GEDDY LEE Explains “Weird Zone” Bass Playing On RUSH’s Vapor Trails

Rush followers know the band’s prolificacy – churning out practically an album a yr for the reason that mid-70s. How do you discover contemporary inspiration after a long time of relentless productiveness? Geddy Lee and Rush found their reply by stepping again for 5 years earlier than reconvening in 2001 to provide Vapor Trails, their 17^th studio album.

This hiatus proved to be a turning level for Lee‘s bass enjoying. He wasn’t idle although – producing native Toronto artists and even releasing his 2000 solo album, My Favourite Headache. This time away fostered a major evolution in his strategy to the bass.

“My bass enjoying has gone into such a bizarre zone,” Lee himself admitted to Bass Player. “I’ve carried that on to a ridiculous diploma.”

Lee‘s method developed right into a rhythmic and sometimes chordal model that match nicely with a layered musical strategy. “I am strumming lots, and generally I find yourself with two or three bass tracks on every music. Relatively than look forward to a guitar half to fill in a melody, I am going to simply go up the neck, fuzz out my bass, and have it carry out that operate.”

A departure from conventional root-heavy basslines turned a trademark of Lee‘s work on Vapor Trails:  “I feel that is from the best way I take advantage of bass chords: The roots are implied with out essentially having to be emphasised. Typically we miss that, although, so I am going to return in and add a decrease bassline that grounds the half. But when it isn’t obligatory, we stay with out it.”

Rush embraced the digital age with Vapor Trails, which was recorded with Emagic Logic Audio software program. Most of the songs stemmed from jam periods captured instantly onto the software program, usually staying intact by the ultimate combine.

“Individuals say digital is that this sterile medium, however they do not perceive what it could do for you,” Lee mirrored. “You may get a really recordable sound and simply jam into the pc, after which manipulate it afterward.”

The album additionally marked a primary second for Lee, particularly throughout the recording of “Ceiling Limitless”: “It options the primary sort of ‘bass solo’ I have been allowed to throw on a Rush music. I needed to commerce off with Alex, however he is very anti-guitar solo in the intervening time, so he did not wish to get into that.”