Break it down!

When most of the people I know hear "Break it down!" the first image that comes to mind is probably this:

For a few of you, it might actually be these guys, the Kidz In The Hall (the rap group, not the hilarious Canadian sketch show).  The video for their single "Break It Down" appears to be advertising black lingerie for anorexic women.  No, you don't need to watch it, just believe me.

For a few others of you, this might actually be what comes to mind first:

<shudder>

Well, I'm not referring to any of those things.  I'm talking about the song "Break It Down Again" by the New Wave band Tears For Fears.

What's "New Wave" you ask?  Umm, well, it's kind of like one of those you-had-to-be-there jokes.  If you've got to ask, it's probably not worth finding out.   They wear sweaters in their cover art.  That should tell you something, right?

I thought that it would be fun to cover one of their electronic songs using mostly acoustic instruments.  Included in this track are guitar, mandolin, bass, alto and soprano recorders, piano, organ, and some percussion toys.  I gave up after the first verse and chorus.  That was enough for me to see what my experiment would sound like so I moved on to other projects.   Hope you like it:

Wait, now what was the question again?

As recorded by Douglas Adams in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the massive and great super computer Deep Thought determined the answer to the greatest question of all: the great question of life, the universe, and everything.  I quote  the dialogue from Mr. Adams' book between Deep Thought and the lucky scientists who were able to first receive the answer after 7.5 million years of processing:



"Good Morning," said Deep Thought at last.
"Er..good morning, O Deep Thought" said Loonquawl nervously, "do you have...er, that is..."
"An Answer for you?" interrupted Deep Thought majestically. "Yes, I have."
The two men shivered with expectancy. Their waiting had not been in vain.
"There really is one?" breathed Phouchg.
"There really is one," confirmed Deep Thought.
"To Everything? To the great Question of Life, the Universe and everything?"
"Yes."
Both of the men had been trained for this moment, their lives had been a preparation for it, they had been selected at birth as those who would witness the answer, but even so they found themselves gasping and squirming like excited children.
"And you're ready to give it to us?" urged Loonsuawl.
"I am."They both licked their dry lips.
"Though I don't think," added Deep Thought. "that you're going to like it."
"Doesn't matter!" said Phouchg. "We must know it! Now!"
"Now?" inquired Deep Thought.
"Yes! Now..."
"All right," said the computer, and settled into silence again. The two men fidgeted. The tension was unbearable.
"You're really not going to like it," observed Deep Thought.
"Tell us!"
"All right," said Deep Thought. "The Answer to the Great Question..."
"Yes..!"
"Of Life, the Universe and Everything..." said Deep Thought.
"Yes...!"
"Is..." said Deep Thought, and paused.
"Yes...!"
"Is..."
"Yes...!!!...?"
"Forty-two," said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm.” 



Today's recording is of me playing an instrumental improvisation over the chord's from Dave Matthews' song #41.  I'm playing several acoustic guitar parts (4?) and a fretless bass.  

If it seems like something is missing, you're right.  It's that last little bit, that last single integer, that would have brought meaning to life, the universe, and everything.  Sorry.  I got sleepy.