The Forth-Takes, Volume 1

July 21, 2025

I am excited to publish this post accompanying my first mini-LP, The Forth-Takes.

Songs in The Forth-Takes are all recorded in four takes or less, uses sampler-based midi instruments, and based on other melodies or ideas. Its name, The Forth-Takes is a modification on the Japanese series The First Take, while “Forth-Take” is an inversion of “forthbring” (or, in its modern form, “bring forth”). Not too much thought were put into every song; in fact, most of them were recorded in under 40 minutes.

Improvisation can be fun, but one makes mistakes in improvisation. I have to admit that some sections are hard to listen, but some of my friends have suggested that they can be enjoyable for certain people. I decided to stay authentic to the first (or rather, the four first) takes and preserve the wonkiness and strangeness occasionally involved. Therefore, it is not a heavily produced album. It is best understood as a snapshot, both in skill and spacetime, of an improv session I might play at home, only that there are four of me each playing a different instrument.

The recording strategy used is also rather primitive. Most instruments are free (libre) SF2 files I found online. They are only static samples and no more, which are very basic compared to, for example, sounds by Native Instruments. No effects are used except for a reverb, a compressor, and a global EQ. Mastering is limited to making the LUFS levels consistent across songs, as well as conforming to streaming standards.

There is little consideration into the arrangements. However, there are a few things you might want to know.

Track 1 is based on a previous improv recording, which maybe sounded a little bit better. It is also my first complete arrangement that is more original than a straight cover. The chorus of Track 2 takes inspiration from the original melody and uses a 5/5/6 meter, except when I failed to follow my own rhythm. The synth in Track 4 is inspired by the toned-up Kasane Teto from the original song. I think the sandy tone of the synth replicates the original voice quite well. The piano solo in Track 6 was meant to be the “Happy Birthday” song because that is what the original song is about. However, I could not for the life of me remember the tune at the moment and played “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” (or, Baa, Baa, Black Sheep, or, The Alphabet Song, or, Ah vous dirai-je, Maman) instead. The end of Track 7 quotes the national anthem of a certain country, I will not say which one because I do not want to get arrested.

As suggested in the name, I plan to compile more albums in the future. They will be just as improvised as volume 1 is, but will hopefully be snapshots in skill and spacetime for when I am better at improvisation, arrangement, or music in general. You can buy the mini-LP on Bandcamp for 0 dollars or more, although I have not figured out how to deposit the money from Bandcamp yet.

mi tawa.