Bottom Freezer - sketch for the score
I spent most of the last two evenings working on that specific track. But how did it come to be?
The starting point was an untitled idea described as “b+2g, gegeneinandergesetzt pass. Thema/Arpeggio, irgendnen modales Riff, mit komischer Rhythmik und unterschiedlicher Phrasenlänge. Vielleicht Unisono-Turnaround (und Schluß)”.
(b+2g [bass and two guitars], passive theme and arpeggio counterpointed against each other, some modal riff with odd rhythm and different phrase length. Perhaps an unisono turnaround (and ending)
This actually gives you an idea how some of those tracks start to exist. Somewhat later on, I added the meaningful half-phrase “ggf. Kühlschranksolo?” (possibly fridge solo?) – the start of the track with the fridge solo.
Of course, I had a title in stock for that – my huge list of possible song titles already listed “Bottom Freezer” as a fitting candidate. Interestingly, I was jokingly looking through a “best 100 companies for young engineers” site and she pointed out a sleazy-looking young gentleman who was employed as a “program manager bottom freezers”.
So I had a title and a few ideas – how to go next?
Ah, the odd rhythm. The first thing I sketched out included meter changes galore – but after listening to it, it didn’t fit – with a track like that, the fridge solo wouldn’t just fit in.
sending emails to myself...
Doing guide tracks on the computer (using Trilogy for bass and some cheesy guitar patches from HALion One) I did however come up with a tricky intro and a great bridge (which I found I could also play in unisono using only natural harmonics on a guitar, if I was so inclined).
However, I already sent an email to myself at work yesterday, and replied to it with some great ideas – including a definition how to proceed working on that track, similar to a complex software engineering project. Yes, I do work like that, and it works.
Implementing that was relatively easy – with the exception that I do need revert to a paper and a pencil, even in times of hugely complex computers. But now, the track’s structure, and the synthesizer guide tracks are in place. Next step: record a fridge solo, mabye tomorrow…