This is the Shin’s playing “Breathe” from Dark Side of the Moon. It’s a great version, I like the subtle changes to the form, texture, and flow of the song, but the stand out moment of the performance is the guitar solo.
watch: (solo is at 2:40 ish)
it will open in a new window…..
okay- why is this so awesome?
Breathe is a stunningly simple song, that’s brilliance lies in the texture of the band, the melody, and the incredible lyrics. They all tie together to make perfection. So the Shins were smart to not really mess with any of these things. Instead they actually accentuate the psychedelia of the texture by making every instrument sound like an organ, layered with reverb and tremolo and delay…..
Also they add several dramatic pauses for good measure.
okay, the guitar solo.
Its incredible how a wee bit of melodic intensity can burn into my brain. For this solo, there is actually only a small line followed by a lot of noise and band overlap (and some serious blue note action which i love, regardless of how intended the note was).
The guitar Tone is an insane organ like sound. Definitely some kind of octave pedal with the gain enabled. The tone fits perfectly in the mix.
music nerd stuff:
“Breathe” for the most part rocks between e and A. There is a lot of 9th suspension going on in the e minor parts of guitar and keyboard, and D suspended over the c# of the A chord.
(for the Pink Floyd version those become pedal steel melody notes).
there is a turn at the end of the big phrases which is C – b – F – G D (d# “half demolished”) back to e….
What she plays: TRI-TONE. love it.
bam.
amazing.
B- Bb rocking back and forth, then repeating the figure with G and f# resolving to E…. its so short but so brilliant, clearly improvised, and maybe accidental. That is why its good.
Tasteful players take chances, and beautiful things happen. I wish I saw more of it on tv.
all of this happens on the B and G strings at the 12th fret, for those playing along at home.
About Jessica Dobson – She has an incredible band of her own, called Deep Sea Diver – They used to be based out of Long Beach (Kevin from Two Guns introduced me to the music).
Deep Sea Diver is now Seattle based, and about to release a new record.
Check out the new track -
