Cultured Machine

Welcome to the latest collaboration between Christina aka Libby Laksmi and TBD. In this one we focused on the culture element of the theme although the original is a themed tribute to Sci-Fi author Iain M. Banks. You can find the original track to play with here: https://soundcloud.com/libbylaksmi/cultured-machine I initially tapped out 77bpm here on first count so decided to run with a 154bpm drum and bass angle. I think my initial count was wrong as I had a lot of chopping to do but I think that probably makes the result a little different and off beat. On top of the arrangement edits, I added vocals, lyrics, 5 string bass, electric guitar picked, some choir voicing's on keys and the beat. I was unhappy with my first vocal attempt so pushed it to the back, so it's now an indecipherable backing track which is cool and kind of a first for me but an interesting way to get a backing effect from the voice. It served as a good guide whilst trying to imagine a lead vocal line that would cut the mustard so it possibly compliments the lead line quite well now even if that is maybe hard to notice now. I also added a falsetto backing vocal mirroring the lead line and that's dedicated to Bronksi Beat - Small Town Boy & Jimmy Somerville. If I was to pick one song in my life that was so positively evolutionary for our culture and for gay people it would probably be that song. Released in a time where homophobic mindsets were still rotting our society, just imagine the relief this song must have been to gay people and how people see and treat them. In my view it was one of the big turning points in this neck of the woods for proper acceptance and empathy towards that element of our existence. The power of music and human artistry is just so amazing and we need to protect it at all costs because like Jimmy shows us so bravely, it's about crying our hearts to make it better world for everybody. We feel and can express empathy as human beings, no machine can EVER do that for us. Scientists, philosophers, politicians do their best most of the time but sometimes it takes an artist to really show us why our human morality has to go a particular direction. So thanks for that Jimmy! ________________________ The image is my daughter Alma's favourite flowers in the garden with a sepia filter added. --------------------------- Big thanks from Christina and myself. We really appreciate your love and support and hope you enjoy our 12th collaboration 🧬🎶 You can find all our other tunes here: Listen to The Beautiful Dark & Libby Laksmi, #SoundCloud https://on.soundcloud.com/J70rHkGxYD1GEpkaLs _________________________ Cultured Machine Cultured machine Are we waking It’s culture people Greetings from the deep whole Cultured machine Are we waking Where’s your lightning It’s a thunder thing Cultured machine It’s a thunder thing Some friends got lightning It's a thunder thing Cultured machine Cultured machine Cultured machine It's a thunder thing Where's your lightning This space has heart Appreciation of art Imagination Got ' switch for overdrive Machine is controlled We don’t eat it’s lies Take in the scenery It’s Earth It feeds your free Your worth Cultured machine Are we waking Cultured machine Are we waking It's a thunder thing Where's your lightning Cultured machine Cultured machine Cultured machine It's a thunder thing Cultured people We found some soulful peep hole 14 July 2025