The Fly On the Wall Routine: the story behind the Songs

So! 2019, again, a whole year of exploring, writing, playing, recording, mixing 12 new songs. I must have a forbidden agenda in my head somewhere, because the workflow is- maybe predictably- the same everytime. For 40 years I've been exploring my inner creativity. It's like an hypnotic act of fate. I don't think, I do. It's my life in songs. I do think, just right now, after the whole process is over.
How can you describe this album?
The "fly on the wall" is a recognisable person, I guess. The observer, noticing, while watching a great scheme of things passing him/her by. Me? Sure....
For the sequence, the following consequential pattern arose: after an energetic song, a more relaxed one followed... et voila. Also, this album is divided in 2 parts: the first 6 songs each have a more free, stressless atmosphere, after "Kick Together", you'll find the more direct, social concience (serious) songs. Headphones ready?

01.Fly Talk
This was the breaktrough to start a new album. Recognise the fly on the wall type? Guess I'm one of those who kinda look, observe and take notice. This song I happened upon quickly, recorded in a flash. Funky flowing groove, mysterious in character with lots of chopping in between. Before this tune, I had a lot of sketches, motives and melodies for arrangements and other song-ideas and one of them became the instrumental song 12, sort of a coda. Fly talk: deep talk, no chicken talk.

02.Stuck
Laid back, but funky, jazzy Steely Dan-esque hence the chord progression, that's what I bring here. I never got stuck though.

03.Behave
Hypnotic, afro syncopic patterns. I had a lot of fun creating melodies and arrangements on this one. I created piano motifs that changed the vocals I first came up with.That's the way I work a lot: I loop a verse and play along with a guitar or piano to bring another colour to it.
It's all very free and playful, like a kid jumping on a trampoline. Behave!

04.Say The Word
Written on acoustics. let my fingers touch some patterns on piano et voila! Latin groove with a melodic popsong above it. To describe the shape I was in. Say it!

05.Treason
Zappa again? I had fun! Ha, a "Trump" song I hear you say. Triumph! Well, that's too obvious, but that's goovy man. Traitors are everywhere, look in trhe mirror. This took a long time to squeeze out (a lot of tiny little details you don't want to know about), I almost forgot about it.

06.The Vanished Vaudeville
Instrumental shuffle. Just a little dittie I played on my acoustic. Melody on a theramin-like synth. It all went like a flying circus! I had this laying on a shelve for a while, it just happened to fit in now.

07.Kick Together
Kick it! Funky groove. Just dance, freak out!Then a little variation in 10cc (circa 1974) mode in the middle of the song.

08.Not Today
Sort of a ballad with a lyric to express "I'm only human". Still R&B soulgroovy, but basically in a singer-songwriter vain.

09.The Gloves Are Off
Funk with the gloves off. I can get pissed off with moneymakers yes. Not only bankers. The way the worlds rears its ugly head, when it's all show, no tell. All done in the name of funk with a P.

10.Do Your Job
Another one for the hardworking little guys and girls out there. Face the jerk! Laidback, latinesque motives always seem to creep up in my songs.

11.U Know That Now
Slow funky and melodic stuff. Lyrics are about the feasibility of a bucket list.

12.The Fly Off The Wall Routine
Instrumental based on several ideas. "Fly Talk" is the vocal version, the instrumental parts are leftovers put together. They fit! The slow second part I added later. Liked the "concept" method there!

Review from Belgium!

Hey folks! Going well?

Feedback, I dig it all! To be or not to be...I'll behave...
Thank you Marino Serdons!
Bron: Keys And Chords review

In dutch:
"Al 40 jaren schudt Joost van Dinther alias The vanished Dutchman liedjes uit zijn non-stop brein. Vorig jaar nog schreef de pers het album "Just Say Know" naar de hemelse sterren. Ook "The Fly On The Wall Routine" bulkt van snelle en funky songs waarbij meerdere muzikale lagen een mooi complex geheel maken. Soms valt wel eens de vergelijking met Frank Zappa, in zijn tijd een meester in complexe en dikwijls oeverloze songs. Joost bespeelt het iets praktischer en vooral meer gebundeld. Zelden overstijgt een nummer 3 minuten en toch heb je het gevoel (al swingend) om tientallen instrumenten te hebben ontdekt. Niet alleen intelligent en boeiend, ook enigszins riskant om in alle overmoed er teveel laagjes in the duwen ("Behave")... Gelukkig weet Joost nog nipt de juiste dosering aan boord te leggen zodat het organische niet verloren gaat. Grappig is het speelse "Treason". Een perfecte musicalsong. Niet toevallig gevolgd door een luchtig instrumentaal "The Vanished Vaudeville". In het theatrale maakt Joost het verschil met mainstream funkbands. Naast enkele folietjes herbergt "The Fly On The Wall Routine" een aantal knappe funk geinspireerde songs met ieder hun eigen excentrieke benadering. Een aanrader!" (door Marino Serdons)

In english:
'For 40 years Joost van Dinther aka The vanished Dutchman has been shaking songs from his non-stop brain. Last year the press wrote the album' Just Say Know 'to the heavenly stars.' The Fly On The Wall Routine 'is also brimming with fast and funky songs in which multiple musical layers make a nice complex whole, and sometimes the comparison with Frank Zappa, a master of complex and often endless songs in his time, Joost plays it a little more practically and above all more bundled. minutes and yet you have the feeling (while swinging) that you have discovered dozens of instruments, not only intelligent and fascinating, but also somewhat risky to push too many layers into it ('Behave') ... Luckily Joost still knows to put the correct dosage on board so that the organic is not lost.Funny is the playful 'treason', a perfect musicalsong, and not coincidentally followed by a light instrumental 'The Vanished Vaudeville'. eatrale makes Joost the difference with mainstream funk bands. In addition to some films, 'The Fly On The Wall Routine' houses a number of handsome funk-inspired songs, each with its own eccentric approach. A must! '(By Marino Serdons)

Again a great album from The Vanished Dutchman, JoosTVD. Beside his "classic" funky beats, you will find a few crazy cabaret tunes. How nice music can be!

Reviews? Keep them coming!

This is the first one from the netherlands, very well-written by the authors of Timpaan muziek

In dutch:

"Joost The Vanished Dutchman (JoosTVD) is een multiinstrumentalist en heeft een nieuw album uit, The fly on the wall routine. Funky jazzachtige muziek met een onverwacht lage stem, virtuoze loopjes en ingenieuze tegenmelodieën vullen elkaar continue aan. Met een duur van 36 minuten duren de twaalf tracks van het album niet heel erg lang.
Is een nieuw album routine voor JoosTVD? Zo klinkt het in ieder geval niet. Het eerste nummer Fly talk straalt urgentie uit, wordt voortgestuwd op syncopes in de bas en swingt. Daarmee een uitstekende opener van dit album. in de tekst komt de albumtitel al gelijk naar voren. Opener Fly talk vormt met afsluiter The fly off the wall de omlijsting van het album. Stuck gaat in dezelfde stijl verder. De stem van JoosTVD klinkt in vergelijking met zijn vorige album meer op de voorgrond en dat komt de balans ten goede.
Met Treason is het onmogelijk een lach te onderdrukken. De olijke melodie alleen al en het he-he-he, ho-ho-ho en they will never let me go-go-go vullen elkaar grandioos aan. Het nummer stuitert hoekig door de riffjes heen. The vanished Vaudeville is een miniatuurtje. De variété is niet verdwenen in de muziek van JoosTVD. Kick together en The gloves are off klinken weer  serieus. I don’t need your stinking money, even if you’re think I’m funny, zingt JoosTVD. The fly off the wall routine (nee, geen typefout het is off en niet on in de songtitel) sluit het album met een instrumentale track af.
JoosTVD levert opnieuw een technisch hoogstandje af. Hij bespeelt wederom alle instrumenten zelf en zet de ingewikkelde muzikale melodieën overtuigend neer."
Eindoordeel: 8,5

Happy dutchman

In english: 

'Joost The Vanished Dutchman (JoosTVD) is a multi-instrumentalist and has released a new album, The fly on the wall routine. Funky jazz-like music with an unexpected low voice, virtuoso loops and ingenious counter melodies complement each other continuously. With a duration of 36 minutes the twelve tracks of the album do not last very long.

Is a new album routine for JoosTVD? That is not how it sounds. The first song Fly talk radiates urgency, is pushed on syncopes in the bass and swings. This makes an excellent opener of this album. the album title already comes to the fore in the text. Opener Fly talk forms the frame of the album with the closing act The fly off the wall. Stuck continues in the same style. The voice of JoosTVD sounds more in the foreground compared to his previous album and that benefits the balance.

With Treason it is impossible to suppress a smile. The merry melody alone and the he-he-he, ho-ho-ho and they will never let me go go-go complement each other beautifully. The number bounces angularly through the reefs. The vanished Vaudeville is a miniature. The variety has not disappeared in the music of JoosTVD. Kick together and The gloves are off sound serious again. I don't need your stinking money, if you think I'm funny, JoosTVD sings. The fly off the wall routine (no, no typo it's off and not on in the song title) closes the album with an instrumental track.

JoosTVD again delivers a technical tour de force. He once again plays all the instruments himself and convincingly puts down the complex musical melodies. '

Final assessment: 8.5 

 

TVD's Recording History

Ok, a little (recording) history then
Let me see....I started writing little ditties in 1979 and have been recording since then. First on analog tape of course. I was hooked, played (drums, bass, guitars, sometimes synths, vocals) on primitive, cheap instruments most of the time  and recorded my ass off! Here are a few machines I've hassled with (note: I am a musician , no technical chef):

I recorded mostly improvised stories, sometimes filled in the silences with jokes and dirty sounds

Remember the SOS function? Well, overdubbing with hiss was a non plus.

More tracks, more overdubbing, less hiss, still hiss on the tape

A 4-track Tascam did the trick for 43(!) tapes till 1998, followed by the digital/ virtual recording with a firewire and a cd burner. Since 1998 I've recorded 22 albums and 15 of them you can stream on www.

Digital, pre-amps, firewire, no hiss!

My present setup?
I have used the digidesign 003 since 2011 with Pro Tools and now as I've bought the Thunderbolt Apollo Twin Quad and a very heavy game laptop, so I'm in the middle of switching stuff. It gets smaller by the day!

Digidesign 003, possibilities....

Apollo Twin Quad, small stuff!

getting mobile game laptop

Released "The Fly On The Wall Routine" And Where?

Stop. Don't. Run. To. The. Shops! Stop. It's. Here. Stop!

The Vanished Release

Hey folks! Here are the links as so far I've found. The rest will follow in the near future. I've already found some illegal webrips, well go ahead download them, spread the word. Do it in a funky way.  As long as you listen to the songs....
Have fun, drop me a line. Yes I'd like that.

The lowdown:

Spotify
Deezer
Google Music
Amazon
iTunes
Tidal
7ditigal
eMusic
Onkyo Music
Juno
Rhapsody/Napster
KKBox
Youngonesrecords
Discogs

Bandcamp

YouTube playlist

For Your Pleasure Vol....6

   and without my voice

 

About this album

This is music especially for those video/docu/makers, searching for background music. Colouring their images with Vol.6 in the FYP series, takes you on a groovy, exotic ride from one wave to another. Upbeat, breezy and sometimes dreamy, melancholic instrumentals. Hypnotic dancing allowed! All conceived (written, played, arranged, recorded, mixed and mastered by JoosTVD) in my tiny homestudio. Mixing/mastering: Pro Tools, Apollo Twin Quad and Ozon 8 Mastersuite.

Have fun!

The Instrumental Dutchman

FYP Vol.6 On Jamendo

April sampler Homecookingshare

Spreading the news...
Fly Talk, the video promo has been added to april sampler #8, a one hour

                                       
                                            Playlist from Homecookingshare

with 14 other groovy springtime tunes. It's a french (?) site where you share your songs, already had "Not Now" and "Cosmopolitan Circus on the site. Enjoy!

They have a.......................
  
                                                                            "Principle

If you have not had the time to listen to everything this month, we give you a little help. Each month, a 15-track summary of what happened here will be proposed

The methodology of choosing the 15 titles is obscure and can not be explained. In no case the unsorted tracks would be worse (again we are not there to judge the quality).

At the limit, if a track meggles the cat, it can influence the final choice."

This month, a lot of new brilliant artists have shared their creations on HomeCooking Share:

One O'Sics- Space Interceptor
Yuno - Warm it up remix
VAPA - Planet Still not destroyed
Moodssupply - Get ready
JoosTVD - Fly Talk
Fading Call - She Do
Hurtful Junez and the Hatecatz - Señor Chuckle Fucker & Señorita Giggle Gash
Anatoly Kirk - My Empty Temple
FLUQS- exqod
Gelatine Turner - Ville Morte
L4YON - Drift Away
Mark Badinson - Shapeshifter
Tommy Champion - Rabbit Hole
Jesse Koolhaas - Rodavlas
Kevin Follet - Invidia

Eclectic Radio on Youtube

Is there any radio show to watch on Youtube? Certainly, there are lots of ways to spread the word, more so, if you do that visually. But it's not easy to fit in with my (funky, jazzy sounds) music. But this show is really eclectic, they play "everything". So I uploaded my promo "Fly Talk" et voila. This duo, Dee and Loki have a little chit chat, funny stories and music to promote. Thanks guys!
Subscribe:

 The Eclectic Storm

Let Us Hear/Watch A New Tune! (Promo 2)

To wet your appetite further, to get you involved with the new stuff, I want you to....behave. Well sort of. Second promo from the new album of JoosTVD: "The Fly On The Wall Routine", release 30th april 2019.
As a former drummer, I am always inspired by rhythm patterns from all over the world. There'a a syncopatic afro/latin-funk beat that's inspired this song. All the harmonies in the chorus are afro inspired. Instrumental arrangements, like the piano motives are more latinesque. Think "Talking Heads" Remain in Light's hypnotic feel. The lyrics: they have a serious and self-reflecting side: how to "behave' normally these days. Sing along! ("hey ya hey ya nanana") Behave...just like I do!

Watch promo 2:


Behave [Lyris/ Music: JoosTVD]

Larry likes to scream for hours
Fergie likes to eat the flowers
(Hey ya hey nanana)

There's a fire in my kitchen
A little murder on the floor
Nothing beats this witching anymore
I can't control my urges
Life's too easy in my court
And after all these purges I get bored

As long as you behave
(As long as you behave just like I do
And if you won't behave than I won't too)
Nothing will be happening to you
Behave just like I do I do

Hey ya hey ya nanana
Hey ya hey ya nanana
Hey ya hey ya nanana
Nothing will be happening to you

Hey ya hey ya nanana
Hey ya hey ya nanana
Hey ya hey ya nanana hey!

I see a bubble when you babble
The struggle when you slip
Who cares about the hassle when you're hip?
You cannot lose your temper
So you better sell your soul
And you can love me tender
Or not at all

As long as you behave
(As long as you behave just like I do
And if you won't behave than I won't too)
Nothing will be happening to you
Behave just like I do I do

Fergie likes to eat the flowers
Larry likes to scream for hours
Let me walk you through the papers
Maybe if I see you later

Hey ya hey ya nanana
(Hey hey hey)
Hey ya hey ya nanana
(Hey hey hey)
Hey ya hey ya nanana
Let me walk you through the papers
Hey ya hey ya nanana
(Hey hey hey)
Hey ya hey ya nanana
(Hey hey hey)
Hey ya hey ya nanana
Maybe if I see you later


Next: Released "The Fly On The Wall Routine" And Where?

Feed me!

Hai folks! It's a very beautiful day up here in the lowlands, a very welcome spring sun shining through. It all sounds just like music to me... just one week and ....12 songs will be caressing your ears...or not!
Here's a little update, just before I'll release a second promo.
As I've released my first promo (Fly Talk) into the world, my curious eyes are always wondering how people react to my new ditties. I'm not interesting in millions of listeners, quality counts in the end my friend. The song has already been picked up by a few online radio stations now. One of them is this young, music platform (Drooble) for musicians, listeners, sharing insights and giving feedback to eachother. And there are the charts, not to be taken all that serious, mmm... or do we?
I hope I'll get a few reviews for the new album too in the future, it's so gratifying, so any support (reader can you write?) on that is welcome!

Charts Drooble 20 april 2019 (genre "Funk"):

The Vanished Drooble Charts

And there are a few who have taken time to listen and appreciate what I do! Thanks U!

Melvin Brown at 00:58

Great vibe! Nice vocal. Tight instrumentation. Makes you want to get up and dance. Sweet track!

14d2

Giorgio Finetti at 02:18

Cool rhythm, wonderful use of el piano and percussions

5d2

Paul Whitwam at 01:15

Cor TVD you turn out some stellar stuff .I'm loving this one. You grabbed me from the first measure. Really interesting arrangement . Top of the funk... More

5d1

Marcelo Obregon at 01:37

Dig the progression! Smooth...Very nice!

Next: The next promo will come, promise! Now behave!