Bookends Seven

This song embodies many of the elements that are valued by Eclectic2: a strong rock feel with harmonies and counter-melodies on 4 lead guitars along with an unexpected twist. The baroque horn section was written on top of a familiar chord progression that is over 300 years old.

After the classical brass section the song transitions back to the rock guitar section.  Trumpet and trombones are added toward the end of the song and builds into the final crescendo, which is followed by abrupt silence.

There and Back Again

This song strives to seamlessly transition through 4 different musical ideas written on the mandolin.  The complicated drum part, various time signature changes (4/4, 5/4, 3/4, 2/4), and lots of syncopation combine to make this song very rhythmically complex.

One of Eclectic2's favorite moments on the EP is the first part of this song when only the mandolin and drums are playing. It is rare to find this type of “duet” in any genre of music.  The song then builds with the addition of bass, rhythm guitar and flute. These additions give the song a rock feel, though the mandolin is still the featured instrument.

Time Revisited

This song is a change of pace for the EP as it does not include any drums or guitars. The song starts with pipe organ in a classical style and transitions to piano with a shuffle feel.

A flute solo on top of the piano and string accompaniment create a beautiful segment of music not usually found on a rock music album.  The organ is added back in at the end of the song to double the single note piano part.

Manic Bliss

This song was written on a natural minor harmonica while playing an acoustic guitar.  This type of harmonica allows for a more somber sound. But, it also has a major scale that can be used to create bright melodies. The first section has a fast driving tempo in a minor key, and the busy bass line provides extra energy.

The first section culminates with a guitar solo using a wah-wah pedal to provide a similar sound to the harmonica. The second section slows down and changes into a shuffle beat with a harmonica solo. The walking bass line provides an additional melody against the harmonica solo in the "Bliss" section.

Weekdays

This song was named Weekdays, because it progressively gets more upbeat from the first section to the last. Monday is a piano solo that is meant to sound rather melancholy.

Tuesday follows the same chord progression as Monday, but Tuesday has a rock feel and a steady beat.  Wednesday adds a guitar solo with very close harmonies. Thursday has the guitar and drum fills playing back and forth on each chord, which create a climax for the song.

Friday is a more upbeat and relaxed section, yet some tension is used to interrupt this feel. A small part of Monday is then added to the end of the song to fully bring it back to the beginning.

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