TWO new songs! "Willma im Wunderland" is COMPLETE!

I simply skipped a blog post. Actually the first of the two new songs was already presented to the public 11 days ago. But then all sorts of things kept me from announcing it here on the blog. Since I worked hard during the past few days to complete the last of the 13 tracks for "Willma im Wunderland" as pre-release versions, I decided to announce it all together in this blog entry.

Liebe
The song uploaded 11 days ago in fact has the wonderful title "Liebe". I will keep quiet about the reasons for this, to not jeopardize the image of the "soulless cyborg-nerd". The song, like all the tracks for the album, is quite complex and has some surprising moments. The listeners of current so-called EDM (Electronic Dance Music) will be beautifully confused at some parts, because of course I have broken all quasi conventions for EDM music you can read repeated like mantras over and over again on producer forums. I simply do not want my works to seamlessly blend in with the common industrial music. This is MY music! The sound of "Liebe" is a colorful mix of the easy-fun style of the songs from "Heroes of the Popp-Culture" and the, sometimes quite hard to get used to, sound of the more recent tracks. Just listen for yourself:



Abendspaziergang
This song has just been completed and those who suspect a link to "Strandspaziergang" in the title, have a point. In fact, "Abendspaziergang" was inspired by this, incidentally quite successful,  track. First listeners say, that they already have spotted clear similarities in melody and sounds ;). However, "Abendspaziergang" is in no way a "Strandspaziergang reloaded", but a much more complex and entirely new idea. Judge by yourself: Just listen to both and let me know what you think ;).


"Willma im Wunderland" is COMPLETE!
Yessssssss !!! We have 13, in my opinion very great, tracks for this album as raw versions. But if you think, that the album would be available tomorrow, I have to disappoint you. Now a big heap of work begins. Those raw gems now want to get their final touch, which will take quite a bit of time. Therefore, and I would like to announce this at the opportunity, there will probably no new works for some time. I will now fully concentrate on how to perfect these 13 songs. I will this time use some new techniques in the area of the final production, which will make "Willma im Wunderland" a special sound experience. Let me surprise you. Oh, and who happens to have followed the process of the release of the recent alionsonny album: No, it will not take that long because all 13 tracks have been created during the past almost 2 years, and are thus developed quite far this time. Yepp, and I am off to work again. I will always keep you up to date about the progress of the album here and also on the alionmind blog.

The "Nachtwanderer" is here!

Let's not get bogged in fruitless discussions whether both the title of the new Willma Poppen piece , as well as the this blog article, are fitting. I find both entirely appropriate and that's what counts ;). After a not SO long wait Willma shoots sharp again. The "inner circle" of the listeners, however, already voiced their reservations on the occasion of me posting the song on Facebook 2 days ago, whether this piece of music would be really suitable for the Willma Poppen project. Why ? Well, I wondered at first also, but I now have to admit that the question is not entirely irrelevant. "Nachtwanderer" is in fact a, for the Willma Poppen project, unusually serious piece. Yes, it is really quite dark, and so I also thought initially about, if this is not rather something for Cimeliums dark "Ad Hominem" album. For this it is, in my opinion, a bit too poppy and danceable. We are long out of the times when Willma Poppen was exclusively for sugar sweet Poptechno. And we want to get away from that indeed, not quite but plenty far away.

Style
"Nachtwanderer" was created, believe it or not, originally from the idea to disfigure contemporary African pop music. Is to say: I had heard the works of some African musician colleagues in a FL Studio Facebook group, and here I stumbled upon one or other track, which made ​​me want to hijack this or that rhythm part. But more and more again, the typical path of the Chaos Lord was kicking in and I mixed in Psytrance, 80s pop and some influences of the 90s. In the end I found the concept so great, that I no longer wanted to go back to the initial concept. So, there we have it: A piece that once more is between the genre borders, and therefore probably draws the pure rage of the purists of the affected genres to itself. So be it :D

Overall, I find that "Nachtwanderer" best enqueues itself into the evolution of the Willma Poppen project since the completion of the "Heroes of the Popp-Culture" album. And here is the "Nachtwanderer". Have fun !

Willma Poppen presents: "Blauer Montag"!

As I already wrote in the description for the new Willma Poppen song "Blauer Montag" yesterday: It's rough, it's dirty , it's LOUD! This is probably the absolute correct description for the latest work for this project. And above all, it is farout. At latest when you arrive at approximately 4 minutes of the track, you will agree.

The title
What a stupid title is this again? So either you have not yet heard the song and/or you have no idea of electronic music of the 80s. The slight references (*cough*) to a well known chart breaker of this decade should not remain hidden even to a deaf person. When I thought about a title, I got a hearty fit of laughter, when I translated the title of the 80's songs literally into German. We absolutely had a name for the baby!

Plagiarism?
The stylistic references were not the beginning of the development of this work. In the beginning it was all really a completely genuine idea. But little by little I heard more and more similarities with the classic and thought it would be funny to emphasize them at least a part of the track. Some will now complain that I haven't done a 1:1 copy of the "New Order" classic. I did not want to do that. It's not that am unable to do this theoretically, but have you ever experienced that I had fun to create 1:1 copies? Nope , not my thing!

So what's next?
To end this post, I would like to tell those who do not already know, that this is a pre-release version. So, this is not the version that will soon end up on the album "Willma im Wunderland". Oh yes, the Album: Only 3 songs left to do! Ok, that was really enough text. Here's "Blauer Montag". Recommended volume setting? LOUD! The neighbors will thank you ;) .

Minimalism rocks : The Maschinenmensch

After over two months of silence, it is really about time for something new from Willma Poppen. The long pause has been caused by internal turmoil in the house of alionmind and by the fact that I used most of my creative energy to finish the, long overdue, alionsonny album "Continuity".

Style / Sound
I believe that with "Machine Man" once again I gave the Willma Poppen project a little more "seriousness". After some veteran Willma Poppen listeners already complained, that "Strangers to Ourselves" was be too gloomy and "overly sophisticated", also "Maschinenmensch" is not just another happy, funny and fluffy pop song. I actually announced very early - since the release of "Heroes of the Popp-Culture" -  that I want to lead the Willma Poppen sound at least partly in a more serious and progressive direction. Let's be honest: Always only major chord progressions with cheerful and funny melodies? This would be but very boring in the long run and a after the second album of this type also the toughest Popper would absolutely bored by the sound. So it will be now and then something more serious and that's also nice ;)

The idea
The reason why this track is a bit unusual for Willma Poppen is, that I applied a quite different strategy this time. The original approach for this song was rather minimalism than complexity. You could easily hear it: Since Willma "grew up" (the end of the community project), the tracks became more and more playful and complex. And that happened to such an extent that not just a few listeners complained already about too much "fiddling". Well, always 4-on-the-floor beat, gated supersaws with funny simple arpeggios is very boring in the long run. But with "Maschinenmensch" I had, at least initially, a very simple idea and didn't want to create unnecessary complexity. The fact that I broke out of that minimalistic approach at least regarding to the effects... well, the leopard can't change its spots.. However, I could preserve a lot of minimalism by using just one synthesizer for everything but the drums. "Maschinenmensch" was all the way completed in record time in its current version. In only two studio sessions - both of considerable length - all was soldered together .

Forward
This is now the ninth title of traditionally 13 for "Willma in Wunderland". Slowly we come closer to a new album. One thing is clear: This album is a pretty colorful piñata. From almost grotesque "Über-Popp " aka " Funfair Techno" to almost commercial titles such as "Strangers to Ourselves" to the minimalism of "Maschinenmensch": All included. For the next track of Willma Poppen I promise that it will be funny and happy again... or not ;) . So, and now have fun with "Maschinenmensch"!

Strangers to Ourselves feat. Donnie Ozone - Willma grows up?

Willma grows up?
No idea if this is true. At least that was what an early listener of "Stranger to Ourselves" said about the track. The song was in fact already showcased the day before yesterday evening on Soundcloud and Facebook. Unfortunately, that listener could not explain in detail why Willma, in his opinion, grows up. I guess that he simply liked the song more than the previous releases. And "Strangers to Ourselves" actually differs in some aspects from all previous releases.

Vocals?
It is the first time that a human voice can be heard more than just fractions of a second in a Willma Poppen production. It has frequently been suggested by listeners to publish Willma Poppen productions with vocals, or at least spoken word. And several times, especially during the phase of community project, we tried it a few times. However, the attempts were regularly discarded during the early development state. And I personally didn't see any reason so far to produce music with vocals for any of my projects, partly for the following reasons:

1. There is really enough music with vocals available. I know some of the listeners Willma Poppen project, who seem to be allergic against any form of vocal performance in music. They are happy about each and every instrumental piece. I also do not like to listen to music with vocals on some days . Especially when, for example, blogging . ;)
2. I understand the aversion, mentioned in 1. pretty much, if I hear the often unbearable whining or intercourse noise, called singing these days, which finds particular application in electronic dance music. And let's not talk about the lyrics. Let's put it that way: The topic is very limited and not particularly demanding. This is nothing that I want to produce!
3. Oh yes, there is also electronic dance music with quite sophisticated lyrics. But now listen to the previous Willma Poppen productions and think about whether lyrics with a deeper meaning would fit to it. I imagine just how someone sings, for example, socially critical lyrics, to, for example, the sound of "Heroes of the Popp-Culture". Inconceivable! And what kind of lyrics would fit the colorful and happy sound of the previous productions? Correct -> see 2. ;)
4. Of cause there were singers who wanted to do collaborations. However, they mostly showed the sonic and lyrical preferences, described under 3. So a collaboration did never come to pass. At others the quality of the vocal performances was in no way suitable for a wider audience than the one that fits into a phone booth. Just as an example: A sound recording of a painful whining, most probably recorded using a cell phone, with "lyrics" constantly repeating "baby i want your uh uh!", does not motivate me to produce a piece of music with the performer.

This time, as I said, actually there is a human voice, namely by Donnie Ozone, present in the new song. It is "only" spoken words, but these have a deeper meaning.

Style
Until recently, the use of minor chords and gloomy sound elements was largely prevented by the well known happy party image of the Willma Poppen project. Yes, "Strangers to Ourselves" is in some places ;) cheerful and lively too, but a lot "deeper" than the previous releases. Of cause it is "danceable". If I WOULD call "Strangers to Ourselves" a Psytrance track (where I personally locate it), I could be sure to turn all fans of this genre hostile against me... oops...

Single Release
This is the first Willma Poppen track, which will be released on iTunes , Amazon, eMusic , Routenote as a MP3 single upfront to the album release. The track will of course also be released on the upcoming album "Willma in Wunderland" in a revised version . The "insiders" are now wondering whether I have broken with my practice of "pre-release" and "final release" . Yes, exceptionally. However, I 've spent enough time, producing the track, to start this experiment. Yepp, it's an experiment :)

The History
As I already mentioned on Facebook, there is a little story behind the making of "Strangers to Ourselves": I recently became an avid fan of the BBC TV series "Doctor Who". No, I still have no TV. It is also available on DVD. And during that time I enjoyed listening to Psytrance while working on 3D projects. When I worked on new ideas for my music projects again, both things were somehow mutually influencing my work: I got the idea to produce something like Psytrance in my very personal style... as always. As "subject" of the song I had chosen the series "Doctor Who". So I wanted a track that was stylistically inspired by psytrance and I wanted it to be somehow "Doctor Who themed". I succeeded, in my opinion, quite well. I almost had arranged everything and wanted to start doing the detail work, when I noticed that "there's something missing". What was it? I just didn't get it! So i stopped working at the track for a few days. Then I listened to the track again. And BOOM! There it was! "Usually, vocals would be kicking in here...". A bold idea... indeed ;). So I went to CCMixter, a site which had already provided me with vocal material for the one or the other experiment of my other projects. A search for "acapella dance" gave gruelsome result of the kind mentioned above. I was about to abandon my plan and tried a search for "acapella" without "dance". The result: Tons of Rap! When I was about to completely give up, I found "Donnie Ozone - Strangers to Ourselves". It was a professionally recorded spoken word sample, not long, but the spoken text hit me like a bolt of lightning. IF something would fit a "Doctor Who themed" track, then this spoken text. Who is Doctor Who(phun intended)? A superhuman being, virtually immortal. If he dies, he simply regenerates a new body. AND despite his superhuman nature, he learns about who he really is only during his travels and adventures. If you now listen to the lyrics of "Strangers to Ourselves"... fits excellent. The sample was under the Creative Commons license "Attribution" and not "Non-Commercial", so it is enough that I specifically mention the author and then it  is allowed to use it even for commercial productions. Perfect !

Did I forget anything? For sure! But now you look at this monster of text... Oh, yes you have just read it ;). Yes, this song means a lot to me personally. I think it's just great. Is that bad? Ok, now that's enough. MUSIC!

Come with me to the Heavens Meadow!

WHAT? Hey, don't worry, I'm still not completely insane... well ... hmm, supposedly the madman recognizes his insanity as the last ;). The avid AlionLive viewers will most likely know the secret behind the unusual title of this work already. For those who have, however, missed part 3 of the bike ride to Mölln and Ratzeburg, I can easily explain it all. On that bike trip I spent the first night at the Ratzeburg Lake, at a place which, for whatever reason, is called Himmelswiese (heavens meadow). As you can see in the video, the evening atmosphere in this place was truly heavenly. And while I sat there and enjoyed the red and purple sunset over the lake with a tasty beer, I had the first ideas for this musical work . So easy ....

Even though I have been warned that the productions for the Willma Poppen project are becoming more and more "weird", and that I risk to lose the "primordial" Willma Poppen audience completely, I do not really believe that. Well, it is completely clear to me, that some of those, who understood the original project approach as eternal and the only true Willma Poppen sound, now say goodbye. But you all hopefully know what I think of restrictions to my creative freedom. And the Reggae fans of the alionsonny project can sing a loud song about how I react to attempts to confine me in genre boundaries. Correct: With MORE crazy experiments :) . So "Himmelswiese", is by far not the weirdest experiment of Willma, but quite close. I have even more played around with a little bit unusual chord progressions and used my rudimentary knowledge in music theory. WHAAAT? You do not know that I cannot even read and write music notes (and I do not want too)? Well, that's the way it goes.. :D.

So we now have 7 of the traditional 13 tracks for album ready! And this means that we have over 50% of the tracks finnished and the next one is already almost done. It is the long-awaited colaboration with Donnie Ozone. This track means a lot to me personally and, therefore, I invested and still invest a gigantic time quota into it. When you get to hear it during the next days, you'll know why. "Strangers to ourselves" , as it is titled, will be the first somg published on alionmind records, which will be released as a single, upfront to the album release to buy. This means: You do not have to wait for the album release to buy it. This is a little "experiment" . I love experiments! :D

So, before the Internet bursts to pieces because of all the text, here is "Himmelswiese":

Funfair Techno? Here you go! New song!

Recently I was promoting one of the current Willma Poppen works in an unspecified forum again. One of the comments gave me a hearty fit of laughter. The comment was: "Thanks a lot! Now I can't get the funfair Techno out of my head again!". Funfair Techno? I did not encounter that term yet. Instantly in my mind's eye pictures popped up from my youth, when we were hanging around at funfairs. He probably thought about that music, which boomed into the ears, while a fast ride turned the stomach upside down. This music, which is more or less simple fun and is constantly interrupted by announcements of employees of the ride such as "aaand .... now we go backwards!". A Google search on "funfair techno" (German: Kirmestechno), contrary to my expectations, provided quite a lot of hits, including Youtube videos. So I watched them and what did this tell me about funfair Techno? The spectrum ranged from a simple but very catchy cover version of the title "Sounds like a melody" by Alphaville from 1984 to the music of a guy called David Guetta. This David Guetta, of whom I hear from time to time, he would be something like the current God of Techno music, produces (according to the subjective opinion of some) also funfair Techno. By the way I do not get the  hype about Mr. Guetta. Nothing about what he produces is kinda special ... of course only according to my subjective opinion ;) What is the result of my research concerning funfair Techno? This is not so easy to describe. First I would see this term as a synonym for Popp-Techno. The point of the so-called funfair Techno is fun. This kind of music is created to have fun. The artistic approach and ambitions are more or less set aside. Supersaws, Hooversounds, everything sent through Gaters, are core components of funfair Techno. Simple melodies and arpeggios should also not be missed.

Does the above read like a 200 percent description of the Willma Poppen sound? Yeah, it does! I admit to have always been a lover of funfair Techno. I loved the music at funfairs and for parties on the beach there is just simply nothing hotter than gated Supersaws, 4-on-the-floor beat and the Wooop-Woop-bass on the breaks between the kicks. Staccatto snare buildups should also not be missing of course. Funfair techno was sort of the idea behind the original Willma Poppen sound. And so it is no surprise that I did not, as obviously expected by the critic, react negatively, but congratulated him on his brilliant grasp. It's always nice when others try to annoy you and it nicely... fails :). And it's even better when something like this actually also provides a new idea and inspiration.

Last Thursday evening a girlfriend of mine (polygamy rulez!) visited me and I was at work. And even though she has no intention of ever going to produce music herself, she wanted to know this evening, how I produce a song Willma Poppen track. She is, incidentally, an ardent fan Willma Poppen. After some "Ooooh please!" I said ok and showed her how to tinker a simple four-on-the-floor beat, how to use the bass, etc. The most important thing here was created as a by-product. It was a gigantic supersaw synth sound with a matching gater pattern. And since not much time passed since the funfair Techno comment, there was just one thought blazing through my head: FUNFAIR TECHNO! If there was a thing in the universe one can call the essence of funfair Techno in just one sound, it was precisely that supersaw and after I had created an appropriate chord progression, the decision was made: Now THIS is the definition of funfair Techno! My mission was clear: This song will make it clear once and for all times what the term funfair Techno stands for. And so the present song which is aptly named "Karussell" was produced for the upcomming album "Willma im Wunderland" (only 7 songs to complete). I hope Stefan, that's the name of the forum commentator, heard this song AND reads this blog entry. Can you see Stefan, how things go sometimes? Some things are better left unsaid, otherwise weird things happen ;) But now, after SO many words, have fun at the fairground with "Karussell"! AAATENTION, WE ARE GOING FORWARD AGAIN! ;)