One listen.
I’ve wanted to do this song for a while, but early on into the writing I sort of hit a point where I started wondering if there was anything I could write. Naturally there always is, but I struggled and I think that comes through. I think I short-changed the song, in a sense.
Grace Jones’ “The Crossing (Oohh the Action…)” is from Slave to the Rhythm.
I hope you enjoy.
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Low voices, seemingly looping. Gradually become louder and clearer, and as they do, so do sounds, perhaps of the evening or the night. Percussion plays gentle, and almost playfully as the voices disappear, and there’s a pleasant calm that spreads through. Synths seem warm to the touch and they are joined by gentle bass, and something that could be water, and it’s peaceful, and playful, and nice.
More sounds come and go, staying at a distance and getting close, and the main melody is set, and they add on it. They don’t take away and they keep touching here and there, and there’s a nice sort of flow to it all. This isn’t trying to be massive; everything stays relaxed, and it seems to be more about the space and the atmosphere, and the setting.
It’s all easy, and maybe it’s idyllic. Maybe it’s not, but it seems to be, and those sounds keep steady and playful, and maybe joyous in a way. Maybe expecting, but not demanding.
When the percussion pulls away it doesn’t seem like there’s more space, and the sounds gradually fade away, leaving mostly the ideas of the evening or the night. And it stays gentle, and everything seems to fade back into scene, and the song ends.


