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.

I happened to be cleaning out my gear closet this evening when I found my old external studio hard drives… on them I have the original – very first and very rough takes – of my first Arrangement for Sex series of songs. To hear what they sounded like with no production and slightly arrangements is really cool.

Also included were a number of other rough demos that I never followed up on but sure as hell should have… Frankly, I’m blow away by the work that I said “eh, this doesn’t have potential…”  I truly don’t know what I was thinking. On that really sticks out to me is called “Your Soft Touch”

I’ll convert the old demos (and “junk tracks”) into MP3s and post them shortly.

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

Part of the reason I really haven’t had any significant updates in the last week is due to work, part due to my writing for Yes, We Cook!, and part to the fact that I have finished off Demo track number three for “Arrangements for Sex, Vol 2″

I finished off “In Your Arms (Hold Me)” late yesterday evening, and with a few minor tweaks this evening, I’m ready to call it “go” for the official demo.

So, here you go: In Your Arms (Hold Me) <—- the bold is a link, if you didn’t know

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….

A number of years back I started a project music by the name of Arrangements for Sex (The E.P. can be found here, and the ‘Naked’ remixes can be found here) that was background music for, well, sex… actually, it was more for relaxing than anything.

Truth be told I simply couldn’t skip the name.

My intent for the project was to have a continual catalog that would be created, all of which could blend together/be interchangeable, that would eventually create on giant “album”. As the arousal of the mind to create music doesn’t always happen on command the project has gone through periods of hiatus; however, I’m back in the writing mood and “Arrangements for Sex, Volume 2″ is now under way.

The first demo off the next E.P. brings the return of the strings I love so well, and provides a glimpse into what will be coming in the next several weeks.

So, without further delay, here is the 1st unmastered demo track - Thoughts of Reality in a Never Ending Moment of Denial

When I did my “Arrangements for Sex” E.P. I decided to have several different takes on the track titled “Naked”.  As the EP was simply intended to be background music, I wanted to have something a little more… upbeat… something one could move to, if they so desired.

Here is the result of that effort, in MP3 format:

Naked (Big Wheel Mix)

Naked (Mystic Morning Remix)

Naked (My Heart Beats Minimal Breaks Mix)

As with the last set, I hope you enjoy.  Please feel free to share with anyone you so desire.  I have no problem with the distribution of these files in any format so share away.

I have always enjoyed good, relaxing, background music. Sounds to simply set the tone or mood for a nice nap, bath… or setting the tone for intimacy.

For about 6 years now I have been producing electronic music and, in 2007, I decided to take a break from the ambient / trance / electronic genre and put together a few tracks intended for background music – nothing more. The following tracks make up the “Arrangement for Sex E.P.”

(if you want to save to your computer, right click the links and “save as”)

Track 1 – Van M. Santos – Naked.mp3

Track 2 – Van M. Santos – Thank You.mp3

Track 3 – Van M. Santos – Morning After.mp3

Track 4 – Van M. Santos – Afterglow.mp3

Track 5- Van M. Santos – Angel.mp3

They tracks are encoded @ 320 kbps, so the files are larger than normal.

I hope you enjoy the tracks and please feel free to share with anyone you so desire.  I have no problem with the distribution of these files in any format (torrent, ftp, p2p).  All I ask is you leave the mp3 Tag info included.

Enjoy!