Any Questions? - Copycat

This Any Questions? archival song idea titled Copycat is from the year 1996.  Like our other song idea titles, it is named after what was playing on the studio TV monitor while it was being created.  Copycat is a 1995 psychological thriller starring Sigourney Weaver, Holly Hunter, and Dermot Mulroney.  Coincidentally, this song idea made its way into a movie of its own in 2007 when it was featured in the horror film FrightWorld.  Be sure to check that out!

On this track, our trusty E-MU Pro/Cussion drum module was used to lay down the drum beat and the Korg Wavestation was used for the rest of the parts including the slinky synth bass line that slithers throughout the groove. 

Ttam Troll · Any Questions? - Copycat

Any Questions? - Settlers

New Year, new tunes!  Here's a song idea titled Settlers done "inside the box" using all soft synths.  It seems that no matter how hard I try to use soft synths to work on ideas, they just end up sounding too sterile and cold.  Don't get be wrong, I've composed a lot of sterile and cold sounding music but soft synths just don't have the same warmth that "real" synths have.  Next...

I used Native Instruments Battery 4 to create the drum groove and Arturia V Collection X for the synth sounds.  CMI V for the synth bass, OP-Xa V for the arpeggio, and Synthi V for the weird sound during the bridge.

Ttam Troll · Any Questions? - Settlers

P.S. For those that don't know, “inside the box” is a term that refers to the process of using only a computer and software (the box) rather than external hardware (synthesizers, mixers, etc). In the past, using external hardware was the only option, but today, it is now possible to create professional music completely “inside the box”.

Any Questions? - Almost Dead

Song idea naming protocol at Floating Fish Studios has always been to use whatever is playing on the TV monitor in the studio at the time of creation.  This process leads to some interesting idea titles and provides insight into the video stimuli that influenced us during the creative process.

This track from 1996 is titled Almost Dead.  Almost Dead is a 1994 horror movie starring Shannen Doherty (Beverly Hills. 90210 fame).  She plays a psychologist that is haunted by her dead mother's ghost.  Instrumentally, we used some of our favorite instruments of the day.  The E-MU Pro/Cussion drum module for the drum beat and a lot of Korg Wavestation for the rest of the synth sounds.  The soloing guitar sound is even pulled out of the Korg Wavestation.

Ttam Troll · Any Questions? - Almost Dead

Any Questions? - 1996

While waiting to officially release our Any Questions? - Death CD in early 1996, MC2P4 and I began working on new ideas in the studio. Some of these ideas would eventually be developed into full songs for our Any Questions? - Mutation CD in 2000.  Our sonic arsenal had grown quite extensively leading up to this period and we were anxious to make new music with it. The Korg Wavestation, a vector synthesis synthesizer, was used extensively during this period. In hindsight, maybe too extensively.  Our ideas ranged from very structured pounding rhythm Industrial to very non-structured and improvised ambient music.

1996 is a Ttam Troll exclusive track.  I started working on this New Year's Eve 1995 and finished it early the following day, New Year's Day 1996.  Using sounds from the E-MU Pro/Cussion drum module, I created a simple yet powerful sounding drum groove. The synth sounds (synth bass, synth pads, bells, and airy organ) all came from the Korg Wavestation.  Lastly, it features a vocal sample of myself saying "Control" which was sampled on our Ensoniq EPS, a Performance Sampler.

I hope you enjoy this piece of New Year's past!

Ttam Troll · Any Questions? - 1996

Burnt Blueberry Pop-Tart

Imbued Vagary perform Burnt Blueberry Pop-Tart at BENT // BROKEN 2023 Worldwide Virtual Circuit Bending Festival on 03/25/23.

Imbued Vagary Live (Virtual Event)

Imbued Vagary will dive deep into the electronic plasma pool and perform at BENT // BROKEN 2023 Worldwide Virtual Circuit Bending Festival beginning at 1pm EST on 03/25/23.  It will be available on Twitch.

Something About Tomorrow - Featuring Matt Skirpan

During Summer 1988 when The Secret Society (Rev 2) was recording songs for their debut release at Horse and Buggy Highway Studios, we recorded tracks with various guitarists.  The other day I unearthed an unreleased recording with Dirk Frey.  Today's find is an unreleased version of Something About Tomorrow with Matt "Scrap Pap" Skirpan on guitar.  Enjoy!

Ttam Troll · The Secret Society - Something About Tomorrow (MS Gtr Mix)