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Music from the archives brings you a selection of early recordings by Julien, from his first steps on a computer, back in 2002, to just before "Music for a new world". This had always been intended as a documentation of development as much as a sharing of the occasional nice tune.
The music is organised by albums, In the menu below you can choose one. Albums are sorted chronologically.
Table of contents
The final
"The Final" was released in 2002. It marks the first ever album recorded properly on a Linux machine using a semi-professional hardware setup. It's an album of mile stones, since it also includes the first longtracks and the first real audio recordings.
"Interlude 3" OGG (1.64MB)
"Interlude 3" MP3 (1.57MB)
The Final is the first album ever recorded by Jeanette. Including the next piece "Summer afternoon" it has a sort of concept, which includes three interludes hyolding everything together. This simplistic asiatic interlude leads up to the final track of the original concept.
"Summer afternoon" OGG (10.96MB)
"Summer afternoon" MP3 (10.77MB)
Summer afternoon is the second longtrack on "The Final". Although its arrangement is quite minimal, it takes the listener on a journey through different emotions and sceneries. It really was recorded on one fine, hot summer afternoon.
Funny ways
"Funny Ways" was recorded between 2002 and 2004. Its main theme is experimentation and branching out, exploring new styles. There are some truly funny and crazy tracks on this album, thus the title.
"Underworld" OGG (2.41MB)
"Underworld" MP3 (2.24MB)
Underworld perfectly reflects its typical associations: dark, moody, even hostile and martial. Its inception lies in the Artemis Fowl novels by Eoin Colfer. It is part of a trilogy of pieces dealing with that world.
"Deep Down" OGG (3.56MB)
"Deep Down" MP3 (3.53MB)
Deep Down is a compositional and production experiment, trying to capture the style and atmosphere of the first two hits by the Finnish band The Rasmus, back in 2003-2004. It is raw, the approach and arrangement is naive, but in that it pertains an impression of youth.
Strange days
"Strange Days" marks a time of change. The first relationship and also the first time to pick up some real baggage for later life and coming to terms with the world not being black and white. This is mainly reflected on the second CD of this album. But the two selected tracks here are from the first CD. Especially BS marks a compositional technique later employed in much more complex contexts. On this album Julien extensively used software synthesizers, for the first time.
"Shadow" OGG (4.54MB)
"Shadow" MP3 (4.75MB)
"Shadow", the title seems to be misleading. Several convoluted routes let to this name and this composition. Its execution leaves a lot to be desired, a proper MIDI sequencer would be a start. It is an early experiment in composition and production, as so many of the early pieces are. The mid to late 90s Madonna certainly was one influence. The attempt to capture the calm chords and smooth pads is obvious in the intro. This idea was quickly overriden by Britney Spears' song "Shadow", from the 2003 album In The Zonge. Finally, a good measure of Germany singer Jeanette Biedermann's "Rock my life" from the album of the same name. Even with all its faults, the result is intriguing.
"BS" OGG (8.24MB)
"BS" MP3 (8.27MB)
"BS" stands for "Britney Spears" and is an obscure, if interesting tribute to the american pop singer. The style is jazz. It has been compared to The Weather Report. The tribute is in the melody lines itself. A simple code is used to translate letters into notes, it's based on German note names: A B (b-flat) C D E F G A H (b) and then continuing on the white keys. Ones the letters have been found, they may be shifted down, so a melody doesn't get too widespread and discontinuous. The main motive of this song just calls out "Britney Spears". Other parts - on the other hand - are just music for music's sake.
Life on a bridge
"Life on a bridge" took a long while to finish. It was born in 2002, and most of the songs were recorded in that year and early the following year. But the title track "Life on a Bridge" lay dormant until 2005. The title track was finally recorded and mixed in a long night session.
"Life on a Bridge" OGG (13.72MB)
"Life on a Bridge" MP3 (13.77MB)
Life on a Bridge is about the Krämberbrücke in Erfurt, Germany, and its inhabitants. It was recorded in 2002 and 2005. The fact that the national antheme of the GDR appears as a motif is - believe it or not - purely accidental.
Pieces for the cunning
"Pieces for the cunning" is again an album dedicated to experimentation, this time not only with composition, but also production. This album saw the first use of convolution reverbs and pseudo 3D audio processing. The other striking property of this album is the wild, restless energy, the inner turmoil, nicely demonstrated in the selected song below.
A life in keys
"A life in keys" saw most of its inspiration in the title. It paints a picture of stagnation and lack-luster, both technically and emotionally. Only one song stands out and thus was chosen for the archives.
"A little moaning" OGG (3.63MB)
"A little moaning" MP3 (3.54MB)
A little moaning is probably the only worthwhile song from the album "A life in Keys". It is not the longest, nor the one demonstrating the most intricate performance, but it has the most feeling. It does however show some inspired production, for that time. It uses 3D binaural spatialisation. So, get your headphones and give it a listen.
Year of the coconut
"Year of the Coconut" is inspired by fresh ideas, life decisions and transitions. The second album to feature two CDs. There's but one red thread through all songs: change.
"Inside - Outside" OGG (6.57MB)
"Inside - Outside" MP3 (6.94MB)
"Inside - Outside" kicks off the second CD of the album "Year of the Coconut". The meditative chord at the beginning and end of the piece mark a sort of internal piece, whereas the jaunty middle part is an image for the world as perceived by the composer, at the time.
"African Sunday" OGG (3.26MB)
"African Sunday" MP3 (3.29MB)
Marry purely synthetic melodic instruments to an acoustic drumset, wed them in the church of progressive rock and the child of their marriage is "African sunday". A psychedelic feast of warmth, leasure and daydreaming.
"All our trouble's gone by June" OGG (9.53MB)
"All our trouble's gone by June" MP3 (9.92MB)
The first longtrack on "Year of the Coconut". An experiment of incorporating classical, orchestral elements into progressive rock, with a heavy dose of Yes influences. The lyrics were never fully written and not even partially recorded.