Genre: Progressive Rock
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It all starts about two years ago, while I was on vacation. I was frustrated that I wasn't getting the writing and the recording done that I wanted. I had the brilliant idea that I would make some tracks really quickly that "wouldn't matter", just to reconnect with recording, and guitar, and to prime the pump. So I put together some drum loop tracks, plugged in an acoustic electric, and just put down rhythm tracks for three or four tunes. They were very basic, but I liked them. The further idea was that I would use these tracks to solo over, have fun with, AND post multiple versions of. Thus the number--someday there may a version called Progulation #2 or #7. Stripped versions, ornate versions, acoustic versions. I asked David (perceptualvortex) if he would undertake to put some better drums underneath them all while I worked on better acoustic guitar tracks. He agreed, and eventually turned up some really neat, really inventive drum parts for three of the tunes. I added a million assorted acoustic guitar tracks, and noodled away, as I do, but never finished them. For a year and a half. Finally, this past Spring I asked my friend Mark if he would like to play on any or all of them, and he said he would. A few weekends ago he came over on a Sunday, plugged his Ibanez Strat into my POD, and, over the course of four or five hours, laid down track after track of, to my ears, amazing harmonized guitar lines, and one heck of a solo. I tinkered with mixes until I had one we all liked, and sent it to Fran for approval. He liked it, and said he thought he could make it even better with some remastering. So he did... This has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a way for me to bust out of grumpiness and writer's/recorder's block. I am really thrilled at how it sounds. It is now very much a group effort, very much beyond me and my abilities, and, I think, nicely different. It's worth listening through at least one time just to appreciate the drums, and another few times to appreciate what Mark has done with the electric guitar, including the part at the end where he gradually builds up to, I think, a five-part harmony, followed by that cool bit of outro... I want to offer my thanks to David, Mark and Fran for their respective brands of genius and generosity. I hope we get to do it again, and soonish... Participants: Ed Hannifin: acoustic six and twelve string guitars, MIDI bass, original chords and sketch David Thomas: drum programming Mark Stunkel: electric guitars Fran Dagostino: final mastering and original song art I do still hope to do some different versions, which may include lyrics and vocals... Hardware:
iMac G5, Rode NT-1a, Alvarez Yairi DY 56, Alvarez Yairi DY74CFR, Alvarez 12-string acoustic guitar, Focusrite Saffire, M-Audio iControl, Line 6 POD 2.0, Ibanez Strat, CryBaby wah, and whatever David and Fran used...Software:
GarageBand, in several incarnations, Ozone, Channelstrip GB, TrackPlug, and other stuff... |
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jiguma
I hope - now I'll have a listen.
N
ledebutant
You posted at bath time! Neil's daughter is all grown up! Totally unfair!!!!!
Stamping of feet and screaming!
Ejh
I really was betting on Lisa this time...
A band of elves is now fashioning your trophy deep underground...
ledebutant
You should have told the elves not to eat candy from strangers. I'm sorry, but they're all dead now.
jiguma
... MIDI bass :(
Lovely tune and amazing playing all round - I'm sure this will take off in many directions. MArk's playing is incredible, and reinforces my feeling that he could get much better sounds on his own recordings of his beautiful playing.
This is just so cool Ed - definitely worth the wait. You must have had a lot of fun making it. Wish I had somewone like Mark up the road who could drop in and do this :)
Great, unobtrusive yet perfectly played kit David.
Nicely mixed Fran (I bet you were itching to lay down a few extra tracks!
Excellent Ed ..... now about the midi bass .......
Neil
Ejh
...I really don't have an excuse as regards the MIDI bass, except that that is just how the tune evolved. I put down acoustic guitars, I actually tried playing a bass line myself, on an actual bass guitar, and I finally determined that I did a better job on my little Oxygen 8... At least I did play it through...it's not a cut-and-paste job...
However, from now on you can expect huge files to be heading your way for bassifying..
I'm pleased that, despite its obvious bass failings, you like the tune, and, yeah, I expect to be typing this a lot today: David, Mark and Fran are cool dudes, with generous spirits and a whole lot of skill and imagination.
Thank you for your relentless devotion to the cause of firsties...
Ed
perceptualvortex
Well, you know how I feel about this, Ed. I just really love the song, and the guitar playing is superb. Some of those melodies are just classic beauties, the kind of tunes ears just want to hear. ZT did a solid job with the mix, keeping everything clear. You and Mark sound awesome, great job.
Ejh
...how thrilled I was to get the drum tracks you sent. All of a sudden my cheesy and brittle sounding demo tracks sounded like actual intelligent and skilled people had a hand in them... In my head, that's when the tracks started to come to life...
I have tried as best I could to make sure the drum tracks didn't fade into the background here, 'cause they hold their own as responsive and contributory instruments, not just timekeepers...
I think you're right about Mark's contribution as regards melody and harmony. His playing is never 'same old, same old'. It's not founded on cliche, and it always sounds fresh to me. Hmm, actually, much like your drums...
And Fran did bring the air and sparkle back to the total blend...
I'm glad that, as a prime contributor, you're pleased with the (first) final product...
Ed
aclarke
I faved before I hit play. Fran mentioned you had one coming and knowing your attention to detail and pursuit of perfection I knew I wasn't going to be let down... and I wasn't.
This song flows very well... very rich sound. Creative drums (David does them as well as anyone), fluid acoustic guitars and some wonderful electric playing by Mark. You already know how I feel about Fran's ear.
A very cool song almost all the way around (but you should really talk to Neil about that midi bass. :)
Ejh
I was just reading 'The Blade Itself', in which Inquisitor Glotka is in the process of extracting a confession, so it all seems to come together...
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Adam. I hope you'll do the same for the masterwork I'm preparing, featuring rubber band and tuba. I'm afraid the rubber band is MIDI, however.
Glad you liked it...
Ed
Feter
a Giant work came from giant musicians that I m
a real fan for their music ..incredible work here
all just so perfect .indeed vocal work would be
perfect ..I realy loved the arrangment and mixing !
thnx alot for sharin such gem !!!!
p.s
this song call for a bass (call neil) wink wink !!
Ejh
...an emerging theme here...
This Neil person...who is he, and why does everyone want me to call him? What's up with that?
Thank you, Feter, for your prompt response...I'm glad you liked how it came out... I continue to putter around with lyrics for the underlying chord progression...And different ideas for Mark's melodies... Don't think I could sing what he can play...
Ed
Ejh name is in my mail list... YAY!
Amazing piece of work, I knew it'd be something featuring Master Mark (hehe..) but a new master joined (David). What a great team you all?... Really took my breath and here are my 10's.... a great listen and can't wait to hear the updated!
Take Care
- Yeman A. Al-Rawi
Ejh
Continued thanks for your enthusiasm and support. I was hoping that you wouldn't be disappointed when I finally posted something again... Hope the trend continues when I get back to some things with vocals...
I don't think I qualify for anything like 'Master' status, but I certainly accord that level of respect to my partners here...
I'm glad you ended up liking it... Good to hear from you...
Ed
SlimGirlFat
What a fabulous track.
You are all such wonderful musicians. Beautiful arrangement mix and the overall sound is just fabulous.
D/L and going into my car..
Slimmie
Ejh
I'm tickled that you like this...We aim for fabulosity 'round here... Wait, isn't that what I said about your latest song?...
I'm particularly pleased that this has a chance to pass the car test... Be kinda cool to think of this tune pouring out of speakers somewhere on the roads of London or something... A place, by the way, that I've always wanted to see...
Thanks for listening...
Ed
composerclark
Music that makes you feel good... I love the way all the guitars blend together, and everything is so clean in the mix... just a fantastic sound here! Feels like traveling music, makes me want to take a road trip to the American southwest. Beautiful.
Ejh
I'm pleased that this evokes some good feelings... And I was wondering whether I'd achieved any sort of blend with the 312 guitar bits...I particularly wanted to do justice to what Mark was doing, which was in that "simple but complicated" territory...
Gee, if you play this in the American Southwest, and Slimmie plays it in London...Maybe we can get postcards from every far-flung place this tune lands...We could put up a map, with little color-coded tacks...and have a 'situation room'...
But I digress. Mostly, I'm thrilled, as always, that we pass the 'Clark test'...
Thanks,
Ed
Ed, great "new" song. With all those guitars Karen tells me about, I'm glad to hear them at work. I haven't been recording lately either...though I picked up a new Gretsch to try to stimulate some creativity...my writing partner has a 32 channel board that usually sits there as a glorified stereo...now that I'm off for the summer I'll put down some tracks. Can I post songs even if not a Mac user?
Take care, Dee says hi,
Dug Hatch
Ejh
Very good to hear from you...I'll reply to your email shortly, too...(busy days at work have slowed me down)...
Gosh, a new Gretsch! I was just talking about Gretsches the other day, remembering when they were OUT of fashion, and you could pick one up used for $300... I always wanted one because Stills, Young and Harrison played them...Congratulations...I bet it WILL stimulate you, at least to pick up guitar a whole lot...
YES, you can post songs if you're not using a Mac. You may occasionally get teased about it...but there are lots of PC-based musicians here...
Hi right back to Dee...
Glad you caught up with this...
Ed
Roxylee
On my second listen while downloading- You guys are magnificent musicians and it's mixing is excellent, too. What a treat this morning!
Ejh
As far as treats go, it has been encouraging, heartening and inspiring to have this collaboration be so quickly and so warmly received...
I'm happy that you like it enough to download... I think Mark's melody in particular takes it to a very uplifting sort of place...
Thanks for listening and letting us know how you liked it...
Ed
magnatone
WOW! I got a little teaser from ziti last night ("wait till you hear Ejh's new one!"), so I knew this was coming but had no other info about it. It's the first thing I've listened to this morning, and it will stay with me all day and get played LOTS more times. What an astounding collaboration from the MJ Masters!
Ejh
What a tease...
MJ Masters! Makes us sound like a line of cigars...or a golf tournament... Come to think of it, Fran would like that...
It's good to see that, so far, I'm getting a positive response from the MacJams therapeutic community...I'm glad you like this, Karen...
Ed
thetiler
lead guitar, especially at the first part and how it sets the theme.
But the whole tune is fun to hear.
A nice rockin instrumental. A feel that seems a little towards a kind of Sultans of Swing, which is a melodic style i like.
Thanks for sharing
Ejh
...Bill, and it really applies to what I saw watching Mark work through the layering of the parts he had envisioned for this...Actually, watching Mark play is interesting, because he has some of the most perfect and elegant form just in terms of the ways he holds and moves his hands of anyone I've ever seen, and this, coupled with what's going on in that MIND of his, is very interesting to watch... Theme and harmony, and varying the bits at different times in the song were a big part of what he was doing...
I mostly hear the Knopfler influence in that last set of phrases as the tune ends...it has some of what I love in Mark Knopfler, and also some shades of electric Stephen Stills...Both of which I love...And even shades of the harmonic thinking of Danny Kirwan, another of my heroes...Anyway, Mark did some cool stuff...
Glad you found whatever the rest of us were doing to be fun, too... For myself I'll say that this is another example of me, not having, for instance, YOUR chops on the acoustic, using what I CAN do to its best advantage, or trying to...
Glad you gave a listen, BIll...
Ed
Ibstrat
it was really fun working on this. The original tracks were beautiful- very accomplished acoustic playing.Fran's remix sounds incredible and the drums are the work of a master.I was a little disappointed with the amenities at your home studio eg the miniature bread- next time please provide full-sized bread so I don't have to keep folding it.Also, true Prog Rock cannot be written in 4/4 time. I suggest that you write a follow-up piece (as part of a 3 hr. suite) in 21/32 time.As soon as my tour with Moviz is over I'll be available to start rehearsing for our South American Tour. Thanks for letting me play on this!
Ejh
You thought that was BREAD?
You didn't eat any, did you? Aw, now I feel bad...
You know, of course, Mark, that I turn to you for guidance in the realm of progitude, (a term I have trademarked, by the way)... And as you know, I have a particular affection for works that require more than one CD to play...
My difficulty seems to lie in the fact that while I am alleged to have three ears, I have only two feet, and when I try to tap out a rhythm that is not an even multiple of the number of my feet, it gets difficult... Every so often I have to tap a half or a third of a beat, and that gets confusing...
I am hoping that you will be ready for the Amoeba world tour. Please remember that your contract does stipulate a cape. That thing you put together with the Viking horns and the animal skins had an entirely different vibe to it... Kind of John-The-Baptist-meets-Die-Valkyrie...We had a little shake-up when the inflatable amoeba got loose over Buenos Aires, but I think the resulting photos will make a cool album cover...
Thank you as always for your inspired fortitude....
Ed
By the way, I haven't told Fran about you breaking the acoustic...
Ejh
Thanks for putting so much work and time into this... I love how it came out...
And thanks for the encouragement about my recording and playing... I appreciate it...
Ed
Pete_NB
Some things are worth the wait, and this is certainly one of them. The chord progression grabs you right out of the gate, so simple and brilliant.
The sum of the parts in this collaboration transcend the whole, everything complements each other perfectly. Nothing overpowers and the engineering seems to have been as important as the orchestration in that regard.
Great to finally have an Ed submission once again.
A gem.
Ejh
I'm glad you caught this... See, I CAN play guitar, a little...
I think this IS an example of good synergy...things came together in surprising ways, none of it was quite as expected...
I get a kick out of your praise for the 'engineering'...heh heh... I'm still at the "push this virtual button and see if it makes it better or worse" stage with Ozone.. Thanks to the great universe for Fran...
Anyway, it's good to be back, and in such inspiring company... Now I've still gotta get something going with words....
Thanks for the listen...
Ed
Moviz
is something else and well worth waiting for.... it's just beautiful. Everything is in perfect sync, drums, guitars and that flowing rhythm really gets me, wonderful. Mark may be available sooner than he thought too, because we won't be doing Roanoke this tour. Cheers M
Ejh
I really like "that flowing rhythm", too, although I seem to have added extra bars from time to time...
I don't know what you're thinking of, skipping Roanoke...big moneymaking town for prog, is Roanoke...
Let me know if you'd like to go halfsies on Mark's cape...
Ed
J.A.Stewart
and lots of sweet guitar work in here. You've created a lush acoustic bed to build off of, Ed. I have no doubt that you will be able to shape it into many interesting variations.
Mark's guitar work does remind one of Dire Straits at times and of George Harrison during the harmony parts... and then of Mark, himself, at other times. It's really nice that you and Mark can work together like this in real time... it's definitely a plus.
The first part of the main guitar theme is reminiscent of the melody line in "The Lonely Bull," by Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass, which was a very popular tune back in the early 60s. But what follows is generally more upbeat than that somewhat melancholy tune.
Sounds like all the various pieces came together quite nicely in this first progulation. Kudos to all the participants. ;)
--- Joe
Ibstrat
are you saying that I ripped off Herb Alpert? Bull!!
J.A.Stewart
No way, Mark. Herb was one of many who recorded versions of his buddy, Sol Lake's tune.
Not trying to wave a red flag in front of your work. Like I said... *reminiscent of*... ;)
--- Joe
Ibstrat
that was supposed to be a pun I was joking!
Ibstrat
Red flag... I get it!
Ejh
I'm glad some of the acoustic stuff comes through... I really do think it would be neat to have an acoustic version or two, as well as a vocal version...Just see where it goes...
The beauty of being a guitar instructor who can go from Beatles to Guns to Metallica to Jobim in an afternoon is that Mark is able to draw on a much wider palette of influences than a lot of other mortals. I can certainly hear Knopfler in his tone and phrasing, and Harrison in his harmony thinking... 'And Your Bird Can Sing' sorts of things...
I now have to go to iTunes and look up 'The Lonely Bull', something that, I guarantee you, was not fated to happen before I read your comment...
Ed
ziti
I am the lucky one. I get to actually live about 1/2 mile from ed...but we met thru macjams... we got together right away when we realized we had this common spot. A friendship quickly developed. Ed is as he seems...quiet, thoughtful, and very very funny. He also does remarkable work with troubled youth and has a heart as big as Lake Huron...he has come to many of my shows, and I have watched his young boy splash around in my pool....basically...i love the guy. I had no idea he had this tune, he never played it for me. I was visiting his house the day Mark came to lay tracks, but I didnt hang around to watch cuz Ed's studio is ...ummm...small (plus he owns ONE too many guitars)...I have had the pleasure of witnessing Mr ibstrat play and have played with him, and he is a wonderful masterful player...his hands move like dancers....so i was so surprised when ed sent me this to critique. It is a side of ed I didnt know existed, really. I was so thrilled to hear this music coming from him. Just on a whim I brought his mp4 into GB and did a ChannelStrip master on it... and POP! out it came in all it's glory. I highly recommend the ChannelStrip for GarageBand! I had a version of the standard channel strip and it was very quirky running with GB, but it was AWESOME for mastering a master track. The version that has been released especially for GB is not quirky AT ALL and can be used on any track, not just the master track. The eq and compression seem to really work wonders on midi or software instruments, bring out every end of the sonic spectrum without distorting anything. and the interface is pretty easy to figure out, and I'm an idiot. Again, I didn't remix anything...i just touched up Ed's mix.
ChannelStrip for GB is $89 bucks from Metric-halo.com. The only thing that sucks, is that i cant run fully licensed copies on my home and road computers without buying a second license. BOOOOO! But it's a great 89 bucks.
Ed, I can only encourage you to write more instrumental music. This is so nice, your playing on it is total perfection, Mark is just great, and PVs visionary percussion track is to die for. One of the finest things I have heard in a bit. Congratulations!!!
ziti
i really like the bass part!
Ejh
I thought it sounded okay, although I had a hard time getting the level where I wanted it, and the tone... Mark said he thought it should stay simple 'cause the rest of it was going to be pretty busy...
[sigh]
Glad you liked it, too...
One of these days I'll get a bass part and mix that gets universal acclaim...
Ed
Ejh
That it has taken me several days to start catching up on comments lead you to believe I was anything other than very moved by what you wrote, Fran...
Thanks.
I'll have to mess around more with ChannelStrip for GarageBand... they also sometimes have sales on their stuff... People should get on their email list...I paid LESS than $89 when I bought it... And I like their presets... You'll have to show me what you did sometime...
Thanks for all the praise, support, encouragement, and like that...
Ed
Karmatoburn
whats the matter Ed, can't you find any body to jam with? ;-) This is superb on many levels, but none tops the sheer joy of the playing. Generous in its depth and carries well through out. Kudo's to all.
More please!
I didn't even realize Mark was local! How cool is that?
Ejh
...has such a dearth of good musicians... What's up with that?
I'm glad you're picking up on joy, 'cause there does seem to be that sort of feeling to it, despite the long and varied circumstances of the recording...
Mark and I and Peter Janson used to work together at Wood & Strings in Arlington...
I'll have to have you over for one of the next progjects... Y'know, I need someone to do this M-Tron (mellotron) stuff... Maybe we can get you and Mark on the same day... Just don't offer him small pieces of bread... He's a little sensitive about that...
Ed
Karmatoburn
You all worked together..that must have been very cool. I would love to be over, help in any way.
Ejh
But what the heck...David's a world traveler...helicoptering in Hawaii and whatnot... We'll just fly him out here... THe heck with all this file transfer stuff...
And yeah, we've gotta get you over here. Don't laugh at my little Oxygen 8, though...
Ed
Char
took all of you to make it happen. Thank you.
Ejh
...and for your comment, Char...
Much appreciated...
Ed
guitapick
...I'm sailing away on this, sans headphones, and in walks Ava:
"Hey...that's really nice...who is it"?
And, there you have it: we both love this tune, Ed, Mark, David, and Fran. Well worth the wait...it's a beauty from start to finish. Nice and up...perfect for summer. Nice of you to allow the download.
Ejh
Ava, from the Latin 'ave', meaning, 'to praise'... by extension, an 'avid' listener, i.e., one who listens like Ava, and says nice things...
Yet another reason to like your daughter, Bob...
It's always good to hear from you, too...
This has turned out to be a great deal of fun. David, Mark and Fran are in that category of guys who make it look easy...CAN be daunting, but it also can be inspiring... Maybe I can get David to juggle to this tune...that'll take it to the next level for summertime fun...
Ed
perceptualvortex
This tune could go great with juggling. I'm considering it.
dajama
This a beautiful, beautiful piece of music. I see what you mean about appreciating it on different levels. The drums are excellent, inventive and dynamic throughout, and what a nice drum sound! I love the changes in this, really sweet and eloquent, and the acoustic sounds excellent. Then Mark's guitar over it all (I really love the guitar over the last minute or so and the ending...well, actually I love all of the guitar!) Great melodic sense here, filled with inventiveness, and played with spark and verve. This is outstanding. Nicely done, gents. Kudos all around! Can't wait to see the next incarnation! Peace.
Ejh
Speaking of cures for the common writer's/player's/performer's block... I'm still grateful to you for getting me playing on Turn Away Slowly...
I really WANT people to hear and appreciate the different levels in this, and of course that made me crazy in terms of mixing, since I essentially wanted EVERYTHING to be up front...
I, too, love the drums, both in terms of playing and in terms of tones and accents. Dave programs like the drummer he is, and gets edges of cymbals and bell tones and momentary accents just as a real drummer would.
And I know what you mean about the ending bit of guitar... I liked it BEFORE that, but once Mark put on that building-up-the-harmony passage, and then that skirling outro, I was smitten...
Thanks for the listen and the encouragement...
Ed
I've heard in a long time. Very Mark Knopfler. Very mellow, cool flowing, stream of musical consciousness (whatever that means). Kudos Ed, Mark, Dave, and Fran...
Jack
Ejh
I'm glad you like it... Mark got to play just a little differently on this than on some of his own posts, which is cool for me because I know how wide-ranging a player he is..
Everybody involved brought cool stuff to the blend...
Ed
kassia
Wow you let this sit for just the right amount of time before pulling it out for us all to listen to. A rich, mellow tune full of pleasant sounds and a nice groovy beat. This is a wonderful collection of jammers and all of the pieces fit perfectly. Congrats on a great collab - brilliant job getting this tune started and keeping it moving Ejh. Thanks!
Ejh
Anybody who quotes Mary Oliver on their page is more than okay in my book...
I keep 'The Summer Day' taped to my office door... Very similar theme to your quote, I think...
'Getting it started and keeping it moving' probably best describes my contribution. These other guys really kicked it into gear...
Thanks for listening and commenting. Glad to have met you...
Ed
Jim Bouchard
Well, there's always a nit to pick. The drums are a hair too loud for my taste. The kick drum is comes in at 6 seconds with a hit that peaks out ever so briefly. It actually quiets down as the song goes on, which is a whole other issue. Why start everything out so loud and then pull it back a bit? The drums sound really awesome, but I feel like the wonderful guitar playing in the main melody line is being drowned out. And that's truly some wonderful guitar playing. The solo seems loud enough, so there's a bit of a boost there, but it still seems like the drums are just a hair too prominent. I also can't hear the bass all that much, which I suppose could be the sign of a good bass line at times. The mastering is really nice, but I just would like to hear a little less of the drums in the mix. And where's that last chord?
But anyway, this is way better than anything I could come up with on my own, so what am I saying anyway? Good job, fellas. There's things I'd change, me being me, but then there's things I'd change in all of my own stuff too. I'm just never satisfied!
Ejh
That you and I are from diverging branches of homo sapiens, and we actually have distinct and different hearing apparatus. Either that or we listen over very different speakers...
I was so worried that I was going to mix this thing in a way that pushed David's contribution to the background, that I tweaked over making sure that his drum and cymbal stuff would ride just above average level. 'Cause I thought, and think, that what David brought to the track was "not-yer-average-drumming".
And of course, every Mark guitar line is actually FOUR Mark guitar lines, most of the time, blended so that the harmonies adorn the baseline melody...
What last chord?
Anyway, Jim, it's always interesting to hear what you hear when you listen to anything I've done...
Thanks for your thoughts, as always...
Ed
Jim Bouchard
I listened to this like I listen to most things in my setup of Apogee Duet out into a Peavey PV260 stereo amp which is hooked up to KRK ST-6 monitors. Pretty standard stuff but marginally pro quality. The Apogee's Maestro Mixer is pretty regularly lighting up red. But it's really just listening that makes me feel like the drums are way present and the guitars are a little buried. Yeah, I was using Trackplug4 for a while and I found that it was a little too pumped.
The fella commenting after me sort of nailed it. It's a little overly aggressive in the compression, probably. That may be a hazard of having too many toys to play with. I know that's slowed my production way down. What do I know though? I'm a curmudgeon...and perhaps people wonder why I don't comment all that much anymore! I'm way too critical. I have to reserve it for someone that will perhaps understand that I'm trying to be constructive, and given the way I communicate that's few and far in between. And probably I'm no help at all, anyway. Somebody stop me, please!
Ejh
Sorry doesn't enter into it...
I think you're right about the squashed-ness, and I think you're further right about the dangers of over-using these lovely mastering plug-ins...
AND, I do think we hear some of this stuff differently, one way or another, and I think maybe we're listening for different things, going for different things, and just have different taste...
This would be what makes MacJams fun. I don't expect you to hear everything as I would. Please don't think I'm over here taking offense. I do think it's funny that sometimes we seem to be hearing things the opposite way to one another. I hope that I didn't come across as offensive, either... You have good ears, and you're good at this stuff...Every time you make a comment, I go back and listen again...
Ed
Jim Bouchard
No wonder nobody likes me. Now I'm off to eat some worms!
Ejh
Don't take any worms from Lisa... Remember the elves...
Ed
12parsecs
there is so much to appreciate with this song... and this is my 3rd listen.
first off, stellar writing. i love the progression and the structure. second, great guitar playing. i love the 'chorus' hook (very important for maintaining some sort of structure in a vocal-less song) and the soloing is fantastic. no, really! VERY tasty!
new paragraph for those drums. the programing and samples both sound incredibly natural. in fact, i think you could fool most people into thinking this was real drums. nice touch with the ride bell. maybe the kick could use a little less click (5k) and more woof (250Hz) but that's entirely subjective.
the mix is awesome. i like the levels of everything. very upfront, present, and nice stereo field. i like the mastering too. very analogue and contemporary sounding. maybe (and i'm going to sound like a total hypocrite for saying this) the mastering is a little TOO slammed. But just a smidge. (and by slammed, I mean limited.) also, on the mastering front, another poster mentioned that a kick in the very beginning was a little loud. could be that there is an 'auto-leveller' on the mastering plugin that is being used. perhaps try without that, but certainly use the same limiter you used - which sounded great. again, great job to all involved!
Ejh
Welcome to MacJams... you seem to hail from a part of the world I'd love to see... I have this great desire to visit Salt Spring Island someday...
Thanks for such a complete listen and such thoughtful comments. You've got good ears... I won't re-run it all down, but I will say that I get what you're talking about...
I'm VERY happy that you pick up on David's use of the ride bell, 'cause that was one of the touches that made the track natural and 'drummer-ly' to me. I really wanted that to be audible in the mix.
I think one of the reasons Fran wanted to tweak things in ChannelStrip is that MY master, through TrackPlug, probably DID get oversquashed and perhaps a touch lifeless or 'soft' sounding... Fran restored a lot of air and life, but probably I should've sent him a version without my initial mastering to work from... Maybe we'll try it again at some point...
I do seem to learn a little more every time I do this...
Thanks again for your thoughts... Much appreciated...
Ed
ledebutant
I like your bass work on this. It sounds good I think Neil was probably reacting to the fact that you had a perfectly good multi-collab going here and a perfectly good Australian bassist who could have done wonderful things for you, yet you called on Mr. Midi Keyboard, not that the track itself doesn't sound good.
So, I learned something. I didn't realize that you posted so infrequently because you get blocked because of perfectionism. This is very interesting and I'm very happy that you've found a way to trick yourself out of it. Personally, I've found that there's nothing like commiting to a collaboration to force myself out of it. I think, like you, I get excited about other people's work and just want to get it out into the world so much.
Everyone here did wonderful work. You guys sound like a completely cohesive band. It does seem strange that Fran didn't bust out his guitar, too, but that's the mark of a good musician, to know when enough is enough. I think it would be great for all three of you to do something together live some time, what a treat for us.
I really enjoyed this. I has a breezy, tropical feel to me.
Ejh
...you're probably right about that...And probably the only reason I didn't ask Neil is just the way the song developed, on a more or less glacial time scale... Thankfully, he's on for next one...or three...
Shame about the elves, though. Was that truly necessary?
And yes, I get blocked in one way or another. Sometimes it's perfectionism, sometimes it's just my chronic difficulty getting recording time on the home front...So this song took a long time, but some of the work got done in very rapid bursts...I totally get what you're saying about collaboration, and I do get excited about other people's contributions in that way...One thing that really helped me get moving this year was being asked to contribute to David Maguire's 'Turn Away Slowly'... I really loved that song and wanted it to turn out well...
Fran functioned as an extra set of ears this time around, but he has said that he'll contribute some acoustic playing to a couple folk/blues-ish things I have percolating... I would LOVE to get Mark and Fran playing together... We'd have to do it at Fran's house, I bet, but it's not like that's far away...Those two HAVE played a little in my studio and kitchen, and that IS a treat...They're both this weird combination of accomplished/confident and humble when it comes to guitar...I mostly sit and listen...They do a lot of telepathic communication, anyway...
It's funny that this ended up sounding band-like, too. One of David's big contributions, and Fran's, was to get me to STOP. I sent David the first mix with Mark's parts, and he just said something like, "So this has to be pretty close to done, right?"
So it is...for now...
I'm glad you ended up liking it... One of the things I ended up liking the most was that it sounded surprising to me, like something I wasn't expecting...
Thanks as always...
Ed
damiengh
Hey Ed, maybe you should stay away from this place more often, if this is the fruit it brings.
I have been watching for your next release for quite awhile and am so happy for you, that you've crossed that imaginary barrier of perfection, you set up for yourself.
The textures of guitar sounds along with the drumtracks, gives us one of those moments of sound, that one likes to listen to through crisp and carefully placed speakers, in an environment of white walls, sparse pictures, a clean wooden floor with one small ornate persian rug on the floor on which to lie, while staring up at the ceiling with closed eyes with the faint scent of sandlewood in the air. Nnn..iiii...cccccc...e.
Ejh