[Tom Brace]

Good stuff, Paul! I detect a slight “Under the Milky Way” era The Church sound to the vocals, especially in the lower register. The higher register evokes (and maybe I’m reaching here) a slight bit of Ian McCulloch from the Bunnymen. Like Peter, my biggest musical influences are The Cure and Joy Division (I’m kinda’… “famous” for being The Joy Division Guy here in my home of Belize. Ironic, considering my main musical output is reggae/ska/rocksteady. lol). I’d love to hear more pronounced bass, a la Simon Gallup, in your stuff, but I understand and respect your personal musical vision. It’s very good as it is, so don’t mind me too much.  🙂

Your music definitely takes me back to the days when I was steeped in this type of synth/dark/pop/wave awesomeness.

• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 5 days ago by Tom Brace.

Founder/Owner/President of Dipso Records. Home of such artists as:

Tommy Apocalypse (reggae, ska, rocksteady)
Mt. Sanity (synthwave, '80s style synthpop)
Lord of Admixture (heavy guitar-driven punk/post punk)
The Self-Imposed Limitations Orchestra (experimental instrumental music)
...and several more, as well as some solo work

1

[Tom Brace]

Let’s get Seventies, mon!

Good groove – greasier than a Brooklyn pizza on a summer’s day.

One of my favorite T-Rex songs (another is “Raw Ramp” and the instrumental just following it. They go together so well, they merged ’em on the B-side of the single (the A-side, I fail to remember at the moment. Getting older sucks!). It might have been “Get It On”, but me nuh sure, mon. 🙂

One of the things I like best is that you play true to the “Bolan Tone.” Some female vox would have rounded out the tune nicely, but I suppose ya didn’t have access to ’em during the plandemic, huh? lol

I like the way you kill time, good sir!

Founder/Owner/President of Dipso Records. Home of such artists as:

Tommy Apocalypse (reggae, ska, rocksteady)
Mt. Sanity (synthwave, '80s style synthpop)
Lord of Admixture (heavy guitar-driven punk/post punk)
The Self-Imposed Limitations Orchestra (experimental instrumental music)
...and several more, as well as some solo work

1

[Tom Brace]

This tune is “full of nift!” 🙂

I’m a power chord monkey from way back, and quality chuggage always gets a thumbs-up from me. The song has good groove/movement to it. I love the lower register tone of the drums (I’m not a fan of ultra top-end snare “sizzle” Drop that wire mesh thingie, mon! lol)

The bass comes across well – not too high and no sub-level mud whatsoever. Locked in tight with the drummer, you are!

Guitar solos are pretty tasty, without being self-indulgent. They fit the song and the genre, and who could ask for more?

I also noticed a Jon Lord vibe in the keys parts. Peter and I are on the same wavelength on that observation, methinks.

As to the subject matter: do I detect some sort of military undercurrent, or is it just my own veteran mindset playing little tricks on me?

“Irregardless” (as my dear Dad so charmingly erroneously says), I liked it. Good lyrics are such a joy (and I have some experience in the lyric writing department, so I can say things like that. lol), and these lyrics deliver better than any six Irving, Texas DoorDash nincompoops.

All in all, a good song. Keep rockin’!

Founder/Owner/President of Dipso Records. Home of such artists as:

Tommy Apocalypse (reggae, ska, rocksteady)
Mt. Sanity (synthwave, '80s style synthpop)
Lord of Admixture (heavy guitar-driven punk/post punk)
The Self-Imposed Limitations Orchestra (experimental instrumental music)
...and several more, as well as some solo work

1

[Tom Brace]

This is some good stuff, Bapu (and thanks for posting it on my lovely wife’s birthday, lol).

It’s got that “end of the ’80s, right on the cusp of the ’90s” kinda’ vibe. The subject matter is pretty… “apocalyptic” – and I love stuff like that.

It’s got the right synth to guitar ratio, and the drums hold the whole thing together like a good dollop of Titebond III (woodworker’s joke there).

The vocals reminded me of a lot of Christian “new wave” music I was listening to in the late ’80s. That’s neither a criticism or a commendation. ‘Tis what ’tis, I guess. 🙂

Good job, good sir – a fine collaborative effort!

Founder/Owner/President of Dipso Records. Home of such artists as:

Tommy Apocalypse (reggae, ska, rocksteady)
Mt. Sanity (synthwave, '80s style synthpop)
Lord of Admixture (heavy guitar-driven punk/post punk)
The Self-Imposed Limitations Orchestra (experimental instrumental music)
...and several more, as well as some solo work

1

[Tom Brace]

This is cute. Reminiscent of some Beatles, or Harry Nilsson tunes. Very cool that your “little girl” remembers your songs from her childhood. My daughter is in her thirties, married and raising goats with her husband on their Arkansas farm. She’s not really into the kind of music I make, but she gives me ideas for tunes sometimes.

Have you thought of putting together an EP, or an album, of children’s songs? I believe it would do well.

Founder/Owner/President of Dipso Records. Home of such artists as:

Tommy Apocalypse (reggae, ska, rocksteady)
Mt. Sanity (synthwave, '80s style synthpop)
Lord of Admixture (heavy guitar-driven punk/post punk)
The Self-Imposed Limitations Orchestra (experimental instrumental music)
...and several more, as well as some solo work

[Tom Brace]

Good stuff, Mister Nick! How do you keep track of what’s going on with all those knobs, switches, cords, cables, and assorted whatnot… and still crank out the righteous grooves?

Is that a Prophet 5 I see, or one of the more “modern” models? I loved that synth sound on so many of my favorite bands’ songs and albums.

I’d love to hear your rendition of Kraftwerk’s “Trans Europe Express.”

Founder/Owner/President of Dipso Records. Home of such artists as:

Tommy Apocalypse (reggae, ska, rocksteady)
Mt. Sanity (synthwave, '80s style synthpop)
Lord of Admixture (heavy guitar-driven punk/post punk)
The Self-Imposed Limitations Orchestra (experimental instrumental music)
...and several more, as well as some solo work

1

[Tom Brace]

Nick the Analog Mad Scientist, baby, YEAH!! 🙂

I must assume all that hardware cost ya a fair amount, and you put it to great use. Brought me right back to my days in the USAF, when I was stationed in Belgium – dancin’ at three in the morning, well-tanked up on Bacardi & Cokes at La Mas de Corennes club to stuff just like your song.

Good times.

One thing I’d like to take note of: the fact that you don’t look like a “techno” kinda’ guy (and that’s a good thing). You look like one o’ my “good ole boy” Arkansas and Tennessee truck driver pals back in the States (God bless ’em!). And the light didn’t adversely affect the song, or video. I call it an “aesthetic happenstance”, or what Bob Ross would have deemed “a happy accident.”

Give us MORE!! 🙂

Founder/Owner/President of Dipso Records. Home of such artists as:

Tommy Apocalypse (reggae, ska, rocksteady)
Mt. Sanity (synthwave, '80s style synthpop)
Lord of Admixture (heavy guitar-driven punk/post punk)
The Self-Imposed Limitations Orchestra (experimental instrumental music)
...and several more, as well as some solo work

11

[Tom Brace]

MANOMAN, MAN!!! This remix is THE BUSINESS!

Where do I start, with what I liked about your cover version? I’ll give mi best shot, mon:

The actual automobile noises, which could have run the risk of sounding “cliche” or “cheesy” are actually a positive boon! That two-beep part brought a smile to my face. Whimsy in Synthpop is a good thing, lemme tellya.

I also liked that you used guitar in this song, unlike Numan himself. That underlying chugging power chord motif gave the song some much-needed lower end. I would have appreciated a little more bass, but what you made is very good, even absent that.

Your use of the Vox Humana sample/patch/preset is the chef’s kiss, my friend! I’ve heard many attempts at recreating this song without it, and somehow the lack just makes their versions seem… “less than.”

The drums gave the song good movement. No one could be Cedrick Sharpley (RIP), but you nailed the groove to the wall! At no time did your version seem stuttering or herky-jerky. Smoothness, mon!

In summary, I really liked it. As covers go, it ranks up there for me. And I’m not the biggest fan of covers, to be honest. lol

I’d like to hear more of your takes on EARLY Numan tunes – stuff from his Tubeway Army Days would be much appreciated.

Founder/Owner/President of Dipso Records. Home of such artists as:

Tommy Apocalypse (reggae, ska, rocksteady)
Mt. Sanity (synthwave, '80s style synthpop)
Lord of Admixture (heavy guitar-driven punk/post punk)
The Self-Imposed Limitations Orchestra (experimental instrumental music)
...and several more, as well as some solo work

1

[Tom Brace]

I am sad about your physical challenges that keep you from playing your beloved instrument at the level you used to (and wish you could again). And for those of us who press on despite our “speed bumps”, I think a forum dedicated to that subject is a fantastic idea. It may serve as an encouragement; a way of saying, “hey, friend. You have issues, I got ’em, too. I applaud your strength in deciding to not let them stop you from being involved in the creation/production/enjoyment of music.”

For many people, playing music is easy – even without any physical hinderances. They’re blessed incredibly. I believe that we who do this business in spite of our “frustrations” are also blessed, and I applaud every one’s resilience and determination to “keep on keepin’ on” (as Gladys Knight once told me).

Please forgive my wordiness. I’m a writer. Words are kinda’ my thing. lol

Founder/Owner/President of Dipso Records. Home of such artists as:

Tommy Apocalypse (reggae, ska, rocksteady)
Mt. Sanity (synthwave, '80s style synthpop)
Lord of Admixture (heavy guitar-driven punk/post punk)
The Self-Imposed Limitations Orchestra (experimental instrumental music)
...and several more, as well as some solo work

3

[Tom Brace]

1. I split my time between Arkansas USA, and my house in Belize (where I currently reside).

2. Before my hand accident, the surgery to repair it, and the resultant arthritis: guitar, bass, some keyboards.
After those events: all of ’em! (virtual instruments and MIDI are gifts from the Lord)

3. I like to, but I’m not good at it, so I use vocal synthesis.

4. I’ve been recording music since around 1990. Started with the Tascam 464 PortaStudio and “graduated” to Logic Pro by way of GarageBand.

5. Primarily reggae, ska, and rocksteady, but I also write, play, and produce other genres such as punk, synthpop, instrumental music and some weird kinda’ shred guitar silliness.

6. Far too many to list, but some notable influences are: Joy Division, EARLY Gary Numan, The Cure, Bad Manners, Desmond Dekker, Japanese heavy metal, HUM, Ultravox, The Specials, numerous Mississippi Delta Blues artists, and so many more.

7. I am a dedicated and very prolific full-time hobbyist, but I would love to make my living producing and creating music… and art (I’m also an abstract expressionist painter).

BONUS ANSWER:

Yes.  😉

• This reply was modified 7 months, 1 week ago by Tom Brace.

Founder/Owner/President of Dipso Records. Home of such artists as:

Tommy Apocalypse (reggae, ska, rocksteady)
Mt. Sanity (synthwave, '80s style synthpop)
Lord of Admixture (heavy guitar-driven punk/post punk)
The Self-Imposed Limitations Orchestra (experimental instrumental music)
...and several more, as well as some solo work

4

[Author]

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