cubest 014

Cubest 014 was supposed to be a sampler album, with snippets from a productive session. After banging on for so long about my self-imposed remit to keep the album lengths to between 35 and 40 minutes, I now find myself having to break my rule, which is a very Cube Orchestra thing to do, frankly. The only rule with the orchestra is that there are no rules, which makes my length limit rule redundant. So, thus exonerated, I take great pleasure in introducing Cubest 014, representing edited selections from a single session, from 3 June 2015

My reasons for this album being as it is are that this session provided me with too much good material to spread over several albums. Because of the players and the sound, I decided it would be a shame to separate these tracks. Hence the decision to include all the tracks shortlisted with a running time of about 47 minutes. …

Although there were 10 musicians present, the sound on Cubest 014 has a lot of space and is all the better for it …

Jump to Download link … Back to Cubest series …

Ill-Prepared For The Wonder

2015 06 03 –
Leonor Frazao: Piano, Finger Piano;
Sophie Scott: Flute, Vocals, Percussion, Piccolo;
Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney, Melodica, Piccolo, Vocals;
Ghoufran Warlow: Piano, Percussion, Clarinet;
Dalila Rabih: Vocals;
Chema Gala: Sax, Vocals;
Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion;
Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals;
Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad;
Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

This just happened to be the first thing we did after the customary warm-up. There’s plenty of chatting in the background, while Jean-Michel and Ramon get going. The timing’s a bit loose here and there, but that’s the beauty of playing with real live musicians, we can adjust instantly. Dalila’s mic is piping her voice only through the effect, but it fits perfectly. Chema’s sax finds a hook that holds to piece together. You can hear Leonor on the finger piano when the sound drops out

Custard-Filled Wellies

2015 06 03 –
Leonor Frazao: Piano, Finger Piano;
Sophie Scott: Flute, Vocals, Percussion, Piccolo;
Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney, Melodica, Piccolo, Vocals;
Ghoufran Warlow: Piano, Percussion, Clarinet;
Dalila Rabih: Vocals;
Chema Gala: Sax, Vocals;
Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion;
Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals;
Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad;
Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

This was an epic 14 minutes plus, so whittling it down to under seven minutes was quite difficult. I love the wah-wah guitar, cheeky, helped by that beat. Chema sets up a hook, Jean-Michel does some nifty guitar work and then Sophie comes in vocals and the song is formed. Dalila supports the vocals with some outbursts of her own. Throughout it all there’s that guitar, playing around the simple structure. The flute, sax and guitar all have a stab at the hook. It gets infectious. There’s the customary drop out then build it back up structure that I now recognise as Cubesque. It’s quite dubby, but when Jean-Michel’s guitar goes wild so does the song, a delightful chaos. Bit of a sudden drop around the 5:30 point, but I’m liking that. Marcus finally takes to the fore near the end with a nice descending chord sequence, some nice picking from Jean-Michel, a few soft vocal lines and it’s all brought to a close with some hiss from Jean-Michel’s amp

We’re Falling

2015 06 03 –
Leonor Frazao: Piano, Finger Piano;
Sophie Scott: Flute, Vocals, Percussion, Piccolo;
Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney, Melodica, Piccolo, Vocals;
Ghoufran Warlow: Piano, Percussion, Clarinet;
Dalila Rabih: Vocals;
Chema Gala: Sax, Vocals;
Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion;
Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals;
Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad;
Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

This track has a more serious tone, with some nice jangly bells that Ramon brought along. Dalila provides her distinctive vocals within the space. Daniel is on melodica, Sophie on flute, while my contribution is some intermittent clapping. I love the bit about 1:40 in when a cymbal crashes to the floor and Dalila responds. Jean-Michel switches to wah-wah and finds some great sound about two minutes in. Marcus is nice and restrained on the piano, giving the tune gravitas. Finally, Chema parps up, plus you can hear the finger piano plinking away. Nice touch. It’s a very rounded tune with a good ending

Drum And Bass Time

2015 06 03 –
Leonor Frazao: Piano, Finger Piano;
Sophie Scott: Flute, Vocals, Percussion, Piccolo;
Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney, Melodica, Piccolo, Vocals;
Ghoufran Warlow: Piano, Percussion, Clarinet;
Dalila Rabih: Vocals;
Chema Gala: Sax, Vocals;
Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion;
Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals;
Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad;
Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

Ghoufran is an inventive musician and you can hear his skills here on drums. The flute and sax find a hook quickly and Dalila compliments this with vocal stabs. Marcus provides the bass on keyboards. It’s a very percussive track. Once again Jean-Michel provides some great distorted guitar. Sophie finds her voice, but it’s too late, the tune descends and unfolds

My Truth, Your Truth

2015 06 03 –
Leonor Frazao: Piano, Finger Piano;
Sophie Scott: Flute, Vocals, Percussion, Piccolo;
Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney, Melodica, Piccolo, Vocals;
Ghoufran Warlow: Piano, Percussion, Clarinet;
Dalila Rabih: Vocals;
Chema Gala: Sax, Vocals;
Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion;
Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals;
Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad;
Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

Here’s a tune, somewhat traditional in structure, with Marcus on vibes and an eastern-influenced flute. Ramon sets up the theme and Dalila picks it up and carries it off, following the flute. It’s hard to think that this tune isn’t anything but an existing song, but it’s not. Jean-Michel provides some nice strumming. There’s a lot of space, even when the drum comes in, a feature of the session and why I think the tracks work so well. As the end approaches, Ramon pipes up again, the tune drops out and Dalila delivers her final words on the matter. The tune drifts off to Sophie’s voice and Daniel’s melodica

Red Light On

2015 06 03 –
Leonor Frazao: Piano, Finger Piano;
Sophie Scott: Flute, Vocals, Percussion, Piccolo;
Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney, Melodica, Piccolo, Vocals;
Ghoufran Warlow: Piano, Percussion, Clarinet;
Dalila Rabih: Vocals;
Chema Gala: Sax, Vocals;
Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion;
Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals;
Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad;
Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

More of a groove here. Dalila sings what she sees and Chema reinforces Jean-Michel’s guitar line. Again it’s the space we’re working in that creates such a great sound. There’s interaction between Dalila and Daniel on flute, or is it Sophie? It’s hard to tell with two on the go. I’m shaking the maracas, taking photos and at one point I wander behind the cinema screen to try and place my sound behind Ramon’s drumming. There’s plenty of fine playing all round, plus you can hear the finger piano again, a sure sign we’re not all playing at once. In comes the wah-wah. I love the use of this throughout the session. Sophie comes in on vocals halfway through, providing a soft angle to Dalila’s firm approach. I love the way hooks arise and are used to reinforce the tracks. 4:15 in and Jean-Michel changes groove and Ramon responds. It builds brilliantly. Classy. The final minute has Dalila being joined by Daniel and others in a call to Ramon, while Marcus backs it up with some nice vibes. I just love the sound of this and the excellent ending

This Feeling’s A Keeper

2015 06 03 –
Leonor Frazao: Piano, Finger Piano;
Sophie Scott: Flute, Vocals, Percussion, Piccolo;
Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney, Melodica, Piccolo, Vocals;
Ghoufran Warlow: Piano, Percussion, Clarinet;
Dalila Rabih: Vocals;
Chema Gala: Sax, Vocals;
Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion;
Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals;
Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad;
Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

Some fancy piano playing from Ghoufran at the start to a lilting beat. Jean-Michel comes in quickly and Sophie joins him on the melody. Restrained drumming from Ramon. Piano, guitar, flute and sax get a chance to shine over the sparse piano riffs. When it drops out you can hear the finger piano plinking away. Dalila provides some good vocal stabs, while Sophie’s voice floats above it all. It builds in intensity, drops out nicely to a fade, then gently returns and builds again, Chema running up and down the scales, before slowly dropping out to the end

Madness Befits Me

2015 06 03 –
Leonor Frazao: Piano, Finger Piano;
Sophie Scott: Flute, Vocals, Percussion, Piccolo;
Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney, Melodica, Piccolo, Vocals;
Ghoufran Warlow: Piano, Percussion, Clarinet;
Dalila Rabih: Vocals;
Chema Gala: Sax, Vocals;
Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion;
Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals;
Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad;
Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

Ghoufran quickly sets up an eastern melody and Ramon and co pick up on it quickly. Ghoufran’s playing around the tune is wonderful. It has a mad pace and discordant sound, helped on by the wow and flutter on my melodica. Dalila yips her way through it, like we’re at some crazy shindig. The piano goes well and Jean-Michel lets rip with an ace guitar solo at the halfway point. Dalila gets more vocal as the beat picks up. I add falling melodica stabs and it drops, only to pick up again with gusto. Nice guitar sound, spinning out totally and I add some messy melodica, but am aware of the guitar, so drop out until I find space again. It crashes to a halt. Tasty

To Be Half Of Something

2015 06 03 –
Leonor Frazao: Piano, Finger Piano;
Sophie Scott: Flute, Vocals, Percussion, Piccolo;
Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney, Melodica, Piccolo, Vocals;
Ghoufran Warlow: Piano, Percussion, Clarinet;
Dalila Rabih: Vocals;
Chema Gala: Sax, Vocals;
Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion;
Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals;
Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad;
Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

Dramatic number. Don’t know where it came from really, Marcus methinks, but it emerges fully-formed, with lovely alto vocal from Sophie, matched with Dalila’s deep and throaty voice. It’s good to hear two pianos on the go. There’s no guitar either. There are more vocals in the background, we were all pretty vocal at this session. Ramon builds each pass, while Daniel provides flute. When it reaches the end there’s a wonderful holding of harmonic notes, with Marcus coughing to make way for his delivery of the final note. A fitting end to a tune that was in danger of taking itself too seriously

Every Day

2015 06 03 –
Leonor Frazao: Piano, Finger Piano;
Sophie Scott: Flute, Vocals, Percussion, Piccolo;
Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney, Melodica, Piccolo, Vocals;
Ghoufran Warlow: Piano, Percussion, Clarinet;
Dalila Rabih: Vocals;
Chema Gala: Sax, Vocals;
Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion;
Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals;
Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad;
Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

Nicely-paced tune for this end of the album, with a nice messy start. Marcus’ vibes set the scene with some offbeat accompaniment from Ghoufran on drums. Again, no guitar. Ramon gives a toot on his trumpet and the flutes fly off. Dalila gives a few shouts. Chema’s sax is lazy and luscious. Ramon comes in on vocals, setting the theme, “Every day, come out to play”. Nice. It drops and you can hear the djembe. Sophie joins in on vocals and the three voices overlap. It builds as Dalila lets rip, then peters out nicely, slowing down and easing off. We’re left with just Dalila and Ghoufran’s drums. Gosh, I’m blissed out

Crazy One

2015 06 03 –
Leonor Frazao: Piano, Finger Piano;
Sophie Scott: Flute, Vocals, Percussion, Piccolo;
Daniel Souza: Flute, Harmonica, Ney, Melodica, Piccolo, Vocals;
Ghoufran Warlow: Piano, Percussion, Clarinet;
Dalila Rabih: Vocals;
Chema Gala: Sax, Vocals;
Jean-Michel Maheu: Guitar, Percussion;
Ramon Sanchez: Trumpet, Percussion, Vocals;
Keef Chemistry: Melodica, Vocals, Percussion, iPad;
Marcus Valentine: Keyboards;

Bursting out with bashing drums, tuneless melodica and Dalila’s forceful voice. Jean-Michel sets up a nice guitar line, the cymbals crash, Chema adds some nice sax, I’m emitting bubbly sounds on my iPad and it’s all driving forward, when Marcus announces it’s time to stop, then weirdly we’re counted in and we go crazy. Punky and raw. Marcus makes a further announcement, funny as hell, and it’s clear we do actually have to stop, which seems a good point to end the album

Cubest 014 is a bumper edition of top tracks and fine performances …

  • keef chemistry

artist and musician