Matthew Ebel dot net » Studio Recordings

The Elitist Bastard Choir

Matthew Ebel — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:38:39 +0000

The crew of Elitist Bastard Convention 2012 were kind enough to lend their voices for my upcoming album and I thought I’d let you folks hear what an informal recording session is like. Sure, they may sound like a bunch of drunken pirates in the final mix, but what was it like actually being in the room?

For more information about the upcoming album itself, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

Download audio file (The%20Elitist%20Bastard%20Choir.mp3)
The Elitist Bastard Choir – 4 MB MP3
Download Now »

A Million Miles Away – Sketch 3

Matthew Ebel — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:06:53 +0000

I need your help. I really, really can’t decide if Prodo-1‘s countdown belongs at the end of this song. It’s supposed to parallel one of the final chapters of The Lives of Dexter Peterson where the Gale Odyssey is about to essplode, but I don’t think it works without that context. This song is actually kind of sweet and the countdown just seems misplaced.

What do you think?

For more information about the upcoming album itself, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

Download audio file (A%20Million%20Miles%20Away%20-%20Unmastered.mp3)
A Million Miles Away – Unmastered – 9 MB MP3
Download Now »

Wait Here – Sketch 3

Matthew Ebel — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:57:09 +0000

Okay, okay, I’m a Pink Floyd fan. Sue me. Well, actually, there’s nothing actionable in any of this arrangement, so you can’t sue me! HA! In any case, this one’s a little note of patience for Dexter as he finds himself stuck in some kind of inter-dimensional waiting room in, of all places, Colombia.

One thing I’m particularly proud of is the way the harpsichord adds its warmth to the final chorus. I’ve been using the harpsichord as a tinny accent or as a guitar stand-in for the most part, but now the instrument’s rich bottom end really makes the sound of this song.

Yes, I said it, the harpsichord has a rich bottom end. Sue me.

For more information about the upcoming album itself, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

Download audio file (Wait%20Here%20-%20Unmastered.mp3)
Wait Here – Unmastered – 12.3 MB MP3
Download Now »

Good Morning New York – Sketch 3

Matthew Ebel — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:35:50 +0000

I may be kicked out of Boston for writing a song like this, but in Dexter’s world there’s nothing he’d rather wake up to than the sound of his own alarm clock in NYC. This is the first version of this song with Runtt’s drumming added and, though I still need to tweak the drum mix a bit, I’m amazed at how he’s transformed this piece. All I really need to add at this point is a gang of unruly friends shouting along at the end.

For more information about the upcoming album itself, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

Download audio file (Good%20Morning%20NY%20-%20Sketch%203.mp3)
Good Morning New York – Sketch 3 – 8 MB MP3
Download Now »

All Over Again – Sketch 2

Matthew Ebel — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:55:30 +0000

I know, I said I’d be releasing unmastered versions from here on out, but I found one that I’d already set up at full loudness and I already love the way it’s sounding. At some point our hero, Dexter, has to realize that his purpose must be to live the best he can in any given life. He could spend his time wondering why things have happened to him or what is going to happen next, but what matters most is the life he’s got right now… whatever that life may be.

For more information about the upcoming album itself, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

Download audio file (All%20Over%20Again%20-%20Sketch%202.mp3)
All Over Again – Sketch 2 – 9.9 MB MP3
Download Now »

Normal is Not For Me – Sketch 1

Matthew Ebel — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:36:16 +0000

As I said in my previous post, I have been working on a song about the bullshit concept of “normal”. Dexter has convinced himself he will never lead a normal life now, but that doesn’t mean his future has to be unpleasant. From one perspective, the “normal life” might actually be a unique brand of hell.

This is an unmastered song sketch. If you’re already a subscriber, you should have received an email about the difference between my previous sketches and these new unmastered sketches.

For more information about the upcoming album itself, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

Download audio file (Normal%20Is%20Not%20For%20Me%20-%20Sketch%201.mp3)
Normal is Not For Me – Sketch 1 – 8.4 MB MP3
Download Now »

The Wreck of the Gale Odyssey – Sketch 1

Matthew Ebel — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:00:21 +0000

There isn’t much I can do when something inspires me. If something wants out, it’s coming out. In the middle of writing a song I’m tentatively calling Normal Is Not For Me I encountered a sound that demanded its own attention. A few hours later and I’ve got this track- a rough draft of something instrumental and ominous.

I envisioned this one as the soundtrack for the scene where Dexter is running for his life through the hallways of the crippled starship Gale Odyssey, making this the penultimate track on the album. It’s a bit rough right now, I certainly think it needs some work- but there was something about the distorted electric piano sound that begged to become a central riff in its own song.

For more information about the upcoming album itself, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

Download audio file (The%20Wreck%20of%20the%20Gale%20Odyssey%20-%20Sketch%201.mp3)
The Wreck of the Gale Odyssey – Sketch 1 – 9 MB MP3
Download Now »

These Wars We Fight – Sketch 3.6

Matthew Ebel — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:40:15 +0000

Dexter frequently finds himself on one side of a war. Heck, it’s the only thing we humans have really perfected other than reproduction (we’ve had a lot of practice at both). For the third chapter of the book Dexter’s caught in WWII France, but to him all these wars look the same. He’s always on the wrong side, too… the one getting shot at.

For more information about the upcoming album itself, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

Download audio file (These%20Wars%20We%20Fight%20-%20Sketch%203.6.mp3)
These Wars We Fight – Sketch 3.6 – 9.1 MB MP3
Download Now »

Good Morning New York – Sketch 2

Matthew Ebel — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:22:05 +0000

One of the most difficult tasks when working on a full-length album is deciding what comes first. Fortunately, because of the story this album is based on, the decision is already made before I even record a single note. That doesn’t mean the songwriting is any easier, though. This song is one of the toughest I’ve worked on yet- mostly because I’m trying to create a very metropolitan sound with a very limited palette of instruments.

This song’s still unfinished, but I’m liking what I’ve got so far. Let me know what you think!

For more information about the upcoming album itself, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

Download audio file (Good%20Morning%20NY%20-%20Sketch%202.mp3)
Good Morning New York – Sketch 2 – 6.3 MB MP3
Download Now »

I Wish I Were (Sketch 4)

Matthew Ebel — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:06:39 +0000

This is the first taste of The Lives of Dexter Peterson that I would consider release-ready. I’d still like to send the album to a real mastering studio when it’s done, but this is the best mixing job I think I can do without calling in a professional engineer.

Also, since I really wanted to share this with more than just the subscribers, this song is the first taste of the new album going out to my mailing list. Hello other subscribers! If this is your first time visiting Matthew Ebel dot net, you’ve missed a LOT of song sketches and other goodies for months now. You can still get more releases as I finish them, though, just sign up for a pass today!

For more information about the upcoming album itself, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

Download audio file (I-Wish-I-Were-Sketch-4.mp3)
I Wish I Were (Sketch 4) – 8 MB MP3
Download Now »

Photo by Andres Rueda

Frozen Oasis Sketch 2

Matthew Ebel — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:33:38 +0000

Once again, this sketch is pre-real-drums, but I’m really liking how the production’s turning out with this one. Though a lot of us can’t imagine a time when we hated the snow (especially in AUGUST), this one should resonate with anyone who had to shovel several feet off their driveway every four days for a few weeks. For more information, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

Download audio file (Frozen%20Oasis%20Sketch%202.mp3)
Frozen Oasis Sketch 2 – 5.9 MB MP3
Download Now »

Photo by Tim in Sydney

The Last Pirate Sketch 2

Matthew Ebel — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:48:56 +0000

So I’ve got another song complete with lyrics and instrumentation, I just need to add drums. And a big pile of friends with their best pirate voices. This is one of the first tracks I started working on, but for some reason I couldn’t find an arrangement that made me happy until now. It still needs a bit of polish, but I’m liking how this is turning out. For more information, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

Download audio file (The%20Last%20Pirate%20Sketch%202.mp3)
The Last Pirate Sketch 2 – 8.1 MB MP3
Download Now »

I Wish I Were Sketch 2

Matthew Ebel — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:58:26 +0000

Wait, didn’t he release the same song a few days ago?

Yes, yes he did. Only now it’s better.

This is the first complete song from the new album in its fake-drummer non-polished form. I’m happy with how it’s shaping up. Still got a long way to go, but for now I’m just glad something’s finally got a start and an ending. For more information, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

Photo by Weekly Dig.

Download audio file (I%20Wish%20I%20Were%20Sketch%202.mp3)
I Wish I Were Sketch 2 – 9.6 MB MP3
Download Now »

I Wish I Were Sketch 1

Matthew Ebel — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:18:03 +0000

One of my personal favorite song sketches from my next album project, The Lives of Dexter Peterson. Since the post-apocalyptic cinema-worshiping religious sect chapter can get kinda… dark, I wanted to contrast the mood with something lighthearted. I made a list of all the movie characters I’d like to be and this is the first part of that result. For more information, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

Photo by Weekly Dig.

Download audio file (I%20Wish%20I%20Were%20Sketch%201.mp3)
I Wish I Were Sketch 1 – 4 MB MP3
Download Now »

Who I Am Sketch 2

Matthew Ebel — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 23:36:32 +0000

Yet another song sketch from my next album project, The Lives of Dexter Peterson. I still only have about two thirds of a single verse and a full chorus written, but I wanted to hear how some vocal production would affect the sound of the song. There’s a LOT that needs to be done with this one, but this is the latest update. For more information, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

Download audio file (Who%20I%20Am%20Sketch%202.mp3)
Who I Am Sketch 2 – 12.1 MB MP3
Download Now »

A Question of Sanity Sketch 1

Matthew Ebel — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:04:06 +0000

The latest song sketch from my next album project, The Lives of Dexter Peterson. This one is a little bit repetitive without any words, but I’m trying to keep this song as minimalist as possible. I’m still working on lyrics, of course, but as soon as I get some scratch vocals laid down I’ll upload another sketch version! For more information, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

Download audio file (A%20Question%20of%20Sanity%20Sketch%201.mp3)
A Question of Sanity Sketch 1 – 6.1 MB MP3
Download Now »

Who I Am Sketch 1

Matthew Ebel — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 15:24:06 +0000

The latest song sketch from my next album project, The Lives of Dexter Peterson. I’ve got words for a chorus on this one, but I’m still hammering out the rest of the lyrics. In the mean time, I’m trying to focus on a unique sound for the limited instruments I’ve chosen to work with. For more information, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

Download audio file (Who%20I%20Am%20Sketch%201.mp3)
Who I Am Sketch 1 – 4.9 MB MP3
Download Now »

Frozen Oasis Sketch 1

Matthew Ebel — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 23:02:41 +0000

The latest song sketch from my next album project, The Lives of Dexter Peterson. This one’s inspired by the 800 metric tons of snow that fell on us this year. For more information, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

Download audio file (Frozen%20Oasis%20Sketch%201.mp3)
Frozen Oasis Sketch 1 – 8.1 MB MP3
Download Now »

The Lives of Dexter Peterson – February 2011 Excerpt Audio

Matthew Ebel — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:27:20 +0000

Matthew’s audio reading of the February excerpt posted here. For more information, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

Download audio file (Dexter%20Peterson%20-%20February%202011%20Excerpt.mp3)
The Lives of Dexter Peterson – February 2011 Excerpt – 9 MB MP3
Download Now »

The Lives of Dexter Peterson – January 2011 Song Sketches

Matthew Ebel — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 02:06:38 +0000

The next batch of song sketches from my next album project, The Lives of Dexter Peterson. Finally started working on some fully-produced demos, but the ideas are still forming. For more information, visit http://whoisdexterpeterson.com

The Lives of Dexter Peterson – January 2011 Song Sketches – 8 MB M4A
Download Now »