FAWM: "The Joy Smuggler"

The Joy Smuggler

2 weeks ago by @guatecoop

The Joy Smuggler

guatecoop

00:00

Liner Notes

#world #liveinstruments #accordion #melodica #tongue-drum #wait-for-it
I got one of those tongue drums for Christmas, as I wanted one, but it is just an 8 note one. I'm grateful, but I'm saying that because there are only 8 notes to work with. I created the song on that while I was home with my son who has been ill--so I can't just sneak away to do music....but, I could mess around on the tongue drum. After recording that, I decided to add a pianorgan, which is like an accordion in keyboard form. I then decided to use my melodica, which I've never recorded before (yay). I added bass for some low end with my Hofner bass, but with a mic, as everything else is not electified. I decided not to add any rhythm, as in percussion, as it just seemed like that was adding just to add. Tell me if you think differently though.
The title comes from these times that we're in here in the US....I recently read Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" and am reading Geddy Lee's autobiography and was struck (again!) by the accounts of people find joy in the most horrid existence—humans always do somehow. I'm not saying that we are there or definitely going there, but I hope that we aren't going to have to conceal aspects of our lives or how we experience joy, love, connection....So, the Joy Smuggler was kind of my take on how people worked around prohibition in the 1920s and early 30s, but in a more serious way and present way--like how people live. Hopefully not.

Lyrics

Nope. Just ask me before you do.....

Comments

@zecoopMod 2w

Wonderful and so relaxing. Just what i needed! I have almost bought a tongue drum SO many times, but haven't done it yet. (watching Bill Bruford in King Crimson started that, so it's been a long time). And I opened my pianorgan too, but haven't written anything yet. I love hodge podge songs like this. It is so lovely. Well done!!

@moonraccoon 2w

Rob, the tongue drum is gorgeous!
Nice effect with the accordion pads :)

@karan 2w

Oh, this is lovely! Beautiful sound textures and melodies. You've smuggled plenty of joy in, for sure!

@srcoops 2w

Very nice, Rob. A pleasant tune that makes you mellow..

@wobbiewobbit 2w

wow could you squeeze any more charm into that Rob? I love it. reminded me of some of the kids shows we had when i was very young, Bagpuss and the like, something very affecting about real instruments, i resort to midi a lot for the ease but this has such soul it makes me think i should do at least one with a host of my real instruments. Beautiful instrumental, as it is. lovely

@mtmelodie 2w

A very sweet tune
I've always associated tongue drums with the wooden slit/log drum, and thought of what you play here as hang/pan drums whatever....so was sitting and concentrating very hard to listen for xylo/marimba like tones 😆
like it's simplicity, the melodica and the pianoorgan makes a nice pair

Makes me think of Yann Tiersen's soundtrack from Amélie, and the music of Lars Hollmer, a Swedish composer maneuvering elegantly between swedish folk music, silly humor, naivety and prog complexity

@apersonnamedrose 2w

oh man, i love the arrangement in this. kinda feels like something that'd be in a soundtrack to me... i can kinda picture like, a PopCap-style video game in my head, like a hidden object something-or-other that's fun to pass time with. the juxtaposition between the accordion and melodica is wonderful, and the way the tongue drum plays over a lot of it is just so good. very moving in a way, i think. good stuff.

@jacobeverettwallace 2w

Firstly, fantastic title! Also, tongue drum...that's a new one for me. I love the pairings you've got here with the instruments. It feels like it belongs in a movie in the third act when the main character finally discovers the meaning of life. Nicely done!

@bradbrubaker 2w

I had no idea what a tongue drum is...I've seen 'em, but didn't know what they were called. (I was picturing something between beat boxing and a jaw harp, haha)

The tune is doleful, but with hope. Seems just like what you describe in the liner notes. Great write.

Make it downloadable and I'll see if I can come up with a lyric. I'm picturing a twisted lullaby.

@beej 2w

I hear a drunken, serge gainsbourg-esque vocal line. It’s rather melancholy, but also intricate and playful.

@aeye 2w

I don't know why but the accordion made me want a some macaroons and coffee in an outdoor cafe. Sounds great. Creative use of everything here. The only joy smuggling would be if I discovered I was out of coffee right now.

@jerrypettit 2w

Not sure if I've ever even heard a "tongue drum" before. Kind of "xylophoney", right? (I hope I picked out the right instrument). Lovely piece, by the way! ❤️

@billwhite51 2w

i think people find joy in their lives, despite the miserable circumstances. i saw a movie once in which a holocaust survivor is interviewed and he responded,"why do you always ask about the horrors i experienced and not about the friends i made? sure, it was a horrifying nightmare of an existence, but we are human beings and our shared humanity bonded us in very deep, meaningful friendships." i think your music expresses this, and for those who havent found joy in the worst of circumstances will fet a feel of it from this piece.

@thedutchwidows 2w

The tongue drum has such a nice, gentle tone, just instantly relaxing. I'm sure it must be possible to play it angrily, but I bet it would still sound relaxing. This works well as an ensemble piece and I agree that percussion isn't need - the tongue drum gives a bit of that with its gentle staccato sound and any more punctuation would lift me out of the dreamy state this puts me in. And melodica for the win! Can't beat a melodica. For some reason, this put me in mind of a French circus, even though I've never seen a French circus. I suspect I associate accordion-adjacent instruments with France and French café culture, which probably says more about me and my limited cultural reference points than anything else...

@coolparadisoMod 2w

I bought one in India! If I was home I would use it! Took a while to get it but 8 finaly did! You sure have here! It works really well! Always like the melodica! Ttg gives that a hammer always!
This is very cinematic! I hear this is an old community hall or such in a poignant part of a film.

@heuristicsinc 2w

I like the unusual sounds of the instruments in this and the organic feel of it all. This is very cinematic. Or sort of Tom Waits-ish. I like it a lot and it's strange and good. Love how full the sonic space is.