Limehouse Blues

Listen (3.58 Mb)

Background:

Limehouse Blues is SHotQ's first recording, finished in the summer of 1998.

The song is written by Braham-Furber in 1922 and has been recorded in numerous versions over the years. SHotQ's Limehouse Blues is totally based on an arrangement by the British violin player and orchestra leader Ambrose, probably from the mid-30's. This original version was part of the soundtrack for the TV series "The Singing Detective" and is almost as bizarre as our rendition. No electronic instruments were used in the original though, only slightly exotic devices such as violin, cello, temple gongs and wood blocks.

Sound Sources:

Roland SH-101

Clavia Nord Lead

Kawai K1R

Boss DR-110

Korg DDD-1

ReBirth RB-338

Casio MT-31 (banjo)

Yamaha TX16W/Typhoon (boy choir)

Soundscape Elite GM-Synth (Orchestra Hit)

Wine Glass

Lamp shade

Other Equipment:

Cubase VST 3.5/4.0 (converted during the recording)

Interesting Facts:

The well-versed listener notes that the harmonies are modified in the second chorus (the bossa nova part). To accentuate the elevator music feeling, we only use major 7th chords.

The reoccuring "chinese" allusions in the arrangement refer to the "Limehouse" of the title - an area where poor immigrants from the orient lived, if we're not wrong.

The SHotQ version also contains a quotation from "The Star Stangled Banner" (Jimi Hendrix version) for the listener with sharp ears.

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