Herkkusieni - Ihmiskunta (CMX tribute)

[Juho L]

http://www.kolumbus.fi/juho.lepisto/Herkkusieni_-_Ihmiskunta.mp3

Lyrics by Juho L, Hornanturska, Kitaranraiskaaja

Juho L - Composing, vocals, drums, bass, choir, piano, acoustic guitar, production, drinking tea.
Askomiko - Electric guitars.

This is "a tribute" (read: parody) of one Finnish artistic rock band that has awfully fake artistic lyrics.

I'm really pleased and proud to say that you're listening to one of my best works ever.

[Hollowcell]

Not really my style of music, but there is a lot I really like with this track.

The intro is great - perfect effects on that guitar. Specially like that little drum too.

The melody and general feel of the track is great (damn good) until that bass, hats and vocal section at 40seconds - this section gives a corny feel for me (at least it goes away quickly, but comes back at 1min20 - at least with a heavy guitar though). These sections throughout the track are the only downfall for me.

The choir is really nice. What did that come from out of interest? It's one of the best choir sounds I've heard for ages. It's actually rare that I'll like the choir sounds at all - so that says something.

The drums are great. You always seem to capture a realistic drumming. I must say though there are some sections where the crashes seem to get too crushed - 3min40 is a good example of this.

The vocal effects are nice too. 4min17 shows good use of stereo spreading with the vocal.

I really like the way the track filters out near the end, just leaving the piano and choir. Is that a software filter?

Anyway to sum up - this track is one fo your best. The only thing I didn't like was the sections I mentioned with the bass. hats and vocal. If you changed these sections - maybe broken rythm instead of the straight beat, they would sit nicer. Take these away and this would be a damn solid track!

After the 3rd listen the track really started to stick on me too. At the start I said it wasn't my style of music, but the more I listened the easier it got to listen.

Nice!

[Juho L]

The melody and general feel of the track is great (damn good) until that bass, hats and vocal section at 40seconds - this section gives a corny feel for me (at least it goes away quickly, but comes back at 1min20 - at least with a heavy guitar though). These sections throughout the track are the only downfall for me.

That's one CMX clich?. Every song sohuld have at least one filtered vocal part. ?hihi.

The choir is really nice. What did that come from out of interest? It's one of the best choir sounds I've heard for ages. It's actually rare that I'll like the choir sounds at all - so that says something.

Symphony of Voices London Choir.

The drums are great. You always seem to capture a realistic drumming. I must say though there are some sections where the crashes seem to get too crushed - 3min40 is a good example of this.

Yup. There were some odd trouble with drums when I first started this project in my general Windows and then later moved to use my studio Windows. Something happened on hats and crash section and they ended up sounding really weird. Some samples were stuttering and other strange behaviour. No idea why. I planned to do some additional tweaking on this track later today, so I'll to fix these drums.

The vocal effects are nice too. 4min17 shows good use of stereo spreading with the vocal.

There are just some compression, reverb and slight delay on the vocal track. On the chorus I sang it throught three times: One for the middle, one for the left and one for the right track. Ancient trick to get wide mix. On that 3:40 there's actually five vocal tracks where the left and right track is doubled with octave higher.

I really like the way the track filters out near the end, just leaving the piano and choir. Is that a software filter?

Cubase grungelizer, the gramophone simulator. Really nice toy.

Anyway to sum up - this track is one fo your best. The only thing I didn't like was the sections I mentioned with the bass. hats and vocal. If you changed these sections - maybe broken rythm instead of the straight beat, they would sit nicer. Take these away and this would be a damn solid track!

Nooo. I don't want to take those away because they're so important pieces on creating the CMX feel.

After the 3rd listen the track really started to stick on me too. At the start I said it wasn't my style of music, but the more I listened the easier it got to listen.

That's quite strange because it must feel a bit strange to not understand anything about the lyrics so it might not be that easy to get a grip of that song, although the ending where the piano starts is quite ince (if I may say).

Thanks for your review.

[Hollowcell]

That's quite strange because it must feel a bit strange to not understand anything about the lyrics so it might not be that easy to get a grip of that song, although the ending where the piano starts is quite ince (if I may say).


It doesn't feel strange at all. I usually use vocals as an instrument rather than trying to get accross a message in my music. Also, I've been living in Japan the past few years, so I've gotten used to not understanding everything.

I think I understood a little of you lyrics anyway - Something about digging up a grave, then pulling your pants down! :lol: Of course I could be mistaken.

In short, what is the song about then?

[3o3]

Is that you singing Juho? I get a Type O Negative feel about your vocals.. nice song, really odd.. but nice

[Juho L]

Is that you singing Juho?

Yup.

I get a Type O Negative feel about your vocals.. nice song, really odd.. but nice

Thanks. It's quite odd that people think I've used pitch shifter there.

[3o3]

Something about digging up a grave, then pulling your pants down! Of course I could be mistaken.

And something about robbing ships on upon the 7 seas. - Yoho, its a pirates life for me!

[Juho L]

In short, what is the song about then?

The funny part is that I have no idea. To get an enjoynment of the lyrics you'll have to know CMX. The basic idea of the lyrics is that they sound philosophical, deep and artistic. The meaning of the lyrics is just secondary. This is just a parody of all those I-make-fake-artistic-lyrics-to-make-me-look-smart bands. Maybe I'll write rough translation here:

Herkkusieni - Mankind


Silent wave of silent mind
Stinging air of rising storm
Salty stream of devil
I don't want anything I don't hear
I journey towards cleansing
I look for acception from a corner of a round room.

(bridge)
I'm like a wolf in sheep's clothes
Waiting for your shield to become brittle
One more round of vicious circle
before the end of mankind

Dead valley of gray wind
clear shape of death's figure
With insolent gestures the time is stolen
I don't have time to fall asleep or love
The time for sowing the seeds has gone
Like a hourglass the sand of time spills into the space

(bridge)

(chorus)
Mankind, different kind
The demand of existence
The function of a gloomy mind
The solution of a human child
Bright flame, cry for help
A man drowns in space
Unconscious riddle
Opening cradle of emptiness

I don't talk because I'm not heard
I don't see because my awareness cries in pain
Like a song of sirens, floating attractively
I reach for past, I collapse, I experience
Me, the incarnation of decay
Flesh and blood, bad spirit, me myself

(bridge)

(chorus x 3)

Is there reason to live without time?
Is there reason to live without time?
There's no reason to live without time.

[Hollowcell]

Interesting and yet, no solid meaning! hehe

I played this track to my wife. The first thing she said was "Is that his real voice?". Is your singing voice the same as your speaking voice? She actually liked the track though. :)

[3o3]

Thanks. It's quite odd that people think I've used pitch shifter there.

I dont think that, you got a really nice rock-voice.. Like that Type O Negative i mention earlier. I liked the text to the song also. Really nice, dark and it really spoke to me.. hehe

[Juho L]

Interesting and yet, no solid meaning! hehe

Indeed. And it's always fun to watch some one to try analyse the lyrics.

I played this track to my wife. The first thing she said was "Is that his real voice?". Is your singing voice the same as your speaking voice?

Same voice.

She actually liked the track though. :)

Ooh. Japanese aren't that "evil" afterall. ?hih.

[Juho L]

I dont think that, you got a really nice rock-voice.. Like that Type O Negative i mention earlier.

?hih. I think my voice is more like cheap tango voice.

I liked the text to the song also. Really nice, dark and it really spoke to me.. hehe

G?hihi.