The Beach at Redpoint - The thread it deserves

Radiobuzz · Post by **Radiobuzz** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 2:06 am

I have read somewhere on this forum about the opening synths of this track being described at "cheesy". I think it's one of BoC's most special textures they've made in their entire career. There's something so unique about it, it has such a special thing going on that whenever I fall asleep while listening to Geogaddi I'd always wake up when it came up.

So, for all of this, I nominate The Beach at Redpoint as one of BoC's most underrated tracks evah.

Basefree · Post by **Basefree** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 2:11 am

The beginning of this track is the only dark moment on the whole album for me.

polar sky · Post by **polar sky** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 2:48 am

One of my all time favorite BoC tracks. It's amazing to say the least. Those flutes.... So hypnotic and soothing. Perfect track to play in the car with the windows down, cool wind blowing all around you.

EnforcedNo · Post by **EnforcedNo** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 2:53 am

a while back i was at the top of a mountain in the Rockies and all i could think when i saw all the mountains below at night was some sort of massive giant primordial sea where the water was pitch black and the waves were earth-shatteringly massive.It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.
that's what i remember when i hear this.

tonyhw · Post by **tonyhw** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 3:09 am

Agreed, it's my most-listened-to song on this album.

naicob · Post by **naicob** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 3:12 am

The synths, the flutes, the voice, the thing that sounds like it's spinning, the other thing that sounds like it's spinning, etc.-- everything comes together so beautifully. In terms of sheer amount spent on listening, this track is likely in my top 5, music wide. If there is a hint of cheese, it might be with the vocal or the dramatic bass drum-- but who cares? What's cheese anyway? Btw, the opening synth is one of the most wonderful sounds I've ever heard.

Basefree · Post by **Basefree** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 3:18 am

naicob wrote:If there is a hint of cheese, it might be with the vocal or the dramatic bass drum-- but who cares? What's cheese anyway? Btw, the opening synth is one of the most wonderful sounds I've ever heard.

The original comment was about the opening synth if I remember correctly. I don't think it's cheesy, but I definitely don't think it's unique either. A pretty basic beginner synth sound, but it's not like it matters. It's put to great use in proper context here and there's detail to it, just like you can expect from Boc.

naicob · Post by **naicob** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 3:26 am

Basefree wrote:
naicob wrote:If there is a hint of cheese, it might be with the vocal or the dramatic bass drum-- but who cares? What's cheese anyway? Btw, the opening synth is one of the most wonderful sounds I've ever heard.
The original comment was about the opening synth if I remember correctly. I don't think it's cheesy, but I definitely don't think it's unique either. A pretty basic beginner synth sound, but it's not like it matters. It's put to great use in proper context here and there's detail to it, just like you can expect from Boc.

It sounds basic, but it seems to me like there is more to it. Maybe it's the 'wind' and 'water' (bear with me lol), accompanying it? I'm not sure, I've never quite heard that sound outside of BoC and it seems quite original, even if very familiar.

Spaced · Post by **Spaced** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 4:33 am

that intro is epic.

everything is either cheesy, a bit cheesy, or very cheesy according to some folks. like it's the only criteria in which they can gauge a piece of music.

cheese.

cubistking1906 · Post by **cubistking1906** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 4:48 am

Excellent tune and definitely a highlight and centerpiece of Geogaddi. Something about that track summons a very potent dark energy, not necessarily negative but certainly powerful and definitely hypnotizing. It truly casts a spell on the listener.

Fireal420 · Post by **Fireal420** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 5:08 am

i agree, the beach at redpoint is absolutely incredible, and also extremely underrated. maybe not underrated, but not brought up enough.

this song gives off very dark visuals. most of geogaddi gives darker visuals, but the beach at redpoint seems to be monumental on the album, the song sounds very epic.

purgruv · Post by **purgruv** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 9:20 am

Is my joint favourite song with Olson/Pete.

FernieCanto · Post by **FernieCanto** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 2:25 pm

What drives me nuts on that song is how it starts with that sweeping and "epic" harmony, and before you know it, there's this flurry of rhythm and all kinds of percussion instruments -- two almost opposite things that fall together into place like a jigsaw (to paraphrase Radiohead). It's one of those tracks that could go on for 10 minutes and would never lose its power.

I also love the way Opening the Mouth works as its coda.

kid · Post by **kid** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 2:28 pm

also one of my favourite boc tracks. it's always the first track i play whenever i get a new piece of audio equipment, not because i think its great for testing equipment or anything....it's just the first thing i want to hear on shiny new stuff!

I really love that rattling sound that pans around, so awesome.

polar sky · Post by **polar sky** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 2:49 pm

naicob wrote:
Basefree wrote:
naicob wrote:If there is a hint of cheese, it might be with the vocal or the dramatic bass drum-- but who cares? What's cheese anyway? Btw, the opening synth is one of the most wonderful sounds I've ever heard.
The original comment was about the opening synth if I remember correctly. I don't think it's cheesy, but I definitely don't think it's unique either. A pretty basic beginner synth sound, but it's not like it matters. It's put to great use in proper context here and there's detail to it, just like you can expect from Boc.
It sounds basic, but it seems to me like there is more to it. Maybe it's the 'wind' and 'water' (bear with me lol), accompanying it? I'm not sure, I've never quite heard that sound outside of BoC and it seems quite original, even if very familiar.

Basic beginner synth? Hahaha. For all you know that "synth" could be a mangled sound that they created out of something they recorded.

Basefree · Post by **Basefree** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 3:20 pm

polar sky wrote:Basic beginner synth? Hahaha. For all you know that "synth" could be a mangled sound that they created out of something they recorded.

That is possible, but why would I assume that?

FernieCanto · Post by **FernieCanto** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 3:27 pm

That's the problem when you're an artist that's constantly pushing envelopes and going further: the moment you do something that sounds more traditional, you can get accused of laziness, etc.

kid · Post by **kid** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 3:29 pm

Basefree wrote:
polar sky wrote:Basic beginner synth? Hahaha. For all you know that "synth" could be a mangled sound that they created out of something they recorded.
That is possible, but why would I assume that?

because that's exactly what they do, if you read the interviews.

Basefree · Post by **Basefree** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 3:32 pm

FernieCanto wrote:That's the problem when you're an artist that's constantly pushing envelopes and going further: the moment you do something that sounds more traditional, you can get accused of laziness, etc.

I'm not accusing them of anything though. Like I already said earlier it's irrelevant whether something sounds "basic". All that matters is how sounds are put to use in composition. Just wanted to point out that I don't think the synth sound is a unique texture that can't be found elsewhere.

Basefree · Post by **Basefree** » Fri Aug 09, 2013 3:35 pm

kid wrote:
Basefree wrote:
polar sky wrote:Basic beginner synth? Hahaha. For all you know that "synth" could be a mangled sound that they created out of something they recorded.
That is possible, but why would I assume that?
because that's exactly what they do, if you read the interviews.

Yep, but I rather find out on a per-case basis than idealize every sound they make. It's interesting though to think that anything you hear might not have been created the usual way.