I just couldn’t focus on track number four because of this track, so I decided to add a few more things and call this one “done” for the demo, so here you go…

EDP/VMS Demo #3

So, a few notes from the studio note pad.

• the samples fit perfectly, but I need a bit more atmosphere
• I am doctor up the sitar a bit more
• the bass hit may continue a few more times (maybe 1)
• depending on a few other minor changes I may make – after listening to this over and over – this may easily be the intro track to the rest of the album

I may simply be missing something when it comes to Joy Division but I never really cared for their music.  Yes, I like New Order (what Joy Division because after the lead singer committed suicide) but the original group never “yanked my crank” so to speak.

Their first song to chart, Love Will Tear Us Apart, seems to be one of the most covered songs in the history of music…  Just off the top of my head some of the groups who took a stab at the song include The Cure, 10,000 Maniacs, Fall Out Boy… umm…. Paul Young (remember him?) and now we can add Alabama 3 to the list.

Devlin Love sounds amazing, as always.  So does Larry.  Regardless of their talent and abilities, I just cannot get into the song.  Would I turn off the song, by no means but I won’t be running to play it either.

Here is the MP3 provided by One Little Indian, the Alabama 3 record label, for all to enjoy.  Yes, it’s free… No it’s not piracy.

I am in the process of producing my next effort, an ambient / dub / abstract venture. The project name is not yet released, and the official album title is unknown but a working title is in place (Half moon, half happy). As of this writing I have a total of 7 tracks in various forms of production which span a number of musical influences.

With the site up and running I’ve decided to document the entire process. This includes the early demos, studio notes, album and production changes all the way up to the final product. Understand these are EARLY demos. This means the track are not properly mixed, the FX are not in place, portions will be added or deleted, arrangements will be changed and, above all things, the final tracks will be properly recorded and mastered before pressing.

So, without further delay, here we go:

EDP-VMS Ambient Demo 1

• The song has was too much reverb in the water
• Need to find a way to clean up the samples, also add a few additional sample
• The Lead Acoustic guitar will come in once and fade into a long, long analogue delay that mixes into background and other samples
• The bassline will change to establish a new feel for the slong, more relaxed. I think I will use a Korg MS10 for this or a Juno 106. Have the ability to provide the structure I am looking for
• The muted Jazz Guitar may gain a larger roll in the final mix as there is a potential to use it as a transition into another song
• Provide more punch to the vocals chorus sample

• Change the vintage house piano out, change the pattern and the reverb used on that track
• Have a clean organ hit that can be processed by an auto filter delay
• Retool the highs
• Move the “oooos” up during the second break – make it constant
• add a jungle break beat theme for the last min of the song
• Filter the sample a bit more

//NOTE
//The original post included broken links to the songs.  
//This error has been fixed.  
//END NOTE

This was the original that set everything off for me, my first E.P. ”All the things that could have been…” This has a lot of meaning to me… more and more each day.

Sonicstate – Track 1 – 1221

Sonicstate – Track 2 – Dreamstate

Sonicstate – Track 3 – Morningstar

Sonicstate – Track 4 – Release

Enoy!

Here is another track for you…

An unfinished remix of Dreamstate from the “All the things that could have been” E.P., encoded at 320 KBPS. The remix has a nice blend of straightforward dance and ambient.  

Due to the high encoding rate and lenght (around 10 minutes) the file is rather large so take this as advanced warning.

Sonicstate – Dreamstate (Unfinished Remix)

I love how the 303 slowly comes into the track and simply blends in without standing out in the mix too much. Good stuff.

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!

I’ve been a fan of Johnny Cash for some time, he had one of the best voices ever to be recorded (if you ask me).  There is a remix album coming out on 10/14/2008 with some big name producers (Snoop Dogg, Philip Steir, Alabama 3) giving their own take on some of Johnny’s classics…

There are two stand out tracks one this album – Alabama 3’s remix of Leave that Junk Alone and Pete Rock’s remix of Folsom Prison Blues.  Frankly, the album is worth buying simply for these two alone.  I admit it, I’m a large Alabama 3 fan but, truly, what they’ve done here is outstanding in ever sense of the word.

The promo site is currently online @ johnnycashremixed.com and the best part all tracks can be streamed via Windows Media.