Members ExplodingBoy Posted January 24, 2005 Members Share Posted January 24, 2005 I love those huge strings and sparkly pads that the Cure use on Disintigration for songs like Plain Song and Pictures of You.. I know they used alot of older Roland stuff. Any ideas what they used for their classic huge sweeping strings and pads? I definately recognize a JD-800 in some of their songs for the sticatto string sounds. It had that classic very hard edged ROland digital sound to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nSCOURGE Posted January 24, 2005 Members Share Posted January 24, 2005 I'm pretty sure they were using a Roland JX series(8 or 10). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rasmus-DK Posted January 24, 2005 Members Share Posted January 24, 2005 Originally posted by ExplodingBoy I love those huge strings and sparkly pads that the Cure use on Disintigration for songs like Plain Song and Pictures of You.. I know they used alot of older Roland stuff. Any ideas what they used for their classic huge sweeping strings and pads?I definately recognize a JD-800 in some of their songs for the sticatto string sounds. It had that classic very hard edged ROland digital sound to it. Could they have used a 1991 synth (the JD-800) on a 1989 album..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members b3keys Posted January 24, 2005 Members Share Posted January 24, 2005 Roland JX-8P was used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ExplodingBoy Posted January 24, 2005 Author Members Share Posted January 24, 2005 Whoops... I reckon it was the JX-8 and not the JD series. My bad. Thanks.. Where did you guys get that info BTW? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members b3keys Posted January 24, 2005 Members Share Posted January 24, 2005 First answer: There is an old Keyboard magazine with Peter Gabriel on the cover that also features an interview with Roger O'Donnell, the Cure Keyboardist. Currently, live Roger uses a Roland XP-50, Kurzweil PC-88 and a Moog Voyager. The other answer is I really am Robert Smith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members aeon Posted January 24, 2005 Members Share Posted January 24, 2005 If there is one thing that defines the keyboard sounds of The Cure's Disintegration more than any other, it is the use of the Universe of Sounds CD-ROM for the E-mu Emulator II. IIRC, this was the first sample-CD ever released. Roger O. has spoken of this in a few interviews from that time. I wish the Universe of Sounds CD was still available in some form...I think the samples of that period, i.e., short looped samples that capture the basic timbre of a tone, and little more, are classic at this point, and they have a character that is lost when you move to a "higher-spec" sampler. Of course, the EII's analog filters didn't hurt anything. cheers, aeon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members clusterchord Posted January 24, 2005 Members Share Posted January 24, 2005 i know he often used Arp Solina Strings on old(er) albums - like "Head On The Door" etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sizzlemeister Posted January 24, 2005 Members Share Posted January 24, 2005 There are definitely samples used all over that album. There are plucked violin and plastickly sounding strings that a JX-8P could never do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members orangefunk Posted January 25, 2005 Members Share Posted January 25, 2005 They were very fond of the Hi Strings preset on the JX8P... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tai Mai Shus Posted January 25, 2005 Members Share Posted January 25, 2005 great album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ExplodingBoy Posted January 25, 2005 Author Members Share Posted January 25, 2005 I think Disintigration is a masterpeice. It's one of the greatest flowing albums from front to back and sounds soo huge and majestic. Especially the opening track "Plain Song". Anyone get the live "Trilogy" DVD?? I HIGHLY recommend it. They do the entire Pornography album for the 1st set, Disintigration for the 2nd set and then Bloodflowers for the 3rd set and include "The Kiss" and "If Only Tonight We Could Sleep" encore. It's absolutely amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pgunders Posted January 25, 2005 Members Share Posted January 25, 2005 Great album. IMHO that was their LAST great album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Nightsynth Posted January 25, 2005 Members Share Posted January 25, 2005 I have an old Korg magazine from '89 that talks about Roger O'Donnell using a Korg M1. Wheather this was used on Disintegration, I don't know. The JX-8p AND the DX-7 were used by them and can be seen being used in the 'In Orange' live video among others, but I dont really hear either of those two synths on Disintegration. The JX-8p is certainly not capable of the plucked strings heard on Lullaby. I would have to say, particularly keeping in mind this was 1988-89, the strings on the album were sampled strings. There wasn't an abundance of synths or romplers at that time that had brilliant, lush strings as heard on Disintegration. I think the hook on 'Closedown' has sort of an Arp String Ensemble sound to it though. My favorite synth sound on that album is the single note pad line in 'Pictures Of You'. Very cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Nightsynth Posted January 25, 2005 Members Share Posted January 25, 2005 Disintegration is such a mind-blowing album that it's hard to imagine that human beings even recorded it, much less used earthly gear.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Analog Kid Posted January 25, 2005 Members Share Posted January 25, 2005 One would think the D-50 would HAVE to be on that album... kinda sounds like it too, but im not sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ExplodingBoy Posted January 25, 2005 Author Members Share Posted January 25, 2005 Great album. IMHO that was their LAST great album. I would have to completely disagree. Disintigration was no doubt probably their masterpeice and is their quintessential album, BUT, aside from "Friday I'm In Love", "Wish" is also a fabulous album as is "Bloodflowers". Wild Mood Swings was TERRIBLE though.. Wish has one of the greatest opening tracks of any Cure album IMHO. "Open", "To Wish Impossible Things" "Cut" "From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea"... Wish is amazing really. Classic Cure sound. Not to mention, the B-Sides to the Wish recording sessions are some of the best songs they've ever done.. "Twilight Garden" "Cut Here" "Halo" "Play".. awesome stuff. I'm haven't heard enough of the newest one "The Cure" yet to make an opinion, but many reviews claim it's their best work since Disintigration. IMHO, Robert Smith has one of the most distinct and awesome guitar tones in rock. I think it's that 6 string bass that he always uses with that flange and chorus sound that's soo distinctive. They're definately one of my all time favorite bands and Smith is a musical genius. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members noisestudios Posted January 25, 2005 Members Share Posted January 25, 2005 I have "Pornography" and I really don't like it all that much. Should I try Disintegration? Am I going to like it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Nightsynth Posted January 25, 2005 Members Share Posted January 25, 2005 I think Cure albums like 'Pornography', 'Faith', and 'Disintegration' are more of a state of mind then anything. You either relate to it or you don't. "Pornography' is definetly a little more abrasive of Cure albums and 'Disintegration' is easier to listen to, but wheather you'll like it or not, you just have to see for yourself. I think that 'Disintegration' is kind of the last of the great Cure albums. 'Wish' is really good though and the B-Sides are killer. It stays with the Cure vibe pretty well, but it doesn't quite have that certain thing that was The Cure. I would have to say, if someone was curious about The Cure and had to recommend one album, it would be 'Disintegration'. Following closely behind would be 'Faith'. However, one of my favorites is "The Walk' EP. I love the fusion of Electronic (as it were then) music and classic Cure guitar tone and contemplative lyrics. They used the Oberheim stuff for that one (OB-Xa, DMX, and I think DSX). That is a beautiful album that has a unique sound to it that I've never heard anything come close to. Icy cool chorused guitar and warm analog synth mixed with the punchy, killer sound of the Oberheim drum machine!! Not as epic as 'Disintegration', but I love that album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members purveyor2 Posted January 25, 2005 Members Share Posted January 25, 2005 Trilogy DVD is incredible. Keyboard rig for that show is a Roland XP something and a Kurzweil. I read a few pieces about their synths from around this time period and the other post that mentioned EII with CDrom library is spot on. But they also layered a bunch. Other synths used were the SCI Prophet 2000, Roland JX10, and the Solina. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members aeon Posted January 25, 2005 Members Share Posted January 25, 2005 NightSynth: As a die-hard Cure fan (of the earlier work anyway), I have to say I agree with what you just said 110%. That said, I do think that The Top gets far too little respect. cheers,aeon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Nightsynth Posted January 26, 2005 Members Share Posted January 26, 2005 The Top is such a cool album. It is very creative and has a vibe consistant thoughout the album. Most Cure albums do. 'The Top' is one of my favorite Cure songs. I love that calliope circus music in the background at the end of the song. And the reverse delay/reverb on his vocal is the best. Also 'Dressing Up' is another favorite of mine. Very synthy and dreamy. I guess I don't hear people talk about this album much. Maybe it's because only the diehards like you and I are willing to pay the extra cost for being an import? I actually bought my copy used and it is a Sire release. I hadn't seen it on the Sire label before and it was under $10. Much agreed aeon, The Top is a great album too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members KrazyKarl Posted January 26, 2005 Members Share Posted January 26, 2005 Originally posted by ExplodingBoy I'm haven't heard enough of the newest one "The Cure" yet to make an opinion, but many reviews claim it's their best work since Disintigration. they are lying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ExplodingBoy Posted January 26, 2005 Author Members Share Posted January 26, 2005 I like The Top as well, but it just doesn't get as much play as the other albums. I REALLY like "Head on the Door" too. "Push" is such an epic guitar anthem. I think that for a first time listener, "Head on the Door" would actually be the best way to ease into the CUre cuz it's got a little dark and a little bright.. Disintigration is very dark, but it's nowhere NEAR as dark as "Faith". Both albums even being soo dark are almost impossible not to like though. Anyone ever hear the all instrumental "Wish" studio outakes release called "Lost Wishes"?? It's probably one of the rarest Cure releases you could ever find and it's AMAZING! No vocals at all.. just all beautiful instrumentals from the Wish studio sessions. Get it at all costs if you love the CUre. I love "Pornography" for the sheer fact that "Strange Day" and "Cold" are on that album. Those are quintessential Cure songs. My favorite aspect of the Cure is that they had soo many different phases in their sound, but it still all retains the classic Cure sound. They went from poppy punk with Boys Don't Cry, Fire in Cairo and Killing an Arab, to ULTRA dark albums like "Pornography" and "Faith".. to upbeat rocking poppy stuff on "Head on the Door" to crazy lipstick synth pop on "Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me" then back to the darker side with their absolute masterpeice in "Disintigration".. then "Wish" which echoed Disintigration in a way... Then they fell off the map for 8 years and released a crappy album in between.. but seriously, if you don't like "Bloodflowers" yet, give it another try. It's a fabulous album and it's really special because it's a very retrospective album and it's bittersweet. Robert also got back to guitar playing on that album and wrote and played ALL the guitar. When watching the "Trilogy" DVD, no set will be closer to bringing a tear to the eye than the Bloodflowers set. Robert puts soo much passion into songs like "The Last Day of Summer" and you can tell he's almost crying on stage himself while singing the lines: "It used to be soo easy...I never even tried" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members aeon Posted January 26, 2005 Members Share Posted January 26, 2005 I wish they would rerelease The Cure: In Orange, the live set recorded at Theatre Antique d'Orange, Orange, Provence, Cote d'Azur, France, on DVD with a proper transfer and remaster and all that. Until they do, I will just have to make do with my Japanese LaserDisc. I think the sound and performance of that show is definitive Cure. Consider the tracklist: 1. Introduction 2. Shake Dog Shake 3. Piggy In The Mirror 4. Play For Today 5. A Strange Day 6. Primary 7. Kyoto Song 8. Charlotte Sometimes 9. In Between Days 10. The Walk 11. A Night Like This 12. Push 13. One Hundred Years 14. A Forest 15. Sinking 16. Close To Me 17. Let's Go To Bed 18. Six Different Ways 19. Three Imaginary Boys 20. Boys Don't Cry 21. Faith 22. Give Me It 23. 10:15 Saturday Night 24. Killing An Arab When they go from One Hundred Years to A Forest in that set, there is just magic in the theatre...awesome! I also feel that despite many of the great tracks to be found on Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Disintegration, and Wish, the post-Head On The Door era Cure, right around 1986, was their true peak as a band. To me, The Cure: In Orange documents a time where they were both the curious indie band from Britain as well as would-be stars. If I sound like a fan, color me guilty! cheers, aeon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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