I’ve been working on a new recording of a song called Touch The Ceiling. This is the last song for my current forthcoming album, whose working title is Face The Heat. Like the last number Making Miles, this one is a cover of sorts, a blast from my own past. Way back in the 1980’s I was in the prog rock group Infinigon. We did mainly covers by bands like Rush, Yes, Genesis, and ELP, but we aspired to write our own original songs.
Touch the Ceiling was one of the best. It was written by our drummer Mark Colicchia, crafted by contributions from the whole group. The song is a good expression of Mark’s philosophy as well as a really good song with a strong melody and groove, some interesting twists, an atmospheric middle section and a jamming ending. I recall contributing a few ideas to the arrangement.
I’m doing this new arrangement in collaboration with John Neumann, the original Infinigon bassist, who is now a fellow recording studio artist and the driving force behind Tea With Warriors. He’s playing the bass and guitar, singing the second parts, and contributing some cool synthesizer textures. Meanwhile on my side, I’m doing most of the keyboard parts, and this song involves more drum programming that usual, as there are a few different rhythms, a couple of drum breaks and a good handful of fills.
My friend Erik came by last night and I ran him though my mixes, and we worked out a strategy for bringing them over to his studio. The main thing is he doesn’t use SampleTank, which is my main onboard software synthesizer, so I’m going to have to take all my drums and keyboard tracks and render them out as audio. So I’ll be getting going on that as I finish this song.
Things have been hectic for me this week with work, the car and all, so it may be a couple weeks still until I have the rough mix up. Have to finish up the drums and the synth solo at the end, and drop in John’s parts. Meanwhile, you can enjoy Mark’s lyrics.
…
Touch The Ceiling
by Mark Colicchia
Light side of summer ready to roll vivid perfect day
Song playing over the radio with nothing to day
Land upon the lunar surface streets and I’m on my way
Going out to spend tomorrow’s half of next week’s pay
You gotta go with the feeling
Avoid disbelieving
If you can’t touch the ceiling
Reach as high as you can
Waiting for the weekend takes so long then it’s gone too soon
Young night lit by ancient stars and pie-graph moon
Strange invitation you go it alone and the evening seems to loom
Searchlight eyes meet a similar gaze from across the room
You gotta go with the feeling
The moment revealing
If you can’t touch the ceiling
Reach as high as you can
Work live for paper pagan reward it’s the modern way
Stress cynicism all from the game what a price to pay
Plan for tomorrow but don’t forget to enjoy today
Do what you know is right in your mind it’s the winning play
Making the scene what does it mean what does it say?
Too many flaws plaguing the laws that we obey
Don’t let the sights of golden lights lead you astray
Life can be hard sometimes the cards fall where they may
And go with the feeling
Avoid disbelieving
If you can’t touch the ceiling
Reach as high as you can