I made it in the demo version of FLStudio (shortly before I got the full version for my birthday) which means that I was able to export the audio file, but not able to save the work in progress. This means the track exists forever in its current form, never again to be revisited. Thank goodness.

http://www.victorlams.com/audio/VLams_-_Idi_Amin_Is_Dead.mp3

Hive Girl

Professor Whimsey's Logbook: June 12, 1927

The most amazing discovery: upon finally arriving and entering into the Love Hive I was treated not to the sound of choatic buzzing as one would expect, but instead to the most mellifluous sort of droning. It was clear that if I were to navigate this new realm, I would need a guide. Fortunately one presented herself, dancing over in a circular pattern. She told me her name was Beatrice and invited me further into the Hive. Grateful for her kindness of spirit I stayed with her. As the days pass now, however, I am met by the growing awareness of a most disturbing trait in my dear companion: an utter lack of self. For example, if I ask her what she thinks of a cup of honey, she refers back to the collective opinion of the Hive on the subject. So, too, when I broach the topic of our friendship. Such lack of personal awareness is not uncommon among most residents of the Hive, but in particular this does not become her.

I am saddened by this discovery. For now, however, I remain steadfast in the Hive.

http://www.victorlams.com/audio/VLams_-_Hive_Girl.mp3

2AM Commute

This is probably one of my more "commercial-sounding" tracks, which should tell you something about the overall commericial appeal of my music. This is an instrumental (I've been doing a lot of singing here lately, figured it was time to post an instrumental) in the smooth-jazz vein.

I did this song back in August of 2003 (tech note: this was actually my first full piece made with FL Studio) when, oddly enough, I had to commute to work at 2AM each morning. It wasn't a bad commute as 2AM is probably the only time of day during which driving I-96 into Detroit could actually be considered to be enjoyable.

Anyway, I hope this tune mellows you out a bit. Enjoy your weekend!

NOTE: This song is now available on the new "Phreakbox v1.4: The Instrumentals" album, available for download from Amazon MP3, Lala.com, and available soon from iTunes and Rhapsody and on Audio CD.