Singing Rock Lake

Concept and analysis

America has always held an intense fascination for me. The idea of a self-made, modern country, the pioneering spirit and sheer excess of modern America is very seductive, but I’m also fascinated by the history of the place, the plight of the native American and wilful destruction of its landscape in the cause of progress. The landscape, like their history, is vast and magnificent and a stark contrast to the cosy hinterlands of Suffolk, where I live. 'Singing Rock Lake' aims to capture something of the American pioneer spirit, from its ancient roots to its modern complexities, blending traditional Native American sounds with ambient soundscapes, orchestral arrangements, and modern electronic harmonies. Tracks pulsate with tribal rhythms and chanting. Huge soundscapes depict the beauty of the American plains and the promise of a new day. Modern America is a world unto itself, made up of people from every corner of the globe. I’ve tried to evoke the sense of a rich and cosmopolitan nation by drawing sounds and influences from all over. You’ll find it all, here! From the Native American nomad, to Chinatown, from the skyscraper skyline of the city, to the heat and dizzying expanses of the desert. Uplifting and optimistic, the enduring spirit of 'Singing Rock Lake' echoes with an upbeat rhythm, full of hope for the future.

The dreamy title track opens the album, and features some cool, quasi-slide guitar and banjo, meshing with church-like ballad organ, bass and drums. 'Eco Warrior', which also appears on 'Music From Slate Bird', is a little masterpiece. Rocking out has never been more fun than with 'Miss Camouflage 2020'! 'Pepper Tree Zen' combines electric piano with voices, flute and strings, creating a tight, retro-like composition, reminiscent of a 1970's TV show theme. 'The Righteous (Apache Mix)', is my take on an epic western theme. The track was composed entirely on the Korg M50 synthesizer. I was well pleased to receive local radio play for my efforts a few years ago. 'Voyage of the Mayflower' is a musical recreation of the famous 1620 voyage from England to the New World. A single arpeggiator rhythm and a tight, vibrant string section breathe life into this, often overlooked, little composition. 'Palaeolithic Spirits' has a boisterous percussion beat that attempts to defy an equally heady bass guitar line. A fluent brass section rises and falls amid the growing pandemonium, and is joined, finally, by a heavily distorted, Epiphone Les Paul electric guitar that sees the proceedings home. The next track, 'Nomad', features both sitar and saxophone in a slow and mysterious excursion through the outskirts of India. I received further local radio play for 'Sweet Mountain Jam', its upbeat electric guitar, organ, and Tijuana Brass-like trumpets stealing the airwaves for all of one night. 'Electric Slide In Purple County' takes some nifty country rock guitar and adds some quasi-slide guitar and banjo to a track that oozes so much style it can't make up its mind whether its just cool or mega cool! 'Santa Fe Señora' has a distinct Mexican feel about it. Trumpets are the order of the day in this Tijuana Brass-like knock off, that just gets better and better each time you listen to it. 'Killer on Highway 18', is more contemporary in its approach, featuring some memorable synth work, courtesy of the Yamaha MODX6. I believe it was, in fact, the first track I composed on this keyboard. 'Jamming At The Geronimo' sounds like a live track, but was conceived and recorded in the studio. The next composition, 'Three Is a Saffron Crown', is centred around a vibrant sitar melody, while 'Warriors of the Rainbow' has an earthly, New Age feel to it, with grand piano and electric guitar competing for the limelight. The penultimate track, 'Last Room at the Blue Destiny Motel', takes a meandering electric piano and some Baker Street-like saxophone, mixes them up, then spits the resulting melody out onto the sidewalk. Last but not least, is the explosive 'Sky Boy 6'. Here we find a thumping percussion line pitted against some choice electric guitar, courtesy of the AFQ Pro. The use of vocoder on this composition was a last minute addition, but added greatly to the final mix, creating a track that is both powerful and unusual.

Instrumentation

• Korg R3 synthesizer

• Korg M50 synthesizer

• Yamaha MODX6 synthesizer

• Epiphone Dove acoustic guitar

• Epiphone Les Paul electric guitar

• AFQ Pro electric guitar

• Fender electric bass guitar

• Boss RC-10R Rhythm Loop Station

• Boss Dr Rhythm drum machine

Finished product

'Singing Rock Lake' has proved to be one of my most Americanized albums. Stunning cover artwork by Toby French, and excellent online sales, make this an attractive buy for any music lover. In hindsight, I think the album would have benefitted from a stronger presence of acoustic guitar and, maybe, even a sprinkling of Spanish guitar. Despite being an essentially keyboard-based album, with occasional rock guitar, 'Singing Rock Lake' still comes across as sounding fairly organic compared to some of my albums. For anyone wanting a varied introduction to my music, 'Singing Rock Lake' is a good place to start!