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Sea Of Dreams by jiguma [Email]
Genre: Acoustic Rock

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 635
Comments: 48
Votes: 10
Plays: 96
Last Played: Oct 03, 2008 - 04:22:37 PM
Downloads: 26
Fans: 32
Uploaded: Jun 24, 2008 - 07:25:26 AM
Last Updated: Jun 24, 2008 - 06:54:01 PM
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Description:
This was a song I’ve been playing around with for quite a while on acoustic. The melody and chord structure were first, then the first line “Late at night when the seeds of dreams are forming delta waves on restless seas” appeared out of nowhere. OK I thought, it’s about a dream – try as I might, I couldn’t find a story that might fit a dream. Then I realised I don’t have stories in my dreams, just disconnected feelings. Once I figured that out the rest of the words just kept on coming in the space of maybe 15 minutes. Then the music kind of just happened.

I’m using 6 separate guitar tracks (2 acoustic, 2 slide and 2 Telecaster) as well as bass, midi drums and 3 vocal parts. I'm using a glass slide on the Seagull.

I kind of like how this turned out.

Lyrics:
Sea Of Dreams
© 2008 Neil Porter

Late at night
When the seeds of dreams are forming
Delta waves on restless seas
Far away
Hear the distant voices calling
Turn away and let them be

Sea of dreams
Rocky shores
Is there shelter up ahead?
Darkest scenes
Closing doors
Am I safe here in my bed?

Shine your light
Use it well in times of darkness
Brighten up these shadowed days
Second sight
See beyond tomorrow morning
World might mend it’s wicked ways

Sea of dreams
Rocky shores
Is there shelter up ahead?
Darkest scenes
Closing doors
Am I safe here in my bed?

Look away
It’s just your own internal weather
It’s just your hurricane inside
Fight or flee
Sometimes both things come together
Batten down and try to hide

Sea of dreams
Rocky shores
Is there shelter up ahead?
Darkest scenes
Closing doors
Am I safe here in my bed?

Hardware:
Rode NT3 mic
Fender Telecaster
Fender Precision Bass
Seagull S6 acoustic
Jim Dunlop 215 glass slide
Behringer UB802 mixer/preamp
iMac G4 (the last time!)

Software:
Logic Express (the last time!)
Ozone 3
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Old Cowboy Western seafaring song &mdash 06/24/08 - 07:41:55 AM
Like a cowboy riding the open sea. A cool song. I like it. It has punch and meaning.

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Rich! &mdash 06/24/08 - 05:14:40 PM
Glad you enjoyed this one. I was originally going to put this into the Grand Ole Opry Challenge, but it seemed a little too "modern" in feel. I love a cowboy western seafaring dreamy sort of song ;)
Thanks for listening!
Neil

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Excellent &mdash 06/24/08 - 07:48:08 AM
Neil!!!

Love the guitar work and like RS, it has a very cowboy feel!

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Cheers Mark &mdash 06/24/08 - 05:16:10 PM
thanks for visiting and leaving a comment - glad you enjoyed it - it's my current favourite of mine.
Neil

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Seamless &mdash 06/24/08 - 08:03:14 AM
Sounds excellent. Hard to believe you used so many guitars, the sound is clear and uncluttered. Good tune!!

Thanks
Bill

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Thanks Bill &mdash 06/25/08 - 12:45:17 AM
Getting a lot of instruments happening at once is the result of 2 "Golden Rules": 1 - never let any track go into the red; 2 - make sure no two tracks occupy the same space on the sound stage (ie if you have one guitar panned -10, don't have anything else there).
Glad you enjoyed this one - I really had fun doing it.
Neil

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Uneasy night. &mdash 06/24/08 - 08:21:06 AM
The season of the typhoon comes to Japan.
A wind of hope and a cruel wind blow from the sea.

Good slide guitar.


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Thank you Tadashi &mdash 06/25/08 - 12:47:38 AM
I really appreciate you mentioning the slide - I was trying to get a pedal steel sound by having two slide tracks doing harmonies, but that was very hard to do. I hope the typhoons in Japan stay away from your door.
Neil

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safe in bed &mdash 06/24/08 - 08:53:30 AM
Neil, I think the mix is outstanding. The slide is particularly cool. Great story on how this developed. A waking dream so to speak. Keep the daydreams comin. I really like this

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Jihn! &mdash 06/25/08 - 03:01:22 AM
Thanks for the positives - I'd love to do something together sometime - some of your recent collabs have been really nicely done.
Cheers,
Neil

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Wonderful! &mdash 06/24/08 - 08:54:00 AM
Nice song. Very nicely composed and performed. As Sir Richard said about the Cowboy feel. Fine guitar work and excellently produced! I like it very much and thanks for sharing.

Take Care
- Yeman A. Al-Rawi

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Greetings Yeman! &mdash 06/25/08 - 03:41:41 AM
Thank you for listening - I'm glad you enjoyed a little bit of country - this was going to be my contribution for the Grand Ole Opry Challenge, but I thought it was a little too unlike a GOO tune. I have another nearly ready though.
Peace,
Neil

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As usual Neil &mdash 06/24/08 - 10:13:42 AM
Excellent in all ways. The lyrics, chords, arranging, mixing, vocals, tempo, everything is great in here. Whenever I even attempt to play this style, it comes out all plunky and boring, but you are a guitarist extraordinaire. Just wonderful.:-)

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Clunky! &mdash 06/25/08 - 03:48:50 AM
I have to work to de-clunk my tracks Roxy :) I guess being a rhythm section player first and foremost helped in this regard. Thanks for your visit - I'm pleased that you liked what you heard.
Neil

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I love it... &mdash 06/24/08 - 10:32:30 AM
...when the mind spontaneously combusts and lyrics flow fast and freely!

Neil, this is truly gorgeous. From the slow and gentle gallop of the rhythm section to those sweet sweet slides, this one is definitely a winner.

I'm gonna be hearing that dreamy chorus in my head for days!

Be well friend!

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That chorus &mdash 06/25/08 - 04:18:48 AM
Thanks for listening and leaving a note Mike - always appreciate that. The chorus is one that I'm pleased with (although Joe S's suggestion made me wish I'd had a bit more of a think about it). The slide is a funny way of playing. The lesson from this is that if you keep it simple, it tends to work.
Cheers from Oz!
Neil

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pro production &mdash 06/24/08 - 10:50:58 AM
great production on this one. all the parts sound great - level, tone, performance. you have a great, breathy voice. i love the way a picked p-bass cuts through a mix! slide guitars are spot on - nice harmonies. just my $.02, but i might have started the fade out sooner - to make for a longer dissolve. but that's purely subjective. nice work!

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Ah, the fade! &mdash 06/24/08 - 05:11:57 PM
Thanks for the kind words 12ps! I have real problems with fades. On this one I was really enjoying the final playout, but for some reason thought it was long enough as it was. When it came time to fade it, I found I hadn't left enough time to do it justice - hence the quick (2 bar) fadeout. You are correct though, and if this ever reaches a CD, it will be longer with more interest in the last 16.
Cheers from Oz,
Neil

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Pure class &mdash 06/24/08 - 11:28:29 AM
Neil - Great song coupled with excellent production. Superb!

Peter

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Thanks Peter &mdash 06/25/08 - 05:02:47 AM
Glad you liked it.
Neil

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Sea of dreams &mdash 06/24/08 - 11:47:37 AM
Brilliant! Your just a fantastic singer no two ways about it.
also great music. Good lyrics. Your Amazing
You Rock!! Thanks for another great download.

Peace Dee.

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Glad you liked it Dee &mdash 06/25/08 - 05:05:24 AM
Like all of us here, there's room for improvement - that's what I love about doing this stuff - you can always learn and get better with support from other MJers. I appreciate that you had a listen and liked what you heard.
Cheers,
Neil

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Gotta love it! &mdash 06/24/08 - 01:25:44 PM
There's nothing better than when a song just "comes together." It's such a satisfying feeling to have something grow, almost organically, from a seed of a few lyrics or chords. To me, at least, those songs are so much more enjoyable than the ones that take their time to form. That take effort and concentration and must be constructed bit by bit.

It seems like some of the country/western influence of your early days is coming through a bit more in this one. Mixed with your breezy, laid back style it makes for a great sound. No matter what the subject matter, there's always a warmth in your songs. I think it's the bright, crisp guitar style mixed with your vocals. The timbre of your voice is always very relaxing.

Enjoyed it very much, as always.

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Fantastic &mdash 06/24/08 - 02:45:49 PM
I could hear Johnny Cash taking a stab at this one (too bad he can't any more, maybe Dylan could). Great hook. I've been really digging your stuff lately. Well sung.

Great job,

Dave

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Sea Of Dreams &mdash 06/24/08 - 03:21:29 PM
Alright ...chamber of guitars ..waves of strummings
and pickings ..as always just relaxing and thoughtful
track my friend .the tele just perfect to the sound
I can hear some of that 70s cant decide what is it ..
but certainly marvelous ...thnx alot for sharin such
gem my friend !!!!!

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I always &mdash 06/24/08 - 03:40:37 PM
love your lyrics Neil for the poetry.... love the ideas behind the song and of course the nice sounds you've produced. Nice personal way of singing too as if telling a story. As Richard says it does have a Cowboy feel, but that's the rhythm giving that impression of course. Nice harmonies too, cheers M

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cool slide &mdash 06/24/08 - 04:23:17 PM
Your guitar work is really good Neil. Slide guitar isn't for everyone to master, (I know 'cause it's not for me;) but you have a good grip on it.

You have given the bass and drums a steady supportive role which suits the C&W style pretty good. And it leaves more room for the vox and guitars to move.

I could visualize this opening for a bridge with a banjo solo part in the middle there...:) Yeeehaaaaa!

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Hej Thor! &mdash 06/25/08 - 01:26:52 AM
Thanks for the very kind words - my slide playing is really just something I do every now and then - sometimes (like this song) it works, but mostly it sounds awful and I try something else.
I'd really love to have a band doing this sort of stuff live - I'm very envious of you in that respect.
Really glad you enjoyed the song.
Neil

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Very nice &mdash 06/24/08 - 06:31:02 PM
I always enjoy your music Neil and this is no exception. Love your voice and all the guitars are just awesome! It really sounds great! Yes, quite the talent you are! Thanks for sharing the dreams.

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Hey Neil &mdash 06/24/08 - 07:11:41 PM
You're vox is one of the best I've heard from you as the music is a keeper... Thanks for the download... Love it.

Take care my dear friend
---
Kenta

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Outstanding track Neil &mdash 06/24/08 - 08:32:08 PM
Love the lyrics and your vocal delivery. The song just flows along like the Sea of Dreams. Very nice back track on this too.

Love it, love it, love it, my friend, excellent job.

Ed

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this has a country feel &mdash 06/24/08 - 09:46:06 PM
which is a nice transition from the style that I am used to.

Shine your light
Use it well in times of darkness
Brighten up these shadowed days

Enjoyed those words and the whole song. Lots of nice lyrics that I think anybody can related to which is a nice power unto itself. We all need wisdom and having nice music to down it with.

WAy tO gO


Thanks for sharing and being such a catalyst at MJ!

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New Genre? &mdash 06/24/08 - 10:21:51 PM
Psychoanalytical Country? I believe Freud would be stoked! LOL

Very cool stuff, Neil. Lovely blend of guitars acoustic and electric; truly what dreams are made of. Like Thor, I've never had the patience to learn how to play slide, but certainly enjoy hearing it played effectively, as it is here.

BTW... Robert Louis Stevenson's classic, "Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde," was the result of a nightmarish dream he had. This duality foreshadowed what we now know as "Dissociative Identity Disorder." Consequently, perhaps a better question for your chorus endings would be: "Am I safe here in my head?" ;)


--- Joe



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BUGGER! &mdash 06/24/08 - 11:30:27 PM
Why didn't I think of that???????? I must be slipping! That will definitely be in the chorus if I redo it! Thanks Joe - for listening and the great idea.
Neil

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dreamer &mdash 06/24/08 - 11:31:33 PM
cool tune Neil,

I think you have finally come up with your "Willbury" tune. :)

excellent tune. Vocals and the slide are very outstanding here.

Hopefully you'll be kissing express bye, bye. jeez it seems like it's taken forever for you. Considering I picked up my iMac in ten minutes and got logic the next day of ordering. thought I'ld rub that in a bit :)

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You should like &mdash 06/25/08 - 07:26:23 AM
how this turned out. Really lovely song and perfectly performed and produced.
Cheers
Len



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You are... &mdash 06/25/08 - 07:30:52 AM
...quite the poet, Neil...and then the music...your Seagull takes to the slide very nicely. I like the effects you put on it, too..

Your description of how the lyrics came about was so right on the mark. Something just pops in there and then you search around 'till you find the switch for the rest...

I often think that songwriting (and art, in general) is like the creation of a dream...fragments of images and emotions, put together to create an impression...then they're over...

Great tune, Neil...love the chorus...I'm at school and was just singing it out in the hall.

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right then neil.. &mdash 06/25/08 - 09:19:28 PM
very sweet mix on a very nice tune ... guitar work is outstanding and placement is awesome ..wonderful tune neil

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where have I been &mdash 06/26/08 - 01:44:26 PM
I need to be up on you ... You are one of my favorites here on Mj's downloaded and thanks again Ya know you make it seem so easy!

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Neil.... &mdash 06/28/08 - 07:01:48 PM
...MIDI DRUMS?!?!

Right then. I came back. I continue to hear the progression of the jiguma sound towards simplicity and clarity. There are even bits of buzzing and perhaps some vocal notes that aren't perfectly pitched. Doesn't matter. There's a nice feel of organicity to the whole package, and no sense that anything's getting hidden in layers of stuff. There's also a nice sense of space around each instrument, and you can hear the reverberation around each...

I really like the song, and I really like hearing your impulse towards writing just what's simple, real and true...

Ed




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cool! &mdash 06/29/08 - 08:44:46 AM
That dum-dum bass line is about the strongest "country" element to this song. I like all of this song, and as a big plus it's really fun to jam along to. Supa-dupa!

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mmm.... so jiggy.... &mdash 06/30/08 - 04:28:31 AM
so good!! i love the slide guitar and what i admire most is how your music always sounds like you but different - thank you for another great listen jiggyneil - big loves from grey and cloudy blighty but don't feel bad about it :) xoxox

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Wonderful tune here Neil - &mdash 06/30/08 - 09:25:53 AM
one of my faves of yours, Really like the abstract lyricism and the guitar orchestra sounds fantastic. I hear a little Tom Petty in this one - a good thing.

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Yes! &mdash 06/30/08 - 10:01:46 AM
Very nice Neil! Love the slide guitar. The lyrics are outstanding! My only gripe is that the MIDI drums get a little stale. A suggestion would be to make the rim-shot sound turn into a snare sound during the choruses and then back to the rim-shot sound. I like the ending where the cymbal switches to the ride, that adds some nice interest. Great production as always Neil. This was nice to hear more of a country flavor from you!

-Adam

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Cheers Adam &mdash 06/30/08 - 05:42:11 PM
Trust a drummer ..... :) Yes I knew I'd kind of painted myself into a corner with the rimshot, but when I tried to revert to a regular snare hit it sounded too heavy handed. I'll try and see how it sounds with a different snare hit (ie from a different soundfont) for version 2.
Thanks for the listen - glad you enjoyed it.

Cheers from Oz,
Neil

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Any of these... &mdash 07/01/08 - 12:56:06 AM
Do you have any brush sounds (like for Jazz drumming). Maybe brush sounds for the verses and rim-shots for the choruses. Just another suggestion. That might change the feel of the song too much though. I did think that having a snare might make the choruses too heavy like you said. I would just try and experiment and mix it up a little more. You know what you're doing so even though version 1.0 is killer, version 2.0 is going to be stellar!

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Two words... &mdash 07/03/08 - 10:33:42 PM
Loved it!!

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sea of dream &mdash 07/04/08 - 09:56:58 AM
Hi Neil, I love everything you do - such a laid back style and all perfectly executed. This is another one of yours that pours out that feel good factor. I'm too busy listening to your guitars to notice any issues with the drums. The slide guitar part is a peach!
Cheers
Steve

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