Tracks
- 01The Fight Begins1:11Apple MusicYouTubeFantom-X8
The only song on this album composed for a specific purpose. My friend Brad, then a computer science master's student, asked for an intro piece for his class group's 2-D war strategy game. He was very pleased with the result, so I'm sharing it. Astute soundtrack fans may notice the Klingon battle theme from Jerry Goldsmith's Star Trek: The Motion Picture in the middle.
- 02Ethereal Rhythm4:23Apple MusicYouTubeXP-80
Composed on the XP-80 with the Session expansion board, whose Ethereal JX patch inspired a song to suit the sound. Also influenced by Edward Shearmur's K-PAX soundtrack.
- 03New Car3:23Apple MusicYouTubeFantom-X8
The first piece I composed on my Fantom-X8. The rhythm and instrumentation started to remind me of those Mitsubishi commercials with the seat-dancing passenger, so I named it accordingly.
- 04V-Happy2:22Apple MusicYouTubeV-Synth
The first song I created with the V-Synth. Every sound except the piano comes from the V-Synth, and it's a happy, upbeat tune. Some say the chord progression is close to Richard Marx's Right Here Waiting, though that was the farthest thing from my mind.
- 05Trazz3:49Apple MusicYouTubeXP-80
An amalgam of trance and jazz, though more trance than jazz. The jazz comes mostly from the improvised piano; the trance is everything else.
- 06Running-Wind5:25Apple MusicYouTubeXP-80
Another melodic trance piece. It brought many images to mind, wind among them, and some of the rhythms and intervals vaguely reminded me of American Indian ceremonial music.
- 07Follow My Lead2:44Apple MusicYouTubeXP-80
A play on words: the main melody line in a song is often called the "lead." It's upbeat and encourages the listener to follow the lead sound.
- 08Techno Phonics3:19Apple MusicYouTubeXP-80
More techno/trance. My boss at the time was a big trance fan, which explains the run of trance-like songs here. Phonics are the basic sounds of a language, and this sounded to me like the basic sounds of a techno piece (I didn't yet know the difference between techno and trance).
- 09Persistence of Time4:02Apple MusicYouTubeXP-80
A contemplative piece with improvised piano. The name reflects my feelings while composing it, probably some combination of boredom, frustration and impatience. Re-recorded in 2011 for Peace.
- 10The Wish1:52Apple MusicYouTubeXP-80
A reflective, melodic piano piece representing my wish for companionship at the time.
- 11Meditative2:50Apple MusicYouTubeXP-80
Just that: ambient chords with distinct, contemplative melodies.
- 12A Light Heart2:14Apple MusicYouTubeXP-80
Named for my feelings while composing it, and the spirit of the piece: a happy, upbeat rhythm and melody.
- 13A Step Down4:32Apple MusicYouTubeFantom-X8
Resonates with my mood when sitting alone, and alludes to the coming end of the album. This and Beauty are probably my favorite pieces so far. It can be read as reflecting many emotional changes.
- 14Beauty4:13Apple MusicYouTubeXV-5080
The first and only piece I composed on my XV-5080 with the Concert Piano expansion board: a gentle, contemplative piano and cello piece. The delicacy and expression are what I enjoy most about it.
- 15Though You Play...5:18Apple MusicYouTubeXP-80
A dynamic, piano-centric piece in the style of a '70s ballad, reflecting both gratitude and frustration. Though I play music to ease the tension, there's still plenty to be grateful for.