Wow thanks for all the considered responses and insight.
I like your interpretation. The drum delay seems to be out of time with the vibe. I also think since the bass is so important, you really have to hit all of the notes. Like 9 beats/notes and I think it should be clearer. I think part is that important.
Because the bass is so important, you need to carve it out to make it less mushy, very distinct. I couldn't say about the rest of the mix until you sort the bass out.
I love this song, I like what you are doing, just some sorting out can really make this a cool version. Also, maybe some upper area for a little air. But you will struggle with that until the bass sits just right.
The drum delay reminded me of the sparse 'dub' tracks they used to play in the basement record shops I frequented in Dublin back in the 80s' so I didn't stress too much about the timing.
I find bass a challenge, both to play and mix. Usual approach is to just make sure it's not stepping on anything else, covering the kick, guitars etc. by EQing and squeezing it into it's own confined space so it's just audible. Here of course it's front and centre, so that approach doesn't work. Main problem I think is that I didn't have a clear idea of the sound I wanted when tracking, and now I don't really know how to sort it out. Thanks for the great feedback DM
The whole track needs work - it’s a good idea - and the sound is there - the parts are not
- you’ve taken the tight arrangement and made it loose - interesting - the guitars are really loud
-not bad but they cover up the vocals - I would define the parts better - still keep the loose feel -
kind of like a Stoner Rock take on the song - which I think is cool.
Yeah I fixed the guitar levels. Thanks for your thoughts on this Papa, I might be able to make some tweaks to tighten it a little
I think @Papanate an @DM60 have some excellent observations.
The only thing I can add is that there is a pitchy note or two in the vocal.
And that doubled guitar that comes in at 2:06 is killer.
Thanks Trip. Yeah that vocal is right on the cusp of really awkward, should probably have dropped the whole thing down a half step
The vocal isn't whiny, the balance is good, and I like the cover.
Thanks dobro. You're easily pleased, I like that
This is cool. I think I hear what you're saying about the vocals, to me they work better when there's harmony. I can't tell how much doubling there is, but I would increase the doubling. Maybe always have 1 harmony part, and increase to 3 part by the end? Up until 2:00 it's tasty with some lovely licks. At 2:00 the mix becomes diffuse. It's kind of like guitar, bass and drums are all rocking but in 3 different songs. I guess I want something old fashioned in the silence after "Jimmy Bean", like some shredding. Someone just posted a song elsewhere and somebody asked if a phaser was used on the vocals. I think for at least part of this song a phaser would sound excellent on some of the vocals. Overall sounds very good.
There's one main vocal and then an underlying one an octave below. Trust me I tried doubling, tripling the vocal to try getting it to sit right but it didn't make it any better.
Your comment about '3 different songs' is spot on, it's just not gelling the way it should. I'm thinking you're right about that silence too, it's too much.
There's a bunch of effects on the vocal, no phaser though. I did use a Dimension D plugin on it just to smear it out a wee bit. Some good ideas there Deylight, thanks
Comments so far spot on. Got a phone call one day from the original singer of this song, when I'd had a chat with a young guy, clearly in the wrong job, and suggested maybe he'd be better suited, doing something different. Good idea he said - I really want to be a boxer. This entertainment thing is just weird and everybody sucks up to everyone else to get work. (He was spot on there!)
I didn't know his dad was a turn. My wife answered the phone, and said David want's a word? Didn't click till he said "why did you fire my lad?" and two and two suddenly clicked.
So you told David Essex's son to forget music and become a boxer?! LoL, great story
I'm not sure how to word this, but I actually like how screwed up the balance and tone of the different parts are. Makes me wonder what drugs feel like. The only thing I really would change is that last guitar portion that comes in. It is at least 3-4 db too loud, kind of upsets the vibe.
Yeah I fixed that loud guitar. Thanks for the nice comments but I'd like to maybe unscrew it just a little
Mind you, I only listened on my phone, but the tune sounds like a mess.
The first thing that struck me was the bass sounding weird. A little flubby lacking definition.
Drums are harsh sounding, the delay is weird. Timing is strange. Vocals sometimes are buried, sometimes not.
Guitars are too loud after the Jimmy Dean. They sounded good, just too loud.
If you were going for a version that sounds like you’re listening to while on acid, mission accomplished.
Sorry to be tearing it down, but it didn’t work for me.
Getting the bass sorted is going to be a challenge. Drums are probably harsh because I gated & compressed the snare, as I didn't want the ringy tail intruding on the space. I'll try triggering some different samples see if I can soften the tone a bit. No apology necessary RFR, very valid observations.
What is weird is how separated everything sounds, like the mix just doesn't gel. The guitar sits on top, not alongside. The vocal and bass are in different domains. But all the tracks were recorded in the same room, using the same amp, mics, same preamps and compressors, same end-to-end recording chain. Maybe it's the effects I've used in the mix, I dunno
