Right, before we commence, a VERY important note. ========================================================================= ******** THIS DISK IS S H A R E W A R E !!!! ******** ========================================================================== That`s right. SHAREWARE. "WHAT? A DISK OF OCTAMED MODS, SHAREWARE ????" Well, dear reader, I`m afraid so, and here`s why.... I have been doing the `Paula` disks now for approx 3 years, and as yet, I`ve made not a single dime for my endevours. Of course, this would be ok, if, A) I had a decent paying full time job. And/or, B) I knocked these tunes out every 5 minutes. In both cases, I don`t. On the contrary I am up to my eyeballs in debt, and struggling with a high mortgage. Also, paying such attention to the quality of my FOP tunes, is starting to become a very time consuming and labourious affair, basically, it`s becoming a JOB. I had actually considered making this FOP the very LAST one. Indeed, it still may be. I mentioned my disillusionment to a certain PD house, who then suggested the shareware idea. Seeing as the FOP disks have received praises (AND - - putdowns!!) from all kinds of places, and seem to have a regular listening base, I decided to take his advice. So ... Let`s get formal - IF YOU ENJOY THE CONTENTS OF THIS DISK, AND WISH TO HEAR MORE OF THE SAME PLEASE FORWARD A `SHAREWARE` CONTRIBUTION OF * ONE ENGLISH POUND * , TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS. MR C WRIGHT 281 BOLTON RD RADCLIFFE MANCHESTER. M26 3QP ENGLAND. Sure, a single pound is never gonna make me a millionaire, but, in all honesty, the PRINCIPLE is very much a factor here. I genuinely hope that those of you who regularly purchase the FOP disks, will, compound your appreciation, comply with the shareware ideal, and therefore ensure the future of `Friends of Paula`. OH, ... In addition to keeping a clean conscience, the measly ONE pound will get you .. * ADDED ONTO MY `FOP DATABASE`. TO RECEIVE EARLY NOTIFICATION OF PENDING PAULA RELEASES. * A CHANCE TO PURCHASE PAST AND FUTURE FOP STUFF FOR LITERALLY, THE PRICE OF POSTAGE - NO MORE! * A CHANCE TO HAVE ONE OF YOUR TUNES PUT ONTO THE NEXT FOP DISK! So, that`s it. Get your `contribution` in the post now, and if you wish to have one of your mods considered for the next release, send it to me! As a bonus, you can then choose any of the FOP disks, and I will copy it onto your disk and return it! (Providing return stamps/postage is sent.) OK, that`s the begging finished with, let`s get `rambling`. ******************************** FOP 6 `STAGE 2` ----------------- Those of you who have heard FOP 3 `Onstage`, Will immediately be struck by the similarities between that and this. There is a reason. After hearing FOP 3, a certain music producer, was very interested in publishing the tunes, and getting them out on compact disk and cassette. He insisted though that the first FOP release should be an ALL `live` affair. With nothing to lose, I therefore began work on this disk. After a few months ( I only get chance to work on Sundays!!!) of composing, fine tuning, and a MAJOR digression (more on this later) I finally completed the work. The said `producer` is still to make me any kind of offer for the recording, but, fingers crossed, one way or another, FOP will be on CD soon. A little about the songs. As on FOP 3, due to memory restrictions, I had to split the `live` concept into 2 acts. ACT ONE. EXCERPT. Most of you will recognise this piece of music, as being part of the finale from my song `Always September`. (The full version is included on FOP 5). I used it as an opening tune, simply because I feel it is a rather jaunty and catchy little piece. (Albeit repetitive) WORLDWIDE. A pretty powerful and evocative song this. Dedicated to those most worthy of freedom fighters.. the ANIMAL LIBERATION FRONT. God bless each and every one of `em! SPECIAL KISS. This started off with the simplistic bassline, upon which I developed the catchy, weedy, tune. persevere with this, the chorus hits home after a couple of plays! DUNHAM DAWN. In the first instance, I wanted to end `act one` with such a piece as this, sort of er.. COD classical. I played around first with the `washy` chord samples, putting major sevenths on top of minors etc. After I achieved the desired `feel`, out came my violin samples. The one I`ve used in the end is far from perfect BUT, the raw and `scraping` feel it gives WAS perfect for this particular tune. The mod will, I`m sure, be a little `alienating` to a few regular FOP ers, that`s fair enough. I simply wanted to try something a bit different! In my opinion, the thing works. And my FATHER said it was "beautiful," that`s good enough for me! `Dunham` by the way, is a little Cheshire village where I used to live, and where I spend many moments in reverie. It was during the writing of `Dunham Dawn` I received a call from John Atkinson of `Technical Dimensions`, asking me for a tune to put on his forthcoming (at time of writing September`94) `Amiga experiment` CD. Of course I agreed. Just one snag: He needed the tune ASAP. So began the pre - mentioned digression from FOP6. I began composing a song right away, but, probably due to subconcious pressures caused by the urgency of John`s request, I hit the dreaded `writers block`. John suggested that I `tart` up one of my old FOP tunes, this I contemplated, but I was fully aware that the other musicians contributing to the CD, had been hard at work on their songs for literally MONTHS!! Therefore, anything I did in a rush was bound to sound technically inferior to the other CD tracks. Basically, I would have been selling myself short. Then I had an idea: Instead of rushing to do good `rhythmic` mod, in a similar vein to the other stuff on the CD,I would contribute something that would be so `contrary` it could in no way be compared with the other tracks! The obvious choice then was `Dunham Dawn`. I sent the mod off to John who liked it, but insisted that I make it longer. So, after many hours of writing and tweaking, I finally sent the full 3.5 minute version off to be included on the CD. The version on this disk is the ORIGINAL short version, if you like it, and want to hear more, then I`m afraid you`ll have to buy the CD! (It`s worth buying anyway, it`s Brilliant!) Finally, seeing as it is not to be mentioned anywhere else, I would like to state that the `Dunham Dawn` on the `Amiga experiment` CD, was created using OctaMED (4 channels) and absolutely NOTHING else. Virtually all the other tracks on the CD were done using MIDI, and very expensive gear. In most cases the Amiga was used merely as a `controller`. FOP = the `affordable` spirit of Amiga music! ACT TWO YOUR AURA. Bit of a `rocky` track this, it is adapted from a real song of mine. It was while I was fine tweaking this mod that it occurred to me that there is indeed a `typical` FOP mod. For better or worse, THIS is it! Regardless, I happen to feel that this is one of my best tunes yet. MEMORIAL How I HATE sampled drum loops! I tried tons of `em for this track, but they were all either crap, or, slightly `out`. AARRGH! In the end I created my own. The mod itself is a rather morose affair, hence the title, but, I am pretty happy with it. Especially, some of its` funky basslines, written to sound like a real bass player rather than a machine! AVERY BRAVERY © `Avery Bravery` is a fictional private detective. He was `born` during a time when I was attempting to design a computer game. This is his theme tune. The copywrite for the name is mine, and maybe the game will materialise in the future. (Anyone fancy working on it with me ?) That`s the tunes then. Hope you like `em. If you do, and you want to hear the rest of the FOP series, either write to your local PD lib, or, send me the relevant amount of disks, plus the return postage. (Don`t forget the shareware fee though!) I have been asked a few times for a list of all the mods that I`ve released. Well, here goes. Title first, then, where available. VISION OF LOVE. FOP 1 WILD AND LONELY. FOP 1 THE BORDER. FOP 1 RAVENS`THEME. FOP 1 LIFE. FOP 2/TOTAL IRRELEVANCE (MUG DISKMAG) ISSUE 1 LEGEND.FOP 2 THIS MUST BE HEAVEN. FOP 2 MOSCOW. FOP 2 ACT 1. FOP 3: FEATURING ... EXHILARATE * ME,YOU, AND THE SKY * LINDI`S FUNBAGS * ACT 2. FOP 3: FEAT .. COMMOTION * IVY * CHAMELEON MEMORY * EARTHBOUND * MARIA PANACEA. FOP 5 no SMALL moment. FOP 5 ALWAYS SEPTEMBER. FOP 5 UNDERPASS `94. FOP 5 PIQUANT MIX. FOP 5 ACT 1. FOP 6: FEATURING ... EXCERPT * WORLDWIDE * SPECIAL KISS * DUNHAM DAWN (edit) * ACT 2. FOP 6: FEAT ... YOUR AURA * MEMORIAL * AVERY BRAVERY © * LAGER FLAVOURED SNOW. TOTAL IRRELEVANCE ISSUE 4. IMAGINARY PORTRAIT. TOTAL IRRELEVANCE ISSUE 6. DUNHAM DAWN. `THE AMIGA EXPERIMENT` Compact disk. Er.. I think that`s it! Not much else to waffle about this issue, so I`ll leave it at that. Oh, except, I`d like to wish my main man, Grant Mearns EVERY success in his new job at the Beeb. Go for it Grant, and think of me when you need some music! Finally, as ever, my current listenings. BLUR - `PARKLIFE` (just an awesome album) CROWDED HOUSE - TOGETHER ALONE. (REAL songs) THE TIME BANDITS - DISCOVERY. (Wonderful europop) THE SMITHS - HATFUL OF HOLLOW. (THE greatest ever English band. PERIOD) BYE. RAVEN. SEP `94. Just to reiterate: Any programmers want to work with me on `Avery Bravery`? If so, write to me at the above address. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FOP6FOP6FOP6FOP6FOP6FOP6FOP6FOP6FOP6FOP6FOP6FOP6FOP6FOP6FOP6FOP6FOP6FOP6FOP6FO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you are interested in OctaMED, and want to join the Med Users Group, then write to : Richard Bannister. 6 Glevum road Stratton St Margaret Swindon Wiltshire SN3 4AF England. It`s FAB, honest!