View-Monster: Commentary
From WikiLemon
This page is a transcript of the audio commentary of View-Monster which was never completed or released on the album. [1]
Contents |
Kaleidoskull
Hello, my name is Neil Cicierega. I am the human face behind the dark and mysterious entity known as Lemon Demon. As was my father before me and his father before him. Welcome to View-Monster: an album lovingly constructed between the years 2006 and 2008AD. Today, we begin with an instrumental track called Kaleidoskull. There’s little to be said of it, due to its simple and instrumental nature but it’s a melody which had been encirlcing my fingers each time I sat before a keyboard. When I finally managed to capture it and synthesize it, the tune struck me as a natural choice for the album’s opening track and so, here we are. I hope you put on some make-up for this commentary…because I can see you. The harpsichord you hear in this song is not an actual harpsichord but a computerised representation. I could not decide upon a real harpsichord, from my own impressive harpsichord collection so I chose a false harpsichord. I stand by my decision. When I hear this song, I think of blueberries. And I hope blueberries think of me. Let’s talk about this albums structure. Although, this track included, there are sixteen full length songs, you will find that there are thirty-two CD tracks in total. The even numbered tracks are what I like to call: pallette cleansers. On most albums, songs are broken up by one or two second intervals of silence. If not for these gaps, each subsequence song would be forced to live up to the expectations as defined by the previous song. But these gaps serve to clear away such expectations. So the listener has a moment to prepare themselves to appreciate the next song on its own merits. However, my sound-thirsty nature demands that I allow a few, if any, moments of pure silence for my listeners. Instead, I recreate the gap effect, with my pallette cleansers: short interludes of simple, instrumental, ambient, filler material. Now, I know you’re thinking, “Filler? Oh, Neil, whatever became of killer? This is not what we wanted.” That’s what you’re thinking. Well, I’d like to point out your felacious assumption that filler can also be killer. To the contrary, I’ve found that the two are not mutually exclusive.
Untitled [view-monster]
So let us meditate on that idea. Here’s the first of the even tracks; each of which is untitled but bears a title, nonetheless. This particular track, had it been named, would be named ‘View-Monster’; after its father: this album. Interestingly, and perhaps, a sign of creative stagnation, I also have an AOL instant messanger account named ‘view-monster’. But I only sign on when I’m overcome with an extreme need for attention. I’m sure by now you can feel the powerful cleansing effects this song has on your cosmic pallette. Fading is the desire for track one to continue its strange instrumental journey. And now, you’re almost ready for the new perspective that track three will offer. Though, I must warn you, this new perspective may be twistier than you anticipate. Twistier indeed…
Amnesia Was Her Name
This track has been christened, ‘Amnesia Was Her Name’. It bears no relation to the B.B. King song of the same title. The inspiration for the song came about when I pondered the feminine qualities of the word ‘amnesia’. I decided that I would make a pretty girl’s name, word not for its connotations of mind-crippling memory loss. From there, it was only natural for me to imagine how sticky a wicket it would be to develop feelings for such a woman, assuming in some way, that she is a personification of actual amnesia. Oh, Neil! What won’t you personify?
Unrecorded material
Eyes, as we know, are the windows to the soul. While beautiful windows do not necessarily denote a beautiful soul, such a descriptor serves as a handy poetic device to imply profound sweetness and/or loveliness. The narrator of this song frequently describes actions he cannot remember. He, as a person, effectively has no knowledge of these events, even though he is telling them to us. The love story, then, is akin to waking from a dream and subsequently forgetting its details, but retaining the emotions attached to it. It is love that lingers without context or direction. It is the heart holding its ground where the mind can no longer reach! It is…. well yeah that’s pretty much the gist of it. It is also about a guy who gets amnesia. You may find this song to be slightly reminiscent of funk or dance music from eras past. You are a bad person for thinking this. It’s a well known fact that my songs are written in a creative vacuum, or in an actual vacuum chamber when possible. Speaking of vacuums, I have quite graciously donated fifty copies of this album to outer space. They are floating around up there, totally up for grabs if you want to share some copies with your friends.