DisGraceful Productions - Discography & Free MP3 Downloads

Set 1: Léman Soul (6' 50") - Ref. 1701 On the meunière for starters - Lake Geneva aka Lac Léman. Jazz and rocks kits with filleted jazz bass, synth and E git chords providing the soul theme, basted with jazz git, mute trumpet, vibraphone, and stratocaster. Pumped bass, brass and pianos for finale - 132 bpm, 4/4 time
	Set 2: Lac of Dreams (3' 01") - Ref. 1702 Early morning lake-front dreamscape for one of the richest cities in Europe. Looped EP audio sample with atmospheric soprano woods. Distorted algorithmic grand piano to finish - 81 bpm, 4/4 time
Set 3: Tram 16 (3' 30") - Ref. 1703 Tram 16 provides a direct line into Geneva from Thônex. Bogeys on the tracks provided by Jazz Bass, Ac. Piano and E. Bass, with overhead power from vox, EP, Mute Git and Expresso synth - 85 bpm, 4/4 time
	Set 4: 1602 (3' 06") - Ref. 1704 L'Escalade - the defeat of the Savoyard by a cauldron, during their failed attempt to take Geneva on the 12th day of the 12th month of that year. This may partially explain why the French 'deteste' Marmite (an English savoury). As there's much chocolate involved at this time, this is probably the real Geneva Sweet. A Baroque-instrumental dance in rounds, as is the annual Fun Run around the Old City - 110 bpm, 6/4 time
Set 5: Cantonale (St. Pierre) (4' 53") - Ref. 1705 Many steps climbing the cathedral tower with magnificent views over the city. Cathedral organ, choirs, harp & harpsichord, with an ambient chromatic electric git solo - 120 bpm, 4/4 time
	Set 6: Jet Stream (Jet d'Eau) (9' 01") - Ref. 1706 A powerful bass undercurrent for the water pump, the high water column and the spray of Geneva's most famous landmark, through various bass sequencers and overlays in electro-rock style. First - 70 bpm (1st section), then 80 bpm, 4/4 time
Set 7: Rive (Reggae Romande) (4' 53") - Ref. 1707 The hubbub of one of the main Geneva shopping streets. 3 accordions accompanying all kinds of activity - 130 bpm, 4/4 time
	Set 8: Timepiece (2' 13") - Ref. 1708 A specialist local industry ticking along. As Edmund Blackadder might say "As regular as the timetable of a Swiss train driver on a high fibre diet."- Not forgetting the Flower Clock - 96 bpm, 4/4 time
Set 9: Nations (United) (4' 16") - Ref. 1709 A blend from different continents; African drums, Indian toms, Arabic strings, South American pan flute, Eastern temple bells & western instruments - 95 bpm, 4/4 time

Comfortably Numb (ProX Chorale Mix) (7' 02") - Ref. 1711
A couple of teenagers at home immediately spring to mind!
An arrangement of Pink Floyd using ProX voices with an extended introduction - 130 bpm, 4/4 time

Walk On By (2' 24") - Ref. 1712
An arrangement with ProX voices - 160 bpm, 4/4 time

The Model (ProX Dance Mix) (3' 27") - Ref. 1713
Plenty of beautiful people and fashion around Geneva - something for the Rue du Rhône.
About 10% faster than the Kraftwerk original with a richer ProX base, but honouring the original electro-Euro Pop feel - 135 bpm, 4/4 time

Benny The Bouncer (2' 21") - Ref. 1715
Bouncy rendition of the ELP track to conclude - 150 bpm, 4/4 time

Alex Foley (ProX Dance Mix) (6' 56") - Ref. 1601
The 'Beverly Hills Cop' theme cut and spliced. The full force of the ProX bought to bear - 120 bpm, 4/4 time

LA Woman (ProX Mix) (7' 11") - Ref. 1602
A ProX sliced and diced 'modern version' of the Doors classic.
Assorted kits and light/heavy bass underlay with piano & synth overlay. The EP sound included - 176 bpm (except slow bridge), 4/4 time

Cassini Mission (3' 11") - Ref. 1603
First outline was put together sometime ago for the NASA probe's visit to Saturn. After some year's the probe is still functioning.
Some spacey orbital guitar running rings around the brighter planetary background on a dark bass line - 120 bpm, 4/4 time

À Quoi Ça Sert? (4' 06") - Ref. 1604
What is it for? The good life, and relaxed café society on the banks of the Rhône in Geneva.
Based on a looped sample from Cheb Mami's "Dellali" album ("Ma Vie 2 Fois") with overlaid piano, jazz bass, mandolin, tubular vibes, vibraphone and strings. The accordion provides the French feel - 102 bpm, 4/4 time

Dan's The Man (6' 21") - Ref. 1605
With Daniel Craig as the new James Bond, a remodelling of the James Bond Theme. I give the chance of this becoming the next Bond movie theme at about .007% - 143 bpm, 4/4 time

The Hustle (ProX Mix) (4' 33") - Ref. 1606
Maximum amount of Flanger on strings to reproduce that 70's disco and US TV theme sound. Brass played by Charlie's Angels - 120 bpm, 4/4 time

Omniverse (3' 38") - Ref. 1607
2007 represents a good period in my life....
Twinned steel strings and toms rhythm section overlain by French horns, flute & strings. A muted trumpet and flute provides the bridge - 120 bpm, 4/4 time

Themes from "Tubular Bells, Part 1" (ProX Audio Version) (18' 35") - Ref. 1609
For CD10 I spent several months midifying the basic themes of Mike Oldfield's classic work as a homage to the piece of music that inspired my interest in music composition in the first place. I use the word "themes" since it is impossible to transcribe all the various elements of the piece without an original score. The CD10 version was pure Korg ProX sequencer. This version is composed of more than 65 separately recorded audio tracks. Too many instruments and changes to key and tempo to mention, and difficult to mix.

California Dreamin' (ProX Mix) (2' 29") - Ref. 1610
An up-tempo remixed synthed version of the Mama & papas classic. Dance beat - 150 bpm, 4/4 time

Paperback Writer (ProX Mix) (3' 18") - Ref. 1611
A "wood and glass" arrangement of the Lennon/McCartney song. Variable speeds, but based around an up-tempo 180 bpm, 4/4 time

Camille, Merci (Un Petit Cadeau) (3' 26") - Ref. 1612
A little thank you (un petit cadeau) for my French teacher. Hopefully this sounds better than my French pronunciation!
Nylon, jazz and steel-stringed guitars, oboe and flute leads, strings, and not forgetting the ubiquitous French squeeze: mwah, mwah, mwah.
Bridge provided by an EP - 116 bpm, 4/4 time

Father Christmas (ProX Mix) (3' 18") - Ref. 1613
A version of Greg Lake's Christmas single arranged for Christmas 2006.
6 layers of acoustic and 12-string gits, plus synth leads and piano to end. Marimba back beat with Yuletide jingles/bells - 115 bpm, 4/4 time

Peter Gunn (ProX Mix) (6' 32") - Ref. 1614
After H. Mancini & ELP, synth dance rhythm and layered synths, cut up and remixed - 127 bpm, 4/4 time

CD15: Phat (Kuwait 2004)

The album cover is the jolly Buddha (carved in bamboo) I bought in Shanghai old town in 1986, caught mid-chuckle and always guaranteed to make me smile.
In his case fat = phat.

Phat Chance (5' 27") - Ref. 1501
The title track. A rich (phat) rock anthem with bass line sequencer, heavy gits, and processed drum kit - 126 bpm, 4/4 time

Akiwowo (4' 48") - Ref. 1502
An Akiwowo African rhythm section for normal kit with orchestra and a mini Moog - 150 bpm, 4/4 time

Indian Summer, Part 1: Silks & Saris (5' 41") - Ref. 1503
Sitar, piano, flute, percussion and ambience laid on top of a small sample of tabla and flute from Zakir Hussein's 'Ethereal Rhythms' album - 90 bpm, 4/4 time

Indian Summer, Part 2: Pitta Patta (2' 47") - Ref. 1504
Sitar, piano, temple bell, and voices on top of a modern bass with ambient effects - 102 bpm, 4/4 time

Indian Summer, Part 3: Monsoon Breaks (2' 51") - Ref. 1505
Sitar, synth, strings and sounds. Scratchy violin is sampled from an album by Qareeb - 150 bpm, 4/4 time

Paparazzi Digitali (4' 53") - Ref. 1509
Sinister bass, strings, synth with rhythm provided by paparazzi digital camera shutters. Piano and mandolins join the second part for an Italian feel - 114 bpm, 4/4 time

Pink Nylons (4' 21") - Ref. 1510
Not what you think, but some pink noise from nylon-stringed gits. Assorted basses, gits and choirs - 130 bpm, 4/4 time

Rolled Over Beethoven, Part 1: Over the Moon (2' 53") - Ref. 1511
A double-tempo version of the 1st Movement from Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14 in C#, Op. 27 No. 2 "Moonlight" arranged for jazz quartet (Piano, jazz git, bass & drums) - 120 bpm, 4/4 time

Rolled Over Beethoven, Part 2: Just Too Pathetic (2' 31") - Ref. 1512
A double-tempo version of the 2nd Movement from Piano Sonata No. 8 in C, Op. 13 "Pathetique" arranged for jazz quartet (Jazz git, acoustic git, bass and occasional piano) - 122 bpm, 4/4 time

Ray Charles Tribute (6' 41") - Ref. 1515
While I was compiling this album 'The Genius' died, so this tribute is my mix of two favourites - 'What'd I Say' & 'Hit The Road Jack'. Plenty of the ubiquitous EP, with drums, bass git, synth bass and brass lead (with possibly too much reverb) for the first part, adding E Gits and alternating synth vox in the second (as fortunately for you I don't sing!). Hit The Road was apropos since by this time I was well fed up with Kuwait and looking for a strategic exit to develop further - 180 bpm, 4/4 time & 170 bpm, 4/4 time

The PanGalactic Gargleblaster (4' 39") - Ref. 1516
A 'mostly harmless' offering to fans of Douglas Adams' 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' and the best drink in existence. The musical equivalent of 'having your brains smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick'. You may find you prefer a Vogon poetry recital. Assorted synths and piano on top of a dance beat, with space FX and percussion - 135 bpm, 4/4 time

CD14: Drive on Highway 5 (Kuwait 2004)

The album is named after a piece done in 5/4 time. The album covers contain pictures of the boys taking their first driving lesson on Boxing Day 2003, when a group of expats drove in convoy across the open northern desert of Kuwait to the Iraqi border for a picnic. It is flat terrain, so great for a 12 and 10 year old to get their first taste of driving a 4x4 while watching those American M1 tanks on manoeuvres! In Kuwait we lived at the eastern end of the 5th Ring Road, and along with the 40 Motorway (as musically depicted in CD12) was part of my daily commute.

The Gamer's Nexus (5' 02") - Ref. 1401
Even my kids, who are big gamers, think this could be game music, which is the intent. There's an area in our local Souk in Salmiya which has banks of networked PCs where the kids can shoot the hell out of each other, but otherwise a true description of our household as our boys spend most of their free hours, with or without friends, playing PC & PlayStation games. A bass sequencer provides the heartbeat, with piano and orchestra on top plus a synth lead - 118 bpm, 4/4 time

Men In Black (ProX Dance Mix) (7' 07") - Ref. 1403
A neuralized version (and therefore entirely forgettable) of the film theme - Assorted drums, synths, voices and beeps with Phaser FX - 120 bpm, 4/4 time

Point Southwest (3' 44") - Ref. 1404
C&W-style backing from 4 guitars, drums and synths, overlain by a chorused git - 115 bpm 4/4 time

Vertices (3' 44") - Ref. 1405
The unofficial title track and the grid on the album cover. Solo piano on top of a 5 part background - 120 bpm, 4/4 time

Secret Gardens (3' 04") - Ref. 1406
ProX 'Secret Garden' ambience with solo electric guitar - 75 bpm 4/4 time

Drive on Highway 5 (5' 29") - Ref. 1407
More rush hour traffic, but at least it's flowing. Groove provided by piano and amplified acoustic bass (excluding bridge), accompanied by E Grand, voices and steel string guitar - 160 bpm 5/4 time

Pick Up The Pieces (ProX Dance Mix) (5' 03") - Ref. 1408
An extended mix of the disco classic with processed drums, additional mega bass, saxophones (of course) and distorted synthy strings with Flanger FX. This one has been kept as close the original as possible but with an upgraded beat - 112 bpm 4/4 time

Le Freak (ProX Dance Mix Chic) (7' 05") - Ref. 1409
Another extended disco mix. The ubiquitous funky git, with additional deep bass - 120 bpm 4/4 time

Deutsche Elektro (6' 53") - Ref. 1410
I grew up with the German techno-rock of the 1970's, and this piece reflects the electronic influences of Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk, and Klaus Schulze, as well as Vangelis and others. Everything laid on top of a main sequencer beat - 146 bpm, 4/4 time

Mission Impossible (ProX Mix) (3' 45") - Ref. 1413
The classic TV & film theme. This is my extended upbeat dance mix of Larry Mullen & Alan Clayton's film score version using the ProX voices - 95 bpm, 4/4 time

Futurama (ProX Dance Mix) (5' 45") - Ref. 1414
My attempt at an upbeat 'club dance' mix of the TV cartoon series theme - one of Alex's favourite shows. Possibly not 'good news' for anyone. Assorted processed drums, synth basses, synths and not forgetting the themes FM bells & Tubular vibes - 120 bpm, 4/4 time

CD13: Jazzamatazz (Covers 3) (Kuwait 2003)

Some reworked covers of some Jazz & Funk classics. The picture is one of Felicity's jazzier quilts.

CD12: A Love of Indigo (Kuwait 2003)

This album represents my musical catharsis for 2003.
The album cover is a photo taken by me at Bandos Island in the Maldives in 1986, which was as beautiful and blue as it comes.

Café del Mark (7' 00") - Ref. 1201
My uptake on the 'Café del Mar' series; Strings, ambient voices, gamelan (with plenty of reverb & echo), piano & drums - 130 bpm, 4/4 time

Thermocline (6' 22") - Ref. 1202
Aquatic ambience involving some liquid strings, harps & choir - 115 bpm, 4/4 time

The Right Mr. Wong (3' 22") - Ref. 1203
Western jazz-rock drums, bass, E Gits, & EP meet an oriental themed Rezpad - 190 bpm, 4/4 time

140 on the 40 (4' 01") - Ref. 1204
A typical driving speed (in kph) on the 40 Motorway in Kuwait. Driving in Kuwait, possibly the second most dangerous place on the planet for this activity, is something to behold and get used to quickly as a survival strategy. Some of the stress, chaos and speed are reflected in the music, with the four minutes being my average time on that piece of road (at 140 kph). Synthrock - 140 bpm (of course), 4/4 time

Cute, But Deadly (3' 25") - Ref. 1206
An in-joke about our youngest son, Alexander. Any further comment risks embarrassment! - 130 bpm, 4/4 time

New Ireland (5' 13") - Ref. 1207
The Celtic Tiger or an island NE of Papua New Guinea in the Bismarck Archipelago? A mix of pipes and native rhythms - 117 bpm, 4/4 time

A Love of Indigo (4' 57") - Ref. 1208
A cryptic clue in the Daily Telegraph crossword for 'Anil'. Jazz/Rock and the joy of living; fresh air, blue skies, blue sea, sailing, and surviving the drive home from work! Rock piano, bass, bright brass and air flute lead - 130 bpm, 4/4 time

Lost Innocence (Bali October 2002) (6' 05") - Ref. 1210
Having holidayed in Bali in 1997, this was my tribute to those who died in the atrocity of 2002. A mixture of western requiem cathedral organ, harpsichord, choir, strings and eastern gamelan, pan pipes, Balinese percussion and the mournful toll of an ancient temple bell - 106 bpm, 4/4 time

CD11: Shelvock (Scotland 2000/Kuwait 2001)

This concept album is based on my One-Name Study for the name. Several of the themes were developed while in Scotland but I was uninspired to finish for nearly two years. As a result it was a hard album to bring to life. The album was finally finished in just two weeks in Kuwait when inspiration returned. This album was the first full album issued on the Vitaminic label. The album cover is a modified photo taken by me at Shelvock in Shropshire. The six tracks below represent the entire album. This CD was dedicated to my uncle Wilfred Harry Hart who died in 2001.

Set 1: Three Berewicks (10' 55") - Ref. 1101
In the Domesday period (1086) Shelvock in Shropshire was one of the three Berewicks (a hamlet attached to a manor) of the Manor of Wykey, owned in Edward the Confessor's time by Edwin, Earl of Mercia, and in William the Conqueror's time by Odo. The piece is divided into three, provoking different atmospheres for the times -
Part a. mediaeval village life (Piano, bass, acoustic git, strings, electric piano, choir, wine glasses, & mandolin) - 150 bpm, 4/4 time;
Part b. a market day or festival (Chorused gits, strings, percussion, bass & drums) - 105 bpm, 6/8 time; and
Part c. a pastoral (Echoed woodwinds, lead oboe, percussion, synth bass, ambient effects, piccolo, drums, orchestra & church organ) - 125 bpm, 11/8 time

Set 2: Ath (5' 34") - Ref. 1102
Ath of Shelvock is the earliest mentioned by name in a Manor Roll of 1374. Ath is also an Old English word for "dweller", and may have been a real name or simply referred to a person who dwelt at Shelvock. The set is in two parts depicting Ath going about his daily life at Shelvock.
Part a: Acoustic git solo, chorused gits, piano & ambient effects;
Part b: Acoustic piano, ambient effects & harp - 100 bpm, 7/8 time; 100 bpm 5/4 time

Set 3: The Oak (6' 41")- Ref. 1103
This is a deliberately haunting piece to reflect the majesty and the presence through time of the oak trees at Shelvock. For the oak, time is slow compared to the many lives passing all around through the ages. Consequently various themes come and go. There is an oak tree at Shelvock still, and one can only imagine the magnificent tree or trees on the shelf that became known as Shelvock. Ambient effects, percussion, choirs, strings, various synths, bells, haunting trumpet solo. Despite some comments to the contrary, I was not on drugs when I composed this piece (actually it fell together in less than 3 hours one afternoon) - 130 bpm, 4/4 time

Set 4: Hemp In The Perry (7' 45") - Ref. 1104
In the 1583 manorial court records 'Roger Thomas and Roger Shelvock were fined for putting hemp in the river Perry.' A law had been passed in 1541 that banned the watering (i.e. the rotting of the non fibrous parts of the plant prior to using it for making rope) in any stream or pond where animals were allowed to drink. Hemp is part of a plant group that includes cannabis, and all the animals just go a little bit crazy. The two Roger's are consequently in big trouble. Synths, bells, strings (Intro); wooden percussion, vibraphone and lead distorted electric guitar (Bridge); Drums, pumped bass guitar, lead E Git, chorused E Gits, various clean and distorted E Gits, EP, choirs, piano, acoustic git & synth lead (Main theme) - 128 bpm, 4/4 time

Set 5: Decline & Dispersal (7' 57") - Ref. 1105
This set in two parts represents the decline of the family name from the 1600's and the dispersal of the few remnant families in the modern day. Part a: synth vox, harmonica, harp & choir;
Part b: Oboe, ambient effects, string synth, woodwinds, hybrid keys, acoustic git & orchestral strings - 230 bpm, 4/4 time; 100 bpm, 4/4 time

Set 6 (Finale): Reunion (5' 08") - Ref. 1106
This piece celebrates the success of the website, my one-name study and the Internet bringing today's remaining families closer together. Muted orchestra, bells, pan flute & effects (Intro); Harp (as rhythm lead and bass), chorused acoustic guitars, harpsichord, acoustic piano, woodwinds, strings, cathedral organ, female & male choirs, bells & tympani (Main theme) - 175 bpm/200 bpm, 3/4 time

Intermission #1

Music composed by my colleague and fellow geologist Chris Garland that has been DisGracefully geowarped:

Bright Lights (1' 33") - A Christmas arrangement.

Magnificat, version 1 (2' 15") - "Magnificent Space Cathedral" - originally a choral piece.

Magnificat, version 2 (2' 34") - "Magnificent Orchestra", the same but slower, with lots of horns and woodwind.

Playtime (2' 14") - "Parisienne" - destined for a little 'je ne sais quoi' by 'moi'.
No. 2 in Chris's "Academy Sonata" for Flute & Piano.

Reflections (2' 33") - Rainy day musings.
No. 3 in Chris's "Academy Sonata" for Flute & Piano.

Reverie Paysanne (6' 15") - a collaborative ProX orchestration of his "Reverie Paysanne" quartet.

In 2008 it will be 22 years since my stay in China, and apropos my return this year I discovered my early analogue tapes collecting dust. Here you find some early works semi-live aided by a Fostex 8-track & Aria Spring Reverb, starring lead keyboards Korg DW6000 & Yamaha DX7, accompanied by the Roland SH101 on bass and sequences with the Roland TR707 Rhythm Composer. Many of these were precursors for later works.