Secrets Of The Beehive & Scott 4

by **JansenClone** on Sat Jul 12, 2008 9:48 am

Here's a looped version of that snippet of the original version:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LXWID5K6

Michael

by **godisinthesilences** on Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:39 am

I swear JC you are the best in the whole world. LOL THANK YOU

Not that different from what was presented on E&N except for the heavy percussion... which is rather nice... like a heartbeating....

by **Chet** on Sat Jul 12, 2008 11:56 am

my god... that's it.
sooo much better than what was presented on the E&N record.
wow... thanks a million times... where did you get this???
Here, for the first time, Ride sounds like it would fit perfect on SOTB.
thanks again.

by **camphorvan** on Sat Jul 12, 2008 5:41 pm

See?!

C

by **baht habit** on Sun Jul 13, 2008 10:19 am

Chet wrote: sooo much better than what was presented on the E&N record. Here, for the first time, Ride sounds like it would fit perfect on SOTB. thanks again.

Though I comprehend exactly where your remarks are coming from in the sense that the completed version of Ride is much more upbeat and comes across somewhat modernized compared to what comprises Secrets Of The Beehive, I happen to disagree with your point.
Back when the track was finally released on Everything And Nothing, I threw together a resequenced version of SOTB including Ride just for the h*ll of it. Using a program that could even out the levels of the tracks so that the overall sound was consistent throughout and a little more reverb was added to Ride to give it a closer sheen to that of SOTB, I opted to replace Maria with Ride - right in between Boy with The Gun and Orpheus. (Maria is obviously a worthy track, but in my opinion, it is a little too rigidly gothic and electronic {as well as downright spooky

} and reminds me more of the sound of Gone To Earth when listened to amongst the organic sounds of the rest of SOTB.)
In my opinion, the inclusion of the completed version of Ride works strongly on three aspects:
The track includes contributions from the main session players who were prominently featured on SOTB --- Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Torn, Phil Palmer, Mark Isham, Danny Cummings, Danny Thompson, Steve Jansen, as well as the Stringed Orchestra --- a continuity with the rest of the disc is created in respect to that.
For me, the slightly more upbeat feel of Ride works as a fine contrast to the more dour tone of the disc. I happen to really enjoy some sort of contrast, even if I contradict myself for not being all that appreciative of Maria. :oops:

Lastly, placing the track in between Boy With The Gun and Orpheus serves to break up the pace --- Both of those tracks are performed in a very similar 6/8 time signature with an acoustically folkish feel. Maria definitely served the same purpose but that particular track goes by much too quickly with it being under 3 minutes. With the 4/4 feel of Ride in between them, there is a duration of 8 minutes between the two tracks, so the similarities in feel that may be detected are buffered by a longer amount of time. [For a similar reason, I opted to place Promise (The Cult Of Eurydice) in between When Poets Dreamed Of Angels and Mother & Child in order to prevent having two songs with a 6/8 feel back to back -- what can I say, being a drummer/percussionist, I happen to notice these trivial things

-- and Waterfront has to be the conclusion to SOTB so Promise needed it's very own position]
But I digress...The point is that, for me and for what I want to hear, the completed version of Ride does fine enough to flesh out my preferred version of SOTB:
September / The Boy With The Gun / Ride / Orpheus / The Devil's Own
When Poets Dreamed Of Angels / Promise (The Cult Of Eurydice) / Mother And Child / Let The Happiness / Waterfront
Try it, believe me, it isn't that bad.

by **Chet** on Sun Jul 13, 2008 12:15 pm

I've been trying it. and yes, I see what you mean...
but SOTB has since it's release been steadily on my top5 albums ever.
and I just can't take any song away, I adore Maria.
the only thing that has troubled me over the years is the choice of ending of such a masterpiece.
It came with Forbidden Colours version two as ending. a very very beautiful way to end,
but for us who has followed David it was strange, no?, cause we knew that song since a b-side of Red Guitar some years earlier.
And then when Promise appeared as a end track, the confusion was even bigger.
A very beautiful song aswell, but not as perfect as ending, if you ask me.
Here is where my new idea comes in. I tried your new song order. and realized that Ride could have function very well as an ending of SOTB.
after Promise... and of course the original version of Ride, not the E&N.
what do you say?

by **camphorvan** on Sun Jul 13, 2008 12:31 pm

Chet wrote: I tried your new song order. and realized that Ride could have function very well as an ending of SOTB.
after Promise... and of course the original version of Ride, not the E&N.
what do you say?

I think that that was Sylvian's intention - that it would be a conclusion. The earlier version is evidently incomplete; such a shame that it didn't get finished - would have been a fab ending.

Right. Now to chase some hedgehogs.

C

by **godisinthesilences** on Sun Jul 13, 2008 1:06 pm

Camphovan... I love hedgehogs :-)

by **baht habit** on Sun Jul 13, 2008 1:25 pm

Oh yes, it was strange to have the Forbidden Colours (a version which was recorded during the Brilliant Trees sessions and, as you stated, was previously released as a b-side) tacked on to SOTB. I can not claim to know for sure, but I tend to believe it was a decision made totally by Virgin records.
A similar situation had happened to the art-pop group 10cc when they were recording what became their final disc (Mirror Mirror) in the mid-nineties. They had signed with a new label and were basically told to include a reworked version of their 1975 hit "I'm Not In Love" in order to attract some attention to the release.
For me, Waterfront is the perfect conclusion - I think it is somewhat appropriate to end on a question..."Is our love strong enough?" As good a song as Promise is, it seems to be an unsatisfactory conclusion as having Forbidden Colours end the disc.

by **godisinthesilences** on Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:15 pm

baht... i agree with you about forbidden colours. A very odd addition on that cd. I do love waterfront and think it is a good ending... Love that idea of leaving us with a question... Wonderful observation.

by **Chet** on Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:14 pm

Camphorvan,
what are you gonna do with the hedgehogs if you catch some?

by **godisinthesilences** on Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:53 pm

hee hee in the u.s.a. hedgehogs are sold in pet stores as wee little pets! Along the same line as a bunny or larger guinea pig. LOL If you catch em send em to me :-)

I think they are adorable

by **Astronaut** on Wed Jul 16, 2008 1:50 pm

They're crawling with vermin y'know! The hedgehogs I mean ... prickly little devils! And whatever you do don't give them milk to drink. :shock:

by **camphorvan** on Wed Aug 06, 2008 11:25 am

Horribly - yeah they are covered in fleas, which stimulate their blood and are necessary for them to stay alive. Yes, the things that live on them are not pleasant - and I can't believe they are sold as pets in the USA. They ARE cute as hell though. With their little snuffly noses and everything...
Talking of wild animals, I made friends with a fox the other day. True. He wanders around the car park opposite and he recognises me now and I don't think he feels threatened. I might approach him. Maybe, we could hang out. Maybe go bowling. I call him Mr Fox. Which is fitting I think you'll find.
C

by **godisinthesilences** on Wed Aug 06, 2008 3:05 pm

wow really hedgehogs are covered in fleas to keep em alive?? I wonder why they do sell them in pet stores here then! LOL crazy!

I hope you have a nice time dating mr. fox. LOL

Secrets Of The Beehive & Scott 4

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