Shark Speed – Killing Kind – Bionic Ear Recording Session

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Texture is a vital part to any medium. It can create depth as well as evoke emptiness. Everything has texture, it’s how one weaves and builds it that separates great art from noisy babble. Texture should be taken seriously if one makes art.

Shark Speed – Killing Kind

(click to listen, right click to download)

Introduction by B.E. engineer Noel Paris:
Jared’s drumming is as angular as it is organic. It reminds me of Mission of Burma at times. With a myriad of electronic claps and booms running through the landscape, his rhythm and creative fills create a raw and very appropriate contrast in the piece

The bass’ raspy, over-driven voice spews beautiful sounds that rumble underneath the song. It’s a binder. It glues everything together by tastefully drawing wonderful lines in and out of the other instruments. David brought a great vibe to the studio and you can obviously hear it in this song. Not to mention how great his simple yet totally convicted back up vocals are.

When I look at paintings I always find myself asking the question, “did they leave space for everything to breathe?” This song has a visual quality about it and the guitars truly are the paintbrushes here. As Joe sweeps and strikes at his side of the canvas, Thayne quietly taps and blends the colors that he has chosen. Each guitar sings it’s own song, yet somehow finds a way to appropriately compliment the other. The melodies have a handcrafted feel about them. At times they drift like birds, while underneath rabbits scamper through the fields running from something ominous. Is that visual enough? Basically, Joe and Thayne play beautiful guitar parts on this song, which in turn also set the stage for the vocals.

There are few things worse in art than bland lyrics. Afterthoughts, that were just scribbled on a notebook page thirty minutes before the song was recorded. Words as dull and plain as dry toast. I always feel cheated. That being said, we can all thank Thayne for not taking that road. He uses interesting words that tell a thoughtful story. He asks us questions that I’m sure we’ve asked ourselves. At times the story is glorious and heroic and at other times fragile and guarded. The performance is full of confidence from a person that knows exactly who he is as a singer.  The melodies never stay lazily on a straight line. Instead, they growl, they proclaim, and at times, gently float along over a sea of music.

Nothing was settled for on this day. It truly was what a “bionic ear” session is supposed to be, artists striving to create a unique version of their music. Taking advantage of the environment, the vibe, and enjoying the road.

Credits
Recorded by: Noel Paris
Mixed by: Mark Arnold
Photos: Chris Gonzales

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