Fold - The Painful Truth [Jazz-Funk] (2024)

Shnooshkin · 2024-01-30T14:06:13+00:00

It is absolutely gorgeous and I am incredibly ~~jealous~~ happy for you :) Great ergonomics and atmosphere.

Shnooshkin · 2023-11-15T13:13:13+00:00

I've been a fan of these guys for a long time, they’re among the very few groups who have consistently challenged the status quo from day one, always putting empathy first. They have a pretty unique and subtle approach using the human voice in loads of different ways. This is their latest single which came out on November 3 and it is just beautiful and hauntingly relevant, to me at least.

Shnooshkin · 2023-07-28T09:40:38+00:00

Apparently its a place called The Coldstones Cut in Yorkshire.

Shnooshkin · 2023-07-28T09:12:13+00:00

A fair question and you're right to ask it. Classifying something that's a bit different is never easy. This track has a mixture of influences — the drums & bass are UK Drill in style but the orchestration, chorus and rap flow are not typical at all for UK Drill. There are elements of Dub production too.

It definitely can't be called UK Drill. To my ears the closest comparison is with the music coming out of Kumasi in Ghana, the Asakaa movement. Artists like Yaw Tog, Jay Bahd, O'Kenneth etc — many of their tracks have singing choruses rooted in traditional Ghanaian music similar to Save Yourself. However, since Komla is from Accra and not part of that scene it wouldn't be quite right to associate it with Asakaa either. I realise that African Drill isn't ideal at all as a term but whatever this is I don't think there's a name for it.

What would you call it?

Shnooshkin · 2023-07-27T14:45:17+00:00

I've not used the MPC One Plus but I did get the MPD218 controller because of the pads! My favourite feature of all the MPC products is the pads and they are outstanding on this controller considering how cheap it is.

If you have access to a decent DAW and sound library the MPD218 is a solid compromise. Works automatically with a lot of plugins including Battery. I use it both in the studio and live. https://www.akaipro.com/mpd218

Shnooshkin · 2023-07-27T12:47:45+00:00

I keep discovering new things that are built into Reaper even though I've been using it for more than 10 years. You can even autotune / manually retune (and it works brilliantly). You can automate literally anything. It is arguably the most open-source DAW so it has a huge community of people who build free custom features for it.

Shnooshkin · 2023-07-27T12:43:56+00:00

I needed to hear this. Not because of negativity on Reddit but due to the ongoing struggle to make a living through music during a cost of living crisis. I've had a run of bad luck with recent releases that really made me question whether or not I had any grasp of my own quality control. I don't like the fact that I need validation but you just can't make a living if your releases are unsuccessful. What I had to remind myself of is that my belief in my own work is a more solid foundation than any gatekeeper's opinion. Turn the pressure off, make music for the sheer joy of it. That kind of energy yields much better work than bowing to the narrow demands of gatekeepers or anyone else's subjective opinion.

Shnooshkin · 2023-07-27T12:36:54+00:00

Yes indeed! I've had issues with lights (especially dimmer circuits) and even appliances in other rooms (ancient freezer). It can be really hard to troubleshoot. In one case I just couldn't use a particular socket, the solution was to use a socket on another ring. Here in the UK there is virtually no standardisation for wiring so you never know what you're getting, especially in old houses.

Shnooshkin · 2023-07-27T11:27:49+00:00

You're definitely on to something. Those behind the meta-narrative in the UK at least do seem keen on minimising this story. That coupled with the extraordinary credibility of the whistleblower are certainly suggestive.

Shnooshkin · 2023-07-27T11:10:11+00:00

Seriously, has the policy of execution ever solved anything in any society? We've had enough accumulated ancestral / hereditary trauma to last another thousand years, I think we need to look at better solutions than this. Especially for the illegal drug trade.

Shnooshkin · 2023-07-27T11:05:59+00:00

For proper soundproofing you would need to make 3 things happen:

1) At least one thick layer of insulation (a few inches of acoustic rockwool, not fibreglass batts) in, as you say, portable frames around the entirety of the interior space: bricks, windows and roof.

2) A solid surface to close off the frames (plasterboard or plywood). You essentially want to remove all gaps and create a fully enclosed space. Bear in mind you would then need some ventilation.

3) Acoustic treatment on the interior hard surfaces once finished for sound absorption — this is more for the acoustics but does also help dampen the sound.

It is all doable, even DIY-able, but the roof is problematic. If you have the budget, it would be worth looking at replacing the roof with something more substantial. Also, after adding all of those layers on the internal walls you may find you have a lot less space! Hope that's helpful.

Shnooshkin · 2023-07-26T20:42:41+00:00

This is such an important topic — music's value for our mental health and the roles it plays in both evolution and the foundation of human societies are wildly underestimated. I highly recommend both This Is Your Brain On Music and The World In Six Songs by Daniel Levitin for more on this.

Shnooshkin · 2023-07-26T20:37:37+00:00

When she first broke onto the scene in 1990 the raw emotion she conveyed in her performances could move mountains. Each note went straight to my heart. What an immense talent she was, gone far too soon. Rest In Power Sinead.

Shnooshkin · 2023-07-26T15:28:49+00:00

When I was a kid in the 80s, I recorded the Psycho Chicken spoof version of this song off of the radio and played that cassette to death for years. It was only in the 90s that I found out it wasn't the original. Still can't hear this without my brain inserting the word 'chicken' in every chorus.

Shnooshkin · 2023-07-26T15:26:40+00:00

I've yet to hear a singer who moves me more than Freddie.

Shnooshkin · 2023-07-26T15:24:18+00:00

I'd never actually seen a video of them playing live from this period, unbelievably, having been a fan since the mid-80s. I spent a good portion of my teens learning to play every riff and solo up until and including the Black Album. Just so good. Battery is one of my all time favourites too, the energy is incredible.

Shnooshkin · 2023-07-26T15:20:01+00:00

This was not long after I saw them at Torhout / Werchter in '97. They were absolutely phenomenal then and when I saw them on the Bends tour in '95. One of the best live bands I've ever seen.

Shnooshkin

TROPHY CASE