The Japanese decision

"The Japanese decision" is one of the first recordings I did with my, then, new (but used) Italian accordeon. At the time, I was (and still am) in love with the slightly melancholic sound of the accordeon. Just improvising on the instrument, I found the riff in the introduction, and built the rest on that.

I wanted the main melody to contrast to the riff and be more of a gentle, soothing melody for bright summer nights by the sea.

This is the first tune in which I made a pad by recording a couple of irish whistletracks on to each other. I've used the idea since, e.g. in "Frrrrr" (but then with slide whistles).

Finally, I added a triangle to brighten it all up. The triangle is a far too underestimated instrument, I think. More of that.

Jubel Töne

In late summer of 2006, a very dear friend of mine gave me her East German zither of the brand "Jubel Töne". I was astonished by her generosity and being given an instrument was so unexpected for me. And, I was overwhelmingly happy. Few things give me such joy as new instruments (last week I bought myself a trumpet).

I went to a friend who owns a violin store, and he ordered a tuning-key from Germany, which arrived two weeks later. This zither is normally tuned in quite "ordinary" chords, such as C, D, G, F & A, but I had the idea that I would tune it in, for me, more exciting chords, such as Fmaj7. This is my first try at playing the zither, and I will definitely use it more in the future.

I set out to only use natural sounds and no midi-instruments. I made the "bass-drum" by recording hand claps and then I transposed them down one octave. The bass is similarly my Italian accordeon (a Curtini), also lowered an octave. I think it almost sounds as a bowed upright bass sometimes.

I improvised a melody on the saxophone and after one round, I was lacking something to follow it with. I spontaneously wrote nonsense lyrics and sang them (which right now is a stretch for me, to have the courage).

Luckily, I found a place for my musical saw as a "take off"-effect in the end of verse 1. It's fascinating how an acoustic instrument can make such a strange sound.

And, then "Jubel Töne" was completed.