the recording on this one is exceptionally good. I think you may have perfected the perc mic up over this last year. is there a hint of reverb? Nice one, really warm malaria-like sound

@ Kirk& Kamachi: excellent observation, and you are correct. As most of my patterns are built around clave, and as clave is structured upon so many off-beats, to get my metronome to "click" on some key clave beats, I set my metronome at double time- so my bpm notation reflects what my metronome setting was dialed to. Here is a clave link that graphically shows how many times clave percussion scores are transcribed in 2/2 (cut time) to make it easier to read... but if one is counting 8th notes instead of quarter notes, the bpm will be doubled. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clave_(rhythm)?wasRedirected=true

Excellent playing. But +1 here for the 110 BPM perception :-)

Excellent! I find it interesting that in almost every one of these that you list the BPM I feel them in half time, so I would think of this as 110 BPM

glad to be back. good stuff here.

@ Richard: many thanks- recording accoustical percussion is sometimes tricky and I'm still learning the skill sets required for that. I mount my own skins from bulk rawhide (so not actually tanned) but I don't actually make the rawhide from animal skins... that's a lot of work on a non-industrial level and there are some health concerns when it comes to working with (especially imported) fresh animal skins. Many of the (nonterrorist) cases of anthrax reported involve folks making their own drum heads, so I just use commercially cured cow skin from the USA for the latin drums and buy pre-made drum heads for the African drums, which are usually water buffalo, goat or some sort of deer.

the sound quality is great,,, i can almost see/feel the bending/vibrating of the skin,, do you make,, tan etc your own skins?,,, this has a wonderful warm quality,, great piece

I heard the style somewhere but you perfected it. Thanks for uploading.

Phenomenal - almost, pheromonal!!

i played this in college. fun.

@ Dave: thanks for listening! This recording is 8 tracks, consisting of 2 (stereo) bass drum, cowbell, clave, chinese blocks, and 3 tracks of various sized conga drums playing their parts. Traditionally it is performed by a group of percussionists, which I would *love* to assemble- but that rarely is possible for me to do where I live. Perhaps I should move to Africa.

Thanks Norm, I posted the lyrics. Now then on to this great groove, Yeah baby thats really moving isn't it. Is this one track or a few tracks overdubbed together? I am moving every part of my body to this groove.

Absolutely brilliant.

Great brilliant top job mate.

@ Jarvis: Ha! I'm vocally challenged, but to hear the lyrics, go here: http://alonetone.com/vaisvil/tracks/walk-with-sorrow-norm-rick-chris-emily

Cool job ...but hey lyrics and no vox ?

Yet another good one. I love how you always post the style and a bit of history with each track. It always helps me understand the song better.

excellent! I like the way the congas answer each other.

Great stuff Norm! I must make some time to jam with some of your tracks

Beatiful!

You make that Roland sound like an entire symphony! Sis is right, quite menacing.

Groove me out, bass daddy!

Yep. It's official. I finally broke through micro-tonally! Vaisvil plotted the conga scale sample at the end of the track on his V-vocal software, which demonstrated the 6 note scale I used ran from F to C#. So much for tuning via my tin ear - but on the other hand maybe my micro-tonal appreciation is just maturing.

Brian sets an irresistible trap for catching some wild Vaisvil saxamaphone. Well done!

I like both riffs - and that big, phat bass sound. Thanks for working with the "Itchy" pattern... it had an itch that couldn't quite get scratched, and the only cure was some funky bass!

Well, I don't know what I don't know, but I do know that your guitar work rocks and is just what my "Skin On Skin" pattern needed! It was a banner idea of yours to combine the two of them - thanks for sinking about it.

I've always found that talking to God involves much more listening then talking. And listening to this is a pleasure, as my ear matures to appreciate micro-tonal work. And, I suspect, you will miss the view from the undisclosed location.

Yeah, I'm still diggin' it too.

Beautifully understated. I sure that your better worse half loves you all the worse better for it...

Nice playing and good job recording/mixing as well!

Nice one! Don't put it back!

I posted a remix today which adds Lexicon "Drum Hall" reverb and a bit of compression.

Ahem. It's a "Quartet in Space" only because actually physically putting these 5 guys in the same room would simply not be safe, but you can be certain it would sound fantastic.

You + a self-modified fretless guitar + a universe of microtonal possibilities = we’re never going to get you off of that thing! Brilliant! Bold move! I can’t wait to hear some more of this.

You rat. That last voice sample caught me off guard... brought tears to my eyes, of course. That's my dad! What a nice Father's Day tune! Outstanding production. I can personally vouch that all the scenarios portrayed in this song are 100% factual.

Outstanding!

Way hip!

Ha! That cow-bell still nearly knocks me out of my chair everytime I hear it! ;) I'm always the last to find out anything... I didn't realize until today that you were posting on AT. Welcome!

I have posted a new mix processed via a Lexicon MX200 to add "drum plate" reverb and a bit of compression.

Nice!