We Use Power

Note: This post was written in 2025 and backdated to appear on the day I wrote and published the track.

Back to the land of ambient techno and another chance to open that bag of tricks I’ve been wanting to try. Earlier in the month, I went all in on an Orb-style track with The Match Went Out, and had really been enjoying listening to it when the opportunity presented itself. I wanted to revisit that genre, though not necessarily in exactly the same way.

One of my favorite sources for public domain audio and video¹Well, in theory. Some of the copyright ownership chains seem a bit murky, but everything I pull from the site explicitly states that it’s either public domain or licensed under creative commons. is the Prelinger Archive section of the Wayback Machine. There are so many wonderful old training, promotional, and educational films, all of which provide that instant “old school cool” vibe.

The source film that provides the narration is one that I might have watched when I was in elementary school or junior high, so my nostalgia was already in full swing. But it’s not enough to just drop the film audio on top of a beat and call it a day.

Tricks of the Trade

In this case, I actually didn’t do as much work playing with the source audio as I did on The Match Went Out. Instead, I selected some interesting delays and granular effects, automated aspects of them so there would be some movement and variety, but just let them do their thing rather than manually crafting every chop and stutter. I also put them back a bit in the mix so they’re not overwhelming – they’re seasoning this time rather than the main course. Writing from the future, this has become one of my very favorite tracks and will almost certainly be showing up (possibly in an extended form) on a future album.

Another trick is using an odd time. Well – sort of. It’s actually in 4/4, but the chord progression is five measures long, which makes the cycle just a bit different from what you might be expecting. For the most part, I let the film audio run at it’s own pace. I did make a couple of edits to create space for the instruments underneath. I also dragged out build to almost four and a half minutes before the beat and bass come in full, which apparently worked well judging from one comment I got.²”Ray – We Use Power – fuuuuuuuucccckkk. when it drops.”

If anything, my best “trick” on this one was not overworking the dough. I got things to a nice and chill place, then just let them do all the work. I love that the granular bits on the narration poke their heads out from time to time, almost like an alien robot learning to speak English from watching TV. When the beat and bass do come in, they scratch that itch and give you enough time to sink in before everything starts to fade.

I’m actually not sure if it would be any better to extend the track. Unlike The Match Went Out, the narration on this one is largely complete and the ending is enough of an ending to not leave me wanting more of the story. I do plan on making a video for this one using the source film as well.

I was pleased with this one when I finished with it, and it’s stood up over the last year and a half. What I’m not sure about is if I build out an album that includes this one, should there be more tracks like it, or should this be one of the few with the sampled film gimmick? That probably depends on whether or not I find other source audio that’s as engaging. I’m reminded a bit of the Gregorian chant craze started by Enigma back in 1990. One track was enough – if the entire album had been groovy beats under chants, it might have worn out its welcome a bit more quickly. Instead, future albums kept the general tone, but explored sacred songs from other cultures as well. Time to go digging.

Colophon

Instruments & Samples

XO, Korg Triton Extreme, Diva, Pigments, Omnisphere, Zebra, Falcon

Effects, Mixing, & Mastering

FabFilter, Gullfoss, Softube Dirty Tape, MOTU Trim, Output Portal & Movement

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Notes

• 1
  Well, in theory. Some of the copyright ownership chains seem a bit murky, but everything I pull from the site explicitly states that it’s either public domain or licensed under creative commons.
• 2
  ”Ray – We Use Power – fuuuuuuuucccckkk. when it drops.”