"Harem" - Liner Notes - September 6, 2000

Incredibly silly. I am very surprised that this one actually made it out there. Stick Spectrasonic's "Heart of Asia" Sample CD in a blender: get instant shektibihi. Perhaps it does smack of cultural imperialism, but I am a big fan of goofy impressions of other musical cultures. Turandot is funnest when all eight gongs are droning, Butterfly is at her most vulnerable when the melody references something innocent and pentatonic and "Rondo Alla Turca" is the most entertaining thing Mozart wrote for the keyboard.

I have often hated my lack of ability to put a voice out front and center, though with this track I managed to get a nice alto up there. Hindi? Sanskrit? Someone out there knows. The last two minutes are goofy, but in a much different way. I am a great fan of the music of the "Twilight Zone" series, and loved being able to use the vibraphone, even if it was only samples.

- Matt Uelmen

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