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Coalescent Apparatus

by Alex Ball

supported by
Howie Howard
Howie Howard thumbnail
Howie Howard YouTube synth wizard Alex Ball collects some highlights and polishes them up to outstanding effect. If you have ever liked or played an old synth, there's something here for you. Maybe a lot of things. Favorite track: There Will Be Modulation.
Nicholas Strugnell
Nicholas Strugnell thumbnail
Nicholas Strugnell I’m a huge fan of Alex’s YouTube channel and couldn’t wait to download this in FLAC to listen to in full hi fi glory. It sounds absolutely IMMENSE. If you are a fan of vintage synth sounds you should buy this, but this is not just self-indulgent knob-twiddling; these are expertly crafted, beautifully performed pop songs and instrumentals. A triumph.
Xavier Radix
Xavier Radix thumbnail
Xavier Radix How to make boring bus rides entertaining: just listen to this album!

Fantastic production, writing, playing, singing, mixing, all that jazz. Can't say enough good things about it :). Favorite track: First Contact.
Jeff Laity
Jeff Laity thumbnail
Jeff Laity Love these, it's great to have them all in one playlist. I love the lift when the background vocals kick in, it's the whipped cream on the sugar bomb frappacno. Favorite track: Living In The Matrix (Sonic Peak Remix).
matt72
matt72 thumbnail
matt72 Well crafted songs wrapped in excellent theory, yet completely accessible to all. Favorite track: Living In The Matrix (Sonic Peak Remix).
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1.
Four Play 03:29
2.
3.
4.
You are my world, You are my world, You are my world, You are my world, It's the way that you fuel the answers, I can bring it home for your sake, It's the finely tuned disaster, That anyone can make, and I say
5.
You've brought me into the light, I'm out here on my own, You've put the glint in my eyes 'Cause I don't want to die old But inside, there's every other will
6.
7.
There is an old saying that love finds a way, That better articulates what I'm trying to say But those aren't my words, I'll give you music instead, There is an old saying that love can be true, And I'll play to that with my Casio 202, These are my chords and I'll give them to you my dear.
8.
Afterglow 02:28
I know we've gotta let it go, we've gotta turn on the radio, Babe let's sweat then find a cigarette, we've got a long way to go I know we've gotta let it go, we've gotta turn on the stereo, Babe let's sweat then find a cigarette, we've gotta bathe in the afterglow
9.
10.
You got dreamin' girl, my head is in the clouds, I'm spinning circles as my heart sings allowed, There's no denying that we're flying as we're proud, Woah-woah, woah-oah-oah.
11.
You can feel every moment inside, (You're not one for the evidence, son) It's a trip from the glimpse to the glide, (You're not finding it's relevant) You can feel every moment inside, (You're not one for the evidence, son) You can feel, you can feel; who wants to live anyway? (Woah-oah)
12.
Verse: You've got to mean what you're saying, You can't go where the rivers won't flow, You've got to know when it's fading, You can't go where the rivers won't flow, And anyone's worth saving, You can't go where the rivers won't flow, It's always worth contemplating, You can't go where the rivers won't flow, Chorus: And I know you're dreaming, I feel the same, And I know we're drifting and that feels right. Middle Eight: And in this weather, I could feel better, I'm glad I'm here at all, If all things pull through or others greet you, I'm glad you're here at all.

about

Over a 12-month period from August 2018 to July 2019, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to record with a large array of classic synthesizers and drum machines. The music I'd written with these instruments was combined with performance videos and documentaries that live on my YouTube channel.

In the Spring of 2019, I was approached by Danish mix engineer JSN of Sonic Peak Studios who offered to remix one of these tracks. This then lead to further remixes and conversations about putting together an album.

The reworking of these recordings brought these previously scattered and ad hoc ideas together into one collection for the first time. For that reason, I named it "Coalescent Apparatus".

Huge thanks to JSN at Sonic Peak Studio, Curve Pusher Studios, Ian Livingstone, Marcos Algeria and several people who know who they are.

credits

released October 4, 2019

1: Four Play
Written and performed by: Alex Ball
Recorded July 2019
Mixed and mastered by: JSN at Sonic Peak Studio
Featured Synth: Korg Mono/Poly (1981)

2: Black Box Skank
Written and performed by: Alex Ball
Recorded May 2019
Mixed by: Alex Ball
Mastered by JSN at Sonic Peak Studio
Featured Synth: Roland SH-2 (1979)

3: Happenstance
Written and performed by: Alex Ball
Recorded April 2019
Remixed and mastered by: JSN at Sonic Peak Studio
Featured Synth: ARP 2600 model 2601 v2 (1977)

4: Living in the Matrix
Written and performed by: Alex Ball
Recorded January 2019
Remixed and mastered by: JSN at Sonic Peak Studio
Featured Synth: Oberheim Xpander (1984)

5: First Contact
Mixed by: Alex Ball
Recorded October 2018
Mastered by JSN at Sonic Peak Studio
Featured Synth: Roland Jupiter-8 (1981)

6: Drifting and Dreaming
Written and performed by: Alex Ball
Recorded February 2019
Remixed and mastered by: JSN at Sonic Peak Studio
Featured Synth: Korg PE-1000 (1976)

7: These are my Chords
Written and performed by: Alex Ball
Recorded May 2019
Mixed by: Alex Ball
Mastered by JSN at Sonic Peak Studio
Featured Synth: Casiotone 202 (1981)

8: Afterglow
Written and performed by: Alex Ball
Recorded May 2019
Mixed by: Alex Ball
Mastered by JSN at Sonic Peak Studio
Featured Synth: Roland Juno-106s (1984)

9: There Will Be Modulation
Written and performed by: Alex Ball
Recorded January 2019
Remixed and mastered by: JSN at Sonic Peak Studio
Featured Synth: Sequential Prophet VS (1986)

10: You Got Me Dreamin’
Written and performed by: Alex Ball
Recorded March 2019
Mixed by: Alex Ball
Mastered by JSN at Sonic Peak Studio
Featured Synth: Roland Jupiter-6 (1983)

11: Well, You Found Me
Written and performed by: Alex Ball
Recorded March 2019
Mixed and mastered by: JSN at Sonic Peak Studio
Featured Synth: Akai VX600 (1988)

12: That Feels Right
Written and performed by: Alex Ball
Recorded August 2018 at Curve Pusher Studios
Mixed by: Alex Ball
Mastered by JSN at Sonic Peak Studio
Featured Synth: Sequential Circuits Prophet~5 (1978)

Other synths:
Yamaha DX7 (1983) – Track 5, 8, 10
Roland SH-101 (1982) – Track 2, 5, 8, 10
Roland TB-303 (1981) – Track 2
Roland JX-3P (1983) – Track 5, 11
Roland Juno-6 (1982) – Track 5
Sequential Circuits Pro~One (1981) – Track 2, 9, 12
DSi Prophet REV2 (2017) – Track 2
mini Korg 700 (1972) – Track 6
Korg MS-20 mark I (1978) – Track 2, 6

Drum Machines:
Oberheim DXa (1984) – Track 1, 8, 10
Sequential Circuits Drumtraks (1984) – Track 1, 2, 10
Roland TR-77 (1972) – Track 7, 11
Roland TR-606 (1981) – Track 2, 10
Roland TR-707 (1984) – Track 8
Roland TR-808 (1980) – Track 5, 10
LinnDrum (1982) – Track 5

Guitars:
Ibanez Jem 7DBK (2002) – Tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 12
Squier Jagmaster (1998) – Tracks 3, 5, 6, 12
Dan Electro Baritone (2015) – Track 4

Acoustic Instruments:
Yamaha U3 Piano – Track 2
Alvarez Baritone Acoustic – Track 6

FX:
Korg VCF FK-1 (1975) – Track 1
Boss CE-2 (1979) – Track 5, 8, 11
Boss DM-2 (1981) – Track 2, 11
Boss HM-2 (1983) – Track 4
Seekers Voice Spectra Vocoder (90s) – Track 7
EarthQuaker Devices Organizer (2012) – Track 5
VOX V-846-HW Wah (2012) – Track 6

Vocals:
Record with an AKG C414s

Artwork by Marcos Alegria

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