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Reviews for "Let Out of the Cage"

Let Out of the Cage
by essesq
Recommends (12)
Tue, Jul 22, 2008 @ 7:27 PM
 
gurdonark
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permalink   Tue, Jul 22, 2008 @ 9:32 PM
The great thing about this spoken word track, this reading, and this remix is that none of them bear any scars of a Master in Fine Arts writing seminar workshop. The words are expressive and evocative, without anyone needing to worry about whether they fit the mode of literature in vogue in workshop this week. The reading is dead on, with just the right expressive emotion, and nothing maudlin or overdone. The remix uses its field recording elements wisely, and reminds us once more how expressive a single cello can be when given room to breathe and communicate.

In the early going, the sounds of the sea clash a bit with the spoken word, and I’d be tempted to pull back the field recording just a tad there.

I really like the way that you’ve added to the piece without fundamentally altering the piece, and the way you’ve done it all in 90 seconds. In a wonderful universe, a film=maker will make a youtube or vimeo animation for this song—but even in this more mundane universe, the net effect is a great set of word-picture cinematic images, which reminds us how much one can do with freesounds and good will.

Down with “publish or perish”, up with birds!
 
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permalink   essesq Wed, Jul 23, 2008 @ 7:26 AM
Quote: GurdonarkThe great thing about this spoken word track, this reading, and this remix is that none of them bear any scars of a Master in Fine Arts writing seminar workshop.

Thank you, that is precisely why I chose to mix this pella and why I did it the way I did. There is nothing that damages good expression than over thinking it, whether in the production or interpretation.

…reminds us once more how expressive a single cello can be when given room to breathe and communicate.

…yea I wish I could play the cello, the instrument blows me away consistently with it’s ability to let the artist communicate through it.

In the early going, the sounds of the sea clash a bit with the spoken word, and I’d be tempted to pull back the field recording just a tad there.

I hear you. I reached a point of frustration with the software and automation and such where I did kind of give up on the production value. I’m aware of a lot more that could be better, just a decision to let it go. Hopefully the tender ears of the sample providers won’t be too jarred by the shortcomings ;-).

I really like the way that you’ve added to the piece without fundamentally altering the piece, and the way you’ve done it all in 90 seconds.

…there’s no reason to make it any longer, the poem said everything and I wasn’t showcasing myself, but them…it’s all about them, my featured artists that is …


Down with “publish or perish”, up with birds!


…that is generally the direction they tend to fly ;-)
Kaer Trouz
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permalink   Tue, Jul 22, 2008 @ 9:58 PM
oh dear oh dear
a breath pauses
 
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permalink   essesq Wed, Jul 23, 2008 @ 7:27 AM
…not too long one hopes…

Thanks KT.
spinmeister
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permalink   Tue, Jul 22, 2008 @ 11:15 PM
it makes perfect sense just the way you mixed it - one can’t help but develop a visual image as Mr. G. implied.

It also evokes the days long since gone, when radio was still a much more diverse and meaningful medium.
 
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permalink   essesq Wed, Jul 23, 2008 @ 7:33 AM
Thanks Spin.

I occupy a universe filled with fascinating audio/radio. This morning I was listening to a long piece from the BBC World Service of stories from Cuba. It really took you into the world of what was going on. If you don’t listen to public radio (NPR from the US, or the CBC in Canada, or the good old Beeb) you are missing out on a lot.

While some may argue that listening is an old fashioned way to be informed with all the video images we can have, I disagree. I prefer to be able to use my imagination a little and I don’t like my head being held fast as I look at a screen. Listening is a freer act physically. Also I escape a lot of mindless advertising :-).
 
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permalink   spinmeister Wed, Jul 23, 2008 @ 12:12 PM
and listening is also a little safer while driving :-)

And yes, public radio on both sides of the 49th parallel is one of the few remaining places where some radio gems can be found. I don’t know how it is in some other parts of the world though.
Anchor
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permalink   Wed, Jul 23, 2008 @ 9:59 AM
Its always interesting to see how one’s offerings morph, transform and are re-invented and re-interpreted by other creative spirits on cc.mixter -
I really like how your framed this piece and kept it’s mood intact as a piece of story-telling; sweet, concise and well done. Thanks!
 
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permalink   essesq Thu, Jul 24, 2008 @ 2:07 AM
Yea Anchor I’m only recently discovering just how interesting things can get :-). I think there are few areas of life where giving and receiving can be so rewarding.

Your cello track was not originally slated for this piece but when my synths let me down I thought “let me try it” and weirdly enough the timing even seemed right so I said “this was meant to be” and finished the track. So thanks for great words and great music to play with.
Loveshadow
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permalink   Wed, Jul 23, 2008 @ 11:24 AM
well the radio play is still very much a part of the UK airwaves so this is still very current and not a bit old world.

I learnt long ago the power of music with the spoken voice when i changed a light weight on - camera vox pop about maintaining the correct tyre pressures when driving at speed into what sounded like instructions for surviving a nuclear strike by nothing more than adding the right soundtrack.

This mix surpised me as my own picture of the characters and places for the words are now in a new place with these additions.

Whilst it talks of the sea it was very much a land locked place that my birds flew from.
 
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permalink   essesq Thu, Jul 24, 2008 @ 2:27 AM
Well, I’m pleased this took you somewhere else. To me that’s the point of offering things up for remixing, or listening for that matter, to see what it means to someone else. Oddly, though, had your reading not captured my exact impression of how this poem should sound, I wouldn’t have touched it, so the process is not reciprocal.

I got a listing yesterday in the mail of upcoming concerts and live events at a theater near me and someone who is an old favorite and a genius in combining spoken words and music (not to mention video and a whole lot else) crept back into my consciousness, Laurie Anderson. As I started to pay closer attention to spoken word as an art form and as a foundation for other work I had completely neglected her influence on me.

One thing about remixing, although for most of us it is a solitary form of artistic work, I find that when I am remixing I feel I am never alone. There is a comfort that comes from that.
George_Ellinas
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permalink   Wed, Jul 23, 2008 @ 3:02 PM
just got back from a rehersal really tired and with an eye open and one sleepy Zzzzzz
i managed to read all the comments and answers :D

You have given more atmosphere as an add to the samples you are using from this masters

keep mixing from your heart as you always do!
 
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permalink   essesq Thu, Jul 24, 2008 @ 2:11 AM
Thanks George, you’re such a sweetie (and a very talented one at that :-) ).
Lasswell
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permalink   Thu, Jul 24, 2008 @ 12:55 AM
I wish there was video to go along with this. Very unique and captivating. Thanks for sharing Essesq!
 
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permalink   essesq Thu, Jul 24, 2008 @ 2:12 AM
Thanks Lasswell. Well, I don’t do video, so you’ll have to hope that someone on the net sees this and picks it up.
duckett
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permalink   Thu, Jul 24, 2008 @ 4:20 PM
Really nice. Everything’s weighted very well.
 
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permalink   essesq Mon, Jul 28, 2008 @ 10:32 PM
Thanks Duckett. Now I suppose your friend is scanning the horizon looking for swimmers in trouble? ;-)
 
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permalink   duckett Mon, Jul 28, 2008 @ 10:45 PM
Actually, he’s standing on the prow of a rescue boat, scanning for lifejackets :-)