“Moods and Modes vol. I” collects the first 6 sketches of the project. The tracks included explore the moods suggested by some scales with less than 7 notes: major and minor pentatonic, blues scale, major and minor pentascale.
If you like it, you can get it on Bandcamp!
For the Joy: A couple of jumpy violins set the mood of this major pentatonic tune
Sail Away: explores the minor pentatonic scale and it features a flute and a cello in a gentle roll
Geronimo: features a hammond organ improvising on a blues scale with the backing of a classic rock rhythm section.
Marilyn: The blues scale is able to rock but also loves to swing! Marilyn features an electric piano (an old Electra model) that swings around a hammond organ with the help of an upright bass.
Sunrise on Mars: It’s a festive and alien salute to the sun, with an interlude of strings and English Horn. The melody played by the synth is based on a “major pentascale” (the first five notes of a major scale). It’s not a scale very used in music, but it’s something every five-fingered classical-trained beginner pianist learn to play at the start of their career. Hear the alien choir sing!
Autumn Sunset: It’s a cool latin jazz track, with a muted trumpet, an old piano and a clean guitar. The melody is based on a “minor pentascale” (the first five notes of a natural minor scale). Cool season sound!
The Joy of Sailing Away (REMIX): Start on this downtempo journey with the company of a flute, a violin, and some raucous beats. The flute theme comes from Sail Away while the happy violin middle theme comes from For the Joy. Released also as a limited edition NFT. See also the dedicated blog page.
Oil and Water (REMIX): This track is marked by some stark contrasts: between acoustic and electronic instruments, between fast and slow sections, between swing and straight rhythms. These contrasts won’t blend, but they will come to a sort of uneasy cohabitation, just like oil and water sometimes do. All the melodies you hear are played by a clarinet, at times heavily distorted and effected. “Oil and Water” emulsify two themes taken from previous Moods and Modes pieces Marilyn for the slow section and Geronimo for the fast one. Released also as a limited edition NFT. See also the dedicated blog page.
From Dusk Till Dawn (REMIX): With the company of a blend of electric and acoustic timbres and lead by an oboe, you may wander around in a chilly night until the sun rises. The “chilly evening” theme comes from Autumn Sunset while the “sunrise” central theme comes from Sunrise on Mars. Released also as a limited edition NFT See also the dedicated blog page.
