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Description:
This is a new version of the first song with lyrics I ever wrote. I posted it circa May of 2005 and got great feedback that helped me do a better mix a few months later. Though a lot of people have said they like that version quite a bit, I've never been happy with it and have often thought of going back and 'fixing' it with a real musician.
Along those lines, last year I asked Mr. Perceptualvortex to do dance mix of the song, and I was really happy with the way that turned out, even though it didn't technically count as a version that was true to the vibe of the original. It was a hell of a lot of fun, though.
It was still in the back of my head to do it one day and, when a magical piece of music turned up in my inbox, sent by Jim, I jumped at the chance to do this version of the song. I love his vocals on the chorus and I think his music and production are wonderful.
Also, don't miss the smoking guitar solo. :-)
Lyrics:
Sowing and growing,
hemmed in by roses and lilies,
Sarah cleared the land in high school,
barbed wire, cedar rails and knotweed.
I'll check for footprints.
Is there anyone missing?
Under the layers of topsoil,
pretty red roses with crabapple heads.
Out in the greenhouse,
a willing gardener finds her.
Sarah takes down seeds and trowels,
birdseed, raspberries, poisoned weeds.
I'll check for footprints.
Is there anyone missing?
Under the layers of topsoil,
pretty red roses with crabapple heads.
End of the season,
the leaves are taking a dive.
Someone's shoes found in the ground,
heaps of bug shells, shards of egg,
cover the wasted beds.
I'll check for footprints.
Is there anyone missing?
Under the layers of topsoil,
pretty red roses with crabapple heads.
Hardware:
Lisa's vocal mic is a Rode Nt-1a. She covets Jim's set-up.
Jim's vocal mic is a Rode NT1000 into an ART Tube PAC mic preamp, into a Tascam US122 to the eMac. Guitar is a G&L Legacy through a Boss DD-20 GigaDelay (with a reverse delay), going through a Peavey Delta Blues amp, mic'ed by a Shure SM-57.
Software:
The strings are pencil-tooled and twisted Jam Pack 4 loops, the bass sound is Apple's muted rock bass software instrument. I used my Kurzweil KME-61 to play some of the keyboard parts. The Synth sound is Orca, drum loops are a Sonic Boombox Tribal Kit and various stock GB loops. iZotope Spectron smearing on the backing vocal lines. Peak to master the mix, using Ozone 3 in Peak to tweak the master. It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.
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MUCH .. &mdash 07/02/07 - 01:11:35 AM
.. more clearly defined sounds going on here for sure. I discovered recently (after nearly 12 months of trying to get the loudest sound I could out of Logic) that loud is not necessarily best. Jim can take considerable credit for me reaching this conclusion. I actually mastered my whole CD as loud as I could, and have spent the last two weeks adjusting so I could get similar detail to what you have here.
I think you've definitely improved on the original post in this version, but it still comes across as having lots of "grunt" in the volume department. At the same time the subtleties of the instrumentation (and birdsong) come through as well.
Lisa, this is an amazingly good vocal effort from you, and fits perfectly with Jim's laid back approach.
I'm very, very impressed with this. Pro-level sound and performance with excellent production - well done Jim.
You had to get to this point sooner or later!
Neil [ Reply to This ]
Grunt! &mdash 07/02/07 - 02:28:35 AM
Thanks so much Neil. Your feedback was instrumental (groan) in the decision to take another listen to the last mix and do some fiddling, so Jim and I really appreciate it. [ Reply to This ]
Beautiful.... &mdash 07/02/07 - 01:16:56 AM
Earthy &mdash 07/05/07 - 09:35:24 PM
Now this is... &mdash 07/02/07 - 01:31:57 AM
reeeally nice. I'll by honest on the original post I could only get about 1/4 of the way into it before jumping the fence. A vast improvement in sound that kept me attentive throughout. [ Reply to This ]
Can't tell you &mdash 07/02/07 - 03:47:56 AM
Can't tell you how much I enjoyed this one. Great sound! To be a little honest, I didn't really like the male backing vocals, think you should've done it all. Must say you really sound a lot like Dido. I'm friends with an engineer(name dropping), who work with her and he suggested writing something in her style. Will post this week.
Production was very good.
Just cuz I care, I think this one is more like a track 11 or 12 on a CD. It's very laid back and mellow, but not a main track.
I just think you want some contructive feedback and not just "that's really good" stuff.
Terrific lyrics, too. Can't believe it was your first effort.
Cheers,
LL [ Reply to This ]
Thank you! &mdash 07/02/07 - 08:34:38 AM
To everyone that comments on this. I really appreciate your patience in seeing this song posted again so soon. It could be considered a minor tweak to take down the loudness and clear up the mix, but once I started listening to it, all I could hear was the distortion and saturation in the first version. This one has a lot more detail in it. You might have to turn it up a bit, but I'd rather you turn it up than turn it off! :) [ Reply to This ]
lisa, &mdash 07/02/07 - 09:07:24 AM
the BIGGEST rating i have ever given to anyone! it is sung so fantastic by both of you, GREAT lyrics and truly lovely melody. wonderful, very professional piece in every element of it.
brilliant!!
paja [ Reply to This ]
Charming &mdash 07/02/07 - 11:14:52 AM
Overflowing with sweet, charming creative energy! Interestingly it reminded my of an Italian artist called "Elisa" (check out the ending of "Creature" you might enjoy that, in fact the whole Asile's World album in iTunes...). So many details to compliment, the interesting beat blending so well with the rest of the ambient sounds and instruments and obviously the wonderful vocals. I'll just keep saying that your voice is getting better with every post indefinitely:) The mix is excellent and sounds balanced and organic with all elements adding their own quality to the song. The guitar stands out of course, and the piano is just right. Lovely artwork as well. [ Reply to This ]
Damn Phil! &mdash 07/02/07 - 12:12:32 PM
Such a cool song....
I don't think you can ever satisfy everyone with a mix, we all have our personal concepts. Suggestions can be helpful or annoying... In fact, here's one coming right now...
I think the snare is too loud. I blame this all on Phil Collins, who in the 80's changed the way we all mix drums. The snare, like a shaker or tambourine, can cut through steel.
That said, it doesn't change how lovely the song is. [ Reply to This ]
Thanks &mdash 07/02/07 - 12:17:48 PM
No, really.
I think I'm getting better at mixing, and then you post this.
Bugger.
Just great guys, the space and seperation is wonderful, everything given its moment, both sets of vox so pure, like duelling angels. The last version was good, this is a revelation.
I'm sooo green (garden pun, geddit??).
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Fab song &mdash 07/02/07 - 01:14:14 PM
much improved. It's so tempting to go for as loud as possible but ultimately everything gets rather squashed in the process even if clipping is avoided. Anyway - this is such a great track (still hearing Peter Gabriel) and I'm really glad you re-mixed it - well worth it.
Peter [ Reply to This ]
No flies on this &mdash 07/02/07 - 01:54:25 PM
Apprehensive, since I've already got EJH's posse after me... &mdash 07/02/07 - 04:26:32 PM
I commented on the previous version indirectly--I left a comment for your 2-year-old version late last week, and while there was clearly lots to recommend it, my feeling was that I prefered the 2-year-old version because the arrangement seemed a lot simpler, making it easier for me to connect with the song.
Well, this "new and improved" mix definitely sounds improved to me; a lot cleaner, less overwhelming, allowing me to connect with the music, so Jim deserves praise for this, which I am sure took lots of very detailed work.
Having said that, I will say (with apprehension, because I don't want you to think I don't like this!) I agree with Lavalamp that I am not sure the male backing vocals enhance the song; for me they kind of get in the way. Probably for this reason, I still prefer the simplicity and more direct approach of the July '05 version, but I think this remix has lots and lots of wonderful things to recommend it. [ Reply to This ]
erm... &mdash 07/02/07 - 07:07:29 PM
originally we weren't sure if Lisa was going to sing at all on this. I really just started working on it thinking I might do it all myself since I was so far away from the original version, and really just sent Lisa the music to get her okay to proceed. She was so supportive of this direction for the music and asked if she could sing it as a duet. I made an attempt at singing the whole song, but could only succeed on getting the choruses. I thought alternating the verses and the choruses with different voices would echo the implication in the lyrics that there is some sort of search party, and the triple tracking of my vocal was something that really grew on me. Reminding me of Eno's "Before and After Science" a bit. But I wonder how it would sound with just Lisa's voice... Maybe we could try that but I think it's probably time to move on...
I'm glad you like the detail in this mix! [ Reply to This ]
Nice Mix &mdash 07/02/07 - 07:44:12 PM
I agree with Before and After Science comment...I would encourage further exploration in that direction (well I would wouldn't I?) but I also understand the need to move on to pastures new...
b [ Reply to This ]
Very cool &mdash 07/02/07 - 08:16:13 PM
BEautiful production. The mix is great and and everything sounds nicely matched with everything else. Nothing overwhelms or disappears. Great vocal performance. This is a terrific song. Love the percussion and instrumentation in general. Vocal performance is great. I like the male vocal - adds something. Maybe I would have had you both sing it. But that's just me. Very cool. Nice work. Peace. [ Reply to This ]
I really like his &mdash 07/02/07 - 08:55:58 PM
The mix is very clever. Peter Gabriel-ish.
What a great work of art, here!
Top to bottom, playing, singing, mixing and mastering!
Pro
I have to save this one for sure...
creative lyric great collab
peace;
tim
hi score
[ Reply to This ]
Muuuuuuch better! &mdash 07/03/07 - 04:07:36 PM
Stunning vocals by Lisa...Excellent soundscape. This sounds incredibly pro Jim, like it's right off a commercially made and produced CD. Abundant kudos!
Be well!
Vagabond: http://www.macjams.com/song/33206 [ Reply to This ]
I really &mdash 07/03/07 - 04:12:04 PM
like this version as well as the very first one (which I downloaded as soon as I heard it) and which had a 'Folky' feel. This version I also like and this evokes a kind of mystery/dream-like feel for me. Great singing, sounds and mixing, Just superb, M [ Reply to This ]
This is wonderful... &mdash 07/03/07 - 04:49:56 PM
...such a wonderful vibe. Well produced. Great performances. Love it. Downloaded and ready to roll...
Thanks to both of you... [ Reply to This ]
Cocteau Twins vs. Peter Gabriel &mdash 07/03/07 - 07:46:28 PM
Bay-bee! &mdash 07/03/07 - 08:40:25 PM
amazing !! &mdash 07/03/07 - 08:47:29 PM
nothing less than breathtaking !! did you use the same birds that paul used in blackbird ?? [ Reply to This ]
Hah! &mdash 07/03/07 - 09:35:39 PM
cover collab ?? &mdash 07/04/07 - 12:21:55 AM
wanna do a collab on blackbird, i got the guitar and you have the voice..and the bird noises ! [ Reply to This ]
Sweet &mdash 07/04/07 - 10:09:06 AM
Thanks for this wonderful song. It's getting better all the time. Sorry couldn't help the beatlesism.Taylor [ Reply to This ]
Oooh.... &mdash 07/04/07 - 01:55:56 PM
....I like this a lot! You have a really great voice - definitely something quite 'earthy/dreamy' about it. Excellent stuff - will spend a bit of time listening to your other tracks.
ATB Phil [ Reply to This ]
Neo-post-ledebu-reggae-fritters! &mdash 07/04/07 - 04:39:32 PM
I can't compare the two in my mind, but this seems to be much improved...
I still love the charm of the original.
That being said, the Lisa vocal here is perfect. Nice pausing and getting in and around the beat... Phrasing is terrific....
Jim's backing vocals are augmenting without being distracting, which is the trick...
Jim's dab hand at the atmospherics is continuing to get subtler... it still ends up being an atmospheric mix, while being subtler and smoother... It rewards deep listening, but it doesn't push a lot of side details in your face...or ears...or something....
Very smooth mastering job...
Ed [ Reply to This ]
Reggae-a-go-go &mdash 07/06/07 - 09:26:22 PM
Thanks for noticing the reggae flavor, Ed. That's one of my favorite parts of the song and, truly, part of what made the song so much fun for me to sing. It forced me to phrase things differently and this was a really good experience for me, because it showed me that I might not be as limited a singer as I sometimes think. Jim's bassline was basically like a guard rail of how to sing it. [ Reply to This ]
imaginative mix &mdash 07/04/07 - 07:31:09 PM
I didn't hear the previous version but this one is captivating, with a good variety of sounds, panning, editing and pacing.
Your vocals are excellent and float on top of the words in an ethereal way.
I particularly like the punctuated piano chords, very subtle but adds a lot.
There's a lot going on here but you pull it all together effectively. Good balance now! [ Reply to This ]
very hip mixture &mdash 07/05/07 - 01:49:15 PM
of hip-hop ish groove.. with almost free floating almost jaz piano... all under your Shawn Colvin vocal performance... she's my fav... and your relaxed casual conversational way with this ads such a compelling charm...but I'm biased cause your one of my fav's
[ Reply to This ]
wow &mdash 07/05/07 - 06:48:54 PM
this is great, i love the almost reggae feeling when it starts, and the piano part that comes in after the chorus. But of course your voice just tugs at my heart strings. great job guys. [ Reply to This ]
faster &mdash 07/05/07 - 08:27:36 PM
i loved the previous version - i love this version.
but to be a dance track it needs to be faster.
i tried speeding it up 20% - and to my ears it sounds even better. your original seems to be about 80 BPM - so 20% faster would be around 96 BPM or so... some people would say go even faster, but i fear the mood would get lost much beyond 100 BPM...
just a thought!
thanks
[ Reply to This ]
Nope! &mdash 07/05/07 - 09:39:56 PM
When ledebutant wrote this it was a lot faster, but this one wasn't meant to be. I was going for something other than a dance track. Perpetual vortex's remix of ledebs original is the ultimate dance version of this song. It could work faster, but that wasn't my concept for the song. Thanks for your opinion, though! [ Reply to This ]
Boogie &mdash 07/05/07 - 09:49:22 PM
Thanks, Bill. I think maybe I confused the issue with my reference to PV's dance mix of the song. This version isn't meant to be something for boogying. Thanks for the specific input and for taking this into GB and speeding it up to check it out. That goes above and beyond. [ Reply to This ]
Sorry &mdash 07/07/07 - 06:48:46 PM
I thought it was meant as a dance track.
Speeding it up actually does work, but the character is changed.
My apologies... [ Reply to This ]
:-) &mdash 07/08/07 - 01:08:59 PM
Lisa, one of your best, and probably my favorite of all your and Jim's songs. Love the harmonies and the jungle/African beat. I've been gone a while and always pleased to come back and find some gems here every now and then.
I played this a few times on my iTunes and came to the conclusion that I really loved it! [ Reply to This ]
Paradox... &mdash 07/13/07 - 10:57:12 AM
I come back after several listenings of this tune just to say bravo, it's a very good tune...
in french, "debutant" means amateur, novice, beginner, inexperienced...
Paradox, you are just the opposite, talented and very pro. Bravo !
Marc
[ Reply to This ]
yay! &mdash 09/17/07 - 04:56:21 PM
I love this. Right up my style. It's poetry as far as I'm concerned.
Jim, I love everything you do musically. I'm sure of that.
Lisa, lovely heartfelt singing, as always! [ Reply to This ]
Aww &mdash 01/20/08 - 10:06:41 PM
Enjoyed &mdash 12/23/07 - 08:33:52 AM
couldn't wait to hear the vocals &mdash 02/14/08 - 08:42:45 AM
Not sure why, but once the track started I was dying for Lisa's vocals to come in. Thankfully, when they did, I wasn't disappointed in the lest. Your delivery has a nice raw beauty that's very satisfying. The song is enjoyable and the production is just right, sparse, good backing vocals, perfect amount of other activity. Wonderful work guys, a real joy to hear. [ Reply to This ]
This is extremely cool &mdash 02/15/08 - 01:59:16 PM
I'm just now listening to your music - (only been here a week!) - what a gifted voice you have. Can't wait to hear the rest of your offerings Thanks [ Reply to This ]
Star in the making &mdash 02/17/08 - 11:08:00 PM
I remember listening to both of the previous versions and being impressed. This one is nice also. You sound like a pro and it seems like your material brings out the best in your collaborators. [ Reply to This ]
Great &mdash 02/22/08 - 04:57:13 AM
Good vocals... And a great melody.... You two are good.... I really like the bass playing... And the backing vocals, sounds like angels... amazing...
[ Reply to This ]
Great &mdash 02/22/08 - 10:20:04 AM
Fantastic vocal performance, great arrangement. This is borne by an outstanding musical sense and tastefulness. A beautiful song that leaves me back mouth open. Simply great! An instant favorite :-) [ Reply to This ]
Cool! &mdash 03/14/08 - 02:48:28 PM
I gotta know, how did you get the birds to sing backup vocal in tune? This one has all the elements and everything is in its space. Very nice production and good performances all around.
Stephen [ Reply to This ]
Very nice indeed. &mdash 03/21/08 - 04:18:53 AM
Great! &mdash 04/26/08 - 11:32:40 AM
This is a very fine song Lisa. Great quality, great vocals (by both) and wonderful piano line. Really gorgeous!
Take Care
- Yeman A. Al-Rawi [ Reply to This ]
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I think you've definitely improved on the original post in this version, but it still comes across as having lots of "grunt" in the volume department. At the same time the subtleties of the instrumentation (and birdsong) come through as well.
Lisa, this is an amazingly good vocal effort from you, and fits perfectly with Jim's laid back approach.
I'm very, very impressed with this. Pro-level sound and performance with excellent production - well done Jim.
You had to get to this point sooner or later!
Neil
[ Reply to This ]