Percussion led instrumentals

[Annoying Twit]

Can anyone think of examples of tracks where the track is conventionally tonal, except that the lead line is played on a more or less non-tonal percussion instrument?

I don't mean a drum solo, because typically they are played ... solo without other instruments. I mean something where the backing track is fairly normal, but the lead line itself is on a percussion instrument.

I ask because I may have accidentally created such a track. (long story deleted). Or at least a start of a track which could go in that direction. I'd like to hear similar tracks, but can't think of any.

Hmmm.... Are Ed Mann's solo albums on Spotify? EDIT: The lead lines on his more conventional (non-gong) albums are typically tuned percussion such as xylophone.

Edited September 5, 2015 by Annoying Twit

[Maude]

Not sure I totally understand what you mean but would Fleetwood Macs 'Tusk' be the sort of thing you mean?

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='Maude' timestamp='1441475851' post='2859149']
Not sure I totally understand what you mean but would Fleetwood Macs 'Tusk' be the sort of thing you mean?
[/quote]

Good choice. It's close, but there is a vocal line too. If it had been made as an instrumental, then it would be a perfect example of what I'm looking for. And it has significant sections which are exactly what I'm looking for.

Any others?

[BassTractor]

Ha! This thread surprised me as I'd never had the clairvoyance of seeing such a track as somehow special.
But of course it is.

I hope good examples come in abundance.
Bill Bruford's "Five Per Cent for Nothing" probably ain't good enough a fit for your question.

[alyctes]

There's a Tom Waits album which sort of fits this description. I can't remember the name of it - is it [i]Bone Machine[/i]? Nor can I remember if there are any instrumentals on it.

Also, it might be worth looking at some dub?

[Mykesbass]

Bit of chanting on it, is this of any use? - [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVUzojGMGnc"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVUzojGMGnc[/url]

[Beer of the Bass]

Some of the 50s Sun Ra stuff uses percussion almost but not entirely in the way you describe, where the percussion is another voice rather than just a rhythmic backing. I can't think of any tunes where it carries the whole song, but there are elements of it in this.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5FBhGNwiTU[/media]

Edited September 5, 2015 by Beer of the Bass

[SICbass]

Please ignore this post, you wanted suggestions of NON-tonal percussion. I re-read you post and recognised my mistake 😳

Edited September 5, 2015 by SICbass