The Jongleurs - Camouflage

[Armistice]

The last one, I promise...

OK. So another of "his" songs. I think album's going to end up with 7 of mine, 6 of his, and he'll sing 7 I'll sing 6.. so as mine were easier to do during the hiatus period where he sort of lost interest, I've been playing catch up with Rich's tunes since he's got keen again

Camouflage

Rich: Acoustic guitar, lead vocals, and I think he's hammering away on my Les Paul in the chorus there, from memory - that's what the track says, anyway... I think it's the only time he ventures onto the electric in the entire project.
Me:Acoustic guitar, electric guitars (the rest of them), bass, drums, backing vocals..

As usual, no idea what it's about. Sorry... Camouflage, or something.

Live, with just the two acoustics, I play all the little muted single notes and melody lines with a heavy delay/vibrato patch on the multi effect pedal... not a sound you normally associate with acoustic guitar duos, but it worked. Took me a while to learn to play all that AND do the harmonies at the same time. We ended up dropping the song from the set because Rich could never settle on an ending and got frustrated with it. I had to cajole him into singing it again for the recording... but I've always thought this was one of our very best live tunes... and that it's a killer little number.

All feedback gratefully acknowledged & appreciated... let the games begin!

 

[dobro]

On my walk tonight I listened to Reed's Berlin. This tune sounds good right afterward. Good separation. Good blend. Distortion of certain FQ's parallel to the main vocal? Just the highs. Whatcha think? Worth a try? Offset the eyeshadow, anyway...

 

[Chili]

I think the vocal track sounds different from what I remember hearing before in other songs. It seems darker, but kind of fits the feel of the song. No need to change it.

I really got nothing to suggest for improvements. To me, it's good all around. I'm going to give this one a spin several times tonight, just to enjoy.

I really can't wait for you to finish up with this CD. I am secretly hoping you use my version of Fraud because I love the acapella intro. it would be a great way to start off an album.

 

[dobro]

I think the vocal track sounds different from what I remember hearing before in other songs. It seems darker, but kind of fits the feel of the song. No need to change it.

No need to change it, no, cuz the darkness works. But worth exploring a bit of the high end on it? Just to see? Aw go on...

There's a three-note bass figure at 3.16, 3.23, 3.30 or instance. Bring 'em up a touch?

 

[dewhitt]

This sounds really good. I don't have any suggestions to make it "better". On my first pass through listening, I was mainly struck by the nice clarity and separation of the different parts, how everything sounds good and sits in its own space very nicely, and you've got a beautiful full frequency range in the track with good lows and crisp highs without sounding harsh at all. Nice job!

Taking a step back during a second listen, the only thing I wonder is whether or not the vocals might be cool if they were a little wetter and farther away sounding. Right now the vocal is crystal clean and clear, and it sounds so nice, but the rest of the mix has a beautiful space and spread to it, so it makes me wonder if the overall experience of listening might be nice if the vocals were a little spacier (whatever that means...lol). Not very helpful I'm sure, but just an idea

I enjoyed listening!

Best,

Dave

 

[Mr Clean]

I first listened to this at around 5am this morning when I couldn't sleep and you'd not long posted it up. I really liked it, I was tired and dozy and it mellowed me out while I had it on repeat for 30 or so minutes.

Now I'm wide awake and listening at a greater volume. This sounds really really nice. Love the vocals and harmonies. I understand what dewhitt is saying about the vocal sounding a little dry in comparison to the rest of the music but I don't think that's a derivative from the overall sound. I find the lead guitar line a little obvious and monotonous but I do like the way it comes and goes and the muted part sounds sweet, as does the tone of the guitar. Bass and drums sound great. Mix wise, sounds pretty much spot on to me.

Sounds great here anyway at low and loud volumes and 3 different speaker systems.

 

[Armistice]

On my walk tonight I listened to Reed's Berlin. This tune sounds good right afterward. Good separation. Good blend. Distortion of certain FQ's parallel to the main vocal? Just the highs. Whatcha think? Worth a try? Offset the eyeshadow, anyway...

LOL... I've never actually heard Berlin dobro, so I'm not quite sure what you're getting at here... give me more info and I'll give it a go and see...

 

[Armistice]

I think the vocal track sounds different from what I remember hearing before in other songs. It seems darker, but kind of fits the feel of the song. No need to change it.

I really got nothing to suggest for improvements. To me, it's good all around. I'm going to give this one a spin several times tonight, just to enjoy.

I really can't wait for you to finish up with this CD. I am secretly hoping you use my version of Fraud because I love the acapella intro. it would be a great way to start off an album.

Thanks Chilli... don't know on Fraud yet... ultimately it's not my song so I have to cede to Rich's wishes re. mix... I liked the acapella intro too, but he wasn't so fond of it... possibly felt a bit "exposed"

 

[Armistice]

This sounds really good. I don't have any suggestions to make it "better". On my first pass through listening, I was mainly struck by the nice clarity and separation of the different parts, how everything sounds good and sits in its own space very nicely, and you've got a beautiful full frequency range in the track with good lows and crisp highs without sounding harsh at all. Nice job!

Taking a step back during a second listen, the only thing I wonder is whether or not the vocals might be cool if they were a little wetter and farther away sounding. Right now the vocal is crystal clean and clear, and it sounds so nice, but the rest of the mix has a beautiful space and spread to it, so it makes me wonder if the overall experience of listening might be nice if the vocals were a little spacier (whatever that means...lol). Not very helpful I'm sure, but just an idea

I enjoyed listening!

Best,

Dave

Thanks Dave... gonna try a few more things on this... so I'll try making the vocals a bit wetter, and see what it's like. Thanks for listening.

 

[Armistice]

I first listened to this at around 5am this morning when I couldn't sleep and you'd not long posted it up. I really liked it, I was tired and dozy and it mellowed me out while I had it on repeat for 30 or so minutes.

Now I'm wide awake and listening at a greater volume. This sounds really really nice. Love the vocals and harmonies. I understand what dewhitt is saying about the vocal sounding a little dry in comparison to the rest of the music but I don't think that's a derivative from the overall sound. I find the lead guitar line a little obvious and monotonous but I do like the way it comes and goes and the muted part sounds sweet, as does the tone of the guitar. Bass and drums sound great. Mix wise, sounds pretty much spot on to me.

Sounds great here anyway at low and loud volumes and 3 different speaker systems.

Thanks Mr Clean. I don't think of it as lead guitar, more as a repeating theme... when we did it live we chopped a few bars out of the middle so I've been considering whether to do that... unfortunately that's where the actual theme changes - I'd have to have a look at how easy it was to edit. Will have a squiz tonight. Thanks for listening...

 

[Mr Clean]

Thanks Mr Clean. I don't think of it as lead guitar, more as a repeating theme... when we did it live we chopped a few bars out of the middle so I've been considering whether to do that... unfortunately that's where the actual theme changes - I'd have to have a look at how easy it was to edit. Will have a squiz tonight. Thanks for listening...

Might be worth a try. It's not a problem though, it still sounds great. After 20 or so listens I don't notice it all that much now.

I really like the song. Thanks for posting

 

[fritsthegirl]

Last one?

This is a really lovely tune. If I could produce this sort of stuff I would totally expect to be famous. And I think you guys ought to be.

You've got a great thing going on in this genre, you're real similar (love wise) to a few of my fav's in this field. Like Ray mentioned, Al Stewart, and for me, bit of Neil Young too. I adore him, so don't be offended.

I think what does it for me though, is the touch of the proper classical guitar stuff in all the little licks and arpeggios. Maybe it's not there, and I hear something that no one else does. But it sounds like proper guitar playing, with an awareness and accent on all the notes that might be hidden otherwise. I really love classical guitar & classical music the most. I hear the essence of it in your tunes.

I'm interested in the order you're going to put these tunes on the CD. And also, I want the CD. I'll pay you.

 

[Armistice]

Might be worth a try. It's not a problem though, it still sounds great. After 20 or so listens I don't notice it all that much now.

I really like the song. Thanks for posting

Thanks MC... I've moved onto the last track of the album now so I'll have a look at editing it when I do the big final sweep. I tried a bit more reverb on the lead vox and I see what you and dewhitt mean - it does suit it, although it's more than I'd usually use... I haven't changed the version that's up there but I've made a few changes on my PC along those lines. Good input! (you too dave!)

 

[Armistice]

Last one?

This is a really lovely tune. If I could produce this sort of stuff I would totally expect to be famous. And I think you guys ought to be.

You've got a great thing going on in this genre, you're real similar (love wise) to a few of my fav's in this field. Like Ray mentioned, Al Stewart, and for me, bit of Neil Young too. I adore him, so don't be offended.

I think what does it for me though, is the touch of the proper classical guitar stuff in all the little licks and arpeggios. Maybe it's not there, and I hear something that no one else does. But it sounds like proper guitar playing, with an awareness and accent on all the notes that might be hidden otherwise. I really love classical guitar & classical music the most. I hear the essence of it in your tunes.

I'm interested in the order you're going to put these tunes on the CD. And also, I want the CD. I'll pay you.

Thanks FTG. Yeah, this has always been my favourite of his tunes... it really worked well live until he started mucking around with the ending and then lost interest in it. I'm glad I forced its resurrection! Fame? We'll see about that. Unfortunately due to Rich's growing family it's going to be impossible to even play live any more, at least for a while... and "while" = years, probably. But he's all keen again about actually having a CD, so we'll see what can be done to promote it via the web... like everyone else here...

Yes, this is the last track... there are 13. I'm redoing the Panda Girl song with him singing, as that's the way it's always been, even though I wrote it.. did the vocals Monday night, need to redo a few harmonies because Rich uses different timing... and even different words! "It's 'You know what I'm thinking', not 'I know what you're thinking' damnit!!!" *sigh* I probably won't post that up, I'm a bit over it. I'm aiming for Feb for the CD, and I'll carpet bomb the place to let everyone know it's available, don't you worry!

I'm always trying to weave sub melodies into things... I haven't done any in this song, but I get what you mean.

You probably haven't heard my solo instrumental stuff, from before I started doing the Jongleurs stuff. You might like it... it's not classical at all, but it's acoustic guitar based. I'd dearly love to be able to go back and record it better, but who has the time.. I'll PM you a link.

 

[rayc]

Armi,
it sounds great. I actually left a response yesterday but it disappeared...
1st BERLIN is my fav Reed LP - I have the vinyl the original CD & the remastered CD plus have constructed a Berlin live from the Reed stuff around that time (RnR Animal, Lou Reed Live, Take No Prisoners, etc - much more bombastic and rock than the largely acoustic Berlin) the DVD of the NY show a couple of years ago & the boot of the Berlin show he did at the Opera House soon after the NY one. It's a real compliment & I can hear what was meant by the reference to you sounding good after listening to Berlin.
I'd love to hear your solo stuff too.
I really like the way you've woven the electric into the song - your strong melodic sense makes the soloing and noodling more than noodling and showing off.
It's a really cool song.

 

[Armistice]

Armi,
it sounds great. I actually left a response yesterday but it disappeared...
1st BERLIN is my fav Reed LP - I have the vinyl the original CD & the remastered CD plus have constructed a Berlin live from the Reed stuff around that time (RnR Animal, Lou Reed Live, Take No Prisoners, etc - much more bombastic and rock than the largely acoustic Berlin) the DVD of the NY show a couple of years ago & the boot of the Berlin show he did at the Opera House soon after the NY one. It's a real compliment & I can hear what was meant by the reference to you sounding good after listening to Berlin.
I'd love to hear your solo stuff too.
I really like the way you've woven the electric into the song - your strong melodic sense makes the soloing and noodling more than noodling and showing off.
It's a really cool song.

Thanks Ray - I'll have to hunt down Berlin and see what you're all talking about!

ArmisticeGuitar's sets on SoundCloud - Hear the world <- solo stuff. I don't have the link in my sig because the recordings, first two albums at least, are a bit embarrassing... all DI acoustic guitar and way too much reverb... third album is better...once I discovered microphones.... so I'd start at the bottom on that URL...