Your wish is my command, oh chalk-meister. My 3 shillings are that Spoors was one of the most difficult albums to play, nay, to comprehend, that I've recorded. I don't really know how the rest was rehearsed or recorded, but I tracked all my parts at home, some 5,000 miles from the other guys, using some reference tracks that Bob sent me, and Stevan's guitar charts. It was completely 'remote'. Bob instructed me to not use 'fuzz' sounds, and to go for sort of straight ahead mostly clean, slightly dirty tones. I was under the assumption that he would add effects and maybe re-amp as he needed when mixing, so I tried to avoid sonically prejudicing the tones, so to speak...with the exception, I think, of a little ring modulation in one or two improv spots. Thus I was kind of surprised when I heard the finished mix, because it seemed to me that Bob hardly altered my tones at all!
Meanwhile, regarding the music, I think it really reveals Stevan's extensive training and orientation as a "classical", or serious art music composer, although with some forays into other almost "pop", "ethnic" and even children's music (or perhaps parodies there of). But it also demonstrates his mastery of sampling and creating unusual sonic environments, as well as amazing improvisations. At times the writing is really astonishing and always very impressive technically. But my favorite parts or tracks are some of the more 'bitchin' almost prog rock-y ones, such as Timelines 6 and 2, Tractates and most especially the composed parts of Urban Music, which is a classic, imho. But there are wonderful moments and passages strewn throughout the record.
Someone (was it Frank?) asked why doesn't that band tour. Truthfully, there are some sections on there that I'm not sure could be executed live! It'd be a huge challenge....and then only a handful of 'strange persons' (most of whom are represented on this thread!) would want to see such a band.
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