Release by Afro Celt Sound System Flashcards
african forces
- talking drum
- kora
- male vocals - maninka (guinea) lyrics
maninka vocalist
- n’faly kouyate
celtic forces
- hurdy-gurdy
- uilleann pipes
- bodhran
- fiddle
- whistle
- accordian
- male vocals - gaelic lyrics
gaelic vocalist
- iarla o lionaird
western forces
- synthesiser
- sampler
- electric keyboard
- drum machine
- shaker
- tambourine
- bass guitar
- female vocals - english lyrics
english vocalist
- sinead o’connor
introduction time stamp
0:00 - 1:38
(0:00-0:19)introduction - tempo, tonality, effects
- free time : no clear pulse
- in the key of aeolian mode on c - 3b’s
- panning used
- synth pad drone with filter sweeps establishes the key
introduction - what is the drone note on?
c
(0:19 - 0:27) introduction - which instruments enter and the effect of them?
- talking drum and synths drone
- used to create an effect rather than to provide a steady pulse
(0:27-0:41) introduction - what is introduced?
- shaker begins to introduce rhythm (loop 2)
loop 2
- shaker begins to introduce rhythm
(0:41-0:48) introduction - what is introduced?
- spoken male vocal samples added
- in griot storytelling style
(0:48-1:18) introduction - time sig, loops, tempo, instrumentation
- 4/4
- loop 3 - 12 bars of drum machine and bodhran establishing a steady tempo (100BPM)
loop 3 - the effect of the bodhran
- backbone of the piece
- syncopated and generally remains the same with only some places of elaboration
(1:18-1:38) introduction - what is introduced + instrumentation?
- loop 4: additional synth strings
- loop 5: drum loops added
- female vocalisations enter
- kora - plays a simple riff which is heard twice over the loops
female vocalisations
- heavy reverb
- central panning
- sense of improv
verse 1 - time stamps + loops
- 1:38 - 2:55
- loops 6-13
(1:38-1:56) v.1 - instrumentation, loops 6+7
- female vox
- loop 6 - drums
- loop 7 - tambourine takes over from shaker
melody - v.1
- limited note range (6th)
(1:56-2:16) v.1 - texture, melodic setting, structure, melody + loop 8
- texture, dynamics and tension begins to build
- syllabic with very even 2 bar phrases
- repetitive melody - split into 2 bar phrases
- 8 bar sections
- loop 8: talking drum provides fills at the end of the 4 bar phrases
function of the talking drum
- provides fills at the end of the 4 bar phrases
(2:16-2:35) v.1 - loop 9+10
- loop 9 - kora is panned left and has a new riff
- loop 10 - synth strings - synth has an ascending chromatic line
(2:35-2:55) v.1 - structure, loop 11,12 and 13 and effects
- 8 bar instrumental break
- loop 11 - soft synth pad
- loop 12 - bass
- bass part uses C + Bb which gives a modal feel
- texture thins out so that the bass guitar entrance is more dramatic
- short flute effect uses delay FX - echoes
- loop 13 - breath samples and syncopation