Cross Fade: London, the 16th century, 2 actors & the Millenium Bridge. A love story:)

CROSS FADE:

Cross-fade, as against cross faded (something entirely different apparently) is based upon the process of creating a song which timelines a series of connected/unconnected events. Originally the intention was to try to knit together the various strands or events suggested by the words into what was intended to be a tangible, holistic theme. Later we both began to recognise that there is little point in doing this as it takes away some of the mystery of what might be happening and thus robs anyone listening of the fun of creating their own story with its own ending.

But … I must admit that I was not sure myself what was going on as words appeared on my desktop screen, dropping like idea-pebbles onto my word document bucket, then disappearing just as quickly as new pebbles dropped in.

The basic plot is centered around a real relationship that is taking place off-screen between two actors who are also playing the scripted parts of two people in a relationship. The backdrop for the drama is set in London in locations such as St Pauls Cathedral (Then she waves, from the shadows of St Paul’s) which is in London’s north bank, a short walk over the Millenium Bridge to the south bank and the Tate Modern. The reference to the incoming tide (So stay awhile our tide’s incoming) is thus that of the Thames. The song dives in and out of both realities both staged and real - onstage and off.

Our attempt to create a parallel between the drama of real life and that of a scripted film (or play) is sadly, not new. We cannot claim to be the originator of the idea. Shakespear put forward a similar proposition back in the 16/17th Century with his play, ‘As you Like It.’

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts."

Whatever, films, plays and songs have many possible goals but amongst them, in pole positions I would argue, are both storytelling and emotional connection. Our new song, Cross Fade, will try and achieve both. The opening passage of this work has been inspired by the work of György Ligeti (Hungary). We are experimenting using one of Ligeti's most famous pieces,'Hungarian Rock'1978 as our reference, a maelstrom of rhythm and sound-textures in which a chord pattern is repeated while variations on it are developed.

Work begins early September with our trusty engineer, producer, drummer and provider of tea and coffee, Basher. The final work should be available on Ethnocloud sometime in October early November. That’s the plan anyway. If you are reading this then a thumbs-up and ‘cheers’ to ya from the UK.

Mac & Gar

Cross Fade ©

‘Cross fade, cue light' - someone says, ‘we’re live’
But I know that smile, and all that it implies

Still, I’m not sure where we’re going
We walk? - Can mystery be knowing?

CH But through my shame and doubt
I will shout it out
I won’t let you down
I won’t let you down
Tonight, Tonight

We’re Freeze-framed
By the traffic and the queues
As she says
Tonight, we’ll make the news
We cannot hear and cannot see
Drowning in uncertainty
As I wonder - why - it has-to-be this way

Could seeds of hope be growing?
Let’s talk? - Is silence just our knowing?

We’re Freeze-framed
With our backs against the wall
Then she waves,
From the shadows of St Paul’s
As birds fly and birds sing
They slow dive at everything –
As I wonder – why – it-has-to-be this way

So, stay awhile our tide’s incoming
The cut of rain
The skirl, the drumming
Is all I hear - is all I fear

CH But through my shame and doubt
I will shout it out
I won’t let you down
I won’t let you down
I Won’t let you down

Tonight, Tonight, Tonight
We crossfade, we crossfade – we’re live