rickenbacker bass - solo - suite: amber waves of grain


track: 08


instrument(s) used: scarbee rickenbacker bass

recorded: 20140222 - 20140307

duration: 10:51

type: rickenbacker bass - solo improv


on february 22, 2014, after working on a currently unfinished rock track with the tentative title of "run into town", after I finished my work, I began playing about with the bass guitar sample, I began improvising some bass lines, played of course on the keyboard - so I decided, on a whim, really, to record.

I then sat down and played three takes, with almost no time in between, in a row. a couple of weeks later, I edited the piece (only to correct timings and note durations - and, I did add about 10 seconds of music to the third movement - but otherwise, the performance is basically what I played that day - takes 1 through 3, now married together into one long suite.

I want to say right away, that yes, I was and am aware of the fact that occasionally, my improv strayed towards a certain roxy music song which shall remain nameless ("a song for europe", one of my favourites to play and sing at the piano - and oddly, it contains a very short bass solo) so any similarity to that song, or indeed any other song, is purely accidental. in any case, it's similar - not the same. and it absolutely does not sound like h*t*l c*l*f*rn*a !!

I was astonished at the results, it was not perfect, there are some slightly strange moments, some unusual timings and odd syncopations, but I felt the piece has a certain charm - my first proper, full length, bass guitar (sampled) improvisation. the only previous bass solo experience I have is a much shorter solo on a track called "wettonizer" from my reasonably successful CD "gone native" - where I play rock music and ambient, rather than just ambient music.

so this was a spin off, I have "run into town", which is just a drum and bass backing track that I am working on, I laid that aside - and then, sat down and played this, intact, as you hear it - takes 1, 2 and 3, in order, as it happened on the day.

sure, I am not a bassist, I am not really a rock musician (except when it suits me, that is) but - I love the sound of the bass, I've always loved playing bass, so when the opportunity to "play" a Rickenbacker fell into my lap - how could I say no?

I am not patriotic, but I do like the imagery in the american traditional song "america the beautiful" - so both the suite, and the individual movements that follow, bear the names of lyrics from that old favourite.

these are the full titles of the piece, in suite form and as individually mastered "single" movement versions:


suite: amber waves of grain - movements 1 through 3

movement no. 1 - purple mountain majesties
movement no. 2 - alabaster cities gleam
movement no. 3 - sea to shining sea

I hope that you enjoy this - I certainly did. it's enormous fun to play this amazing instrument (the Rickenbacker Bass instrument is manufactured by "Scarbee", makers of fine sampled instruments).

hats of the Scarbee - and to Native Instruments - improvised live in SONAR; in kontakt; in komplete; using the Scarbee Rickenbacker instrument.