Who Be G:
A music critic through the 80s and 90s, The G-Man now writes songs and commercial music from his Southern California studio.
Tracks from "Grin Groove" are currently being played in many clubs, including such world-famous nightspots as The Gig in Los Angeles, Le Rat Mort in Paris, Bar Sinister in Hollywood, and wherever DJ Insane is spinning in Europe.
Selections from "Grin Groove" are being remixed by Random Distribution (Russia) and The Allianz (Europe). The Allianz album of G-mixes, "Insane Groove," is scheduled for release this winter.
The "official" release date of "Grin Groove" is 01-02-03, but it is available now for airplay, review and remixing.
Synth sounds, but no keyboards
on "Grin Groove"
"People ask, 'Who's that playing keyboards?' on my songs," says ex-music critic Scott G, who records under the name The G-Man, "and I tell them that Grin Groove was made with just voice, percussion and guitar. Technically, there isn't even a bass on the album, since I used a guitar for the bass parts."
All the sounds except voice and percussion on Grin Groove were created on normal six-string guitars using standard tuning. The synthesizer tones on the album exist because two of The G-Man's axes were equipped with GK-2A pick-ups and played through an ancient Roland GR-1 guitar synthesizer.
Grin Groove demonstrates a way that wildly inventive sonic textures can be achieved using good old-fashioned guitar. "Or, as I like to call it," The G-Man adds, "good new-fashioned guitar."
GRIN GROOVE
Track-by-track facts:
Uwannaget2gether - humor/social commentary (4:43)
Retro dance tune with a sound that is a tip-of-the-hat to George Clinton's Parliament/Funkadelic and Thomas Dolby. Contains the opening lecture from the fake college course, "Homo Sapien Mating Rituals 101."
Jam Socket Tango - dance/sexual politics (4:53)
The English language has many words to describe sexual relations, and this little number utilizes a plethora of them.
Touch When You Dance - dance/social commentary (6:44)
More in line with today's relentless dance rhythms, this song has inspired protests because the ending contains a 2-minute excerpt from "A Discourse on the Evils of Dancing," a sermon originally delivered before the congregation of the German Reformed Salem Church on March 8, 1846 by Pastor Rev. John F. Mesick. The pompous pastor must quake in his grave at the sight of so many bodies bouncing to the beat while laughing at his dour, dire words of warning.
You Are The Drug - goth/literary (4:35)
A dark, languid tale of bondage and perhaps the beginning of love. Contains the entire short story, I Met A Girl At The Club. This was inspired by attending Tricia LaBelle's infamous Bar Sinister event held Saturday evenings in Hollywood, California.
Slide/Slam/Go! - house/industrial (4:49)
Ah, if only my regular voice was as low as we made it in the 7-word chorus! The song that DJ Vincent K of Paris goth club Le Rat Mort says is "As vicious as early Die Form. Excellent!" I welcome the positive reaction from goth/industrial listeners, but have to admit that this song was inspired by the music of Fatboy Slim.
Shari V - dance/humor (5:19)
An ode to the owner of Southern California's underground and hidden recording studio. (No fair trying to decode her phone number from the beeps!)
Object of Desire - ambient love song (6:39)
The first four minutes are quite pretty, in a tranced-out, spacey sort of way. Then we get to a "debate" between a lover and an idiotic preacher. Wild. And yes, the religiosity freaks have protested this one, too.
Imagine You're Flying - acid jazz/social commentary (6:15)
Okay, so the basic premise was inspired by R. Buckminster Fuller. But then there's a kind of politically incorrect radical chic comment that some have labeled a call to arms. Hey, I'm not saying we should kill anyone; I'm simply pointing out that earth would be a better place without some people.
Pure Sweet Honey - trance-ambient love song (7:08)
Yes, it may be odd to have a love song with trance beats, but many people tell me they enjoy making love to this track. I made this to play very late at night or very early in the morning (well, anytime it's dark outside and your lover seems to be bringing you light).
Shari V - RD Remix (3:54)
The electronic geniuses in Russia known as Random Distribution created this darkwave delight. RD is remixing Grin Groove songs in many styles: electronica, trance, and even pop.
Touch When You Dance - DJ Insane Remix (4:47)
DJ Insane created 5 remixes of this song. This is the infamous 'Holland Hard Club Edit,' a quake-shakin' track by Europe's finest DJ. (The Allianz - DJ Insane, DJ Naught-E, and DJ Lex Eleven - are creating an entire album of Grin Groove remixes for release later this year.)
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