After seeing an amazing concert by Ladytron last weekend, here is the first of a pair of bass covers. This was the first song in their set and what an intro to set the scene, the lead single from the latest album, Time's Arrow.
It wasn't a complicated bassline to decipher as it only involves 4 notes, but on the record it's programmed on a bass synthesiser relentlessly sounding 8 times a bar throughout, so not as easy to play as it might seem. I've mixed up the picking here to vary the sound - downstrokes to give more attack in the verses, upstrokes for more presence during the choruses and alternate strokes with a light grip on the pick for the more easy going bridge sections.
Here's the official video for the single: • Ladytron - City of Ang...
And here is most of the song played live in Liverpool (shot in portrait, grrr): • City of Angels (Live) ...
The sound was also this good at the London show - props to the sound desk!
City Of Angels, written by and instrumentation by Daniel Hunt
Bass part played on synth (down in the mix)
Bass: Musicman Stingray
Strings: Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky (Roundwound 105/85/65/45)
Amp: Lehle Basswitch IQ DI and Ampeg PF-50T via Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 into PC
FX: mix of one clean channel straight from the Basswitch with some EQ & compression and one with Aguilar TLC compressor, Darkglass Alpha-Omega Ultra EQ, EHX Micro-POG and MXR Bass Envelope Filter via the Ampeg with Ultra Lo EQ.
Camera: Panasonic Lumix GF5 (close-up) and Logitech C922 (front-on)