Track 5: "A Song for Holly"

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K-dub

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I thought I'd posted this, but it disappeared. The title even pre-filled when I returned, found it not there, and went to re-post ... odd.

This tune is one of the final 3 going on the next collection. The rapid fire posting is over ... I've got tracking and production to complete on the final two, which will delay anything new for a period.

It's a Steely Dan flavored production that features a xylophone solo and strange middle break. Bass contribution is by Tjarko Busink, and his performance is nothing short of stunning.

A Song for Holly

Holly is my wife ... and we've been together 30 years. Yes, I'm that old. :D

Thanks in advance for the listen, the patience, and the help w/ any/all comments made.

Best,

Kev-
 
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nice!

Very crisp production! Not normally the sort of music I listen to (closest being Robben Ford, perhaps). Only thing I'd say is at 1:51, there is some woodwind (?picolo/flute?) that comes in...cuts accross very sharply (m-audio bx5 speakers)....but its such a minor minor thing...

ben.
 
awsome! not the style that i'm normally into, but that song was kick ass. for me the vocals were too present, but they sound great and you obviously know more than i about how you want things to sound. cool cool song.

Were the drums programmed or were they played live?
 
Both, sort of, G ... at first I programmed them to give the drummer the intended direction, and then he recorded his kit playing to my bed, and shipped me the tracks over the net.

He does this for a living, and he knows what he's doing ... so I can only take credit for pointing him in a certain direction ... he did the tracking. Good tracking makes for easy mixing.

The bass track then got added by Tjarko after the drums had been laid. The bass performance is by far my favorite element in this piece.

Curious ... by "presence" on the vocals, did you mean too forward (i.e. levels out in front) ... or too much sizzle/bite (i.e. harsh and cutting tone)?

Thanks!

Kev-
 
i meant the level being too high, but i think that's a preference thing. i like the vocals to be more in the mix than infront of the mix.
 
Thanks!

I'm more a fan of putting them in front of the band ... like they'd be on a stage ...

... but I was concerned I'd dialed in a little too much sizzle on them ...

Pushing the 1-4k range w/ an Eq can give them a lot of 'presence' that can cut through a dense mix ...

... but go too far and it's just plain fatiguing and unpleasant to listen to.

Kev-
 
Wow, this is pretty intricate. I think I see what you're sayin' about the vocals...the crispiness is almost borderline, but I think it cuts through nicely. Steely Dan all the way on this one...right from the first bar. Nice.

The 'middle break' is sweeeeeet! The drums almost seem a bit stunted right between the xylophone solo and that break, but otherwise very fluid. Nice vibrato on the voice...:)
 
Thanks P! ...

Listening this morning, I think I can pull the crisp back a hair and nothing will suffer ... the vocal cuts through fine ... perhaps a hair sharp. It's the sort of thing probably only I'd notice, but if I leave it as is now ... it'll bother me forever more after I send it off to get mastered.

:D

Kev-
 
Very nice composition, Kevin, and the recording is nice and tight. I don't care for the choice of instruments at the 1:50 break, but that's just my opinion. There is no right or wrong in that regard. I would have preferred some contrabass and cello on top of a low attack pad.

The melody of the Holly Linda hook is too pretty to be over synthed.

That being said, you would have to have some really good patches to pull that off.

Thanks for the listen. I'm sure your wife loves this. Well done.:)
 
Xeries said:
Very nice composition, Kevin, and the recording is nice and tight. I don't care for the choice of instruments at the 1:50 break, but that's just my opinion. There is no right or wrong in that regard. I would have preferred some contrabass and cello on top of a low attack pad.

The melody of the Holly Linda hook is too pretty to be over synthed.

That being said, you would have to have some really good patches to pull that off.

Thanks for the listen. I'm sure your wife loves this. Well done.:)
Click to expand...

Thanks X!

Actually, I'd LOVE real players ... but sigh ... :D

Holly does love this tune.

I tweaked the mix one last time ... minor vocal (warmed it), drums (tom levels) and bass adjustments (carved a larger pocket) ... just a little better balance amongst them ... and the link above now goes to the updated mix.

Best,

Kev-
 
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