Rush followers know the band’s prolificacy – churning out practically an album a 12 months for the reason that mid-70s. How do you discover recent inspiration after a long time of relentless productiveness? Geddy Lee and Rush found their reply by stepping again for 5 years earlier than reconvening in 2001 to provide Vapor Trails, their 17th studio album.
This hiatus proved to be a turning level for Lee‘s bass taking part in. He wasn’t idle although – producing native Toronto artists and even releasing his 2000 solo album, My Favourite Headache. This time away fostered a major evolution in his method to the bass.
“My bass taking part in has gone into such a bizarre zone,” Lee himself admitted to Bass Player. “I’ve carried that on to a ridiculous diploma.”
Lee‘s method developed right into a rhythmic and sometimes chordal model that match nicely with a layered musical method. “I am strumming quite a bit, and typically I find yourself with two or three bass tracks on every music. Quite than anticipate a guitar half to fill in a melody, I will simply go up the neck, fuzz out my bass, and have it carry out that operate.”
A departure from conventional root-heavy basslines grew to become an indicator of Lee‘s work on Vapor Trails: “I feel that is from the best way I take advantage of bass chords: The roots are implied with out essentially having to be emphasised. Generally we miss that, although, so I will return in and add a decrease bassline that grounds the half. But when it is not mandatory, we dwell with out it.”
Rush embraced the digital age with Vapor Trails, which was recorded with Emagic Logic Audio software program. Lots of the songs stemmed from jam classes captured immediately onto the software program, usually staying intact via the ultimate combine.
“Folks say digital is that this sterile medium, however they do not perceive what it might do for you,” Lee mirrored. “You may get a really recordable sound and simply jam into the pc, after which manipulate it afterward.”
The album additionally marked a primary second for Lee, particularly in the course of the recording of “Ceiling Limitless”: “It options the primary form of ‘bass solo’ I have been allowed to throw on a Rush music. I wished to commerce off with Alex, however he is very anti-guitar solo in the mean time, so he did not wish to get into that.”
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