Michael Bross

4 Pieces of Music That Have Been Of Great Influence

bross — Sat, 29 May 2010 01:56:51 +0000

You may not always hear their influence in my work, but here are 4 pieces of music that have left an impression on me.

1. Miles Davis–”So What”

The first time I heard this track was in my college dorm room during my freshman year. The composition itself is sparse and Miles’s horn is haunting. It was my first exposure to music that changed my perception of what music could be.

2. Igor Stravinsky–”Right Of Spring”
Stravinsky wrote “Right Of Spring” in the early part of the century when the world was in turmoil (World War I). The piece reflects that and it shattered everything around it. It’s an incredibly complex work but it’s also primal. I think it’s one of the greatest compositions in the classical world.

3. Hans Zimmer–”Journey To The Line”
This piece was composed for the film “The Thin Red Line”. I can’t imagine the movie without it. I can’t imagine my life without hearing this piece. It’s sad, it’s heroic and it’s perfect all at the same time.

4. Brian Eno/Jon Hasell–”Delta Rain Dream”
This collaboration by Eno and Hassell led to a very unique blend of third world and modern elements. The whole album had an influence on me but I this is my favorite piece on the album. There’s something sublime about this track.

Studio Pics

bross — Mon, 24 May 2010 06:40:01 +0000

I took a few quick pics in the studio. When I have more time, I’ll take some of better quality. I took these with my phone.

Creativity

bross — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 14:35:15 +0000

With creativity, one must accept a certain amount of peril.

Close To Finishing New Album

bross — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 06:39:20 +0000

I only have 2 more tracks to finish before I complete the work for my latest album. My hope is to finish it up in the next month or so.

I continue ambient explorations along with mixing in some quieter percussive elements. I’m also using guitar a bit more than the last album.

Due to being busy with other projects, I haven’t had the chance to fully devote time to the making of this album so I’ve been working on it whenever I get chance, which usually means early morning or late at night. I started working on it almost immediately after I wrapped “Subway Meditations”, so it’s been about 9 months in the making.

Big Dog

bross — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:13:06 +0000

I came across this video in the last few months:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1czBcnX1W

There’s something about the way Big Dog moves that feels truly alive. In a way, it’s creepy.

After A Short Break

bross — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:50:08 +0000

The last month or so I’ve found myself not spending much time working on my own compositions. Sometimes it’s good to take a break and do other things like reading books I’ve been putting off, along with trying to get some things done around the house. Walking away lets me re-energize. Last night I sat down and began working on a couple of in-progress compositions. I’m well on my way finishing up another album of material. Still, I’m trying to take my time and enjoy the process of creating. There’s no need to rush it.

Last.FM

bross — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:43:18 +0000

You can listen to many of my tracks as full streams at http://www.last.fm/music/Michael+Bross

OSW coming for the PC

bross — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:17:01 +0000

Looks like Oddworld is going to finally release the Oddworld Stranger’s Wrath game on PC.

http://www.neoseeker.com/news/12000-oddworld-munchs-oddysee-and-strangers-wrath-confirmed-for-pc/

This is the last Oddworld game that I composed the music for. I’ve been hoping for a while that this would happen.

Guitar

bross — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:23:48 +0000

I’ve been using more guitar lately on my current in-progress recordings. Though I play and record guitar tracks on my music, I don’t consider myself a guitar player. I didn’t even pick one up until I began working on projects at Oddworld.

It’s an incredibly versatile instrument and, when used in conjunction with effects, the palette of sounds is almost endless.

Site Redesign

bross — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:56:44 +0000

If you’ve been to my site before, you may have noticed that it’s now totally redesigned. I’m much happier with this design. Hope you like it.