Kind of cool how Louis Cole very deliberately shuns any kind of fancy or vintage keys for all these amazing songs and yet manages to appear on this channel.
@ 4:11 is such a brilliant way to describe it: "You can see that just by playing some simple parts but just overdubbing parts that have other notes in them effectively just extends that harmony out and makes it much more rich and much more interesting - and much more Louis Cole." Thank you for another tremendous explainer, Alex... I try to make sense of this stuff and wrap my head around it, whether it's KNOWER or olde-time 1950s string arrangements, and you're always a MASSIVE HELP covering eclectic topics of practical use!
Alex I cannot thank you enough for this video which introduced me to the joyful rabbit hole of Louis Cole, Knower and all the other related projects. I’m a retired 57 year old synth playing accountant and since watching this I have essentially listened to nothing else other than Louis and cohorts. There have been 4 points in my musical life to now which changed everything. Finding Emerson Lake and Palmer at 11 years old which inspired me to take up piano, listening to Thriller on repeat on a Sony Walkman, hearing Prince and discovering the endless depths of Steely Dan. This is the 5th! Louis is a genius. I’m Tight is as funky and sonically interesting as any Prince track yet somehow not a copy. I hear Steely Dan as well but it’s never a copy. How can someone be this talented? It’s a joy to hear and watch. Thanks so much Alex.
make sure to listen to the stuff put out by his collaborator jacob mann, similarly funky synth music but with its own distinct jazzy flavour. and the jacob mann big band!
What a treat for us Louis Cole fans out there, super cool. Let It Happen was released the week my dad passed and I'm delighted I can start to understand how it works.
Hey man, you are yourself a Fantastic Muso, don't ever forget that. Music is not always about what you create or someone else's work, but it's about how you sense it, perceive it and understand it intellectually. It's like the difference between people appreciating a meal at a Five Stars Top Notch Restaurant, and others simply feeding themselves at a KFC. What you feel makes you great, not always the playing or creating the playing. Man I've been for over 42 years a professional studio/live musician. I don't play anymore but guess what? I enjoy Music much more now than before, because today all my "mental walls" are down and I am open and free to understand the real essence of Music, without worrying to make a living out of it. God bless you and keep the Great Works up. I can only wish you the best for your life and career. Carus Alambra👍
Did,nt need the disclaimer at the start Alex. You are also very talented. Don,t do a Rick Beato and say yeah i play guitar a bit. Then proceed to play any thing and everything perfectly. Omg yes Louis Cole and Genieve Artadi. Christ the most fabulous compositions by anyone in years . Absolutly insanely good. Love the way he just uses an Initialized patch on his synth and it sounds awesome. Fantastic breakdown ,many thanks.
Primary: you are amazing, thank you for still bringing us these happy videos. Your character and personality is infectious. Far Secondary: You look healthy, congrats!
I love that your channel includes sound design, history, entire songs, some theory, and the occasional porno tutorial. This is my ideal content composite from a music channel. Also, I personally appreciate the “difficulty level” of most of your videos: in terms of both synthesis and music theory, your videos are usually just enough of a stretch for me that they feel instructive and interesting, but never so opaque that they’re useless. Finally, I aspire to your musicianship. Even if one fine day I achieve a midpoint between my current ability and yours, I’ll be very happy indeed.
Hey Eric! Yes indeed. Didn't manage to get him and DOMi in the studio for my video though. 😀 Let me guess, if I was to do a Louis Cole synth sound tutorial, the place to find the sounds would be Omnisphere?
This is brilliant! I only found out about Louis Cole's existance since 6 months or so. I came across a KNOWER song, started listening to the Knower Forever album and I already know that by the end of the year the Spotify statitics will remind me that I barely have been listening to anything else ever since. I am only starting to find out about other material and are not familiar yet with Cole's solo work (for me, Genevieve's no-frill dead-on voice is an absolute highlight). I absolutely love their insane level of musical skills, and yet, always "serving the song"by borrowing from the pop idiom and include super catchy hooks and melodies. It's really the stuff that you can listen to endlessly and appreciate more and more. And yes, being "even crappier" musicion than Mister Ball I find it very challenging to play their songs. Will try to play along with this vid tomorrow. Fun! Thanks!
I'm I'm too scared to check my bank account!!!! I always wanted to play the funk solo from it. However, I can't play piano so I guess I'll see you in 20 years. Excellent stuff as always!
The disclaimers are hilarious 😅 I reckon necessary, though, which makes it even funnier 🤣 Choice of Juno fits the British understatement paradox humor (is there a word for that?) perfectly. Great video 👍👍😃🤩
I actually look forward to your recreations and demo songs, they're my favourite parts of your videos. There's no way I'd ever take the time to figure out how to make this old hardware works
The cool part about Alex' use of the Juno-6 is that you can copy the slider's positions on whatever Juno-60 variant (software or hardware!) you have handy, and end up with the same sound! Most of those "comping" sounds are also very simple - it's the frantic tempo and precision they're played at that makes it sound so unique.
Well you mentioned that you are not as good a musician as Louis. But I think you are an amazing documentary maker, perfect narrator, a damn good musician, and you practically know your way with every instrument that has keys and strings. And you have acting skills, remember the Dutch alter ego, I love those episodes. You are mayor talented Alex. Give yourself some credit.
How come I never heard of this guy xD Let it happen has a super impressive chord progression woah ! thanks for covering it :) "not an amazing musician" DEBUNKED
Being technical isnt everything tbh. Youre really good at creating atmospheres in your compostions which i value more personally. Dont sell yourself short!
*Gets into Louis Cole* *Wants to know what chords he uses* *Returns to Alex Ball channel* "Well, would you look at that!" The top four songs I wanted, too - that's service! Thanks, fella!
Thank you so much for this tutorial, I've been a mouse click electronic producer for far too long and just started learning to play the keyboard properly. I'm a massive fan of Louis Cole and you covered my favourite tracks you absolute legend!! PS: I had same confusion on the pronunciation of his name, It's French originally innit
One of my favourite artists - I’ve been a big fan for the past couple of years (thanks Justin ‘Awkins). His early Knower electronic tracks, with the brilliant Genevieve are awesome, but the playing on his band records is out of this world - especially with Sam Wilkes, Jacob Mann, Mono Neon and Rai Thistlewaite - but then I’ve never seen him with a ropey band. You’re none too shabby either!
08:13 I’ve recently done this with OMD’s Messages. Probably because of the RUclips algorithms finding me the Synth Britania after watching all your vids. So thank you!
Never heard of the bloke. Alex has now sent me on a bit of a journey. I was underwhelmed for the first minute or so of I'm Tight but it gets good really, really quickly. I love it when Alex stumbles upon a particularly "juicy" chord.
Awesome Alex.. as usual. As a big Louis Cole / Knower fan I thought I knew all songs by now.. what a great discovery 'let it happen' .. literally shedding tears to my eyes. Thanks man. Next up.. clowncore!!..?
Dude you are a Synth Lord. Don't downplay your playing because of Louis Cole... OK!... he's a machine... But I'm always looking forward to the Synth music you sometimes randomly put at the end of vids. There's some music in there that's just solid gold.
Let it Happen is a great track. And I love the way it just isn't at all perfectly executed playing wise even though we're talking about a top drawer musician. LOve it.
dude your music skills/creativity/sound egineering / style, overall creates joy in your listeners i can swear you are good. No need to be the 1 in a billion dude-that has a specific path too that can explains stuff nothing s genetics not as people would believe- sorry no punctuation, i haf to say it : You are very good dude
His chord progressions are wild, I sat down at the piano to try to work on a song or two, I had about 30 minutes. Nope, too many 9ths, 11ths, and other thick chords. Decided I’d need more time on another day to do it lmaoooo. Also check out Jacob Mann, he’s the guy plying the Juno on most of the newer tracks. Very impressive keyboard player.
For sure. Those extensions make all the difference, but they're so well strung together too. Wonderful stuff. Love Jacob's stuff, he's a fine player as you say.
Hey Alex, absolutely brilliant video! Since I'm a guitarist I couldn't wait to try out your chords for Let it happen, great stuff! However, as an alternative, after fiddling around with the progression, I found that the first 2 chords of the 2nd bar sound quite nice played as follows (fretting strings 6-4-3-2 respectively): G#-F#-C-E (frets 4-4-5-5) A-F#-C-D# (frets 5-4-5-4) Really not sure what the names of above chords are, but maybe you can give it a try.. Anyway, thanks for this video and keep up the great work - your channel is one of my favourites on RUclips. Cheers, Thomas
![Digital Circus Episode 4 [TRAILER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/abZtsmMUbJo/mqdefault.jpg)
After years of assuming the UK pronunciation of Louis, I am today finding out that the s is pronounced. How embarrassing. Apologies.
I'm American and I thought the same thing. Maybe I'm just stupid😭
Great name either way
I do believe it can be correctly pronounced either way in the US. Those harmonies remind me of 80s fusion.
Kind of cool how Louis Cole very deliberately shuns any kind of fancy or vintage keys for all these amazing songs and yet manages to appear on this channel.
@ 4:11 is such a brilliant way to describe it: "You can see that just by playing some simple parts but just overdubbing parts that have other notes in them effectively just extends that harmony out and makes it much more rich and much more interesting - and much more Louis Cole." Thank you for another tremendous explainer, Alex... I try to make sense of this stuff and wrap my head around it, whether it's KNOWER or olde-time 1950s string arrangements, and you're always a MASSIVE HELP covering eclectic topics of practical use!
"I am not an incredible musician" - Brother, your song writing is monumental and moving
Thank you.
I have your albums in my play lists Alex. I play them quite often
Don't sell yourself short Alex you're awesome too!
Cheers!
Well, I think Alex knows that, but pushing forward and stays humble.... That's the key.
Alex I cannot thank you enough for this video which introduced me to the joyful rabbit hole of Louis Cole, Knower and all the other related projects.
I’m a retired 57 year old synth playing accountant and since watching this I have essentially listened to nothing else other than Louis and cohorts.
There have been 4 points in my musical life to now which changed everything. Finding Emerson Lake and Palmer at 11 years old which inspired me to take up piano, listening to Thriller on repeat on a Sony Walkman, hearing Prince and discovering the endless depths of Steely Dan. This is the 5th!
Louis is a genius.
I’m Tight is as funky and sonically interesting as any Prince track yet somehow not a copy. I hear Steely Dan as well but it’s never a copy. How can someone be this talented? It’s a joy to hear and watch.
Thanks so much Alex.
I‘ve discovered louis and knower via clowncore and i too have been exclusively listening to this stuff since then, it‘s just so awesome
make sure to listen to the stuff put out by his collaborator jacob mann, similarly funky synth music but with its own distinct jazzy flavour. and the jacob mann big band!
You're a "Knower" of things Alex.
What a treat for us Louis Cole fans out there, super cool.
Let It Happen was released the week my dad passed and I'm delighted I can start to understand how it works.
Sorry to hear about your dad's passing. I bet that was quite a poignant listen to say the least.
Absolutely, the track is a very bittersweet listen for me.
Hey man, you are yourself a Fantastic Muso, don't ever forget that. Music is not always about what you create or someone else's work, but it's about how you sense it, perceive it and understand it intellectually. It's like the difference between people appreciating a meal at a Five Stars Top Notch Restaurant, and others simply feeding themselves at a KFC. What you feel makes you great, not always the playing or creating the playing. Man I've been for over 42 years a professional studio/live musician. I don't play anymore but guess what? I enjoy Music much more now than before, because today all my "mental walls" are down and I am open and free to understand the real essence of Music, without worrying to make a living out of it.
God bless you and keep the Great Works up. I can only wish you the best for your life and career.
Carus Alambra👍
Thanks for putting me onto Louis Cole! You provide a valuable public service and should be applauded.
now, i want to see louis in your studio!
Yes please.
You certainly are a fantastic musician, you write some absolute jams.
My fave synth human teaching my favorite Lous Cole person stuff! Pinch me! Seriously, this is heaven for me!!👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Did,nt need the disclaimer at the start Alex. You are also very talented. Don,t do a Rick Beato and say yeah i play guitar a bit. Then proceed to play any thing and everything perfectly. Omg yes Louis Cole and Genieve Artadi. Christ the most fabulous compositions by anyone in years . Absolutly insanely good. Love the way he just uses an Initialized patch on his synth and it sounds awesome. Fantastic breakdown ,many thanks.
This video made me sing 'yeeeahuhuhuhuhuhuh' while tapping my voice box . Awesome stuff.
WOW - what an absolute gem of a video! Thanks so much for putting this out there.
Cheers! A video I wanted to see, so I made it myself. Nice to know others found it useful.
Louis and Knower coming to London 5/9 this year playing at the KOKO, it is bound to be a great night!
Oh shit! I'm in! Saw him at Heaven, just him and his laptop and it was great!
Primary: you are amazing, thank you for still bringing us these happy videos. Your character and personality is infectious. Far Secondary: You look healthy, congrats!
Yes! Glad to get more theory from you, and a worthy case study!
Too humble maestro! you are a genius and very generous with all of us ...
Awesome!! Yes I would love a synth construction demo that would be amazing! Thanks!!
Every time they release something it means a trip to the piano and many smiles. Thanks for this breakdown.
Ah, nice to know. Enjoy!
I love that your channel includes sound design, history, entire songs, some theory, and the occasional porno tutorial. This is my ideal content composite from a music channel.
Also, I personally appreciate the “difficulty level” of most of your videos: in terms of both synthesis and music theory, your videos are usually just enough of a stretch for me that they feel instructive and interesting, but never so opaque that they’re useless.
Finally, I aspire to your musicianship. Even if one fine day I achieve a midpoint between my current ability and yours, I’ll be very happy indeed.
So glad to see you talking about one of my favorite artists!
One of mine too. A video I was hoping someone else would make, so I did it myself.
Same here! ❤
Oh, two fav topics Alex and Louis mashed up, so happy, thank you thank you.
❤So happy to see that you’ve gone down the wonderous rabbit hole that is my good friend Louis! ❤️🔥🔥🔥
Hey Eric! Yes indeed. Didn't manage to get him and DOMi in the studio for my video though. 😀
Let me guess, if I was to do a Louis Cole synth sound tutorial, the place to find the sounds would be Omnisphere?
I've always loved LC's music and arrangements, so this is a treat to watch! And very informative.
This is brilliant! I only found out about Louis Cole's existance since 6 months or so. I came across a KNOWER song, started listening to the Knower Forever album and I already know that by the end of the year the Spotify statitics will remind me that I barely have been listening to anything else ever since. I am only starting to find out about other material and are not familiar yet with Cole's solo work (for me, Genevieve's no-frill dead-on voice is an absolute highlight). I absolutely love their insane level of musical skills, and yet, always "serving the song"by borrowing from the pop idiom and include super catchy hooks and melodies. It's really the stuff that you can listen to endlessly and appreciate more and more. And yes, being "even crappier" musicion than Mister Ball I find it very challenging to play their songs. Will try to play along with this vid tomorrow. Fun! Thanks!
IDK bro, I've just gotten in to synthing but so far you're one of my favorite synthingers. You make some of the fattest & raunchiest squawks.
Holy cow, I just searched for F It Up and found his live recording F it up - Louis Cole (Live Sesh). That's nuts!
I'm I'm too scared to check my bank account!!!!
I always wanted to play the funk solo from it. However, I can't play piano so I guess I'll see you in 20 years. Excellent stuff as always!
The disclaimers are hilarious 😅 I reckon necessary, though, which makes it even funnier 🤣 Choice of Juno fits the British understatement paradox humor (is there a word for that?) perfectly. Great video 👍👍😃🤩
I actually look forward to your recreations and demo songs, they're my favourite parts of your videos. There's no way I'd ever take the time to figure out how to make this old hardware works
Nice breakdown! Helped me learn them, cheers!
I love Louis Cole’s stuff. Great video thank you
his bass lines are crazy too, more louis cole vids pls
Your breakdown of LC synths sound - that would be totally awesome!
The bit about obsessing over Let it Happen - so true..:)
Quite a challenge, but it would be fascinating as it's all modern sounds and not my usual vintage stuff. I'll have to do it at some point.
The cool part about Alex' use of the Juno-6 is that you can copy the slider's positions on whatever Juno-60 variant (software or hardware!) you have handy, and end up with the same sound! Most of those "comping" sounds are also very simple - it's the frantic tempo and precision they're played at that makes it sound so unique.
You could cover Jacob Mann’s Juno 106 parts on his ‘Rolando’
@@simonhodgetts6530 I love that album! I made sure it was mentioned in the Bjooks Roland history book. 😀
@@AlexBallMusic Oh my bad, it slipped my mind that you do the vintage stuff mostly.
Ah well, no breakdown would bring us closer to Louis anyway lol
Well you mentioned that you are not as good a musician as Louis. But I think you are an amazing documentary maker, perfect narrator, a damn good musician, and you practically know your way with every instrument that has keys and strings. And you have acting skills, remember the Dutch alter ego, I love those episodes. You are mayor talented Alex. Give yourself some credit.
Honestly the "i'm tight" cover sounds amazing
Thanks! Was reassuring to put the other parts down and it sounded right. I think I worked the chords out accurately, or mostly accurately.
So I have no idea why this is the first time I've heard of Mr Cole! Thanks for the intro, Alex!
Enjoy!
How come I never heard of this guy xD Let it happen has a super impressive chord progression woah ! thanks for covering it :)
"not an amazing musician" DEBUNKED
Excellent breakdown. Thanks so much!
Fab Alex, I suppose translating the chord progressions builds with muscle memory. Great insight.
So happy to see you doing this kind of video with this kind of artist! Louis is the best. 😁
He's a treat, yeah.
finally! the perfect person to do the perfect tutorial! thank you!
Cheers!
@@AlexBallMusic no, thanks to you mate!
Had to google your X7000, what a fascinating piece of kit.
Boy he sure loves those 11s/add 4s. I'm here for it. Great video Alex!
Also nice job with voice leading on those chord structures on Let it Happen!
Being technical isnt everything tbh. Youre really good at creating atmospheres in your compostions which i value more personally. Dont sell yourself short!
*Gets into Louis Cole*
*Wants to know what chords he uses*
*Returns to Alex Ball channel*
"Well, would you look at that!"
The top four songs I wanted, too - that's service! Thanks, fella!
😀
Finally a Louis Cole video from the "Genre: House" guy ;)
Thanks!
My most successful comment section pun. 😜
@@AlexBallMusic That's definitely well deserved!
Thank you so much for this tutorial, I've been a mouse click electronic producer for far too long and just started learning to play the keyboard properly. I'm a massive fan of Louis Cole and you covered my favourite tracks you absolute legend!! PS: I had same confusion on the pronunciation of his name, It's French originally innit
I wish to add to all the comments about your musicianship. You, ya silly sod, are an excellent musician, and I’ll deck anyone who says otherwise.
Such a great video! Thanks! 🙏🏽
Actually... very tasty!
Thanks for sharing, made us fans of you both, extra happy.
One of my favourite artists - I’ve been a big fan for the past couple of years (thanks Justin ‘Awkins). His early Knower electronic tracks, with the brilliant Genevieve are awesome, but the playing on his band records is out of this world - especially with Sam Wilkes, Jacob Mann, Mono Neon and Rai Thistlewaite - but then I’ve never seen him with a ropey band. You’re none too shabby either!
08:13 I’ve recently done this with OMD’s Messages. Probably because of the RUclips algorithms finding me the Synth Britania after watching all your vids. So thank you!
all my fave tracks by louis cole 🎉
Great - love Louis Cole
Never heard of the bloke. Alex has now sent me on a bit of a journey. I was underwhelmed for the first minute or so of I'm Tight but it gets good really, really quickly.
I love it when Alex stumbles upon a particularly "juicy" chord.
Mike from Vermont states, Louis who?
This is sick as hell thank you
huge day for Louis Cole fans huge day for Alex Ball fans
Thanks for the tutorial! I've been digging LC, KNOWER and Clown Core a bunch lately.
Awesome Alex.. as usual. As a big Louis Cole / Knower fan I thought I knew all songs by now.. what a great discovery 'let it happen' .. literally shedding tears to my eyes. Thanks man.
Next up.. clowncore!!..?
This brought me back to experiencing ClownC0re's Van album in all it's glory again.
I don't understand a single thing but it all sounds beautiful 🔥
Dude you are a Synth Lord. Don't downplay your playing because of Louis Cole... OK!... he's a machine... But I'm always looking forward to the Synth music you sometimes randomly put at the end of vids. There's some music in there that's just solid gold.
Glad someone got round to it. Sweet
You're awesome all round Alex Ball.
Would love a separate video diving into Louis Cole sound design!
Damn what a cross over episode! Edit: wait now i wanna hear you cover thinking!
Amazing video topic, huge LC fan. I would definitely be interested in an LC Synth sound design video if that ever interests you to work on!
Let it Happen is a great track. And I love the way it just isn't at all perfectly executed playing wise even though we're talking about a top drawer musician. LOve it.
Yeah, very vulnerable performance. Incredible song.
What're you, stalking my Spotify with this? But really, well done, man!
Thank you very much for sharing, bang on job you did
Have to say it Alex ,but you are wrong at 0:16 ,you are great entertainer and a talented musician in the same package,love what you are doing!
Also try to analyse his synth bass lines. They are amazing.
great - thanks Alex 🎹❤️🤩
amazing!
I would love a "sound video" of his songs, always wondered what he uses
dude your music skills/creativity/sound egineering / style, overall creates joy in your listeners i can swear you are good. No need to be the 1 in a billion dude-that has a specific path too that can explains stuff nothing s genetics not as people would believe- sorry no punctuation, i haf to say it : You are very good dude
i think you have a signature too, ewhich means a lot. And you seem like a great dude to know in person if i might add
Thank you!
His chord progressions are wild, I sat down at the piano to try to work on a song or two, I had about 30 minutes. Nope, too many 9ths, 11ths, and other thick chords. Decided I’d need more time on another day to do it lmaoooo.
Also check out Jacob Mann, he’s the guy plying the Juno on most of the newer tracks. Very impressive keyboard player.
For sure. Those extensions make all the difference, but they're so well strung together too. Wonderful stuff.
Love Jacob's stuff, he's a fine player as you say.
But I want to learn how to play drums like him even more!!!
Thank you for a great video, I'll use some of these tips! :)
Awesome video!!!
Loo-iss cole is the man but we love you Alex
Yeah, just finding this out now! UK / US pronunciation - two nations divided by a common language.
Hey Alex, absolutely brilliant video!
Since I'm a guitarist I couldn't wait to try out your chords for Let it happen, great stuff! However, as an alternative, after fiddling around with the progression, I found that the first 2 chords of the 2nd bar sound quite nice played as follows (fretting strings 6-4-3-2 respectively):
G#-F#-C-E (frets 4-4-5-5)
A-F#-C-D# (frets 5-4-5-4)
Really not sure what the names of above chords are, but maybe you can give it a try..
Anyway, thanks for this video and keep up the great work - your channel is one of my favourites on RUclips.
Cheers,
Thomas
Wow! Unexpected video!
Great tuto, thanks !
Wut??? No Knower - Overtime???
Am6 is now my new favourite chord
Especially when resolved back to E. 😍
Fine artist hands!
There's "Louis," and then there's Groove Master Ball!
Yes. I need this!
Yay Louis Cole!
“I am not an incredible musician”- guy who regularly cowrites charting songs
You may as well be speaking in Chinese for us non musos, but I respect and enjoy the theory videos..
Peace.
Be careful around those lovely synths, hot funk like that will set that ablaze in no time!
I have Handel's water music on standby.
This...was very helpful
Some of these chords played how you did remind me of Mike Oldfield's 'Platinum' but that might be the synth though.
Very unexpected, very cool
Loooove ittttttttttt!!!!!