A copy of the Mystery Of The Universe / Back In The 80's - single on compact disc - slimline jewel case, with professional label-printed compact disc and folding 2-page booklet that fits into the case. The booklet is double-sided, with 4 pages of print on 180gsm photo paper.
Includes unlimited streaming of Mystery Of The Universe/Back In The 80's (double-single)
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
This song is based on the virtuoso keyboard and synth talents of Dave Acres, who wrote most of the original music - recorded back in 1985, with Zonn playing bass. John re-arranged Dave's tune a little, and added a drum track that he dragged off the internet and re-adjusted. The lyrics and vocals are by Zonn, written in 2017, and recorded at home in St Leonards-on-sea. There's also a French synthetic voice at the beginning that warns the listener of a deja vu experience ahead! Added to this, John did a short virtual(online) keyboard solo around the middle of the song, and the 'spirit of Mark Branch' appears, saying the word "yowzah"!!
John tells us about the principles behind the Zonnitronix recording...
"In 1988 I composed a song called 'Computerised Doom' that was popular with those who listened to it and which I have re-visited on a couple of occasions since. The songs I'm working on now are like an update, 30 years later, saying: 'this is the state of the world now'. The songs planned for a new Zonnitronix album together form an expression of the bewilderment felt at the current crazy state of the world.
I'm using recordings made at various points during the past 30 years, and supplementing them with my contemporary vocals and instrumentation, a bit like Cliff Richard's duet with the late Elvis Presley. So the sound is contemporary, though I am essentially duetting with elements of my past self. The main reason for this is mainly as a result of currently (and for the foreseeable future) being less able than I was previously to play instruments such as the guitar or drums, and thus I have chosen the medium of electronic music, and the use of samples, to explore the possibilities of the new musical/compositional world available to me. This process enables me to still produce music in a similar style to before, rather like when Rick Allen (from Def Leppard) adapted his drum technique after losing his left arm.
In the past few years I have taken up yoga, and am using the relaxation and meditation gained from this activity to influence the music and lyrics (see especially the song 'Mystery Of The Universe', rather like David Lynch uses transcendental meditation to affect his films.
I reckon Globalisation and the utilisation of the internet are blending languages and music of other countries/cultures, giving them as much a place in contemporary British music as the English language and 'traditional' British music does. Recently I have started learning the Shehnai and Pungi/Been, and have been adopting these into contemporary music, in effect creating a post-modern and/or post-digital sound, like Afro-Celt Soundsystem, M.I.A., etc.
credits
from Mystery Of The Universe/Back In The 80's (double-single),
released November 18, 2018
Original music written by Dave Acres, who also did the keyboard, synth & original rhythm track performance. Lyrics and song arrangement written by John Zonn, who also did the vocals, bass, a tiny bit of synth & the complementary rhythm programming. The female vocal was created using 'oddcast.com' and the 'Heart Of Glass' excerpt at the end was by Jimmy Destri.
Cover design by John Zonn. 'Back In The 80's' cover photos taken from the internet. 'Back In the 80's' logo created using 'photofunia.com'.
Huge thanks to Dave Acres for allowing John to use his tune and performance for 'Back In The 80's'.
For free-thinkers everywhere, John Zonn creates songs and music inspired by the environment and people around him, including
through actual life experiences.
The latest album - Songs Of Truth And Freedom - explores the music of protest.
Some quotes: "…half stand-up, half poetry, half music… ", "John Zonn is a breath of fresh air in music", "I salute you over and over again"....more
On this harmonically rich LP, the Scottish singer-songwriter contrasts gorgeous soprano harmonies with strident folk-rock instrumentation. Bandcamp New & Notable Jul 26, 2023
Industrial textures and vocals with a hint of gothic melodrama come together on tAngerinecAt''s latest trip to the dark side. Bandcamp New & Notable May 3, 2022
