"Yo. I was actually going to send you a PM drawing your attention to Maffin's wonderful review. Not good because he likes the track but because of how he expresses it and the empathy with issues I struggle with when making it and others.
And he even asked for it to be longer - first time anyone's done that.
You now have to think when commenting on my stuff "Is that review as good as Maffin's Low Key Love review?" If not, you need to make it better, which doesn't necessarily mean adding more Latin!"
Ah well I appreciate a good review and it's refreshing to see someone contribute like that..for me it's not a competition. As I get older I realize that I am not competing against others but against myself.
"I'm not sure what the British blend is that I bring to Americana Appalachian blues. Don't know if any of my music sound 'British' (maybe you only say it cos you know I'm English)."
It's not because your English. I really like English musicians interpretation of American music styles. it's different and unique and it has it's own character.
Take Punk for example. Born and invented in the early seventies in NYC..(Ramones, NY Dolls) The British just took it too another level. All the great bands like Zeppelin, and the Stones, looked at the delta blues and added there twist on it. One of my fav's Bryan Ferry was trying to sound like Otis Redding..does he..well no, he adopted some of the glottal sounds of Otis, but his northern background and sensibilities made it sound unique. You my friend are unique in your interpretation of Appalachian blues and delta blues with your guitar and bass structures. That's what makes it fun. I can think of no one who sounds like you in the states. No one.
"I bet you like a good mashup as that's a glimpse at what two or more good artists could have made if they had got together.
Wax Audio is my fave mashup guy. He has 3 great free albums, containing wittily-titled gems such as this:"
I have all 3 albums..love his work!
Really liked "Judas" with Priest and Gaga..
There is a great Mashup with the Beatles Tax Man, the Surfaris' Wipe out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYDK2yXE0yU, and the Batman Theme that is just awesome
Later
MT, Faux G ,Crucethus, Steven the third incarnation of ...Sai Baba (I just pulled that one out of the air).His Majesty the jubilant and petulant and not bald in any way (thanks genes)Steven the 10th.
"I appreciate a good review and it's refreshing to see someone contribute like that..for me it's not a competition"
Sorry if I made it seem like a competitive thiang. Not my intention. Once you hit that 'post reply' button, it's gone! I was trying to say that Maffin's words kind of set a new standard in commenting, though you've done loads of good ones too, no doubt.
"I can think of no one who sounds like you in the states."
I agree and probably it's because of all the additional instrumentation aside from guitar. Not many people into delta blues seem to like combining it with psychedelic, electronic stuff. Most people into it seem quite traditional and conservative.
I'm not sure my actual blues guitar playing is unlike anyone else (in the US or elsewhere). That seems unlikely as I'm just not that good and don't play very often. I do play live solo delta blues stuff at open mic type events (but it bores me so don't really do it anymore) but all my recorded tracks add so much more as I love all the electro stuff too.
My resonator guitar is not a good enough quality one to present in a track naked and uneffected. And I think solo delta blues stuff is pretty boring unless you're a real virtuoso. Or have vocals. I'll do some sparser delta blues one day.
The most interesting delta blues guy I know of is Harry Manx, who inspired me to play banjo. Stunning slide player who is unique because he also plays a mohan veena, a rare instrument that is a cross between guitar and sitar, all played with a bar (slide). I want one but you can't buy them in the UK.
Stunning singer too and I'm going to see him live in a few weeks in London.
Wax Audio kick arse/ass. He loves Judas Priest (the Gaga one is good) and Iron Maiden though I'm not into either of them.
Blue Jump is one of my favourites of his. I'm a big Tears For Fears fan. Shout is one of the greatest pop songs ever!
"you open so many routes through the forest".
Might be the best allegorical phrase ever uttered on this site so kudos to Maffin.
I am now listening to this track on headphones, which is not something I normally do. It has a more emotional feel to me this way to listen like this. Still gives me the feeling of live. But I see Maffin's point about the drums and quantizing. Have you considered working with a live drummer?
On Headphones the bass at 6:14 is amazing esp. in contrast with the guitar and then the piano comes in..my fav part. kind of a bluesy piano and not a grand piano but just a lazy upright you might find in a school..that's what I love about the piano. There is a kind of sentimentality in this tune that I missed the first time around. I think I understand why you named it as such..now. What's weird is you have such a twisted and (good) sensibility of Americana Appalachian blues with such a unique British blend it's uncanny and differently pleasant to listen too.
Major Tom!!!
Yo. I was actually going to send you a PM drawing your attention to Maffin's wonderful review. Not good because he likes the track but because of how he expresses it and the empathy with issues I struggle with when making it and others.
And he even asked for it to be longer - first time anyone's done that.
You now have to think when commenting on my stuff "Is that review as good as Maffin's Low Key Love review?" If not, you need to make it better, which doesn't necessarily mean adding more Latin!
Anyway, the track:
6:07 bass sounds a little different cos of the cool, tom-driven jazz drum groove I drop into. That inspired the swinging guitar there.
And then that high, tinkly piano, which is one of my very favourite things in this.
Yes, bit like an upright and with some playing that makes me think of old, cool, winging jazz like Cab Calloway or someone. I don't actually listen to any of that but was reminded of it the other day when re-watching The Mask feat. Jim Carrey.
There are two pianos in this, with the second coming on 7:04.
This title is, unintentionally, a triple entendre. There's meaning 1, about my more subtle, less ostentatious love for someone, number 2 could be about Norse God Loki and 3 suits the track really well - love for a low musical key (low D). Coincidence that the track is all based around a low key bass part. So, it's a perfect title, though my only intended meaning was number 1.
I'm not sure what the British blend is that I bring to Americana Appalachian blues. Don't know if any of my music sound 'British' (maybe you only say it cos you know I'm English).
I try not to sound like anyone else and not to think too much about other music I like when making my own. I think only about the sounds and where I can take them to make something I've never heard and which I haven't yet heard as I'm always inventing genres in my head.
I can't do all of the stuff I make up as I don't play enough of the instruments and probably don't have the ability. So, I just do what I can, which is still quite a lot.
So much blues bores me but I'm so influenced by the sound of the slide and genuinely think I put it into musical contexts that other people haven't before eg in this track. There's not much slide bass at all, apart from Mark Sandman though his band Morphine didn't actually play jazz. And they had no piano and didn't kick into psychedelic slide rock.
I'm also trying to make some of the music I wish other people had.
I bet you like a good mashup as that's a glimpse at what two or more good artists could have made if they had got together.
Wax Audio is my fave mashup guy. He has 3 great free albums, containing wittily-titled gems such as this:
So As I listen again for a proper review. I like the semi break beat sound. The guitars have an 1989 sound, the mixing up of the beats is cool... The piano at 1:06 is nice. then some arps and some side chained pads and back to cool square wave arps with massive snare beats. nice verb effects at around 2:00, cool distortion at 2:28 works nicely with the arps. 2:54 gives us an ATB like glissando effect fading into a nice sidechained ending. It's really too short of a piece as I
was just getting into it at this point.
good work Mark
Steve
A really big thanks for giving this a listen again and for your comprehensive and much appreciated comments. I take your point about the length of the track and generally I have tried to keep my tracks between 3-4 minutes (the really early ones were shorter) but I agree this one should be longer. something for me to think about for future tracks. thanks again Steve for your valued opinion.
So I just listened to this FINAL version. I never got a chance to hear the original as you pulled yesterday. I really like this. It's dissonant and atonal in some parts and that sounds awesome to my ears. I think it's perfect and I wouldn't change a thing. the levels of piano are perfect, the synth washes in the beginning and gently spread out throughout the mix are nice. I just had my wife listen as well and she was impressed too. Your developing an ear for the dissonant and in-congruent in music and it's making your musical choice sound more and more sophisticated each song you produce. But in this it's also the less is more approach in the beginning that makes this interesting. well done bravo.
some examples of this style of music...the opening 1:12 of "Ladytron" Roxy Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cTJKb6xuhA
"Newtown" Bryan Ferry Which Bryan ferry had rumbling around in his head for like 10 years before recording it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLC6XFXMubM
"Ghosts" Japan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zzLU1ato2w
"I believe in you" Talk Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHUDNZD5N88
Steve
Thank you Steve!!
Really nice to read this, I don't think you missed much having not heard the first version - I only added some piano (after the encouraging words from Ed) and repitched some of the guitar/bass and flute sounds. Oh, and added some percussion in the very poor first drum line in the beginning (thanks to Behnam! ;)). And took away some of Kyle's vocal. Hey...that maybe was a bunch of things in the end anyway.
That track from Talk Talk - now I'm stuck! I 've been listening to it over and over and over again since yesterday, don't Think I ever heard that one before. What a tune!
My music is nothing like that but I'm hearing some minor similarity with those songs from Brian Ferry though.
Say hello and thanks for the listen to your wife too and have a good day!
/SJ =)
Excellent job. I was thinking about one of Ed's comments about listening to Sade and I was thinking about there song "Cherish the day" what I love about that song is that the bass drops in the second verse. I think that’s what this tune needs. a cool moving bassline from the second verse forward. I love how the percussion in the beginning fools the listener into thinking that song will be something else and then you bring in the mellow 7th chord pads that make this song sweet. Great job
Steve
Love the trance work..the complextro side is well done as well. My only suggestion is the reverse cymbal lead in could be made a little more interesting to keep the flow of the seperate sections.
Ok so I finally figured out something for this piece. https://www.looperman.com/tracks/detail/153099
La Chant De La Solitude.
It's sort of trippy and very different from what I thought I wanted to do, but that’s creativity. I may also do a simpler version with just piano and make it sound lonelier.
I am interested in Bears rendition as he is a great musician on this site, we have a great respect for each others work.
ciao
Steve
thank you Steve .
i can't wait to hear what you've done.
sorry for delay .
i'm going to listen track.
yes , Bear is one of greatest musicians here.
and one of my fav composers beside you , Behnam
and Tumbleweed .
nice to see your underestanding and prof attitude and respect for him .
i really appreciate you .
*Cindy*
I agree with Johnny it needs some vocals. a good background singer singing ethereally and a good strong lead male vox
Good song otherwise.
This might make you laugh about pop songs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCVGpvzcHko
Steve
Thanks Steve! That video was really funny and mentioned some very interesting points! Pop music has changed and i think it will continue to change over the next couple of decades.
Hopefully it turns into something that will be inspirational and we as musicians can be proud of. If it continues down it's current spiral, music will eventually become a has been thing.
You have a great voice.. And Janice had a great voice. You added your own distinct sound to this classic. Maybe it's a simple as imbibing too much southern comfort? I wouldn't know as I have an awful voice. But I do know I enjoy listening to your voice.
ciao
Steve
Love the Rhodes intro. The bass is nasty and dirty on this one. I see you have centered the drums in the mix the piano is a nice accompaniment and then becomes an electro piano. then the Mix widens perfectly with Sax and Piano (Grande) Nice stereo effects (white noise) (2:38) Sax and Pad end this nicely with some percussive effects. With a fading Piano.. Well done song evokes a nice mood.
Steve
I'm Listening to this (BTW great job) and I am thinking this is all in one key and one chord structure (Cminor).. If you could learn to create a chorus.That utilizes minor 7ths pads you would appeal to a larger audience. Like from CMinor to Ab major to Bb major and back to Cminor. BTW I love to solo in Cminor and Fminor so I may just record a wah wah g-tar solo for you one of these days if you like.
Steve
Wow I hope you realize what a breath of fresh air you are to this site because no one on here has done the re-creation of tribal house from NYC from the late nineties like you have done. Bravo
Most appreciated
Steve
I like this one..good intro (wave looks funky for the intro have you checked the DC offset on it?) And it leads to some cool wubba wubba d-step.
Good work
No I haven't ;p but it indeed looks funky, noticed when I uploaded it. Guess it is because it seems to be panned a bit to the right. Glad you liked ;) Thanks for leaving a comment crucethus
And to all the people saying this is not rock. this pulls back to the early days of rock-pop sounds of the fifties and the revival in the seventies. Ahh I love nostalgia songs like this. The influence is definitely rock & Roll. Great Job Bear
Steve.
on Circles Of Life PREVIEW by Sevenola
on UPDATE Feeling Good Nina Simone Remix by SeriouslyJoking
nice work.
keep at it.
Steve
Yes I need to listen and remix this without headphones, Simones vocal is a bit hard to bring forward without loosing her special sound.
To be continued...
=)
/ SJ
on DILIGENCE by chreestofurr
on Soothing Sea Larry Wiggles aka Mark Jeffries by larrywiggles1
Thanks for listening and so pleased we could help you unwind!
Take care and speak soon,
Mark/Larry!
on Low Key Love by StaticNomad
And he even asked for it to be longer - first time anyone's done that.
You now have to think when commenting on my stuff "Is that review as good as Maffin's Low Key Love review?" If not, you need to make it better, which doesn't necessarily mean adding more Latin!"
Ah well I appreciate a good review and it's refreshing to see someone contribute like that..for me it's not a competition. As I get older I realize that I am not competing against others but against myself.
"I'm not sure what the British blend is that I bring to Americana Appalachian blues. Don't know if any of my music sound 'British' (maybe you only say it cos you know I'm English)."
It's not because your English. I really like English musicians interpretation of American music styles. it's different and unique and it has it's own character.
Take Punk for example. Born and invented in the early seventies in NYC..(Ramones, NY Dolls) The British just took it too another level. All the great bands like Zeppelin, and the Stones, looked at the delta blues and added there twist on it. One of my fav's Bryan Ferry was trying to sound like Otis Redding..does he..well no, he adopted some of the glottal sounds of Otis, but his northern background and sensibilities made it sound unique. You my friend are unique in your interpretation of Appalachian blues and delta blues with your guitar and bass structures. That's what makes it fun. I can think of no one who sounds like you in the states. No one.
"I bet you like a good mashup as that's a glimpse at what two or more good artists could have made if they had got together.
Wax Audio is my fave mashup guy. He has 3 great free albums, containing wittily-titled gems such as this:"
I have all 3 albums..love his work!
Really liked "Judas" with Priest and Gaga..
There is a great Mashup with the Beatles Tax Man, the Surfaris' Wipe out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYDK2yXE0yU, and the Batman Theme that is just awesome
Later
MT, Faux G ,Crucethus, Steven the third incarnation of ...Sai Baba (I just pulled that one out of the air).His Majesty the jubilant and petulant and not bald in any way (thanks genes)Steven the 10th.
Sorry if I made it seem like a competitive thiang. Not my intention. Once you hit that 'post reply' button, it's gone! I was trying to say that Maffin's words kind of set a new standard in commenting, though you've done loads of good ones too, no doubt.
"I can think of no one who sounds like you in the states."
I agree and probably it's because of all the additional instrumentation aside from guitar. Not many people into delta blues seem to like combining it with psychedelic, electronic stuff. Most people into it seem quite traditional and conservative.
I'm not sure my actual blues guitar playing is unlike anyone else (in the US or elsewhere). That seems unlikely as I'm just not that good and don't play very often. I do play live solo delta blues stuff at open mic type events (but it bores me so don't really do it anymore) but all my recorded tracks add so much more as I love all the electro stuff too.
My resonator guitar is not a good enough quality one to present in a track naked and uneffected. And I think solo delta blues stuff is pretty boring unless you're a real virtuoso. Or have vocals. I'll do some sparser delta blues one day.
The most interesting delta blues guy I know of is Harry Manx, who inspired me to play banjo. Stunning slide player who is unique because he also plays a mohan veena, a rare instrument that is a cross between guitar and sitar, all played with a bar (slide). I want one but you can't buy them in the UK.
Stunning singer too and I'm going to see him live in a few weeks in London.
Wax Audio kick arse/ass. He loves Judas Priest (the Gaga one is good) and Iron Maiden though I'm not into either of them.
Blue Jump is one of my favourites of his. I'm a big Tears For Fears fan. Shout is one of the greatest pop songs ever!
Take care, Non-Bald Faux G.
on Low Key Love by StaticNomad
Might be the best allegorical phrase ever uttered on this site so kudos to Maffin.
I am now listening to this track on headphones, which is not something I normally do. It has a more emotional feel to me this way to listen like this. Still gives me the feeling of live. But I see Maffin's point about the drums and quantizing. Have you considered working with a live drummer?
On Headphones the bass at 6:14 is amazing esp. in contrast with the guitar and then the piano comes in..my fav part. kind of a bluesy piano and not a grand piano but just a lazy upright you might find in a school..that's what I love about the piano. There is a kind of sentimentality in this tune that I missed the first time around. I think I understand why you named it as such..now. What's weird is you have such a twisted and (good) sensibility of Americana Appalachian blues with such a unique British blend it's uncanny and differently pleasant to listen too.
Major Tom!!!
And he even asked for it to be longer - first time anyone's done that.
You now have to think when commenting on my stuff "Is that review as good as Maffin's Low Key Love review?" If not, you need to make it better, which doesn't necessarily mean adding more Latin!
Anyway, the track:
6:07 bass sounds a little different cos of the cool, tom-driven jazz drum groove I drop into. That inspired the swinging guitar there.
And then that high, tinkly piano, which is one of my very favourite things in this.
Yes, bit like an upright and with some playing that makes me think of old, cool, winging jazz like Cab Calloway or someone. I don't actually listen to any of that but was reminded of it the other day when re-watching The Mask feat. Jim Carrey.
There are two pianos in this, with the second coming on 7:04.
This title is, unintentionally, a triple entendre. There's meaning 1, about my more subtle, less ostentatious love for someone, number 2 could be about Norse God Loki and 3 suits the track really well - love for a low musical key (low D). Coincidence that the track is all based around a low key bass part. So, it's a perfect title, though my only intended meaning was number 1.
I'm not sure what the British blend is that I bring to Americana Appalachian blues. Don't know if any of my music sound 'British' (maybe you only say it cos you know I'm English).
I try not to sound like anyone else and not to think too much about other music I like when making my own. I think only about the sounds and where I can take them to make something I've never heard and which I haven't yet heard as I'm always inventing genres in my head.
I can't do all of the stuff I make up as I don't play enough of the instruments and probably don't have the ability. So, I just do what I can, which is still quite a lot.
So much blues bores me but I'm so influenced by the sound of the slide and genuinely think I put it into musical contexts that other people haven't before eg in this track. There's not much slide bass at all, apart from Mark Sandman though his band Morphine didn't actually play jazz. And they had no piano and didn't kick into psychedelic slide rock.
I'm also trying to make some of the music I wish other people had.
I bet you like a good mashup as that's a glimpse at what two or more good artists could have made if they had got together.
Wax Audio is my fave mashup guy. He has 3 great free albums, containing wittily-titled gems such as this:
Golden Teardrops
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GtzaV3Tkk0
Interview with the guy
http://jesterjaymusic.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/interview-with-tom-campagnoni-wax-audio.html
on sang av ensomhet by Prelude
https://www.looperman.com/tracks/detail/153191
thank you again Steve .
on Flaming - Spivkurl - Extraball Remix by Diskonnect
on Precious Moments - Larry Wiggles aka Mark Jeffries by larrywiggles1
was just getting into it at this point.
good work Mark
Steve
A really big thanks for giving this a listen again and for your comprehensive and much appreciated comments. I take your point about the length of the track and generally I have tried to keep my tracks between 3-4 minutes (the really early ones were shorter) but I agree this one should be longer. something for me to think about for future tracks. thanks again Steve for your valued opinion.
Very best wishes,
Mark/Larry!
on Apocalypse Ft ImproveWithError and TaraToxic by SeriouslyJoking
some examples of this style of music...the opening 1:12 of "Ladytron" Roxy Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cTJKb6xuhA
"Newtown" Bryan Ferry Which Bryan ferry had rumbling around in his head for like 10 years before recording it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLC6XFXMubM
"Ghosts" Japan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zzLU1ato2w
"I believe in you" Talk Talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHUDNZD5N88
Steve
Really nice to read this, I don't think you missed much having not heard the first version - I only added some piano (after the encouraging words from Ed) and repitched some of the guitar/bass and flute sounds. Oh, and added some percussion in the very poor first drum line in the beginning (thanks to Behnam! ;)). And took away some of Kyle's vocal. Hey...that maybe was a bunch of things in the end anyway.
That track from Talk Talk - now I'm stuck! I 've been listening to it over and over and over again since yesterday, don't Think I ever heard that one before. What a tune!
My music is nothing like that but I'm hearing some minor similarity with those songs from Brian Ferry though.
Say hello and thanks for the listen to your wife too and have a good day!
/SJ =)
on Say What You Will About Me by Darkreine
Steve
K;)
on I Miss You by alexisescalona
on sang av ensomhet by Prelude
https://www.looperman.com/tracks/detail/153099
La Chant De La Solitude.
It's sort of trippy and very different from what I thought I wanted to do, but that’s creativity. I may also do a simpler version with just piano and make it sound lonelier.
I am interested in Bears rendition as he is a great musician on this site, we have a great respect for each others work.
ciao
Steve
i can't wait to hear what you've done.
sorry for delay .
i'm going to listen track.
yes , Bear is one of greatest musicians here.
and one of my fav composers beside you , Behnam
and Tumbleweed .
nice to see your underestanding and prof attitude and respect for him .
i really appreciate you .
*Cindy*
on Modnex - I wish by Modnex
Good song otherwise.
This might make you laugh about pop songs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCVGpvzcHko
Steve
Hopefully it turns into something that will be inspirational and we as musicians can be proud of. If it continues down it's current spiral, music will eventually become a has been thing.
on Needle and the Damage Done Cover by Darkreine
Steve
on your name is a mystery that I know by ElenaSatine
i respect your idea.
on Cry baby-Joplin-cover by janis71
ciao
Steve
on Forgetting You by srbrown7
Steve
Cheers
Steve
on Sik Style - Rise with me by SikStyle1
Steve
on Been Missing You - Featuring Patricia Edwards by ScottFranco
Thanks for checking us out and leaving your comment.
Cheers,
Franco & Scott
on Tigress - Ready For Battle by tminniefield
Glad you are apart of looperman
Steve
on i can see your eyes by clindsay
wow..nice work!
on Tigress - Ready For Battle by tminniefield
Most appreciated
Steve
on Hey sexy girl by johnnyproducing
Good work
on Be My Baby by BearAustin
Steve.