I would if I could, but I can't - 2003
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2003, was a significant year for Breezy music. 5 studio albums down and a definite shift in production & quality from the primitive offerings of the first couple of years. Each of the previous albums had seen a marked improvement and the challenge for "I would if I could but I can't" was to continue the trend. Perhaps this is reflected in the title.
However, technology was moving quickly, an investment in new equipment and software gave me an opportunity to learn some different techniques and create a different sound. Whilst unrealised at the time, "I would if I could but I can't" was almost a eureka album for me. The feel and look of the album sees a step change in the Breezy music catalogue. This album would become not only a benchmark album, but "the beginning" of things to come.
The album was not without some difficulties though, 2 tracks, "The Beginning" & Temperature were hampered by technical difficulties in both production and recording. Temperature is completed, but plans to rework it were abandoned when a combination of user interface error and resulting software malfunction caused the loss of the entire track and its component loops/riffs. The Beginning, which was not called the Beginning, in the beginning was also condemned to the same fate. However, as it was not completed, it found its' way onto the album as track 1. The Beginning. Attempts to re-create both tracks failed but from the ashes "New Dawn" and "Weird day" were created.
"I would if I could but I can't" was pieced together throughout 2003 whist juggling a full time job and raising a 2 year-old girl, many of the titles reflect the moods and thoughts of what was happening in my life at the time. 2 late, Weird day, Pandemonium, My head hurts and You don't realise, whilst something for the weekend, refers to the cash-flow problems raising a child can bring. Dolphins is an experiment with vocal samples and harmonies, whilst Riverdance started out as an attempt at house music.
"I would if I could but I can't", thanks to my new box of tricks, was heavily influenced by "Techno" music - artists like "The Prodigy" and "The chemical brothers" have caps doffed in their general direction this influence moves the album in a new direction from the earlier albums making this album one of the most definitive & unique albums in the Breezy back catalogue.
However, technology was moving quickly, an investment in new equipment and software gave me an opportunity to learn some different techniques and create a different sound. Whilst unrealised at the time, "I would if I could but I can't" was almost a eureka album for me. The feel and look of the album sees a step change in the Breezy music catalogue. This album would become not only a benchmark album, but "the beginning" of things to come.
The album was not without some difficulties though, 2 tracks, "The Beginning" & Temperature were hampered by technical difficulties in both production and recording. Temperature is completed, but plans to rework it were abandoned when a combination of user interface error and resulting software malfunction caused the loss of the entire track and its component loops/riffs. The Beginning, which was not called the Beginning, in the beginning was also condemned to the same fate. However, as it was not completed, it found its' way onto the album as track 1. The Beginning. Attempts to re-create both tracks failed but from the ashes "New Dawn" and "Weird day" were created.
"I would if I could but I can't" was pieced together throughout 2003 whist juggling a full time job and raising a 2 year-old girl, many of the titles reflect the moods and thoughts of what was happening in my life at the time. 2 late, Weird day, Pandemonium, My head hurts and You don't realise, whilst something for the weekend, refers to the cash-flow problems raising a child can bring. Dolphins is an experiment with vocal samples and harmonies, whilst Riverdance started out as an attempt at house music.
"I would if I could but I can't", thanks to my new box of tricks, was heavily influenced by "Techno" music - artists like "The Prodigy" and "The chemical brothers" have caps doffed in their general direction this influence moves the album in a new direction from the earlier albums making this album one of the most definitive & unique albums in the Breezy back catalogue.
1. The Beginning: The very first track of this new era in Breezy music lasts just 50 seconds. The plan was for this track to be considerably longer however due to a software failure all the component pieces were lost. Despite several attempts to re-create the original, it never happened - what you have here is in effect a 50 second demo of a mystery track. The track remains to this day the shortest to feature on any album, though is actually the 3rd shortest in the entire Breezy collection
1. New dawn: From the vain attempt to recover the lost track, New dawn emerged, like a Phoenix from the ashes. All the Breezy signatures are in there, kick/hi-hat combo, groaning pad, upbeat melody. Bouncing basslines and fizzing synths add to the track. The new dawn for Breezy music had begun, and it was an exciting time.
The artwork, typically, shows a sunrise over a mysterious planet, but does look quite dramatic, again found on the web!
The artwork, typically, shows a sunrise over a mysterious planet, but does look quite dramatic, again found on the web!
3. Dolphins (Intelligent edit): Dolphins was born from a selection of vocal samples that were stumbled on by chance. A conscious decision was made to elaborate on the basic vocal samples used on previous productions. The lack of a singing voice by the artist himself meant that samples were going to be the way forward. The "dolphin" sample was found and manipulated to create the vocal. On the "Really intelligent mix" a remix of the track an even more elaborate use of harmonies can be heard. As for the rest of the track, typical Breezy fayre, uptempo dance track, with the addition of the little sound effect that is supposed to represent the dolphin.
4. 2 late: 2 late is, whilst equally up-tempo as the first 3 tracks, is not quite as in yer face. The pounding kickdrum and drum rolls take a back seat. The track relies on choppy synth playing throughout the track and a contrasting repeating bassline. As the track builds a swirling synth pad is added and a high pitched chime. Finally another sequencer and a drone pad in the background. The track breaks all the way down before all components come together again at the end.
5. Temperature: Track 5 was the 1st attempt at the new sound "I would if I could but I can't" would herald. The intro sounds like it could be track 1 on later Breezy productions. The melody is very simple, and another drone pad can be heard. The whirling bass and the FX pulses battle against the swirling filtered synth and sequence chords.
The track was pencilled for re-mixing or re-working however, a calamitous system failure meant the working track was deleted, leaving only the completed wav. file. That wav. file is the track you have here on the album. The artwork is quite simple a thermometer shot from an unusual angle, whichever way you look at it though, it's HOT!
The track was pencilled for re-mixing or re-working however, a calamitous system failure meant the working track was deleted, leaving only the completed wav. file. That wav. file is the track you have here on the album. The artwork is quite simple a thermometer shot from an unusual angle, whichever way you look at it though, it's HOT!
6. I would if I could but I can't: The only track to date to feature on an album of the same name. A long intro, reminds me of Clannad, then a kick drum solo leads into a percussion set. The song then moves with a wobble bass some FX. The track also features crashing cymbal before dropping back into the intro sequence to finish off.
7. Pandemonium: Does exactly what it says on the tin! Swirling synths, banging kick drum, then a bit of a chord break, add a bit of house piano and a filter and you have Pandemonium!
8. Weird day: This has to be one of my favourites on the album. A very techno track, which makes this track stand out from a lot of the earlier stuff. This track is the remnants of the attempted recovery of the Beginning. Choppy sequences, tippy tappy percussion and that deep bassline. The vocal sample links back to early Breezy vocals "Yay-aaaay"
The title was given due to the tracks, upto this point, un-Breezy like sound, a serious amount of weirdness! and a much darker feel to the track. A very Weird day all round.
The title was given due to the tracks, upto this point, un-Breezy like sound, a serious amount of weirdness! and a much darker feel to the track. A very Weird day all round.
9. You don't realise: Another favourite from the album, again take advantage of the techno percussion & drum loops. But also thrown in the mix, is a chitter chatter sound effect, a grumbling lo filter sweep, a deep chord melody and a very high pitch whirling melody. The title comes from another disagreement during composition. The track also has an extended "RU Thick mix" a nod to the aforementioned disagreement. and that's all I've got to say about that!
10. Riverdance: Nothing whatsoever to do with Michael Flatley, the 10th track moves away from all the techno shenanighans of the previous tracks and returns to form. The key element on this track is the piano, inspired by Robert Miles - "Children" The bubbling wobble bass and the synth sweeps are intentionally meant to reflect the movement of water, and the piano and the cymbal crashes give the river animation. So that's the river explained as for the dance - do your own thing - ay-ee ay-ee ay ay ay-ee!
11. My head hurts: Another techo-ish venture, the rolling, cascading drum loops and pounding kick-drum give the title its' meaning. Throw in the rest of the mish mash of sounds and one could really fell a headache coming on - Nah not really!
12. Off: Techno techno techno techno!!! Off was the culmination of a very late night and I really needed to turn everything off - filters, deep bass, simple drum loops, sequencers and the like all contribute to this cheeky little late night number.
13. Something for the weekend: The final track is NOT all techno, in fact it starts more drum n bass than anything. Possibly a bit jungle - then there's that guitar riff, not sure where that's going. In summary a little bit of everything and a very different track to what the Breezy audience has become accustomed to. The pulsing kickdrum and another filter sequence keep the track moving along. Later on there's some kind of organic gong thing too. Some weekend eh? Or are these the first steps into a bigger universe???
