Jim Becker
ANALOG SYNTH
1. Analog Synth.- recorded at Clava studios (now called 4 Deuces) where we record all the Califone records . I went into the studio one day by myself and came up with this tune. Played everything myself. Drums, percussion, guitars, analog synthesizer, piano and lap steel. Engineered by Joe Furgeson and mixed by me and Graeme Gibson.
PUPPET TUNE
2. Puppet Tune- I recorded and came up with this tune at Slothstudios (my living room). I play the guitars and mandolin.
WALL
3. Wall - was taken from a little short 9-second movie clip I took on my canon elph camera. My friend Marco who is Califone's Italian booking agent was playing vibraphone at a studio in Bologna. I took the audio from that and deranged it with 4-track cassette and pro-tools. So everything you are hearing is generated from a vibraphone. Marco Stangherlin -vibes. Mixed by me.
PLUCK THROUGH RADAR
4. Pluck Through Radar- This was written for my friend's animated film "Hadacol Chirstmas." His name is Brent Green who I have worked and played a whole lot of shows with. We play his films and perform live improvised music/noise. From what I remember, I play violin. Steve Dorocke plays violin, Liz Payne played viola and Andy Rader played Upright Bass. Recorded on 4-track cassette in my living room.
CYMBALUM
5. Cymbalum- recorded for a puppet show (along with Puppet song). Friend Kate Sheehy asked me to write a couple of tunes for her show. This was recorded in my living room. I play the guitar, mandolin, and piano at my friend Gillian's place.
STAIRWAY TO LISEE
6. Stairway to Lisee. - This tune is based around a musical box given to me as a present by Gillian Lisee. The tune it plays is a portion of Stairway to Heaven. I play it very slowly and put effects on it and loop it so it is unrecognizable. So I play the musical box and the distorted violin. Darin Gray plays upright bass and Jason Roebke plays upright bass. Recorded live and improvised at the Hideout in Chicago, Illinois.