I was sitting on the back porch the other night and the wind was howling at about 40 mph. At one point I thought I heard voices whispering to me. The next thing I thought they were telling me to get ready to depart this earth. So, I wrote of this experience. I tried to use that swell thangy on the break, but the timing is off. I was going to ask Michelle for some strings help, but I think this one is just a little too weird. I have made tracks from polkas to hard rock and everything in between. Stepping sideways as of late and it is kinda fun. I know the click showed up in my vocal at the end again? The bpm was 70 but no percussion yet. The song is called “gently in the wind”
Good idea!
I like the vibe in your voice at the very beginning of the song. I was expecting it to be much darker but then the verse kicked in and it felt more like a folk song. Nothing wrong with that!
The higher notes on the acoustic guitar in the right speaker, made it sound almost like a banjo for a few seconds.
Nice and short. No beating around the bush.
PS. I have an 10 minute song that I want you to review Paul.
Hi wicked. I had the acoustic capo’d way up and yes it did sound like a banjo. ha ha I could have just played the second track with a different style on the other side. I might do that?
I had a lot of fun with the wind tracks. Trying to stay far enough from the mic and still get a recording. I got a “what are you doing in there” from my wife. ha ha I am a fan of way out there for a while
Lets hear your ten minute song:) Thanks
I love it Paul. Really grabbed me. There are a few timing issues here and there, but you know what? I don’t care. The immediacy of your vocal, bone dry and right up front in the mix, coupled with the atmospheric (see what I did there?) vibe of the instruments is lovely. Use that capo more often! I love how the two acoustic guitars sound together.
I continue to be amazed by your seemingly endless well of song ideas… I would give a body part to have a tenth the number. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Dave Glad everyone is still cool thru this civil war. ha ha Yes, the guitars were a one take. I have a hard time not having my thumb buzzing on a few notes. I will go back and get that timing right. I can hear it too. I have a ten inch span on my hand and those capo notes way up get tough.
Speaking of song ideas, my wife asked if she could hear in and I declined. Not funny I guess, but my heart started racing out of control tonight. I told her about the song and she said I did it to myself. ha ha Can’t win. Take care Dave and thanks for you comments
No civil war here my friend… Sure hope that racing heart is calm now! I have some tachycardia myself, and when it gets running it can be pretty disconcerting for sure.
One take…! Dang dude. Nice work!
It is beautiful. Yet again. I personally would consider the true opening of the song at 0:22
The opening vocals in the wind were a bit too different for me to focus through. Perhaps for an extended version or a heavy metal rock remake of the song, it would work very well.
Other than that Its a home run all the way from 0:22 to the end
Great stuff Paul… Very pretty, yet quite haunting.
Hi Michelle Very easy to remove that first part. It was a blast to do. I am easily entertained. There is absolutely no pressure writing and producing songs when there are no expectations. Just give it a toss and see where it lands. I might try using the two verse parts and develop a chorus. That is what I had before I put in that lame swell part. lots to think about. Thanks for your honest take on this. So refreshing
Hi Andy Yeah I am still scratching my head on this one. Sort of distracted with a rocker I stated this aft. ha ha Life is good with music. Thanks for this
I like the song. I was wondering what some harpsichord or “odd” organ music would add to it, especially in the beginning?
Starliner
Hi Star guy. That is a great idea for the mood. Don’t have one in my back pocket tho:) I am redoing the intro. ha ha Thanks for stopping by
It’s a cool tune, not one of my favorites of yours but still. The swell thing, is that a volume pedal?
You know, I was thinking harpsichord too at places…
Nice, Paul. One take, huh? Amazing.
Your voice on this is perfect for the mood you’re trying to capture. Thoughtful, somber. Very nice to listen to. I like your arrangements of the guitars.
Only thing I got for ya is I don’t care for the wind. Not that it couldn’t work, but that it just doesn’t sound real. It sounds like it’s a loop, or almost a melody.
I love the recording of your vocals. It’s so detailed and gentle. There’s a certain “frailty” about it that grabs your attention. I mean that in a positive way – an intimacy, and tenderness. And your mix on the vox is perfect. Gentle, but up front. You’re right here with me.
Another winner from the Feakermeister!!!
A very pretty little ditty, Paul! As usual your guitar work is so spot on delicate, it is a perfect set up for your lyrical poem. I can see why people are thinking harpsichord, or strings, it has that baroque rock vibe of As Tears Go By. I thought it was fine as it is, and the wind sound does not need to be totally realistic if it is a memory of the wind looping in your mind.
But I can also imagine this melody morphing into the next track with orchestral forcefulness carrying through with the weather theme of a storm brewing, and then dramatically into the electric guitar rock phase with thunderous drums and some lightning, and finally the sound of soft rain and returning to the original acoustic guitar to end. Dark Side of the Storm…
Weird is good! Artistic creativity is also good! Do what you do as they come to you. One of the problems with “bands that have signature sounds” is they sometimes are not received well when they try to innovate. That’s the cool thing about being a solo artist. You do what you do and if it sounds good, weird, abstract, corny, lovey dovey, angry etc…you’ve won. I really liked the haunting beginning and the whole arrangement just as it was. So many ways you can go with this.
I’ve personally stopped trying to rewrite peoples songs and arrangements based on what I’d like to hear. I think it sort of ruins the listening experience for me. It’s like me telling Rembrandt not to use a shade of red he felt was best. Now, if you asked me to produce this, I’d handle it a different way. But as a listener, I liked this the way it was. Production was good too, nice job Paul!
We were talking about producers on @ColdRoomStudio 's thread. So I think I understand what you mean when you say that, but maybe you could explain further? Shouldn’t a producer try and realize feaker’s vision, not his own?
@ingolee Not always. It depends on the song as well as the brainstorm of the producer. Look at guys like Desmond Child, Beau Hill, or Mutt Lange. There are times when they take what the artist has done to a new level. Sometimes they even write and add to the song.
You start with getting the best out of the artist as well as what they have presented to you. You usually have your ducks in a row by listening to the pre-production before you even start recording. As you listen and gather ideas, you know what you’re going to try and how you are going to approach it.
From there you convey your ideas to the artist and get their take and sometimes you record it to further paint the idea picture. Sometimes they love it, sometimes they don’t, other times you both collaborate on the idea and magic can happen.
The only way I can truly explain it is to share something with you. Where is the producer thread you guys are talking in? I don’t want to clog up Paul’s thread with what I want to share.
Paul, thanks for the clearance. I’d feel disrespectful to post here when it’s all about your song. But the producer thing ingolee mentioned is really a great topic too. As long as you don’t mind. Thanks.
Haha yeah I do lots of light weight and high rep work outs as well as martial arts. I feel pretty great for an old guy. Still got all my teefers and hair! I don’t know for how much longer, but I just thank God each day.
OK, will come back and post an example of what I’m talking about a little later on the producer thing. I’d rather post the songs here instead of dropbox links.