blair's blógado gigante

Remixed under my favorite of all pseudonyms, Grim Trigger.  A lot of piano, a lot of angry celli, and one dense layer of synths.  Did I mention there's a thumping breakbeat?

Takes a while to build up, but the ominous overtones will push you delightfully into the breakdown.

Enjoy, I am very proud of this one.

I contribute to the nationally syndicated Matt and Ramona Show on occasion.  Most recently, Doc and I laid down some vocals, then I spent an evening crafting a kickass, breakbeat-style opening for a feature they do each Friday on their show.

If you can tune in, it's great to hear it live...Fridays just after 3pm eastern.

I'm working on a concept album of questionable legality, because of sampling.  But, what the hell, right?

Mostly, I'm going after clips from sci-fi stuff.  The demo you're no doubt about to click on to the right uses clips from Donnie Darko.  Specifically, what Frank says to Donnie.

I've also tapped Q from Star Trek: Voyager, and Arthur C. Clarke's last message to his fans.

Total experimentation here.  It will either be extremely great, or it will blow up in my face.  Either way, boom!

I'm back.  As in...not dead.  Took some personal time off from the blog, but I think I'm ready to be back.  Anyway, in with a bang.  Here's the final version (radio edit) of my remix for "The Way I Are" by Timbaland.

"Phat" bass sounds constructed with Trilogy.  Cello lines from Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra.  Beats transferred from their usual hiding place in my secluded beat vault.

Your comments welcome.  Club play appreciated.  :)

Blair loves his ASCAP checks.

Fresh from the Blair Bakery!

If you've never used any products from Spectrasonics, you're missing out.  Listen to the drum patterns you can make in five minutes.

Originally scored to picture as a title sequence.

Let me know what you think!

Here's the list for November!  It's been slow these past few weeks.  Not a lot of new stuff released in that epoch.  But, what's come out has been pretty damned cool.

RSS feed should iTunes in the next few days.  Support your local DJ...and enjoy!

En Fuego

Funkerman - Speed Up [541]
Rihanna - Shut Up and Drive (Wideboys Edit) [Island/Def Jam]
Booty Luv - Don't Mess With My Man [Hed Kandi/Data]
Axwell - I Found U [Axtone/541]

Hot

Andrea - Time To Pray [DIY/Catchy Tunes]
Jupiter Rising - Electropop (Lenny B. Edit) [Chime/Indie]
Leonid Rudenko - Summerfish [Bestboy/Starview]
Filo and Peri - Anthem [Vandit/541]
The Thrillseekers - Waiting For You [Adjusted]
Natasha Bedingfield - Soul Mate (Bimbo Jones Edit) [Epic]

Still Warm

Cam Tyler - Feels Like Heaven [Indie]
Elena - Before I Sleep [Universal]
Jenny Bliss - All About Me [Robbins]
Just Jack - Writer's Block (Seamus Haji Edit) [Mercury]
Karen Overton - Your Loving Arms [Ego/Supra]
Michael Mind - Ride Like The Wind [Kontor]
Red Carpet - Alright (Domain & Pettigrew Edit) [Positiva]
Soul Shakers & CeCe Peniston - Shame Shame Shame [Indie]
Very Nice People - I'll Make You High [Bang]

Overlooked

Sonique - Tonight (Haji & Emanuel Edit) [Paradise/Azuli Silver]

Flashback

Suzanne Palmer - Fascinated [Star 69]

For Fun

Andrew Spencer vs. The Vamprockerz - Zombie [Sony BMG/Mental Madness]

Sorry it's been so long since I posted.  There have been a lot of things going on at Blair Ranch.  Ranch Blair?  Whatever.

Here's the first of many new cues and tunes that I've been working on since my last post back in 1922.  Back by popular demand, it's the B Duduk, everyone's favorite, exotic instrument from the east.

While the duduk did originate in Armenia (north of Iran), its timbre and color are perfect for a complementary role in the music of Armenia's more southerly neighbors.  (Music in the middle east has a tendency to blend and migrate insofar as the instrumentation.)  The duduk is a double reed woodwind instrument, giving it that "breathy" sound that's perfect for solos.  (I'm not sure why more composers don't use it.)

You will also hear a santoor (hammer struck dulcimer-type instrument) towards the end.  The santoor is a very old instrument whose origins can be traced back to Persia of antiquity (present-day Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, etc).

The thunderous drums in the background are beating in 4/4+3/4 (or just 7/4 to keep it simple).  It just goes to prove to you how exotic I am willing to get for the art of music.

Your comments are welcome.  Discovery Networks, are you out there?

Another tune inspired by the images, videos, and stories from RCT-6.  This one has already been sniffed by a major network that shall remain nameless...so let's pray they buy it and give Uncle Blair some sweet, sweet lovin' (in the form of royalties and licensing fees)!

This song/cue incorporates some original vocals, a sitar, electric bass played by my best friend Jerry, and some other whacked out elements.  There is also something else unique about this piece, though, insofar as my plans for it.

(Editor's Note: Where I come from in Texas, everything is Coke.  What kind of Coke do I drink?  Dr. Pepper.  Now, stay with me, because that's about to become important for your east coast folk who call it soda or pop or whatever.)

I just made my usual late night Dr. Pepper "Coke" run to the Cashion's on the corner here in the big Cornelius, NC.  (I think my arrival here pushed the town over the 12,000 mark.   Hoorah.)

The cashier lady took an uncomfortable, unnecessary amount of time matching my debit card to my ID.  Now, I'm glad that she actually checked, but seriously...how sure do you need to be about the 99-cent, 44-ounce Dr. Pepper "Coke" fountain drink and the $1.25 slice of banana bread?

If I'm posing as someone else, don't you think I'm going to aim a little higher than a $2.50 purchase at a Cashion's in a small town?

At least she checked.

I've been very melancholy lately...reflective and the like.  Heard this old-ish Fort Minor tune on the radio the other day and decided to make a remix.  If you're not familiar, it's a song about being lonely, left out, or otherwise abandoned in interpersonal relationships.  (Fort Minor is a side project of another band I respect, Linkin Park.)

It's as relevant to my friends who are deployed in Iraq who miss their wives and significant others as it is to someone who's separated because they never received the love they deserved.  I've been there in spirit.

I want to say a few things about this remix/re-work.  I did all the piano parts right here at this desk.  No samples.  No sheet music.  All improv.  The only thing that I "brought over" from the original is the vocals.  We even went up in tempo just a bit.  It leans ambient towards the beginning and end...and I hope you enjoy the soundscape I'm trying to paint with the piano and atmospheric synths.

It's supposed to be sad.  Lament, reflect, but be positive about what comes next.