Skully’s music provokes ones senses.Cunningly placed ‘subsonic’1 bass notes are felt before they are heard.The realistic musical effects of the steady rhythm of the Toulouse 3:30 am Goods Train soothed my anxious nerves as the placid strings helped form joyful images of a sunny, lush green French countryside. This lead to my first experience with the gut vibrating sensation of ‘subsonics’1 that came from the series of four bass notes that emphasize the downbeat in the clickity-clack of the wheels from the Goods Train rolling across the steel rails in “Gare de Montrabe” from Skully’s “Without A Voice” (WOAV) album. On the desolate drive along Route 140 to New Bedford Massachusetts while listening to “Sadness” from Métisse’s “My Fault” album, I felt a pulsation in my chest like a Mack semi-truck passing or multiple ruts in the pavement. Realizing it was neither, thus adjusting the volume, revealed a subtle crescendo of ‘subsonic’ strings at 1:25 to 1:30 in this beautiful Skully creation.Like the enigmatic sensation in my chest, the first time I fell in love with Stephen4 at age 7, I could feel the thump of my heart in the two ‘subsonic’1 bass notes that follow the series of five audible bass notes repeated in “I Love You”, from Métisse’s “Nomah’s Land” album.Skully’s QXD Technology2 engages you into living and feeling the whole story of the piece.He has masterfully developed and incorporated the QXD Technology2 where the placement of each sound is key to the genius of his musical compositions. Although a bit of music by itself may arouse a specific emotion, skilfully mixed together, Skully’s concerto creates an eventful environment for the listener. His multi-dimensional “soundscapes” 3 are purposely intended to stimulate emotions in the listener. One not only hears but literally feels the music of Skully’s compositions creating a complete penetrating experience. Each composition transports the listener through an interactive and affecting event formulated by the listener’s own imagination.As I listened for the first time to “Journey to Oasis” from Métisse’s “Nomah’s Land” album, the tubular and panting sounds of inhaling and exhaling lulled me into a false sense of control over my breathing. The moaning strings combined with the strained clacks and deep drum beats set the pace for my footsteps along the arduous journey across the hot dry dunes of Sandy Neck, Cape Cod. At the uplifting melody of the sitar and Aïda’s joyful chants, when I realized I had stopped breathing because the tubular and panting special effects had paused; I had to GASP and remind myself to BREATH! The bubbly, clicking and sizzling electronic music felt like warm droplets of soft rain refreshing my face as I became encouraged at the realization of my journey’s end.The mournful strings and anxious symbols in “Life” from Métisse’s “Nomah’s Land” album thrust me into the emphasis of the agonizing event. The short almost indistinguishable hums, chants and moans carefully threaded into the mix of sombre strings and piano brought back the very real sharp pain of heartbreak in my heart and chest. As the strings elevated and the Steinway piano became more emphatic, I found myself smack at the receiving end of these AT&T telephone messages. My heart became hard and cold from the sharp pain of the tenacity depicted in the thumping bass and defiant Steinway. Once again, I had to remind myself to BREATH!Skully’s creations leave you with a sense of rewarded stimulation. I could taste the smoothness of the yummy Semi-sweet Chocolate Fudge and feel the delight in my tummy as my spirit joined the small child skipping and dancing around his living room to the happy chorus of the Hammond organ in “The Seaport Fudge Factory” [in San Diego CA] from Skully’s WOAV album. I laughed as the image of the giggling musician at his keyboards, mixers & gadgets enforced the tempo with the drums & symbols; and rolled out a Ragtime piano medley to extend the ecstasy of the delicious experience.Skully’s winning makeover of the old Irish folk tale of “Molly Malone” from his “Irish Makeover” album is better than reading an Irish Fairy Tale; and has to be the best version ever done. Identifying each sound effect relative to the story has been a part of the wonderfully entertaining experience. Myles O’Reilly’s gently masculine vocals and the delightful harmony engaged me through to the sad ending. Molly’s cloth handbag tugged on my wrist from the weight of the coins dropping in. I was jostled and tossed by the bumping of the Woodies wheelbarrow across the cobblestone roads. My forehead felt sympathetically warm for Molly’s suffering of the Fever. And for me the reward was the excitement of feeling the chilled swoosh on my face of Molly’s ghost rushing past.I am so blessed to have had the privilege of literally feeling these wonderful events in listening to Skully’s brilliant multi-dimensional musical creations. Each one has been more exciting than the last because I invariably hear thrilling new sound effects at repeated listens. For me Skully’s music is like waking up to the joyous song of the Robin announcing a new Spring day; and like the reward from waiting on the Lord for answered prayer (it will be far greater than you could have ever imagined.) Anyone who listens to a Skully5 ‘soundscape’ will surely reap the benefit of his brilliant talent and expertise in the use of his QXD Technology.
Footnotes:1 sŭb-sŏńĭk (adj.): Of less than audible frequency. Having a speed less than that of sound in a designated medium.
1 ‘subsonics’: Go to Métisse on MySpace Music at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=81863203 and click on ‘view more’ for the “Journey to Oasis” blog; read the comment posted by Métisse on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 - 10:30 AM.
2 Details of QXD Technology, devised by Skully can be found on the Métisse Official Website Homepage at http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vbWV0aXNzZS5tdXNpYy5mcmVlLmZyL2luZGV4Lmh0bWw= ; {Sorry folks, you'll have to copy/paste this 'Métisse Official Homesite web page' link; because MySpace has blocked it's action. When you get to the Métisse Official Website Homepage page, click on 'QXD Technology' in the 2nd row of tabs}.
3 Go to Métisse on MySpace Music at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=81863203 and click on ‘view more’ for the “Journey to Oasis” blog.
4 If you are a glutton for punishment {LOL-JK} and you like to read, an explanation of Stephen relative to Skully’s piano can be found in my Wed. Feb.27,2009 blog “First Loves & Skully’s Piano” at http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vYmxvZ3MubXlzcGFjZS5jb20vaW5kZXguY2ZtP2Z1c2VhY3Rpb249YmxvZy52aWV3JmZyaWVuZElkPTM5OTM3MDg3OCZibG9nSWQ9NDcyOTYxNjg1
5 For more information on the career of Skully, please visit http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LnNxdWlkb28uY29tL1NrdWxseVdpdGhvdXRBVm9pY2U=
