Recently I was inspired to dig through some orphaned tracks and have decided to post a few. We do a lot of experimenting when it comes to song writing and end up having a lot of different tracks that don’t quite fit into the On Ensemble sound for one reason or another. As a composer one thing I’ve always tried to do is to challenge myself to do the thing I’m least comfortable doing when it comes to making music. When I first started off I was just intimidated to finish a song so I would force myself to finish pieces and present them to whatever group I was in. Then it was writing pieces in non 4/4 time, then it was writing melodies and then harmonies and now it’s writing lyrics. Some of these explorations get turned into On Ensemble material some of them get spun into other projects then there are some that kind of fall between the cracks. This track is one of those tracks. It’s a free jazz inspired piece based on a 13/8 groove. For a while I got all inspired to write songs in 13 after we had done a collaborative piece with Patrick Graham based on different patterns in 13. Before that it was pieces in 5 and now I just want to write things in 7. I don’t really know how 13 snuck in there in-between the 5 and current 7 obsessions. Anyhow I original wrote this as a piece that we could play with Russel Baba and he’s featured on Saxophone along with Kaoru Watanabe on fue. This is a live recording from the first and currently only time we’ve performed this track. I’m thinking of featuring it on our next album but we’ll see how it all works out. The pictures during a sunrise at Borobudur taken during my Indonesian Arts Education fellowship in central Java. Enjoy!

The FoundatiOn Team thank you packets have been sent and we’ve already received a lot of positive feedback from this year’s EP.  We’ve also received requests for more in depth track notes so without further ado…

music by Shoji Kameda;  Kelvin Underwood : drumkit, Kristofer Bergstrom : bonang, melodica and taiko, Masato Baba : fue and taiko, Shoji Kameda : fue, melodica, taiko and chappa.

Recently I’ve been fascinated with the music of Indonesia. I had my first opportunity to collaborate with artists from southeast Asia back in 2006 as part of the Asia Pacific Performance Exchange. Inspired by the experience I traveled to Bali the next summer for a two week study program with Cudamani. Last year I had another opportunity to travel to Southeast Asian this time to central Java as a part of the Indonesian Arts Education Exchange Residency.  While I was in Java I purchased a set of bonang and brought them back to Los Angeles and we put this piece together for our last Works In Progress concert.  I also bought a melodica the last time I was in Ashland and we used it in this piece and it makes a big entrance in the Gagaku-esque breakdown because you know every piece should have a Gagaku break.  It’s also On Ensemble’s second 5/4 piece because you know 5/4 is the new 4/4.

music by Masato Baba; Kelvin Underwood : koto, Kristofer Bergstrom : taiko, Masato Baba : fue and percussion, Shoji Kameda : chappa.

Falling is Maz’s newest fue feature piece. This one was a tricky piece to record because so much of the piece relies on breath and tempo variations. We ended up recording the fue and koto parts together and then Kris had to follow those parts with his taiko part. Usually you lay down the rhythmic parts first and the melodic parts later but for this piece it made sense to have the fue command the tempo and feel.

music and lyrics by Kelvin Underwood; Kelvin Underwood : drumkit, hand drums, vocals and guitar, Shoji Kameda : everything else.

On Ensemble goes indie rock! Well kind of… This is another song that came out of last Works In Progress concert. For the EP we wanted to stretch it and see what else we could do with it. I’m such a sucker for a indie dance rock track with a strip down beat and saw wave synths. Kelvin wasn’t going for the saw wave synth parts so I mangled the guitar parts until they fit a similar role. Kelvin added more hand percussion and we put it all together and came up with our own version of a world music meets post-punk revival track.

music and lyrics by Shoji Kameda, Kelvin Underwood and Masato Baba; Masato Baba : background vocals and fue, Kelvin Underwood : lead vocals and drumkit, Kristofer Bergstrom : koto, Shoji Kameda : background vocals, synths and samplers.

This is probably my favorite track on EP5 because it was so much fun to put together. It started with Maz and I fooling around on a set of vibes we recently acquired from his parents. After some initial bits of inspiration I put together an instrumental track and had Maz sing some background vocal color parts. One of my dreams is to write a track as good as “Solsbury Hill” the friggin’ gold standard of 7/4 songs and I was trying to write something really melodic based on gamelan-esque layers of vibes and glockenspiel. Kelvin heard the track and started scribbling some phrases that unleashed a flurry of creativity. Maz heard a part then I wrote more lyrics then Kelvin added another line and we had a song.

music by Kametron; Somnath Roy : ghatam and percussion, Patrick Graham : shimejishi and percussion, Shoji Kameda : everything else.

First of all props to Dylan who submitted the best track title for this track during our little “Name this Track” contest! Back when I was working on material for our last album Ume in the Middle I had recorded two great friends and collaborators, Somnath and Patrick, jamming to a groove from “Zeecha!!!”. I ended up not putting “Zeecha!!!” on the last album but had all this great material that Somnath and Patrick had put down so I cut it up, mangled everything added saw wave synths (yes finally!) and did a Kametron version of a “Third World hip-hop” track. There is a ton of great hip-hop out there in the world and one of my favorite things to do when I travel is track down locally grown hip hop albums. I found really interesting hip-hop in Yogyakarta and it turns out that angry kids from Mongolia rapping about poverty is pretty convincing. On a tangentially related note; is there anything that could make me a bigger M.I.A. fan? Yes, a possible collaboration with Egyptian Lover! Holy cow. Do you ever feel like the chaos of the world conspires to do something beautiful just for you? That’s what an M.I.A./Egyptian Lover album would be like for me.

Anyways, enjoy the tracks!

We got a nice review from Underwire a popular culture blog at Wired.com:

On Ensemble’s most recent effort, Ume in the Middle, is an interesting hybrid that should appeal equally to fusion aficionados and left-fielders in search of something stranger than the average jazz-hop fare found on indie labels like Ninja Tune.

Wired magazine is one of the few magazines I actually buy.  Usually it’s at an airport for inflight reading material, but being a magazine on all things high tech maybe I should be visiting the website instead.

BTW a lot of my favorite artists are on the Ninja Tune and Big Dada (Ninja Tune’s hip hop arm) including: Anti Pop Consortium, Diplo, DJ Vadim and the Cinematic Orchestra.  So Ninja Tune if you are reading this we are not too strange for you… really… please sign us.

One particular Jason Swinscoe Cinematic Orchestra album that has had an influence on my music is Everyday.  It’s a great album featuring vocals by Fontella Bass and amazing drumming by Luke Flowers.  I blame the track “Flite” for convincing me that, yes odd time grooves with just a bit of melodic material are interesting for six and half minutes.

MA     Norton     WCCS
ON     Hamilton     CFMU
CA    Nevada City     KVMR
NJ     Teaneck     WFDU
NY     Clinton     WHCL
MO     Rolla     KMNR
CA     Santa Barbara     KCSB
AK    Anchorage     KRUA
MI     Canton     WSDP
DC     Washington     WGTB
PA     Pittsburgh     WPTS
NC     Greensboro     WUAG
MD     Towson     XTSR
CA     Norwalk     WPMD
ND     Fargo     KNDS
MD     Baltimore     WLOY
OH     Cleveland     WCSB
FL     Coral Gables     WVUM
PA     Shippensburg     WSYC
GA     Athens     WUOG
VA     Blacksburg     WUVT
MI    Alma     WQAC
OH     Cleveland     WRUW
IL     Chicago     WIIT
FL     Winter Park     WPRK
IN     Richmond     WECI
CT     Storrs     WHUS
MA     W.Barnstable     WKKL
IN     Terre Haute     WMHD
VA     Norfolk     WODU
PA     Schnecksville     WXLV
IN     Fort Wayne     WCYT
IA    Lafayette     KRVS
WA     Seattle     KEXP
OR     Portland     KDUP
OR     La Grande     KEOL
NY     Potsdam     WAIH
NC     Winston-Salem     WAKE
ME     Bangor     WHSN
MA     Cambridge     WMBR
TX     San Antonio     KSYM
MA     Waltham     WBRS
ME     Machias     WUMM
MT     Dillon     KDWG
WA     Walla Walla     KWCW
MO     St.Louis     KWUR
MA     Bridgewater     WBIM
NY     New York     WBMB
IA     Iowa City     KRUI
OK     Norman     WIRE
NC     Boone     WASU
TN     Chattanooga     WAWL
OR     Corvalis     KBVR
WA    Ellensburg     KCWU
IA    Dubuque     KLCR
MN    Moorhead     KMSC – Minnesota State U
CO     Denver     KRCX
IA     Mt Vernon     KRNL
LA     Shreveport     KSCL
AZ     Tempe     KASC
pq     Westmount     CIXS
MN     Winona     KQAL
AZ     Tucson     KAMP
AL     Edmonton     CJSR
ME     Farmington     WUMF
mi     Marquette     WUPX
NJ     Glassboro     WGLS
MA     Worcester     WSCW
BC    Victoria     CFUV
CT     Fairfield     WVOF
NM    Las Cruces     KRUX
MI     Traverse City     WNMC
PA     Mansfield     WNTE
OH     Oxford     WMSR
VA     Lexington     WLUR
IL     Carbondale     WIDB
MI     Dearborn     WHFR
NY     Binghamton     WHRW
VA     Fairfax     WGMU
ON     Guelph     CFRU
NF     St John’s     CHMR
MA     Williamstown     WCFM
IN     Muncie     WCRD
VA     Williamsburg     WCWM
PA     Millersville     WIXQ
IL     Peoria     WRBU-1
NY     Hamilton     WRCU
CT     West Hartford     WSAM
SC     Clemson     WSBF
MA     North Easton     WSHL
MA     Westfield     WSKB
PA     Slippery Rock     WSRU
IN     Notre Dame     WVFI
NY     Potsdam     WTSC
IN     Valaparaiso     WVUR
MI     Dearborn     WUMD
WI     Stevens Point     WWSP
IL     Chicago     WXAV
RI     Providence     WXIN
MN     Thief River Falls     KSRQ
PA     Grove City     WSAJ
MA     Newton     Lasell College Radio
CA     Lemoore     KGAR
NV     Reno     NVWR wolfpack
NY     New York     M3 Radio
MO     Columbia     KOPN
IL     Monmouth     WMCR-2
ID     Boise     KBSU
NY     Dix Hills     WFTU
IL     Champaign     WPCD

ON     Hamilton     CFMU
MA     Norton     WCCS
CA     Nevada City     KVMR
NJ     Teaneck     WFDU
NY     Clinton     WHCL
MO     Rolla     KMNR
CA     Santa Barbara     KCSB
NC     Durham     WXDU
AK    Anchorage     KRUA
MD     Towson     XTSR
CA     Norwalk     WPMD
ND     Fargo     KNDS
PA     Pittsburgh     WPTS
NC     Greensboro     WUAG
FL     Coral Gables     WVUM
GA     Athens     WUOG
PA     Schnecksville     WXLV
mi     Alma     WQAC
OH     Cleveland     WRUW
PA     Shippensburg     WSYC
CT     Storrs     WHUS
IN     Richmond     WECI
NY     Rochester     WITR
VA     Norfolk     WODU
DC     Washington     WGTB
FL     Winter Park     WPRK
MD     Baltimore     WLOY
OH     Cleveland     WCSB
MA     Cambridge     WMBR
NY     Potsdam     WAIH
NC     Winston-Salem     WAKE
LA    Lafayette     KRVS
WA     Seattle     KEXP
MI     Canton     WSDP
OR     Portland     KDUP
OR     La Grande     KEOL
AZ     Tempe     KASC
OR     Corvalis     KBVR
IA    Dubuque     KLCR
IA     Mt Vernon     KRNL
LA     Shreveport     KSCL
NJ     Glassboro     WGLS
MA     Worcester     WSCW
ME     Farmington     WUMF
MI    Marquette     WUPX
PQ    Westmount     CIXS
AZ     Tucson     KAMP
AL     Edmonton     CJSR
MN     Winona     KQAL
TN     Chattanooga     WAWL
MN    Moorhead     KMSC – Minnesota State U
WA     Walla Walla     KWCW
MO     St.Louis     KWUR
MA     Bridgewater     WBIM
NY     New York     WBMB
IA     Iowa City     KRUI
ME     Bangor     WHSN
MT     Dillon     KDWG
MA     Waltham     WBRS
NV     Reno     NVWR wolfpack
PA     Grove City     WSAJ
MA     Newton     Lasell College Radio
NY     New York     M3 Radio
MO     Columbia     KOPN
IL     Monmouth     WMCR-2
IL     Chicago     WIIT
MI     Traverse City     WNMC
PA     Mansfield     WNTE
PA     Millersville     WIXQ
MA     W.Barnstable     WKKL
VA     Lexington     WLUR
IN     Terre Haute     WMHD
OH     Oxford     WMSR
VA     Williamsburg     WCWM
ON     Guelph     CFRU
NF     St John’s     CHMR
IL     Carbondale     WIDB
NY     Binghamton     WHRW
VA     Fairfax     WGMU
CT     West Hartford     WSAM
SC     Clemson     WSBF
MA     North Easton     WSHL
NY     Hamilton     WRCU
PA     Slippery Rock     WSRU
WI     Stevens Point     WWSP
IL     Chicago     WXAV
RI     Providence     WXIN
NM    Las Cruces     KRUX
IN     Fort Wayne     WCYT
BC    Victoria     CFUV
VA     Blacksburg     WUVT
IN     Notre Dame     WVFI
CT     Fairfield     WVOF
MI     Dearborn     WUMD
NY     Dix Hills     WFTU
IL     Champaign     WPCD
VT     Plainfield     WGDR
AL    Calgary     CJSW
CA     Los Angeles     KSCR-1

When asked to define the term “avant-garde,” the majority of laypersons will probably answer with an arched brow and something like, “Um, weird art?” Well, for those of you who have not yet experienced a concrete example of avant-garde work, meet On Ensemble’s second CD release, “Ume In The Middle.” From start to finish, Ume introduces, displays, manipulates, and transforms several musical genres (traditional and new), molding them into a truly avant-garde experience.

On Ensemble composes the majority of their musical pieces around the traditional beats of the Japanese taiko drum. From those drums, hip-hop, electronica, and various other genres flow through some sort of metamorphic exploration. It is almost like living music.

“Yamasong,” Ume’s first track, pushes its audience to take its first step with the slow pluck of a shamisen (a guitar-ish instrument). Soon after, it provides those first breaths of new life with a subtle drone under bassy throat singing (overtone). This unfamiliar approach to what seems vaguely familiar washes over your eardrums, almost cleaning them of all you thought you knew — musically, anyway.

Before you get too comfortable, though, the third track, “Waiting,” hits you with a turntable, a groovy shamisen riff, actual lyrical singing, and, of course, that popping taiko. Tracks four and five continue the electronically driven dance music but “After Rain” brings you back to the traditional-esque eastern-inspired.

By the end of Ume, On Ensemble provides their audiences with a unique and unconventional journey. Producer and main composer of the group, Shoji Kameda explains it better than I ever could, as a “kind of process that allows for exploration and change… we all try to follow our interests wherever they take us… we really only have one rule: try to make it sound like music.”

Some really pretty avant garde stuff. The pieces are composed, and I don’t hear a lot of improvisation. The real astonishment here is the wide range of sounds used to complete the songs. That these sounds (vocals, instruments and some electronics) come from a small group of people is most impressive. The best part is that even when the ensemble heads for the extreme, the center holds. Fascinating.

AK    Anchorage     KRUA
AZ     Tempe     KASC
BC    Victoria     CFUV
CA     Los Angeles     KSCR-1
CA     Norwalk     WPMD
CT     West Hartford     WSAM
DC     Washington     WGTB
IA    Dubuque     KLCR
IA     Mt Vernon     KRNL
IL     Chicago     WIIT
IN     Fort Wayne     WCYT
IN     Richmond     WECI
IN     Terre Haute     WMHD
LA     Shreveport     KSCL
MA     Cambridge     WMBR
MA     Newton     Lasell College Radio
MA     Norton     WCCS
MA     W.Barnstable     WKKL
MA     Waltham     WBRS
MD     Baltimore     WLOY
MD     Towson     XTSR
ME     Bangor     WHSN
ME     Farmington     WUMF
MI    Marquette     WUPX
MI     Canton     WSDP
MI     Dearborn     WUMD
MO     Columbia     KOPN
NC     Greensboro     WUAG
NC     Winston-Salem     WAKE
ND     Fargo     KNDS
NY     Dix Hills     WFTU
NY     New York     M3 Radio
OR     Corvalis     KBVR
OR     La Grande     KEOL
OR     Portland     KDUP
PA     Pittsburgh     WPTS
PA     Slippery Rock     WSRU
PQ    Westmount     CIXS
RI     Providence     WXIN
TN     Chattanooga     WAWL
VA     Blacksburg     WUVT
VA     Norfolk     WODU