A nicely paced song. That certainly is powerfully introspective playing
by Syncopatient. I'd like to hear a flute or weepy guitar do some
soloing in the intro and break. Not a lot...just a light touch to
momentarily lift and set back down. The performance has a sad Billy
Joel sort of mood to it. Your voice is a little flat in places but you may
be doing that purposely to squeeze out pathos.

"I've been holding out for you. And you've been holding off on me."
That's a good hook. Maybe you could ramp it up even more each time
you sing it...moving from quiet self-pity to an angered outcry.

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Thanks Richard. It is great piano playing, isn’t it? I’ll definitely have to do the
vocals again; I’ll try and do more with the final chorus. By the way, what are
‘pathos’? Thanks for the feedback.

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Pathos is a quality that arouses emotions (especially pity or sorrow). It's a
feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others. Pathos can also
be used to describe a style that has the power to evoke feelings.

---
http://www.schletty.com/song

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The balance between your voice and Synco's (is he still out there?)
beautiful piano make this song very dramatic in it's sparseness. Bravo for
not taking the easy route and over-producing this. This is an extremely
elegant piece of music!

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Thanks Adam. Yeh, I certainly don’t want to overdo it. Synco’s playing,
especially in the bridge, shouldn’t be covered in anything. I don’t know
where he is; haven’t seen heard from him for a while.

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It's a very immediate performance... very present... Your voice is right
there...

Yeah, Rich is right, there are some flats, and there are some plosive 'p's
and there are parts where maybe I'd back the piano back on the big
chords...

But the song's got its soul right... Its spirit has the usual melodic Neil
Finn-ish-ness, along with Finn's ability for the telling detail in the
lyrics, set against lines that set you puzzling for a moment "getting
inside" the lyrical viewpoint... And I like the actual piano playing very
much... The total effect draws me in as a listener, and leaves me
wishing there was more when the song is done... It's hard to get to
quibbling when a song does that...

If it were out there on a CD, I'd buy it, and if there was a more polished
version on CD, I'd buy that, and get this one as an "alternate take" on
iTunes...

Ed

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Thanks Ed. Yeh, I think this will be an ‘alternate take’. Even as a work in
progress, I feel I might have been a little hasty in posting it. But the feedback
from you guys will help with making it better - and that’s the whole point.
Thanks for the Neil Finn comments; you know how to make my day. As for
the ‘p’s, I used my coat-hanger pop screen - it might be time for a new
stocking. And suggestions on a good quality panty-hoe ladies?

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Time to get serious about your music, Nolan. Buy a real pop screen!

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First I'll say that I love your music as allways ... (being a long time devoted
Nolan-fan I have of course heard this one before).

Pop-reducing:
There is a way you can reduce lots of the p-popping sounds even on a track
that is already recorded. That is if you have a filter ... like in Logic Express it
is named "Low Cut". It is like a sharp EQ that takes away everything below the
frequency you set.

Let's say you don't sing any notes below 120Hz, then you can safely filter out
everything below 110Hz. Most popping is below the lowest sounds of a
normal voice. (I use to do that on my guitar recordings to reduce low
drumming sounds that I cause while strumming the guit. I have also used
software eq for this purpose before I discovered I had a filter.)

Anyway to do this you need also to know the frequencies for different notes.
Here is a little list. Beginning at the lowest note I ever use on guitar, the
dropped D, and up to the guitars high E string:

(the frequences are rounded numbers)

note Hz

D 73
D# 78
E 82 (6th guitar string)
F 87
F# 92
G 98
G# 104
A 110 (5th guitar string)
A# 117
H 123
C 131
C# 139
D 147 (4th guitar string)
D# 156
E 165
F 175
F# 185
G 196 (3th guitar string)
G# 208
A 220
A# 233
H 247 (2d guitar string)
C 262
C# 277
D 294
D# 311
E 330 (1st guitar string)


/Curry

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Thanks very much, Curry. I appreciate your advice. And I will try that out!

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This is such a beautiful tune. I wonder who hasn't been here... Such an
honest expression, it seems. Just wonderful.

Thank you for sharing this. Dion

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My pleasure, Dion. I’m really glad you enjoyed it. Thanks a lot.

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the foundation is there its all frosting from here on in. It would make a
beautiful rock ballad. I would keep lots of the piano and voice duet,
introducing some soulful electric guitar, base and drums on the chorus
and during changes, prehaps a break with guitar solo. good luck with
it.

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Thank you for the comment. I can’t wait to taste some of this 'frosting'. This
song has always been just piano and vocals - it will be cool to hear it with
other instruments. Thanks for the suggestions.

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Talk about Finn-like! Great vox, great lyrics, great writing. I'd
probably like to hear it developed into something more, not the big
ballad number, just some bass and drums and an acoustic. Love
hearing a familiar accent - reminds me of the Waifs or Missy Higgins'
vox. Excellent!
Neil

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Thanks Neil. Yeh, I definitely want to keep it simple. What you’ve suggested
sounds good. Glad you liked the first draft anyway.

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I liked the piano, the singing and the song:)
Good start on this day for me.
Thanks Nolan:)

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Thanks Thoddi. I’m really glad you kicked off the day with the song. It still
blows me away thinking about people listening to my silly little recordings.

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You're such a great writer. To me this has the qualities of a live
performance recording in a club. There are the minor imperfections in
pitch and the slightly poping p's, but they are minor, just enough to be
like a nice live one-off. Really such a beautiful song. When did Synco
perform this for you? I've been wondering if he'd ever come back to MJ
after the summer.

I like the simple voice and piano arrangement and I could imagine it
staying that simple. But perhaps some other instrument could join in
at some point and be a good addition. I wouldn't want to hear it
overdone though. The piano is doing such a wonderful job of
supporting your vocals and the lyrics.

I guess my main observation would be that you could get a better
recording of your voice without the pops and try to deliver some of
those lines more on pitch to give this a more refined sound. I'd also
like to hear a played ending rather than a fade out. But I'd still buy it
on CD as is and be happy.

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Thanks a lot, Peter. As always, I really appreciate your feedback. I shall
definitely redo the vocals and I think the general consensus is to keep any
instrumental additions to a minimum. Sounds like good advice since the
piano is so good. Thanks again.

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The voice weaves the melody.
The piano plays silence.
Excellent song.


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Thank you for listening and commenting, Tadashi.

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Beautiful Nolan. (See also my reply on popping above).

/Curry the Nolan fan

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Thanks Curry.

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it's still one of my favorite songs on MacJams. I think the original was the
first song I ever commented on. This is just such brilliant songwriting; it's
really in the realm of sophistication beyond what I hear around here
normally. Your influences are really apparent. ;) I love this version, of
course, but on earbuds, the vocal hiss and hot spots are really a
distraction. You know I love your music, and I'm so pleased to hear this
one reworked. Fantastic!

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Ah, I remember that comment well. My head was spinning at that point that
strangers were even listening to, let alone enjoying, my humble little song.
I'm still getting a huge kick out of each comment.

Thanks Miss Chaos. I appreciate your kind words. As for that "vocal hiss" - it
has been the bane of my GarageBand existence. I just can't get a clean sound
through my mic. Maybe I'll start a thread on that...

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I hear Billy Joel in your singing, but a calmer style. Like the delicate piano.
Almost like a calm city street at night in the summer. Thanks for bringing
that peacfulness.


It really moved me Nolan ! Lost of music doesn't do that.

Again, terrific style

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Thanks Tiles. I really appreciate it.

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I really dig this tune... this version is very very nice. There's something so
live, so raw about it. It fits the tune well. While listening to this tune I felt
as if I were sitting in a coffee shop... very intimate.

Nice to see you posting again... I should give that a try! ;)

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Thank you sir. Good to see your name around again. Now, when will I hear a
new one of your catchy little numbers? Can't wait. Thanks for commenting.

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You do have a way with words. Like your style.

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Thank you kindly Charlie. I appreciate you listening.

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I both like the song, the playing, The singing, the lyrics! I love it all! Another one that goes into my Nolan folder!

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Mate, I am honoured and amazed that there is a 'Nolan' folder in Norway!
Thanks.

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Slightly augmented version of Unobtainable Remedy now up at http://
www.macjams.com/song/19298

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Love it as much as the original, but don't throw away the original! It has
so much heart and just a great (I wanna say lo-fi) sound; it has a charm
all its own. But yeah, this one is great too. Nice to see you've come into
some better recording equipment and a better internet connection!
Woohoo!

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Thanks Pooey. Yeh, the old version has a special place in my heart. Thanks
for referring to it. Good to see you back around, and yes, the new
equipment...mmm. Just need that condenser mic now. Any chance of some
Pooey magic on a coming tune or two?

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