Another song for the Box of Frogs album. Some people might think this is a bit strange. At least I hope so.....
We have 12 songs now - nearly an hours worth but I think we might just keep going.
XXXXX After some really helpful comments from Stephen and Andy, I have spent a few hours remixing this. Hope you like it!
Paul
oh I really dig this... super clean and has a very well hidden Zep vibe to it in the timing scheme..
this is big. superb pro kind of recording and mixing stuff...super clean. The drums are so good you barely notice them (they are perfect)..
I like a tad bit more bass but I am sure many say about mine "I like a tad bit less bass".... ha...
crazy movie/tv series after 3:15... loved the whammy dive just before. This actually has a Frank Zappa vibe (musically) during that spell there... great stuff.. vocals of course are stellar and you did a fantastic job with these too Paul..
congrats to both of you...
Yeah, the mix is definitely clean and clear. Makes most of all the different musical elements. There's a cinematic vibe to the song, mainly in the way the backing track is orchestrated. Great playing, clever songwriting and definitely weird!
Whoa!
This is mighty.
I too would like a little more... is it really bass? Not sure, but I'd like more of a thump from it. That's personal taste, though - and it is crankable, at least on my stereo (without making anything stick out), I'm guessing it's not mastered or anything yet?
I do have one actual suggestion: do you have any more of the last chord?
With the rolling menace of the arrangement and the vocal, the last chord felt like a bit of a closure/resolution... almost an "ok, that's done, what's next?" ... the mood you painted in my head might have been better served by a longer chord tailing away, giving me more of a "now you just think about what I said"...
Mind you, I don't know how it's getting sequenced with the other tracks on the album... this ending might better suit what comes next
The song and arrangement itself - and the guitar playing!! - absolutely top notch.
And Reg... wowsers.
Superb.
Is the rest of the tracks on here? (I've been lurking and not paying too much attention)
A prog adventure here for sure. Love that guitar solo into the Zappa section. Excellent work guys, well done.
Rock on!
Quote from: AndyR on February 09, 2022, 02:46:02 AMWhoa!
This is mighty.
I too would like a little more... is it really bass? Not sure, but I'd like more of a thump from it. That's personal taste, though - and it is crankable, at least on my stereo (without making anything stick out), I'm guessing it's not mastered or anything yet?
I do have one actual suggestion: do you have any more of the last chord?
With the rolling menace of the arrangement and the vocal, the last chord felt like a bit of a closure/resolution... almost an "ok, that's done, what's next?" ... the mood you painted in my head might have been better served by a longer chord tailing away, giving me more of a "now you just think about what I said"...
Mind you, I don't know how it's getting sequenced with the other tracks on the album... this ending might better suit what comes next
The song and arrangement itself - and the guitar playing!! - absolutely top notch.
And Reg... wowsers.
Superb.
Is the rest of the tracks on here? (I've been lurking and not paying too much attention)
I might well have a little more of a play with this. I might even redo the bass "guitar" entirely. I actually played the bass on a keyboard using Trillian and I think I used a different set of instrument samples to normal. I've got my son's Mexican Fender Precision in the wardrobe but I decided it would be easier for me to play it on a keyboard. I also experimented with side chaining a compressor to the kick - so I probably messed it up. I guess the biggest mistake was finishing the mix and then posting it immediately. I usually leave it and listen the next day before inflicting it on everyone!
All the other songs are on here. I have posted them all except "Cold Cold House" which Trevor posted as he did the creepy video to go with it. I have a particular soft spot for "The News from Nowhere", Easy Tiger" and "Plastic World" - all of which Trevor took to another level.
The strange middle section was inspired by Bernard Herrman film scores. I am a bit of a fan and watched North by Northwest over Christmas when I stared this. My wife just thinks its weird.
Anyway - I'm glad you liked it.
Paul
I rarely use the member jukeboxes... just found a VERY good use ;D
I've got yours on while working, to catch up with these songs.
Yep, about the bottom end on this, I've got a feeling it might be the kick. Not 100% sure.
Whether it's a volume or EQ thing, I don't know.
If you replace the synth bass with a Precision, that'll move the goal-posts, so considerations will be different (might be what you want, what you can imagine, though?)
But if you don't, I suspect checking out the kick's EQ/volume might hold the key.
I say this because of something that happened to me the other week...
Have you come across Joe's and Gregor's youtube vids for PreSonus? Joe (Mrs R and I call him "Cuddly Joe") also has his own youtube channel.
Anyway, on PreSonus Sphere (the subscription deal to get Professional and EVERYTHING), they do a monthly mix critique live streaming session.
I put "In The Nick Of Time" in for last month's.
It was a bit scary... but just watching their faces as it unfolded was pure bliss - I must be doing something right ;D
The point is, for the bottom end discussion, Joe was bowled over but could hear one thing he didn't like - and the way he said it has been GOLD DUST for me...
He said "the kick has got no punch, it sounds like someone slapping a beach-ball with a wooden spoon"
I've always been working on "make it punchy" for the kick, and often I was highlighting the frequencies that give the attack...
The other thing I do is the low-cut on everything, for clarity and more headroom on mixing mastering.
Those two, without doing anything else for the kick, or checking its health, were emasculating the kick drum.
Joe got Gregor to go back to a quiet section on In The Nick Of Time and they both agreed that there was no oomph on the kick, that's all they could find that they didn't like.
I've always been trying to make the kick on mixes so I could hear it all the way through the song, not just quiet sections - hence the higher "slappy" frequencies. Joe said he want to "feel" the kick.
I've since fixed it and replaced the uploaded track, but those phrase/descriptions he used were the gold-dust.
I just didn't know what to listen for, and "beach-ball with a wooden spoon" is perfect!!! (it looked like Gregor was filing that one away for his own use).
Now, all I've got to do is apply the "beach-ball" test to what I'm hearing, and I catch it if it's a problem.
Also, I'm no longer focusing on hearing the kick when everyone's playing, I want to "feel" it, and how it interacts to give the bass part its low-end punch.
Of course, different mixes, different genres, might want a different approach - but in general, for my stuff at the moment, if there's drums, I need to be giving the bottom end thump to the kick not the bass (they can't both have it).
I was listening to Men In Trousers while typing - there's a section where the kick is exposed under Reg's voice... you do NOT have the same problem as me on that song, but it's worth checking out on all mixes. I've re-listened to Unresolved Resolution again, also I Stole My Ego, they might bear checking this relationship out (no guarantees though!! ;D)
... OK, now I'll actually DO some work! ;D ;D ;D
Fantastic production guys blown away
Bravo
Tim
This is progg-alicious guys! I like everything about it...great guitar work, great vocals/lyrics, and excellent production, Paul and Trevor!
Farrell
Yes it is a great piece of work chaps. I said it before but you two compliment each other perfectly. Trevor is well at home singing here. I won't get involved with commenting about mixing the bass, etc... well out of my depth with that stuff. Very creative and always interesting, some great unexpected bits and smatterings of killer guitar too, enjoyed that a lot.
Mike
Oh, love this. I like songs with a bit of a strange vibe to them. Like the album name too.
It does have that led zep feel, mainly down to Trevor's vocals which always remind me of them. His delivery is always captivating. But the music is all great. Really excellent track and production .
Darren
I like the uniqueness of the track. Anything goes musically these days, so no need to worry there...There is room in the mix for a little bit more candy. Tons of ways you can go with it...If you so desire
Box of frogs...I like that.
That sounds great on headphones (remix). I can't put it on the speakers cos we're watching a film... I'll need to check tomorrow.
That's the Precision isn't it? I'm kinda wanting one... That throaty thump.