Black Dog - the sketch

[rayc]

We're BACK - new link and tweaks...
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=7605743&q=hi

the link will lead you to Black Dog.
Work yet to be done but how do the bvox go for you folk?
the lyrics aren't set in concrete but the narrative is there:
Black Dog - (berman/cochrane)
Black dog wants to go out for a walk
Even though it’s cloudy outside
If it starts to rain out there
There’ll be nowhere to hide
So maybe I should sit here
And watch with screaming eyes
Existence crawling by

Black dog nags, worries and gnaws
Seems less frightening when out of doors
It’s not really mine but it likes to stay
If I’m lucky it leaves, lets me go my way.

Black dog took me out for a walk
I tried, but I couldn’t run away
The weather’s looking threatening out here
No more sun – no more sun – today (segue into 16 bar instrumental – flute)

Black dog nags, worries and gnaws
Seems less frightening when out of doors
It’s not really mine but it likes to stay
If I’m lucky it leaves, lets me go my way.

Black dog nags, worries and gnaws
Seems less frightening when out of doors
It’s not really mine but it likes to stay
If I’m lucky it leaves, lets me go my way.

I’m Naked on a mountain
I’m staring at a void
Watching, I’m watching, with screaming eyes
Existence crawling by

The weather’s looking threatening
No more sun today

 

[gecko zzed]

The quick sketch presents a rough idea of the musical direction of this track, and hints at considerable promise.

I like the ambiguity of the lyrics, where 'black dog' is a pet . . . or maybe a dark depression. At this stage of the song's development, there is nothing there that I would change. As I listened to the sketch I noted the congruency of melody with lyrics, and it flows well as a whole.

You asked about the backing vocals. I acknowledge that this is a draft version . . . but in this draft I hear the potential for problems. Some key phrases in the choruses are consonant rich ("out of doors", "likes to stay"), and you will need to make sure the phrasing is very tight to avoid the 'ratatatat' effect of multiple 't's.

I note that there is a subdued vocal in the draft. I'm not sure whether this is the intention for the final version, or maybe the final vocal will be more energetic. However, I would like to see more intensity in it, even if it is restrained.

I look forward to further developments.

 

[rayc]

GZ,
Ta mate - your thoughts about the BV's are precisely the sort of detail I was after.
There are three BVox one is consistent through the song another is in the 1st half only & there's an evil Omen style in the last section. They're all a tad quiet at present - partially because of the "ess" problem and also because they were fairly heavily filtered due to a noise problem.
The lyric developed through some asides Terry & I made during some email messages. T began puting something together soon after from those remnants. Ambiguous it is but there are a plethora of more obvious songs on the topic of late (including my own Eyes Wired Open) so leaving a little to the imagination suits at present - who'd've believed 10+ years ago that Jeff Kennet would be such a good advocate?
Again, thanks!

 

[rayc]

Sorry folks I'll have to close this thread.
I have spend 1 1/2 hrs attempting to update the track on SC. 4 times I've been 90+% there only to get a time out or upload interrupted message - it's only a 2.6meg file after all - I bet I get that calculated against my allowance. This is supposedly ADSL/Broadband & with the countries BIGGEST company - it's not just SC but UTub, Mspace etc etc. I know there are busy times & times better suited but for 2.6 meg? I can't believe how pathetic the system is in Australia.
Sorry, I figured 11am in Aust would make a reasonable time to do it. the only success I've had is in erasing the existing file in the update process.
Rant, rant, whine whine etc - I'm done for the moment - thanks for your patience - we value your custom.
BACK UP AGAIN!!!
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=7605743&q=hi