http://calabashmusic.com/New Music From Ben Neill on Calabash Music2008-08-28T06:55:18ZThe Calabash Music Teamsupport@calabashmusic.comAutomotivehttp://benneill.calabashmusic.com/#album_930592006-12-12T07:40:55ZMusic from AutomotiveThis is an example of a typical conversation between Ben Neill (the composer) and the agency that creates the Volkswagen ads: Agency: Hey Ben. Ben: Hey guys, what’s up? Agency: Well, we need you to create some new music for us. Ben: Great. Agency: And we’d like it to be sort of a punk/electronica thing. Ben: Okay. Agency: And we’d like it to synch up to picture in about 15 or so places. Ben: Okay. Agency: And we’d like it to ramp emotionally. Ben: Fine. Agency: And did we mention we need it tomorrow? 

And with that little bit of information and a roughly edited commercial, Ben will produce an original piece of music that seems to magically pull everything together. It’s a gift. Well, being able to understand a couple of ad guys when they talk about music is a gift. “Make it more lurpy and give it some jangliness please.” But guess what happened. After that process repeated itself successfully about 12 times, Ben realized he had written an album. Or do they call it a disc now? 

Anyway, we had a record. In Ben’s mind, this Volkswagen music, and we’re paraphrasing here, is as relevant as the music he’s made for his own solo records. And that’s because, in the end, regardless of the source, all music is judged the same way. Is it any good? Anyway, hope you like it as much as we do. And if you see Ben walking around the streets of SOHO, ask him how his mutantrumpet* is doing. He likes that. *Ben Neill is the inventor of the mutantrumpet. It’s a trumpet that takes notes and translates them into electrical impulses and then runs them through a computer and messes with them. Or something like that. Better ask Ben. 1. Shiny Nickel 4:44 2. Bouquet 5:31 Robert Poss, electric guitar 3. Iceman 6:44 Andrew Montgomery, vocals Dierdre Dubois, vocals Robert Poss, electric guitar 4. Radio VW 4:52 5. Nite Nite 6:39 Andrew Montgomery, vocals Melanie Bradford, flute 6. Multiplex 5:40 Chrystel Egal, voice 7. Showdown 4:55 Robert Poss, electric guitar 8. Bugfunk 5:34 Robert Poss, electric guitar 9. The Chase 5:04 Tony Maimone, electric bass 10. Turbolectro 5:13 mutantrumpet/electronics on all tracks by Ben Neill Produced by Ben Neill Executive Producer - Carolyn Sachs All tracks written and programmed by Ben Neill except “Iceman” & “Nite Nite” written by Neill/Montgomery All songs published by Blue Math Music (ASCAP) except “Nite Nite” and “Iceman” published by Blue Math Music (ASCAP) and Copyright Control (PRS) Recorded and mixed at Green Beet Studio, 

NYC Guitars recorded by Robert Poss at Trace Elements Studio, NYC Mixed by Eric Calvi and Ben Neill Additional programming and engineering by Mad Maks Mastered by Leon Zervos at Masterdisk, NYC Front cover still from MIDI video remix of “Ice Cream” by Bill Jones/Ben Neill Back cover still from MIDI video remix of “Nite Nite” by Bill Jones/Ben Neill Cover and back illustration and original artwork courtesy of Will Barras of Bermuda Shorts Ltd. Designer & Type Illustrator: Emi Morita, Arnold Worldwide Writer: Dave Weist, Arnold Worldwide Foreman: Paul Renner, Arnold Worldwide Management by Carolyn Sachs at Trillium Productions email]]>