#1
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Motorcycle Emptiness
One of my favourite songs of all time.
I know it's common knowledge that Sean used a drum machine to record Generation Terrorists, but I've been listening to this song for nearly 20 years and only just realised that there are no cymbals in it! Not even one! And it's an absolute classic. For some reason this fact astounds me. Does anyone know why there are no cymbals?? |
#2
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Wow, I've never noticed there aren't any! Thanks
There are two reasons: Sean was such a lazy person or (quite shocking answer, sit down for it) he probably thought it sounds better without them.
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#3
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i don't normally worry or trouble myself with the more specific things of records, but i have to say outstanding observation, that one has flown by me all these years!
i'm pretty sure someone else is working on it, but is it just this or is the whole of Generation Terrorists cymbals free?
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#4
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No, it isn't. You can hear those fake cymbals on YLU, etc. Actually, I realised it's a drum machine because of those cymbals.
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Please understand - I don't want no trouble. I just want the right to be different. That's all. |
#5
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Quote:
I reckon there's a fair bit of 'fake drums' on Gold Against The Soul as well. The biggest giveaway there is that Sean is actually credited with 'programming in that booklet. At least it sounds good on GATS, as it does on songs such as Marlon JD, You Stole The Sun and Automatik Teknicolour. |
#6
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How strange - there's plenty of cymbal when they play it live ... However, I've never noticed the difference until the OP pointed out. Good spot!
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#7
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It almost breaks a cardinal rule of drumming!
Especially in a song of this ilk. And when they play it live there are cymbals in all the places that you would expect there to be. Can't believe I hadn't noticed before lol |
#8
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Motorcycle Emptiness has evolved loads to the version we hear live. It's now faster, the chords are more prescent (they're sortof implied by bits of bass and synth in the original)... half the end solo is cut (whilst James is still singing)... the main riff in the middle of the song is in the middle register on the record, usually on the lower one when played live...
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#9
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Quote:
But still can't believe NO CYMBALS in the original! |
#10
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Well spotted eagle beak! It is constructed in a slightly odd way it has to be said, the way it is played on that record is very different to the live version that they have done since they started playing it. I think just because they wanted the sound in there, they replaced the constant 16s on the hi-hat with the tambourine, but unlike the live version, no crash or splash cymbals.
You can find out where the cymbals might have been by listening to the version from 2002 with live drums on it.
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The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there. L.P. Hartley |
#11
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They should rename the original version to Cymbal Emptiness.
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Please understand - I don't want no trouble. I just want the right to be different. That's all. |
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