And here are the songs I was posting about the other day… I am still shocked at this, and they really bring back memories of my old studio, as well as the countless hours spent trying to get a sound *just* right.

The demos are the original arrangements, with very few FXs. While most of the content was found in the final version there were tweaks here and there. None of these were mastered, they are as raw as you can get.

First up, Afterglow.

The demo captures the “thick” phaser sound I wanted on the high hats. It also creates a very big head space, almost giving the impression that this is taking place in a large hall… I remember playing this over and over and over in  my car late one evening.

Download the Afterglow demo here.  (The final version can be found here)

Next up, Morning After.

Little did I know what this song was going to become to me, and so many other people. The main structure is there but the strings are different, the kick is different, all of the FXs are missing, and the tempo is a wee bit slower….

Download the Morning After demo here.  (The final version can be found here)

And finally, the classic Naked.

The programming of the beat took me FOREVER.  This was, actually, the first demo in the entire ArS session and set everything in motion.  The piano arrangement is slightly different, a slightly thinner choice of high hats, a totally different set of strings was used and the bassline was really set to stick out in this…

Download the Naked demo here.  (The final version can be found here)

Now… this is where things get interesting.

I did a number of tracks that didn’t make it into the final release of the EP, here are two that – for whatever reason – I thought were not worth refining/developing into full tracks.

Now, looking back, I have NO CLUE as to what I was thinking.  Both would have ended up as strong songs….

Here is the unfinished Next To You… and the soft, atmospheric, potential filled Your Soft Touch.

Really, no clue what I was thinking with these two.

Thanks to solipsistic NATION we have a new Live recording of The Orb at AB Brussels.  Check out the site, and the live show can be downloaded here.

The really cool thing about the concert list is it highlights the full touring group (not the Alex and Thomas Fehlmann tour).  Live drum. Live singer. Interesting a mainly ambient take on Little Fluffy Clouds is included here.. except when the group decides to take advantage of the live drums. A must have for any fan.

Have fun.

And here we have another demo from the “Arrangements For Sex, Vol 2″.

Up this time is ‘I love you’… a song that seems to float in the background, with an almost hypnotizing bassline, that draws enough attention to the music bu not distract the listener from any other activities they may be involved with.

Here you go.  You can download the demo for the song here: I love you (Demo) <– click there

Yet another reason as to why I enjoy Erasure  - the group has provided a free download of A Little Respect for the Holiday season.

I just get the feeling Vince and Andy ‘get it’ when it comes to fans.

Thanks for this!

Here is the second demo track from the Arrangements for Sex, Volume 2 set of songs.

This second track is another “close your eyes and relax” type of track… one that I really enjoy… I haven’t really had a direction as far as the musical ‘feel’ on the second Arrangements outing, it has just kinda fallen into place.

Ok, enough talk, here is The Way of Truth and Love.

As usual the “this is unmastered” warning must be given.  I expect that songs 3 and 4 may be done within the next week as well….

Back in June The Orb announced the cancellation of the U.S. tour with no explanation. Fans were left wondering why. The reason, as it turns out, was due to the death of Andy Hughes. A producer, engineer and DJ, Hughes ended up working on tracks that never ended up being released to the public.

Here is one such track.

This was dug up by gel-sol, a former label mate of Andy Hughes when they were both associated with em:t records. The track does not have a name, nor is it know what this track was intended for. From what is know the production was unfinished but was in production back in 2005.

The track is very, very good. Sad to see it never had a release.

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted mix sessions, so why not get back into the Groove…

Paul Van Dyk – Clubbin (SlamFM)

Tiesto – Club Life 124 (Part 1, Part 2)

Armin Van Buuren – A State of Trance 417

Paul Oakenfold – The Radio Mix 933

Blank & Jones – The Mix 08.10.2009

Enjoy!

Way back, in the U.F. Orb days, Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream) was supposed to sing on an Orb track.  That track was intended to be Assassin.  For some reason, however, that idea never became a reality. Apparently, The Orb and Bobby Gillespie ended up doing a track together…just not Assassin.

I give you “Sucker” by Maximum Bob.

Sucker is a track sung by Bobby Gillespie, produced and engineered by The Orb, and was only issued as a very limited edition white label but never was released by a major record company.  Frankly, I can understand why…

The track is…less than average.

Maybe it was only intended to be a demo that would be polished up, or just the guys messing about one day, but it’s really nothing impressive. I think this will only be on interest for a collector – someone who simply wants to have everything – but I will let you judge for yourself.

Give it a download here.

Time for some DJ sessions:

Paul Oakenfold – C9 5th Year Anniversary

Blank & Jones (The Mix, Week 22)

Paul Van Dyk – Vonyc Sessions 143

Armin Van Buuren – A State Of Trance 405 

Ferry Corsten – Corsten’s Countdown 099

Matt Darey – Nocturnal 198  (this is a great session! Nice work Matt)

Enjoy the sessions!

Time for some live DJ Mix Sessions.  As always, I’m sure you won’t be dissapointed… and if anyone is wondering, the Andrew Weatherall session is not trance.

Matt Darey – Nocturnal 51 

Andrew Weatherall – 6Mix

Paul Van Dyk – Voync Sessions 141

John Digweed – Transitions (05/08)

Blank & Jones – 5/5/09