Album Notes

The term "Unlike Anything You've Heard Before" is an often overused descriptor that usually ends up yielding disappointment. In The Case of Turn That Frown Upside Down, that statement is actually warranted. "Frown" is an album of concept in the era of shuffle play and single downloads. With a unique yet stellar production style Andrew utilizes live instruments, drum machines, computers, harmonic vocals, lush pads, turntablism, and dishwasher samples to explore and convey his inner most thoughts and fears onto the listener. Turn off shuffle and spend 47 minutes questioning the world around you.


Album Notes And Credits---Note: All tracks produced, mixed, and mastered by Andrew Ahrendt. All tracks written and performed by Andrew Ahrendt unless otherwise noted.



Ok...so here a quick explanation of each track on the album.

1. Capitulation: This track essentially serves as an intro. The drums are from a recording session with William "Bo" Weatherford. I had the drum idea in my head and had him record it...then let him adlib a bit. I then chopped it up and added all the pads and synths.

2. Life On Mars: A big beat and minimal song utilizing the brilliant vocals of Marcus Akers. The concept is having to go to an isolated place to make a relationship work, which in this case is Mars...both literally and metaphorically. I made this beat using my MPC-2000, which I only had for a few months. I scratched down the vocals then brought Marcus into the studio. Though the concept and lyrics are mine, it was Marcus' sheer talent and ability to layer harmonies that made Mars what it is. Marcus as well as myself play sax on this one.

3. Glamorous Buzz: This spawns from my short lived sessions with The Glamorous Polyamorous Project back in 2006. The simple hook came spontaneously during a jam session and never left my head. At the same time I was frequenting the Buzz Bar in Detroit, where the open jam sessions on Thursday nights were of a legendary caliber. I wanted to combine the live feel of The Buzz with the unique grooves of Glamorous. This track once again features the drums of William Weatherford...with Jason Daker on bass, Chuck Reed on guitar, and myself playing, keys, sax, and decks.

4. Bukkake Button: The title and concept comes from a feature on a virtual Jenna Jamison porn program. The left mouse button is the Bukkake Button, which when pressed...well...use your imagination. It may seem a bit obsurd and explicit for some but so is life you fucking pussies...so stop your cryin and go listen to some Nickleback. Vocals by the always nasty David Silver and the uber sexual and talented Monica Lauer set the mood for some sweet love by the fire.

5: Femtosecond: Honestly...this is designed to be a mind fuck. Using a sample of a death row prisoner talking about killing his dad and eating his brains, the result couldn't be cheery. My acid roots shine through on this one...and I'm not talking about the 303. If you have access...dose on this and plan a murder...or start a religion....enjoy!

6: Lilac Park: Nothing deep here. It simple...Strawberry Shortcake wants a bag of the magical weed but can't afford it, but her friends chip in and buy it for her birthday.

7: Cascade Serenade: This is a case of random things happening for a reason. I was on my good friends (Chris Bentley aka SDrow) couch in San Diego chillin and was taken by a groove on the internet station Limbik Frequencies. As the rhythm progressed and the songs on the station changed I realized the groove that was moving me was that of his dishwasher...adding a cohesive bond to the flowing tracklist. When I returned to Detroit I mailed a recording package out to Diego to get a recording of the dish machine. The resulting footage was chopped up into a groove that was amazing...but I wasn't sure where to go with it. I had the hook in my head but not much else. I put the concept into Sdrow's hands and the result was brilliant. He wrote the lyrics for himself and the female counterpart...once again played by the versatile Monica Lauer. Where Life On Mars describes the beginning of a relationship, Cascade sums up the end.

8. Fuck The Mini Bar: A drunken voice message from Sdrow and his beautiful wife Laryssa in Las Vegas anchor this track. This beat was also made on the MPC...all I needed to do was layer the synths.

9. Stained (By The Process): I made this beat in 2001 but could never really find a place for it. Add a MASH sample where a strong minded surgeon loses his mind in the blood riddled mess and you have a marriage of ideas.


In summary, Frown is a piece that I am proud of. I stretched myself exponentially to achieve this goal. Things like vocal recording and music theory were foreign to me in 2002 when I finished my first album. With help from my wonderful and talented friends I plan to expedite the expansion. Frown represents the lighting of the fuse...and the fuse accelerates with time. I am the bomb at the end of the fuse...catch up to me before I blow.