Everything is going to be alright in the wide American open. Wholesome, unmistakably positive and with a message of hope. Full band with piano, strummed acoustic guitar, joined by harmonica and some confident hammond organ later in the song. Earnest and optimistic. Good for American adverts about family, getting together, doing nice things.
Author Archives: jamie
Horizon Venture Theme
Varied and cascading piano and live string section swirl into a vortex of questions and answers, unifying in a positive crescendo around 1:00, then launching into a series of dynamic sections, before a serene unified ending. Sophisticated and masterfully arranged – I’d imagine Pina Bausch choreographing something to this.
Wisdom Child
Relaxed and positive, with gentle indian instrumentation including tabla and sitar-like guitar. It doesn’t do much, just holds it’s space with a rich upright bass sound and the introduction of rhodes at 2:45, it would be almost lazy if it wasn’t for the tabla pushing things along with its crisp melodic insistence. The feeling I get with this track is like I’m drifting serenely down a river, and everything is totally ok with the world. Reassuring. Perfect for branded content with themes of travel.
Somewhere
Simple wistful piano piece with subtle orchestral strings, nodding to “Somewhere Out There” in Disney’s “An American Tail”, but usable in many poignant moments. I can imagine this in a campaign video asking people to help donate to a charity, or a sad but hopeful scene in a wholesome family series.
Fabian to Chloe – There’s Hope
Childlike, uplifting and positive, introduced with chimes and light guitar, joined by warm strings and piano in a descending sequence that evokes feelings of hope, light and harmony.
Pass it Off – Dub Instrumental
Full on in your face hip hop. It’s big, it’s bad and brash. Recommended for rapid cut promos, or waking up the neighbours. This guy knows what I’m talking about. I’m nodding my head as I type this. Imagine Busta Rhymes ‘Ante Up’ mixed with a little bit of Missy Elliot and some chipmunks, but like, hip hop chipmunks. All samples cleared.
Farewell to Arms
Build of electronic arpeggios over rasping synths leads to a massive industrial drop at 0:15. Smooth, dark and serious. Elements of Massive Attack and Tricky. 1 minute ad length.
How’s God? She’s Black
The title is taken from this piece of graffiti on the Berlin Wall. Piano and classic guitar led, with gamelan, and a string section. Tender, hopeful and positive with hypnotic piano riffs revolving in the background. A pause leads to a frenetic middle section which bursts into a sudden epic string section, similarly disappearing to leave a tender vulnerable ending. Nods to Steve Reich, The Penguin Cafe Orchestra and The Books.
For Sudan (Suite)
Thoughtful sad piano with raindrop-like percussion states a strong melodic motif, slowly joined by gentle strings and delicate triangle. At 1:56 a hopeful bridge introduces pulsing cellos building to a full-bodied, quickened restatement of the main theme, then a gradual shift downwards in energy and tempo for a relaxed and pensive end. Good for campaign videos with a strong serious message.
Threshold_Entrancending_Incantascence
Sparse plucked Cello, calm and slightly wry, anticipating something, a note of unease. Then out of nowhere urgent and plaintive bowed cello and violin. Rhythmic at first then suspending itself with long drawn out notes. At 4:14 there is a unified statement, uneasy and dissonant. It feels like someone is valiantly struggling to pull themselves up but can’t do it. They try harder and more desperately but the forlornness of the situation overtakes them, they pause, then after a last effort they fall to their doom. If you were ever narrating an Edgar Allen Poe story, this would be the soundtrack to it.