I'm intrigued by your recurring theme of hidden codes and ciphers, and the atmosphere of post war Britain. What caught my attention was the morse code at the end of Oceanea, which revealed something I did not know. Speaking of which, have you heard the old Slim Gaillard song "Communications"?
I really like the way the percussion layers build on Simone and the subtle quality of the keyboards and live instruments and then bang the shock Simone is not all she seems! Cue a lovely sax part. Great song. Muchly like. Unfortunately it puts my own efforts song wise in context, sigh. I will have to scurry back to the studio and pull something out of the bag!!
I love the song, but I have no idea why he denies using autotune. Guess he could have spliced vocal comps to make it sound exactly like autotune, but why?
Aye aye Cap'n--full speed ahead! Your methods are your business. If nitpickers...er...people...want to lessen their enjoyment of your music by analyzing
it to death, then that's their problem.
I don't tend to analyze music much, myself, Thomas; I just immerse myself in it,
One other quick thing-- the bit about you living on a solar/wind powered 30's lifeboat.. so steampunk. I dig that about you. If feels you've been of late very scaled down on the overt technology character..yet still retain the "I could have been from here but I'm from another era" sensibility...and truly, steampunk comes to mind here. I dig it.
Completely spot on with the "why ask the artist what paints he uses if the final portrait is beautiful?" mentality. Fully agree.
Also, would love to see a piano/voice lp of your enduring works-- "Cruel", "I Love You Goodbye", "One of Our Submarines", et cetera.. Lovely meaningful stuff, much like the new EP. Looking forward to the new album-
Ha! As a recording eng, I use whatever tools I have to make it sound how I want - if you like it - don't worry about how it was done. If you don't like it, move along. Creativity is king - it's not about the plug-in.
Mina: because, if you understand the context, I'm responding to people who said 'I really love this but I wonder why you used Autotune on your voice?' I go on to explain that I do *not* use Autotune, never have, but in a way if it sounds great, then why do I have to defend my methods?
@thomasdolby now i understand more, i never doubted you'd use Autotune. you got a great voice. that rotten Autotune got to be such a gimmick. i'd be offended too if i put my time in good recording and people would assume i'd use some gimmick. the first few words to oceanea 'cannonballs ricochet around the room' are pretty heavy compressed and sound like the notes 'jump' to one another, is it the compression? anyway LOVE YOUR MUSIC FOR 30 YEARS NOW and THANKS!! your biggest dutch fan TOADLICKER!
people have no idea the work that goes into making what you hear on the radio sound the way it does. Computers make it "easier" than it probably was...ahem...30 years ago, but it's still about the talent of the person at the mixing board.
BRILLIANT.
TheTelekon 2 months ago
I'm intrigued by your recurring theme of hidden codes and ciphers, and the atmosphere of post war Britain. What caught my attention was the morse code at the end of Oceanea, which revealed something I did not know. Speaking of which, have you heard the old Slim Gaillard song "Communications"?
va7mn 3 months ago
Recently got this EP and Oceanea has become one of my favorite songs. Continued brilliance from Mr. Dolby. Wonderful!
atquinn1975 3 months ago
I really like the way the percussion layers build on Simone and the subtle quality of the keyboards and live instruments and then bang the shock Simone is not all she seems! Cue a lovely sax part. Great song. Muchly like. Unfortunately it puts my own efforts song wise in context, sigh. I will have to scurry back to the studio and pull something out of the bag!!
melanieblizard 7 months ago
it's really nice to watch these vlogs, seems to make you more real, almost reach out and touch you! cant wait for the album.
ZEDMECO 8 months ago
Between these vlogs, the game, and your general congeniality, the level of interaction is really inspiring and exciting, thanks Thomas!
20daysin 9 months ago
I love the song, but I have no idea why he denies using autotune. Guess he could have spliced vocal comps to make it sound exactly like autotune, but why?
lonedrone 10 months ago
Aye aye Cap'n--full speed ahead! Your methods are your business. If nitpickers...er...people...want to lessen their enjoyment of your music by analyzing
it to death, then that's their problem.
I don't tend to analyze music much, myself, Thomas; I just immerse myself in it,
and enjoy it. :-)
mizmusiclorikeet 11 months ago 2
One other quick thing-- the bit about you living on a solar/wind powered 30's lifeboat.. so steampunk. I dig that about you. If feels you've been of late very scaled down on the overt technology character..yet still retain the "I could have been from here but I'm from another era" sensibility...and truly, steampunk comes to mind here. I dig it.
lastofthelast 11 months ago
Completely spot on with the "why ask the artist what paints he uses if the final portrait is beautiful?" mentality. Fully agree.
Also, would love to see a piano/voice lp of your enduring works-- "Cruel", "I Love You Goodbye", "One of Our Submarines", et cetera.. Lovely meaningful stuff, much like the new EP. Looking forward to the new album-
lastofthelast 11 months ago
Ha! As a recording eng, I use whatever tools I have to make it sound how I want - if you like it - don't worry about how it was done. If you don't like it, move along. Creativity is king - it's not about the plug-in.
reylloc 11 months ago
Mina: because, if you understand the context, I'm responding to people who said 'I really love this but I wonder why you used Autotune on your voice?' I go on to explain that I do *not* use Autotune, never have, but in a way if it sounds great, then why do I have to defend my methods?
thomasdolby 11 months ago 5
@thomasdolby now i understand more, i never doubted you'd use Autotune. you got a great voice. that rotten Autotune got to be such a gimmick. i'd be offended too if i put my time in good recording and people would assume i'd use some gimmick. the first few words to oceanea 'cannonballs ricochet around the room' are pretty heavy compressed and sound like the notes 'jump' to one another, is it the compression? anyway LOVE YOUR MUSIC FOR 30 YEARS NOW and THANKS!! your biggest dutch fan TOADLICKER!
mina7560 11 months ago
why the fuck you?
mina7560 11 months ago
Oh, c'mon, please put that duetted version of Oceanea as a 'b' side on the special 12" Oceana EP. Anyways, thanks for sharing that...
Bloody brilliant Vlog, brother. Love the fedora color and sash. Very Snazzy Look for you, Mr. Thomas Dolby..
playguitarlars 11 months ago
Can't wait for "Flap of the Moating City"! Great Vlogs Thomas.
mikequinn 11 months ago
"axumursakhalf"...that can't be right, can it?
rkt739 11 months ago
*googles morse code chart*
rkt739 11 months ago
people have no idea the work that goes into making what you hear on the radio sound the way it does. Computers make it "easier" than it probably was...ahem...30 years ago, but it's still about the talent of the person at the mixing board.
cretinbob 11 months ago