May 2021 marks the one year anniversary of the HughCarsonMusic site. That’s 12 months of uploads so far with much more still to come. Enjoy.
This Month’s Audio Uploads:
This Time (CGN Songs) – 2010:
This Time, the CGN Songs track, not to be confused with my mid-90s ballad of the same name, was a track written by myself and Peter Godfrey as a commission for something or other back in 2010. The main story that came out of the recording sessions was my inability, no matter how hard i tried, to hit the highest note in the chorus and subsequently having to draft in a very reluctant Karin Hasselström to help me out. She wasn’t having it, but I think she did a great job and definitely saved the day because I think one more attempt by me and my vocal chords would almost certainly have tied themselves into a round turn and two half hitches.
Sanctuary – 1995:
Sanctuary, despite being all over the place production-wise, has always been one of my favourite songs that I’ve written, thanks in no small part to my old mate, Paul Jackson‘s fantastic vocal which really lifts this track. An unfortunate SMPTE malfuntion during Phil Mayers‘ mid-track rap briefly throws his timing out which is a real shame, but what can you do?
Trumpet Chase (Anlg) – Section – SKETCH – 1996:
I think there was a vague plan to have a female soprano sing some lines on this track if the opportunity ever presented itself. This is a lively piece intended to conjure up dramatic images of a galloping horse and rider going hell for leather over the rolling hills of a British countryside scene. I think I may have gained some vague inspiration from the opening credits of the original Blackadder comedy series.
Hindsight – SKETCH – 1996:
A laid back atmospheric sketch from the SY85 sessions of the mid-1990s.
Making Cents – 2021 Remaster – 1992:
This was one of the more convincing cuts from my first unofficial ‘album’, Just Enough. The lyrics for this song were written during my U.S travels of 1991, specifically when I found myself downtown in San Francisco. The levels of homelessness there were really quite disturbing for an impressionable young 19 year old, and Making Cents is basically all about that. A special mention for Jim ‘Pasty’ Thomas‘ memorable guitar solo.
Generations – Section – SKETCH – 1996:
A section of a further contemplative SY85 sketch no doubt thrown together in a small amount of time.
A song that I wish I’d finished. It’s a crusty old cassette recording of a rough sketch, but there’s definitely something about it which still appeals to me to this day.
Rampaging Rickshaws – Sections – 2009:
I was working on an upbeat ‘world’ music track for my audio library which had something of an Asian feel to it. The idea, however, was soon adapted to be a prospective theme track for a documentary about an Indian ashram that Justin Carroll had filmed footage for and was now working on. But it was a big undertaking under difficult circumstances for him, and the project never materialised in the end.
Just enough – Sections – 1992:
A section taken from the title track of my first album. A big thank you once again to Graham Joiner of Audio Restored for rescuing all eight songs from the album, from an old DAT tape of mine, at the beginning of 2021.
Miles Off – SKETCH – 2009:
A very brief snippet taken from a smooth smokey jazz track with Miles Davis-esque muted trumpet overtones. Niiice.
Spring Town, despite never being used for any particularly major project, remains the song from my CGN Songs days that has proven to be most popular with most people over time.
Itchin’ Powder – DEMO – 2012:
An upbeat library track that has been used, in parts, by a number of different creators, a number of times over the years.
Elegy – Section – 2005:
It would be nice to return to this piece and re-do the unconvincing synthetic, delay-heavy acoustic guitar part with actual acoustic guitar. As it stands, as much as I like aspects of this orchestral and light-synth piece, the synthetic acoustic parts can be a little grating and distracting. Sadly, the original working files for this piece have yet to be found and even if they were, I no longer possess the software that I’d need to make the necessary edits. Bummer.
Faroes ’08 Theme (Heading East) – Full Version – 2009:
Following a brilliant second holiday in the wonderful Faroe Islands, in 2008, I set about the gargantuan task of editing the hours and hours of footage that had been recorded, into one approximately half-hour video. Having done so, the project was in need of a theme tune and incidental music, and thus was born this simple theme. In 2009, I packed a van, drove it onto a freight ship at Tilbury port in Essex, and we set sail across the North Sea to Gothenburg, Sweden, where I would then spend the best part of the next two years of my life. It was aboard this vessel – one of the most memorable experiences of my life – that I set about writing this theme tune. It conjures up such fond memories for me of the Faroes trip and of the future adventures that lay ahead of me (in Sweden), and though it may be a rather unspectacular low-key track, it remains one of my favourite pieces of work to this day.
Hide Away – Song Sample – DEMO – 2007:
Hide Away – excuse the slightly out-of-tune vocals in the verse – started its life as an attempt at a ‘thoughtful’ Christmas song. Whilst never having been an atheist, myself, I’ve always been mightily sceptical of those who unwaveringly live and die by the words of ancient religious manuscripts. That said, ‘The West’s’ seemingly hell-bent insistance upon killing off God and Christianity, in recent years – and the wholesome code of morality that it has traditionally offered healthy societies – seems to be having a hugely negative impact upon the rudderless, ‘progressive’ society that has grown in its increasing absence.
Sports Theme – SKETCH – 1991:
I’ve always been fascinated by Sports Themes – a lost art and thing of the past in today’s superficial throw-away media – and almost certainly inspired by the magnificent ITV World Cup theme of 1986 – Aztec Gold – I cobbled together this little ditty, using only the onboard sounds and features of my Yamaha SY85 Workstation. Excuse the awful synth sax sound which takes on the main melody in the second half of the track. Where was David Sanborn when I needed him? That said, there’s a pretty ropey synth guitar solo during the full length version of the aforementioned, Aztec Gold. Just saying…
Around the World – Sections – SKETCH – 2012:
Another library track, with hints of ‘world music’ about it.
Realisation – SKETCH – 1991:
An orchestral sketch of an idea from way back when, using only my Yamaha SY85 Workstation. A project to be developed and ‘fleshed out’ another day.
Happy 70s TV Theme – Section – 2005:
A real laid-back easy listening track perhaps suitable for all of those hugely unfunny, yet strangely nostalgia-inducing sitcoms of the 1970s and early 1980s.
On the Jersey Circular – Section – SKETCH – 2010:
This unfinished provisional sketch was written to be used as occasional incidental music to accompany video footage I’d taken of a memorable holiday we’d had as a family, celebrating my Mum’s 70th birthday. Sadly, this trip was soon followed by big personal upheaval in my life which completely de-railed the project.
Hugh Carson Music 