A Chiasmus: The Key

Wow, a chiasmus. If you look at BZWZ's comment to yesterday's post, you'll see she stumped The Great Plotnik too, but he has learned something now. It's always been obvious that when you turn a phrase in just right way it tends to attach itself to your brain and refuse to let go, and now Plotnik knows why.

Chiasmus. What a great word and an even better idea.

IF -- big IF -- IF 'Mandela' is done, Plotnik is done recording and can move to Step Two. Of 16 songs he has committed to the software, maybe 10 of them are worth continuing with. 9? 13? This is a stage he could use the most help with -- choosing the songs -- because it is quite impossible to be the judge of your own work.

Why? Because Plotnik is always over-listening to his own voice, which he hates, or loves, depending on his blood sugar. Also, he can never imagine how voices will sound once you add simple things to them, like reverb. He generally thinks he sounds like King Kong auditioning for a Motown commercial.

The voice is the most important piece of the puzzle, but there are many other pieces too. His writing group, TIAPOS, has heard all these songs, but over a period of time, and their reactions were to tunes played live on a guitar, or, occasionally, a piano. Arranged tunes sound very different -- sometimes better, sometimes not so good.

Plot isn't worried about continuing with a not-so-great song, the thing he hopes he doesn't do is bag a good song. He has done that plenty of times before.

The beauty of recording at home is that Plot always knows if he doesn't get it this time, he'll get it next time, or the time after. No pony-tailed meth-head behind the mixing consul, no worries about how much money it costs in studio time every time your pinkie grazes the wrong string, no fear to try something different. You want to completely re-write the song? Well, go for it, fool.

Anyway, the next step is rhythm sections plus a lead instrument -- perhaps an electric guitar here, an oboe there, a baglama somewhere, it will all depend on the song. But arrangement wise we're talking minimalist here -- underdone suits Plottie a lot more than overdone these days.

Best is cooked to perfection.