Play of the Day : ‘I Think I Can …’, from Dad3353...

[Dad3353]

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[size=4]Good evening, all...[/size]
[size=4]Here is my own, personal, view of the compositions presented in the monthly BC Composition Challenge, in randomly chosen order. I hope that at least some of you may be inspired to give the pieces a listen, and perhaps vote for your favourite. All of them can be heard here...[/size]

[size=4][url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/256313-february-composition-challenge-voting/"]BC February Composition Challenge voting...[/url][/size]

[size=4]... and the 'Play of the Day' here ...[/size]

[size=4][url="http://soundcloud.com/dad3353/i-think-i-can"]‘I Think I Can …’, from Dad3353...[/url][/size]

[size=4]A couple of notes from the fiddle as an anacrusis to distinctly Western rhythm guitars, root/fifth bass and low-key, shuffling drums. Regular strumming and country-style picking are 'flavour of the day', with the violin floating its slower-paced strain over all. A pedal steel glides surrupticiously into the background, adding to the 'cowboy' theme, and the drums become gradually slightly more prominent, lending impulsion and urgence. Ah..! Houston, we have a problem. The tempo is reduced to an almost unbearably slow level; the fiddles begin to complain and screech, dissonances appear and a belaboured tension grates the nerves. Oof..! Just in time (but it's long..!), gradually, the pace picks up, the beat assumes once again its regular pulsation and we're back to the original cadence. Not for long, as the measure fly by, faster and faster still until dying away into the night. We may be out of the woods, now...[/size]
[size=4]From the outset the Rocky Mountains are invoked; we're in no doubt as to the geography of the picture. The shuffle spins along at a fairly stiff pace, and we settle in and relax to the rocking throb from the train's wheels. Just when we are nodding off, what was a comforting lilt begins to break apart and degenerate, the gait becomes sluggish, and the instruments, innocuous up until now, begin to crack and groan under this regime. We are almost brought to a halt; suspense, as we imagine becoming stranded in these wild climes. With almost super-human effort, the cant is little by little conquered, the inclination relieved, and the music can cautiously return to its reassuring role; the worst is fought off and we can continue to be rocked to sleep. The route is long, still...[/size]

[size=4]The previous review was...[/size]

[size=4][url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/256460-play-of-the-day-duel-2-from-leonard-smalls/"]Play of the Day : ‘Duel 2’, from Leonard Smalls...[/url][/size]

[size=4]The next will feature [url="http://soundcloud.com/robotrobotrobotmusic/train-of-very-little-thought"]‘Train Of Very Little Thought’, from paul_h...[/url][/size]

[size=4]Until then...[/size]

[size=4]Have a nice day[/size]

[size=4]Douglas[/size]