The Truth In Me
Encyclopedia
The Truth in Me is the first released solo album from former Cure
keyboardist Roger O'Donnell
. It was recorded in Devon
, England using only the Minimoog Voyager
synthesizer as a sound source, plus vocals by Erin Lang
. MIDI and audio were captured in the software program Digital Performer
. Mixing was done at Uphon Studios in Germany and mastered at The Exchange in London.
. Because O'Donnell had enjoyed working with it on the soundtrack, the idea appealed to him:
Because O'Donnell was in The Cure
at the time, this idea of doing more songs in this fashion made sense:
Although O'Donnell had many vintage synthesizers at his disposal, he found the Voyager
most comfortable. "It's stable, it sounds incredible, it's so powerful, and I know how to use it. I have a good understanding of subtractive analogue synthesis and I know how it makes the sounds. I feel at one with it." Further praising the instrument, Roger said he was drawn to "its sound and usability, the ergonomics and human interface... the gravitas of the name and its place in music history."
Although O'Donnell played drum-type sounds on the record he says he wasn't inspired by any particular drummer in creating these rhythmic parts, quipping, "I try never to think like a drummer."
This record was released on O'Donnell's 99 Times Out of 10 Records.
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
keyboardist Roger O'Donnell
Roger O'Donnell
Roger O'Donnell is an English keyboardist best known for his work with The Cure. O'Donnell has also performed in the Psychedelic Furs, the Thompson Twins and Berlin, as well as having an active solo career.- Background :...
. It was recorded in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England using only the Minimoog Voyager
Minimoog Voyager
The Minimoog Voyager or Voyager is a monophonic analog synthesizer, designed by Robert Moog and released in 2002 by Moog Music. The Voyager was modeled after the classic Minimoog synthesizer that was popular in the 1970s, and is meant to be a successor to that instrument.-Design:Like the original...
synthesizer as a sound source, plus vocals by Erin Lang
Erin Lang
Erin Lang is a Canadian musician active mainly in Canada and England. Born in Montreal, her father is Steve Lang, bassist with 1970s Canadian rock band April Wine. Her mother, Dale Lang, was a puppeteer and make up artist. She grew up in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga and passed up university...
. MIDI and audio were captured in the software program Digital Performer
Digital Performer
Digital Performer is a full-featured Digital Audio Workstation/Sequencer software package published by Mark of the Unicorn of Cambridge, Massachusetts for the Apple Macintosh platform.-Ancestry:...
. Mixing was done at Uphon Studios in Germany and mastered at The Exchange in London.
Track listing
- "My Days"
- "For the Truth in You"
- "The Truth in Me"
- "Not Without You"
- "He Sent You Angels"
- "Treasure"
- "This Is A Story"
- "This Grey Morning"
- "Tired of All This"
- "...And So I Close My Eyes"
Quotes
"This record “The Truth in Me” is very important to me. I have re-found the passion in music and this is what it means to me, this record. I have no control over it, it just comes and as such is the truth in me, musically. It's everything I have become as a musician. When I became a musician I had a lot of dreams and a lot of them have been lost along the way but making this record and for people to like it would be incredible for me. I have spent all of my career standing behind somebody else, letting somebody else decide what I was to play, making their dreams come true. This is my time and I won't compromise it. It’s a very personal thing that I want to share with everyone that will give me the time to listen to it."Recording
Following inclusion of the song "Another Year Away" on the Moog Documentary Soundtrack, O'Donnell was encouraged by one of the producers of the film to do an entire album orchestrated with a Minimoog VoyagerMinimoog Voyager
The Minimoog Voyager or Voyager is a monophonic analog synthesizer, designed by Robert Moog and released in 2002 by Moog Music. The Voyager was modeled after the classic Minimoog synthesizer that was popular in the 1970s, and is meant to be a successor to that instrument.-Design:Like the original...
. Because O'Donnell had enjoyed working with it on the soundtrack, the idea appealed to him:
- "My initial idea [for the soundtrack] was to try and write a song and record it using only a Moog and that's what happened. I knew from my early days that I could orchestrate using mono analogue synths so in a way I was revisiting my roots. In those days you had no choice - there weren’t any samplers around, so if you wanted a bass or strings you synthesized them."
Because O'Donnell was in The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
at the time, this idea of doing more songs in this fashion made sense:
- "At the time I was in a band, so why try and recreate a band if I could do it on my own? I was also inspired by BjörkBjörkBjörk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
's use of a single instrument, the voice, on her record MedúllaMedúllaMedúlla is the sixth studio album by Icelandic singer, songwriter, and musician Björk, released on August 30, 2004 by Warner Bros. Records and One Little Indian. The title derives from the Latin word for "marrow". The album is almost entirely a cappella and constructed with human vocals...
. I also found the VoyagerMinimoog VoyagerThe Minimoog Voyager or Voyager is a monophonic analog synthesizer, designed by Robert Moog and released in 2002 by Moog Music. The Voyager was modeled after the classic Minimoog synthesizer that was popular in the 1970s, and is meant to be a successor to that instrument.-Design:Like the original...
really easy to work with and thought that maybe I had found my own voice and could do something that was entirely original."
Although O'Donnell had many vintage synthesizers at his disposal, he found the Voyager
Minimoog Voyager
The Minimoog Voyager or Voyager is a monophonic analog synthesizer, designed by Robert Moog and released in 2002 by Moog Music. The Voyager was modeled after the classic Minimoog synthesizer that was popular in the 1970s, and is meant to be a successor to that instrument.-Design:Like the original...
most comfortable. "It's stable, it sounds incredible, it's so powerful, and I know how to use it. I have a good understanding of subtractive analogue synthesis and I know how it makes the sounds. I feel at one with it." Further praising the instrument, Roger said he was drawn to "its sound and usability, the ergonomics and human interface... the gravitas of the name and its place in music history."
Although O'Donnell played drum-type sounds on the record he says he wasn't inspired by any particular drummer in creating these rhythmic parts, quipping, "I try never to think like a drummer."
This record was released on O'Donnell's 99 Times Out of 10 Records.
External links
- The Truth in Me at Treble Zine (review)