A little help from my friends...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Garry Sharp
  • Start date Start date
Garry Sharp

Garry Sharp

Lost Cause
In the Fostex bar.

We've been busy getting a new band together, which we are, at last. New guitarist and drummer, me playing bass and warbling bird as ever on vocals.

Trying to do new demo's with this line up, all recorded on the VF80, and we have completely redone two songs which those who have been kind enough to listen before may recognise, but as these are totally new versions with our new guys I really would appreciate any input.

I've tried to get them as live as possible, and everything is more or less a first take; I value spontaneity over perfection, albeit limited as we can only take two tracks at a time. If anybody has the patience and bravery to listen to these I'd be very grateful.

The two songs are Loving On The Edge (#1) and Parcel (#4) on NowhereRadio here:

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=2045&alid=-1

Thanks in advance
 
Loving loving on the edge

Garry - nuts about "Loving on the Edge." Funny, but I'm not really sure I don't like that "live" sound you got better than a studio sound. It sounds very 'alive.' Guess that's obvious. I'll give details (music review -- I don't pretend as you know to know anything about sound engineering) tonight when I got more time. Funny how you get preconceived notions, but I would never have guessed the singer of your band would be female. I like her voice very much. Very self-confident. Are you guys pros? More later. Thanks for sharing.
 
Thanks Rob. I also know nothing about sound engineering - I'd hate to have Blue Bear or any of the other grown ups listen to it:D I'm just a newbie to it; songwriting is what I love.

No we're not pro's, just enthusiastic amateurs.
 
C'est moi, encore. Listened again and enjoyed both songs. Here are my thoughts:

Loving/Edge: For some odd reason, I like that "live" sound. Maybe it simply sounds more like a real band than a mixed series of solos. We all need to remember that the listener can do his own mix to an extent -- do you know what i mean? You listen to a group and you can barely hear the bass, the harmony singer, whatever -- if you focus, you can hear whatever you want more clearly. I don't necessarily need a sound man to crank up the channel. Don't know how old you are, but I'm 51 and the ambience of this song reminded me of a trip to Europe many many years ago and the excitement of listening to a live band.
In europe. You think there's such a thing as British sound? Vocalist reminded me of "Don't you want somebody to Love," by Jeff. Airplane, I think? I don't mean "you all sound like Airplane," because you do have a unique sound.

Do this for me: next time you play that song, try a different rhythm: you know the driving boogie rhythm in "Get Back" by the Beatles (it's also in "I Want to Hold you Hand," it occurs to me)?Don't misunderstnad -- I don't dislike the rhythm, but something made me anticipate that the drummer and the bass player were ready to "go there" on a moment's notice. I don't know why. Just curious as to what it would sound like. Might be a little too funky for the lead vocalist. the rhythm you have matches her style completely. Is she the leader?

Don't hate me for saying this, but the rhythm guitar sounds a little out of tune. Maybe the B string flat or E string sharp?

The lead guitar came thru fine, but it needs a little more melodic variety. It's not a skill thing--just needs a little more movement
and coordination with the underlying chords.

Love the ending. Very gripping. Glad there was no big cymbal clash at the end.

_____

Change your Mind Back - Several things I like about this song, though I like the first one better: the brief twin lead guitar solo (more of a turnaround) I guess, was seamless and melodically interesting. Now I am absolutely sure the rhythm guitar is out of tune. Please take no offense, and I understand that with a tempered scale that no guitar is ever in "perfect tune" in all keys and all chords everywhere on the neck. I liked the Honky Tonk Women guitar lick in there, but it's a little jarring in this kind of tune. Give the drummer more microphones. That guy is solid as a rock, and I'd like to hear him a little more clearly. Very nice, spooky vocal ending.


Now you got to tell me how you got that mp3 onto that site. I'll post mine and you can let me have it!
 
Just re-read the first post and you say that's you singing.
Correct? Sorry if I was refrerring to the lead singer by the wrong ... uh, gender. Whoever he/she is, I lke him/her! There, does that get me out of hot water?
 
Wow Rob - thanks for all the words:) Deserves a proper reply.

Not me singing - but the last time I looked the singer was definitely female (that was this morning - she's also my partner, name of Robbie). I call her warbling bird 'cos that what she is (bird being our London slang for girl, and warbling being what she does).

Ahem, to your other points. I think you got what we were trying to do; this is more about excitement than perfection. Glad that worked in your ears. Interesting point you made about making your own mix. (I'm 42 BTW)

The songs are written specifically for Robbie so if I'm doing it right they should sound comfortable for her (big if, that:D )

Interesting re out of tune guitars - our view was to the extent of giving an edge and helping it sound live, rather than unpleasant discordance.

Change Your Mind Back is not one of the new ones I mentioned in the original post, but it's six months old. Glad the drummer was rock solid - it's a drum machine:D :D

Thanks for all the time there Rob. Posting mp3's is very straightforward; just sign up at nowhere radio and follow the instructions.

Best wishes

Garry
 
A drum machine? Well I'm damned. Give him, er, her, er, it my compliments. And don't spread it around that I can't tell the difference.
 
Garry

nice clean sound you're getting there, I listened to Parcel and Change your mind back.

Your partner's voice is very smooth, if a touch too smooth sometimes. I was hoping she would add a little growl or something to spice it up. That said, the type of music you have chosen to write suits her style.

I'd love to hear some percussion in Parcel. Why dont you try a latin beat with bongo/conga etc.? In both songs, I felt the drum programming didnt suit the song very well (MHO). CYMB seemed to suffer from being broken up by stops and starts.

I'm thinking Sade' .... ???? a smooth groove, maybe fretless bass, percussion...would take these tracks to the next level

I think you are on the right track with your mixing though...as I said, nice and clean, and her voice is nicely warm and present.

great stuff
Tube
 
Thanks Tube

There is a percussion track in Parcel - as well as the live drummer there's a programmed brazilian loop which I sort of copied off the percussion part in Steely Dan's Do It Again. It's obviously not mixed high enough. The song was written around it which must be what you're hearing, so I'm encouraged in that sense.

I completely agree re the singing - I've got her to stop taking lessons (she doesn't need anymore!) and concentrate on roughing it up a bit. The most recent one, Loving On The Edge, which you didn't hear, is better in that sense.

Thanks again

Garry
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top