The Saber of Schklandaar
by @sapient
Liner Notes
Done it!
Thanks so much for the comments, everyone. In no particular order:
@helenseviltwin - my banjo is broken, so it's a heavily distorted mandolin in the middle instead. @max - I reckon this has that B11 feel, yes? @negasi - there are 4 synths in this: Ethereal Earth, Hypha, Schema Dark, EZ Keys @rogerhammond - lucky that I have a mellotron flute pack, eh? The elves are also in there, and I hope timpani and gongs count as a dynamic change @joshalmond - yup, river at the start @troubadette - I really struggled with the 50s vibe thing, BUT, what is that noise at the end? ;) @wynia - songbirdy enough for you? (and I hope the biology isn't awful!)) @alyxanderjames - spot the triangle? @nadine - biology all the way! @aeye - you demon. I hope it makes you happy...
OK, time to attempt the #CommentsFirst challenge (https://fawm.org/forums/3649) for the first time...
The song doesn't exist yet, and will be written according to the first few comments it gets. Leave a comment saying what you liked about this (future) song below!
Lyrics
Ribosomes twisting Like hooks on a spiral Genes pre-existing Mirrored but chiral
8cent Grape$ gone too far Lost in the forest of Schklandaar Searching in the trees for discount fruit Stumbled upon a chest full of loot Thinking it was edible, looked inside But what he saw made his eyes pop wide Heart a-pounding, breath starts to labour Cos it was elves, wielding a sabre In his face
Messengers reading Synthesis tweaking Covalent cleaving Peptide chains seeking
Comments
![[pic]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2026/debd9e2d-8cb0-4249-8081-ad62cca49ef8.png){kind=avatar}
This is a masterpiece of a #commentsfirst challenge entry! My god man, is there nothing you can not do musically!?! 😲😲😲
I loved this from the start with that river sound. The way you built in every comment suggestion is amazing. I wasn't sure what to expect with the 8c grapes rap, but you nailed it perfectly. Wow. I'm just blown away, yet again, by your talent & creativity. You never fail to disappoint us.
See You In The Shadows…
![[pic]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2023/988.png){kind=avatar}
Aw, shucks... thank you :D
![[pic]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2023/8875acbf-1cd6-4363-8a35-e1e9c22c5f18.png){kind=avatar}
INSANE. I love this so much.
![[pic]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2026/3f755f52-5c1f-4e1b-8a10-bcfb85019e6b.png){kind=avatar}
Was not expecting the 8c grapes rap. Love all the little bits and birds, (tiger?), and well done on the singing!
![[pic]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2025/237b63b6-5a5a-4658-91ce-237bfb9fd6fb.png){kind=avatar}
You are songbird AF, with actual songbirds! And as a scientist I especially appreciate hearing the sweet jargon of my people…ribosome…peptide…covalent…chiral! Insane that you were able to ace this so well with all the various first comments!!
Thanks! I was keeping my fingers crossed that I wasn't walking on quicksand with this. My graduate education was firmly in the physical, not biological sciences ;)
![[pic]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2025/a2577422-cff3-409d-80ff-376c74f113c2.png){kind=avatar}
Incredible! You incorporated the comments masterfully. This was a delight to listen to!
Thank you! And it's the first time I have ever used a triangle in a song! 🤣
![[pic]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2026/390c08eb-c656-49c8-8465-5054ac624054.png){kind=avatar}
I am beyond impressed that you took that handful of insane requirements and made something that not only fulfilled them but sounds good! Those notes at the top of your vocal range sounding sweet! And the breaking into rap reminded me a little of that fantastic Swiss Eurovision winner from a few years back.
Well that is a mighty compliment! Ta! 🤩
![[pic]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2023/244.png){kind=avatar}
Thank you! It was quite a combination of requirements...!
![[pic]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2025/5afb4dca-1c0d-4d1d-ad2b-dfb136e6a37c.png){kind=avatar}
Fantastic. Love the fluty mellotron - I knew you'd have one :) ... Your voice reminds me of Peter Gabriel from the Genesis Trespass era. What a soundscape ... too far and Schklandaar ... superb! Sabre-wielding elves ... ribosomes and peptides. it's a prog-rock-fest of a song. VERY well done!
Thanks Roger! It was a lot of fun to make this one!
![[pic]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2025/7e50428d-4928-499e-873d-2b62133df15f.png){kind=avatar}
Oh my word. This is like the most full-on prog track I think I've ever heard you do. Incredible scenes!
Lyrically, this is amazing. Rhyming "Discount fruit" with "loot" is hilarious but "Mirrored but chiral" is so, so good. And makes sense!
Thank you! If I'm doing science I do like to try and do it properly 😎
![[pic]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2023/26622.png){kind=avatar}
Youre awesome! Reading all these comments I would go completely mad, but instead you nailed them all. I had to laugh so hard at 8cent grapes getting in trouble with elves
![[pic]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2026/43b1a3d7-14bd-4217-88d9-420c11eb8499.png){kind=avatar}
8-cent grapes... that you? This just took me on a journey. Your vocals are gorgeous, the nature sounds, holy cow
![[pic]](/static/img/avatars/animals/17.png){kind=avatar}
How you managed to take all these varied comments and turn them into this huge sounding magical jour ney is beyond me! It sounds gr8(centgrapes)!
![[pic]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2024/59cb15b2-3725-4203-bd9a-d2c500728b07.png){kind=avatar}
Good lord dude. This is INSANE for a comments first result (Also your impression was so good Mr Grape$ is consulting with his lawyers now)
Is that a heavily distorted banjo I hear?
I never thought this day would come but oh my God you absolutely NAILED that impression of 8Cent Grape$ right down to his flow and delivery.
Is that the sound of a river in the beginning?
Ah, there is a bit of Brug Elf in it as well! Nicely done.
Oh did you change your field of study? I always though you were about astro physics but this is about biology?! Mitochondriac rock?! Organic prog?!!!
I quite enjoy the multiple layers of synths you have going on in this track!
I really do like the way you've melded the mellotron/flute with the screaming guitar and the way the chorus is all hyped while the verses are sedate-yet-tense... those drums really do the trick. And the lyrics are awesome - I especially like the part about the Elves and the Saber of Schklandaar. Nice.
This is giving 1950s vibes and love it! I'm super curious about that sound in the outro - what was it?
I love how this song showcases your range as a vocalist! And...is that a triangle I hear among the percussion?
You sing like a songbird, so lovely
![[FAWM]](/static/img/demoduck.svg)
This is some seriously trippy shit. Love the spaciousness of the instrumentation. The sweet sounds of wildlife (and also the terrifying sounds of wildlife) are also very cool!