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Keywords:
Pengui (1), Sick Transit (1), collaboration (102), paranoia (7), resurrection (5), smiles (2), key (7), word (8), song (191)
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Description:
This song was 'advertised' on the forums by Pengui, looking for a vocalist. The track was written by Rich (Pengui) and Chris (Sick Transit). I added the vocals, lyrics and spooky electronic bits, then mixed it in Logic.
There is a previous mix which has horns and strings in the chorus, but it all got a bit bombastic.
Anyhow, this is my first collab - hope that you like it, and please check out Pengui and Sick Transit's pages - there's some great stuff there.
Lyrically, this revisits some familiar themes for me - paranoia, control, dissatisfaction and Julius Caesar.
Thanks for the opportunity, guys.
Steve
Lyrics:
Mirror mirror on the wall
Tell me who's responsible for
All the trouble laid before me;
I can see right through that screen.
While the country sleeps they work
Storming dreams for folk to follow.
So stand behind the rope and scream but
I wanna be in that scene, not
Watching from afar (x2).
When life is good it could be great
Can't resolve that contradiction.
You just step out to buy some nails
Don't mean to start a crucifixion.
Watching from afar (x2)
Every night the same
The voices on the radio that dog your name.
Die and rise again,
Telling you to compromise, economise
They come with smiles (x2).
When life is good it could be great
Can't resolve that contradiction.
I just stepped out to buy some nails
Didn't mean to start a crucifixion.
Sleeping in the car...
Don't drop your guard ...
Every night the same
The voices on the radio that dog your name.
Die and rise again;
Telling you to compromise, to socialise
They come with smiles (x2).
Hardware:
Rich and Chris's real bass and guitars (and organ)
Software:
GB3
Logic Pro
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oh yeah &mdash 03/25/07 - 10:59:00 AM
Super collab guys! Very good song. The tasteful guitars with the simple hook-line like moves, and then the fatter chords and soloing is all great work!
The drums sounds like live drums, and are very supportive to the groove. Together with the bass, they make the ground solid and good.
The vocals are sooo good Steve. I think you have one of the best male voices on this site for this kind of tune. And the electronic bits adds a hip touch.
All in all... a fab production! [ Reply to This ]
mighty tasty &mdash 03/25/07 - 11:14:37 AM
good sound! i have to agree with thoddi - there's a smooth confidence to your vocal delivery that's a pleasure to hear. i'm liking the yummy bass in this - love where it is in the mix. interesting melody keeps my attention - lyrics do the same: nails and crucifixion was a cool line. wonderful team effort, gents. enjoyed the listen - anne [ Reply to This ]
Hi Anne &mdash 03/25/07 - 12:06:04 PM
.. I gotta say, i really struggled with the structure on this ... took me a while to understand it, but I love it, 'cause its very different from my normal thing. I loved the bass also - glad it cuts through on the mix.
I had a whole other set of voacls and lyrics for this, but ended up junking them ... the 'nails, crucifixion' line is all that remains of the original, and is basically the key to the themes of the song.
Thanks for stopping by
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Dead drummer &mdash 03/25/07 - 12:03:00 PM
Thanks Thoddi - I found this pretty stressful, as I didn't want to ruin someone elses song!
The drums took loads of fiddling, but are just GB jazz kit samples - I wanted to get a kinda brush sound for this. The guitars are fa, aren't they? Rich's solo is fantastic.
Many thanks for the comments
Steve [ Reply to This ]
excellent work &mdash 03/25/07 - 12:45:07 PM
this is so great of a tune, i wish i wrote it, Pengui, great guitars with edge , your style is always recognizable, steve great vocals and mix and nice additional touches. not to mention great cryptic lyrics.
Stunning piece! [ Reply to This ]
Advice needed &mdash 03/25/07 - 01:14:18 PM
Thanks Vic - the only thing I regret about this (other than the reverse reverb vocal not being so hot on this) is the guitar sound ... I'm sure i could've got it better. If you feel like passing over some advice, please do, as you always have a great guitar mix, Vic.
thanks for stopping by ... and I'm serious about the above, by the way!
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
well-done! &mdash 03/25/07 - 01:13:09 PM
Rich and Chris did an amazing job and their groovy song together with your vocals makes it so likable! I agree that one line about wanting to buy nails not start a crucifixion is beautifully human.
[ Reply to This ]
Hey 'Ella &mdash 03/25/07 - 01:18:31 PM
Thanks for the comments. I'm not sure how immediate this song is ... I think maybe it's a grower, but Im really glad you liked it.
I'm glad to see you getting recognition for your songs here ... despite that, I will be bothering you to do some vocals for me in the future ... you have been warned!
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
works well &mdash 03/25/07 - 01:17:58 PM
Cool! &mdash 03/25/07 - 01:28:38 PM
Thanks Racer - as you obviously have great taste (I see you faved Estellies new track), we appreciate the compliments!
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Epic drama!! &mdash 03/25/07 - 01:40:22 PM
Its funny cos I have been listening to the new Arcade Fire album this week...and this track has a similar epic quality to it. Great vocal performance, crisp and powerful guitar work...like it a lot!
Steve [ Reply to This ]
None bible! &mdash 03/25/07 - 01:54:52 PM
Well ... funny you say that, Steve!
I wrote most of the lyrics to this in the car, the monday morning that Neon Bible was released ... so i was pretty surprised to get the album later in the day and find the 'mirror mirror' lines in Black Mirror (spooky). The original mix of this had horns and strings in the 'Every night..' bit, which made it even more epic, but I just wasn't sure about it ... I may post that version at some stage.
I've been listening to the album a lot too, so influences probably slunk in to my parts ... funny, in the 'who does this sound like' bit of the song submission, I couldn't think of anyone! Be interesting to see what Rich and Chris's influences were for this track.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Influences &mdash 03/25/07 - 02:36:26 PM
It's actually kinda funny how little my influences probably show through. I'm a The Smiths worshiper (and can play almost any Andy Rourke bass line from memory) but I rarely feel anything Smithy in my music. I think most of it comes really from the drums. As soon as I hear drums, I usually have a bass line in about 10 seconds and a chord progression. I struggled a lot with the melody. It originally had an acoustic guitar track on it, but then I killed it and did the keyboard thing. Then I asked Chris to come in and put some guitar down. So, I don't think it sounds much like anything but original:)
---
(o_
//\
V_/_
3HSW [ Reply to This ]
Awesome &mdash 03/25/07 - 02:08:01 PM
This is just too cool. I like how the music keeps the flow of the keyboard without organ track. They lyrics are awesome. I really liked this track when I wrote it, and liked it better when Chris came over and put some guitar on it (by the way, the solo is Chris, someone mentioned it was me, but wasn't) The "telling you to compromise, economise" line is just sung wonderfully. I haven't had a real chance to soak this in yet, but I'm sure I'll have more to say. Great job! [ Reply to This ]
Ooops &mdash 03/26/07 - 02:26:44 AM
Hi Rich - I think it was me who thought you did the solo - please apologise to Chris! Guess this is one of the downsides of working with people that you don't meet!
Steve [ Reply to This ]
love it &mdash 03/25/07 - 03:51:51 PM
wow, a home run on your first collab. Sometimes you know in the 1st few moments whether you're gonna like something, and this was no exception. Dark, moody vibe. Love your voice. At times makes me think of Peter Murphy (I offer that in the highest regard). Its a really strong alt rock voice. The whole thing is greater than its parts. Well done [ Reply to This ]
Moody &mdash 03/26/07 - 02:30:07 AM
Hi KTB - dark and moody was what we were aiming for (and it's also how my wife describes me ... also sulky). Never had Pete Murphy comparison before, but I was a Bauhaus fan way back, so he's probably still kicking around .... saw them live 2 years ago ... they were just great.
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Heck of a track and heck of a vocal.. &mdash 03/25/07 - 04:37:11 PM
...I really enjoy the lead guitar here, too...
This is one of those good collabs, where the end product really sounds seamless and like a band or a performance and not a patchwork of performances...
Very enjoyable...
Ed [ Reply to This ]
Stuck together &mdash 03/26/07 - 02:33:12 AM
Hi Ed ... having spent the weekend mixing this, i can't get the solo out of my head, but that's a good thing! seeing as this was all done across the internet, it's a real compliment that we sound like we're all playing together. Thank you.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Wow &mdash 03/25/07 - 06:26:56 PM
I almost didn't recognize my own playing on it. Great job Steve! Great lyrics, great vocal dynamics (meaning melody and what you did with it). Good job all around. This is so much better than the original piece Rich and I did... If I'm not mistaken though, I think we switched around, Rich taking the keys and me the bass, with the elec. guitar dropped in a few weeks later as kind of an afterthought.
But yeah, Steve, if you're ever in Seattle... amazing job on this. [ Reply to This ]
Now I remember &mdash 03/25/07 - 10:54:13 PM
Ok, now I remember, Chris played bass, I played acoustic, then later replaced the acousic with the keyboard, then later added electric guitar. Of course, then Steve did all this :) Funny how these songs evolve.
---
(o_
//\
V_/_
3HSW [ Reply to This ]
A pleasure &mdash 03/26/07 - 03:08:04 AM
Hi Chris - really glad you liked this, it was great to work with real musicians and real instruments. I think i'll tidy up the early version (horns and strings) and send it to you, just for interest ... organ included!
Steve [ Reply to This ]
ooops &mdash 03/26/07 - 03:11:11 AM
Sorry, apologies, i replied to you on penguis post below ... Monday morning confusion!
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Wow &mdash 03/25/07 - 07:34:25 PM
- what a song,great production very professional,you mentioned about wondering how 'immediate' the song is - well by the 2nd verse I was really into it.Powerful voice,lyrics.I'd be interested to hear the original track to see what you added - I'll go n hunt the forums.Well done - good stuff,the guitars sound fine to me by the way - plenty of impact in the right places [ Reply to This ]
Original version &mdash 03/26/07 - 03:14:42 AM
Thanks paddler - glad you liked this. Not sure if the original is on the site, but contact pengui - he'll know where to look! Not often i get to mix real guitars, so glad you liked this.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Oh Hell Yeah! &mdash 03/26/07 - 01:38:05 AM
Radio friendly for sure.
Catchy,well produced and damn good.
I love it. [ Reply to This ]
Friendly! &mdash 03/26/07 - 03:19:56 AM
Hi bampot - pleasesd to meetcha! Pretty taken aback at 'radio friendly', but .... thanks. Actually, my wife thinks the start of the chorus vocal sounds like ABBA, so maybe that's it.
Thanks for commenting, and will check out your tracks this evening.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Nice bass sound! &mdash 03/26/07 - 03:18:15 AM
Big sounds on this - very well mixed bass on phones (it's really difficult to get it right - I know!). Lots of confidence in the guitars and vox, and the drums really do sound real.
A really good production - sounds very pro from here. The trouble you took with the drums was really worth it - if I was really looking for a nit (as I always try to do), it would be to add a tad more gain on the drums - but I'm only adding that so I don't seem too sycophantic ; )
Very good stuff!
Neil [ Reply to This ]
gain &mdash 03/26/07 - 03:26:16 AM
Hi Neil - thanks for the kind words, and listening to all Fall Down last night, any advice from you on the production will be warmly received. Sorry to be dumb, but what do you mean by gain ... the volume?
I'm going to remix the original version of this, so I'd like to act on this.
Many thanks for listening
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Steve &mdash 03/26/07 - 04:36:58 AM
I usually say "volume", but everyone tells me to increase the "gain" - just trying to fit in! Yeah, it's volume
: )
Neil --- ALL FALL DOWN[ Reply to This ]
Ta &mdash 03/26/07 - 04:42:23 AM
Excellent collab - great match &mdash 03/26/07 - 07:02:24 AM
of talents. Love the vocals - tense and relaxed at the same time - really suits the writing "contradiction". The production and playing here really rocks - nice guitar work/tone. Faved and DL'd. [ Reply to This ]
woof! &mdash 03/26/07 - 09:24:50 AM
Ta Bud - I appreciate the time you take to comment, as you most spend every other minute of the day writing music! Your new track is particularly great (and i'd urge anyone reading this to check it out asap).
Tense and relaxed vocals - spot on, I knew what I wanted for this but couldn't quite verbailse it - you've hit the nail. The narrator of this is a bit unhinged, but doesn't realise it ... so it all makes perfect sense to him.
Glad you enjoyed the collab - i very much hope that Chris, Rich and I will work together soon.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Ni-i-i-ice! &mdash 03/26/07 - 07:44:29 AM
Why isn't this on the radio? (Rhetorical question, I know...) Your vocals are just perfect, and the light, spare production gives the paranoia a real edge. Love the guitars!
"Sleeping in the car... don't drop your guard..." I do like that line.
[ Reply to This ]
Nice picture &mdash 03/26/07 - 09:30:18 AM
Hey Rik - that is a fantastic picture - is that you??!! Will check out your tunes asap. Thanks for the comments - I didn't think this track was remotely commercial, so have been surprised by some comments ... but I've been so close to it for the last few weeks, i've completely lost perspective.
Funnily enough, those two lines were the last to be written .... they have a real paranoid feel to them.
Ta
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Yup, that's me &mdash 03/29/07 - 08:58:16 AM
It's from an early version of my website years ago. There's gray in my beard now, which means I'm old enough to remember when radio used to play stuff like this piece and treat it with intelligence. Now radio is just amped-up stupidity and stale laughter coast to coast. What a pity.
Commercial... meaning if I heard this song on a radio around 2:44am, thought "wow, who does THAT?', found out the artist's name, jumped on my old motorcycle, braved the heavy rain and went down to the 24-hour music store on the corner to pay a small slice of my hard-earned paycheck to buy it, then absolutely. But now, commercial means 'American Idol' and that just makes me reach for my ball peen hammer.
[ Reply to This ]
Cool &mdash 03/30/07 - 01:33:34 AM
Cool pic , Ric. i know what you mean, commercial now seems to mean 'lowest common denominator unit shifter', but now and again something worthwhile breaks through.
Do you really listen to the radio at 2.30 a.m.?????
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
.... &mdash 03/26/07 - 07:58:14 AM
One of the Best I've heard here at MJ ------- wow (!)
play it LOUD (!!!!!!)
Tx [ Reply to This ]
Loud &mdash 03/26/07 - 09:37:03 AM
Retro edge &mdash 03/26/07 - 08:30:54 AM
I dig the retro feel, especially the straightforward keyboard work and really nice vocal stylings, the spaces you leave then fill up. Edgy mainstream track. Nice. [ Reply to This ]
Edgy &mdash 03/26/07 - 09:41:14 AM
Hi Tobin - always interested in/anticipate your comments, because you are the real deal. Anyway, 'straightforward keyboards' is probably pretty generous, especially my two-fingered piano playing!
If you give it the thumbs up, that's good enough for me - thank you.
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Retro stuff :-) &mdash 03/26/07 - 09:58:45 AM
This is so well done. Vox are straight out of a New Romantic band pretending to be Bowie. Excellent.
I like the sparse feel and the lyrics.
Nice one.
Cheers
Dick [ Reply to This ]
Fighting talk! &mdash 03/26/07 - 10:41:47 AM
A New romantic band pretending to be Bowie???
WTF???
You mean I sound like Steve Strange, or Midge bloody Ure??!!
Outside. Now.
Anyway, ta for the comments Dick, always good to hear from you.
Will check out the latest on you Rockera (ropera?) - I see you've some new posts.
Cheers guv
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Do you sound like a New Romantic ? &mdash 03/26/07 - 01:48:03 PM
Er... on this, yes ;-)
That's no bad thing though and I think this is great.
Oh and by the way my Dad's bigger than your Dad so watch who you're threatening to take outside :-)
Cheers
Dick [ Reply to This ]
Hah! &mdash 03/26/07 - 01:51:28 PM
Hey Steve, &mdash 03/26/07 - 07:25:04 PM
Sounds like Rich and Chris gave you one killer track to work with.
You did an excellent job on the lyrics/VOX. Now that I know more about your background from the forums here, I guess I shouldn't be surprised :P
Nice one guys! [ Reply to This ]
Hey Mike &mdash 03/27/07 - 02:30:01 AM
... they certainly did. After about 2 years of working on my own, I really enjoyed this collab ... would definately want to do more in future.
Hope you didn't get your hands dirty digging into my dodgy past!
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Great lyrics... &mdash 03/26/07 - 11:34:26 PM
...and a voice to carry them...
Great collaboration...music works really well with the lyrics...lots of depth and variation. [ Reply to This ]
Guitarman! &mdash 03/27/07 - 02:32:42 AM
Hi Bob - thanks for the comments. The guys wrote this with a really good structure, which i think helps keep the song interesting as it moves along.
Cheers
Steve [ Reply to This ]
wicked &mdash 03/27/07 - 12:01:35 AM
track guys great collab the music is excellent love the synthy waver that goes thru it...
and the vocals are very nice and deliver the brilliant lyrics clearly and with great strength and style !
COOL STUFF!!! [ Reply to This ]
More dodgy past stuff &mdash 03/27/07 - 02:38:25 AM
Ho Jojo - glad you liked this ... do you think Ollie would approve? (Un)fortunately, i don't have any pictures of me in a fringed jacket - but the ones on Attica are bad enough!
I redid the vocals to this on Saturday, as I'd had a head-cold and my voice sounded a bit rough, which suited the song (actually, i'm having my sinuses done in about 6 weeks - might ruin my singing voice!).
LOL
Steve (ex goth rock god) [ Reply to This ]
mmmm mmmmm goood &mdash 03/27/07 - 12:25:31 AM
Nice collab. Great lyrics, production, mix. Haunting and inviting. Glad you decided to par it down. I like the simplicity. The chorus is unusual in a way for poprock. Kind-of a waltzing bassline. Innovative. fav'd and downloaded! I'll definitiely check out Pengui and Sick Transist's pages. good solid stuff. [ Reply to This ]
Waltzing along &mdash 03/27/07 - 02:42:54 AM
Hi Philip - yeah, spot on, it is a kinda odd chorus. The original version, which I'm going to finish mixing, and then Pengui will post on his page (if he likes it ...not sure!), has strings and horns in the chorus, and almost sounds like a swinging Bavarian drinking song. I thought it was a bit OTT and abandonded it, but it did have some charm (and the rough mix sounded kinda epic). I'll hopefully do this at the weekend.
Thanks for the comments - great to hear from you
Steve [ Reply to This ]
NICE! &mdash 03/27/07 - 10:19:19 AM
Short and sweet &mdash 03/27/07 - 10:21:42 AM
Hi Bing ... a man of few words, but they all count.
Cheers for stopping by
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Sure Like It &mdash 03/27/07 - 04:02:02 PM
solo &mdash 03/28/07 - 01:47:56 AM
Thanks DD - glad you liked it .... totally agree about Chris's solo - it's kinda the centre piece of the track.
Cheers
Steve [ Reply to This ]
A band is born... &mdash 03/27/07 - 08:04:30 PM
Cool dark vibe...
I feel like I should put on my black clothes and eyeliner.
Nice use of space in the entire tune. It didn't feel over crowded.
Only suggestion. Try gating the guitars. The hiss at the beginning and end is a little distracting.
This sounds like a band.
When will we have more cuts? [ Reply to This ]
Close the gate &mdash 03/28/07 - 01:57:59 AM
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The drums sounds like live drums, and are very supportive to the groove. Together with the bass, they make the ground solid and good.
The vocals are sooo good Steve. I think you have one of the best male voices on this site for this kind of tune. And the electronic bits adds a hip touch.
All in all... a fab production!
[ Reply to This ]