Fresh Cut: Roads and Boats – ‘Pictures of Spring’

Aug 1, 2012 by PORTALS    1 Comment    Posted under: EPs, Featured Sounds, Sounds  

We have a special exclusive release for everyone today. Roads and Boats, the retro-tronic project of Adam Gallant, has created a monster 40min beat odyssey titled Pictures of Spring. Adam’s innermost thoughts and feelings are on display with carefully selected rhythmic details, nuanced sample edits, and tight execution. Pictures of Spring is also the first digital-only release from Chill Mega Chill Records. So hit that audio player above, download a copy for your life’s daily journeys, and read on for Adam’s detailed explanations of each glorious segment from Pictures of Spring.

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Even though my tracks don’t have lyrics—at least in the traditional sense, I feel like they are all still about something. At the core of what I put out as Roads and Boats is a strong desire to communicate information about who I am, and what I believe in, without being overly obvious or obnoxious.

For me, everything from song titles to instruments, samples and reoccurring themes informs this intended purpose. My favorite artists have always been those who I thought were constantly dropping subtle hints about who they are, or the ongoing story they were creating about themselves.

Therefore, it is with great pleasure that I give you some insight into my story. I’ll try not to give too much away.

“INVASION”

Jan Hammer meets DJ Premier. I fairly live for these kinds of DX7 synth sounds. Contains samples from “It Ain’t Hard to Tell” by Nas.

“Stay Hot”

I put a lot of effort into the hi-hats on this beat tape. I love that drifting in and out of triplets at just the right moment.

“The Man in the High Castle”

This is the name of a Phillip K. Dick novel that I have not read (yet). I just liked the title. To me, it sounded like an angsty way of describing the head of a large corporation or other similarly powerful evil individual. The dialogue at the end is Man Ray giving an interview in French over a brief snippet of music from an old Japanese porno: “I have two pursuits in my work, I pursue liberty and pleasure. Because I despise work, even good work. What interests me are ideas.”

“Lite”

A review of Going Away suggested that  I used “cheezy lite-funk basslines” on many of the tracks. This interlude is a shining example of this lite-funkiness dedicated to that reviewer.

“MCMLXXXIII”

I feel like the best word to describe the percussion on this beat is “intricate”. Also, I love snares/claps with a lot of reverb and a long decay. Or, in layman’s terms—”80′s sounding”.

“Life of the Party”

The title is inspired by the fact that I can seemingly no longer predict how I am going to act around a bunch of people drinking and having a good time. Sometimes I just can’t stand it and wish I was somewhere else. Sometimes I get wasted and have a great time.

“Magic Kingdom”

This track sounds joyful and exuberant to me. Like some Dan Deacon shit. Contains samples from “Return of the Mack” by Mark Morrison and “Hidden Darts” by Ghostface Killah.

“Illuminated Instrument Panel”

I’m a big fan of science fiction, and this track sounded like it could be the sped-up score to a sci-fi flick. I’ve also seen the words “Illuminated Instrument Panel” on the inside of an early 90′s Mercury Cougar, but it makes me think of spaceships.

“Capri”

Is an island of the coast of Italy. It’s also a kind of (sparkling?) wine that the main character in A Farewell to Arms makes reference to drinking several times over the course of the story. It sounds exotic. A fine example of my “chop a sample up completely at random and mess around with it until it works” technique. Contains samples from “Love & Be Loved” by Johnny Mathis, produced by Chic,  “It Ain’t Hard To Tell” by Nas, and “Finally” by CeCe Peniston.

“Friends and Lovers”

I’m kind of obsessed with the idea that it’s possible to be both. Contains samples from “Finally” by CeCe Peniston.

“Problems”

Contains samples from “Moon” by Bjork. I should have called this track “Oysters Rockefeller”. GET IT?

“Toronto Life”

I love this magazine. Even if they do pander to the rich. This is some all the way hip hop shit. With some more spaceship movie synths thrown in for good measure.

“Emerald Triangle”

The end of the sci-fi movement of this tape. Delay makes everything better.

“Soma Drop”

I’ve made a few tracks with samples from old porn, and this is the latest. Same Japanese porn that the little bit of music behind the Man Ray interview after “The Man in the High Castle” is taken from. It’s one of those samurai/feudal japan themed porns from the 80′s. A ‘soma drop’ is a magical item in the ‘Final Fantasy’ series. Contains a sample from “Over” by Drake.

“Leave of Absence”

This is probably my favorite piece from the whole tape. This is kind of like the quintessential Roads and Boats. Vaguely hip hop-ish sounding beat. Samples from an old portuguese porno. Layered synth melodies. Tambourine. Only thing that’s missing is a snippet of inspirational dialogue from a documentary or feature film. Contains samples from “Hip Hop” by Dead Prez, “Over” by Drake and “Ima Boss” by Meek Mill.

“You Tell Me”

I don’t what genre of music this is. You tell me. Really this is the result of me not knowing how to chop a sample or being too lazy to. I just cut them up at random and play around with the bits until it sounds like something. Samples are from “Don’t Stop The Music” by Lionel Richie.