i really like the acoustic guitar progression but ur voice
hits some offkey notes and the chorus sounds a bit
grating but the piece moves along nicely with the mellow
soprano sax( i have a fetish for soprano sax),ivanjs bass
seems lost in the mix,barely audible.....yet the folky feel is
not the worse for it.....i enjoyed the lyrics and ur courage
to sing with such conviction....bravo......

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Actually, I was going for dissonant harmonies, not off-key notes or grating. I
was hoping more for fascinating and unique; and meaningful. That is where
the surprise comes in, the modal minor chorus. If I could only sing better...
The bass balance is a constant problem, since it sounds just right on my
system (both headphones and in my studio speakers)... every system is so
different. It is an unusual (and cool) bass part that plays high and low, and I
tweaked it so you can even hear his fingers on the strings, which, in the
original highly chorused track he sent me, couldn't be heard. The track is
already fairly dense in spots, so I had to be careful. All in all, this may be my
favorite track I've shared on Macjams so far, but I always think that about my
latest tune.

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Another great tune, Tobin. And of course I have to ask-when you putting
out an album? Love your stuff.

The bass levels are a little low on my system, and I listened on
headphones and speakers. It was better on headphones (especially when
I went into th upper range).

Not a problem at all since we don't want the bass fighting with the great
sax part.

Thanks again for the opportunity.

John

---
Art and Music:
http://homepage.mac.com/johnselvia/

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like autumn sugar.

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i turned up the sound and it really helps. i heard everything better (and i did use headphones). i really like the sound of the stereo strumming, the pick on the strings, the judicious use of synth stabs, the "fascinating and unique" harmonies that i found kind of thrilling and not off-putting, especially that last chord. and i think it is the use of the distortion organ on the last shorus that saturates the field. but, above all, woody's soprano sax is masterful. and ivanjs' bass is like a duet instrument they way it flies around the fingerboard. great tune. plus, nice art!

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I love the adventurous musical ideas you try in this piece. I actually get a "shanty" feel from it. There are some really nice drum details in here too. Great instument parts that work very well together (I dig the bass riffs). I don't think you need be the least bit apologetic about your voice, you've got it. Don't take this the wrong way, but moments here made me think of Jethro Tull! (8-8-9-8)

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Thanks! I loved Jethro Tull. Loved the way he'd stereoize his voice and
detune it left and right. Very cool vocal effects. Thanks for the comments. I
was going for a modal thing in this, and JT often did similar things with
modes.

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there is so much great stuff here.. singing, instruments,
lyric, composition-all top-notch. i really enjoyed how the
song meanders to different places as it moves along. on
second listen i cranked up the volume a bit & the details
came thru wonderfully. great job everyone

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to hear an instrument take on this. The swaying Celtic feel
of this song, driven by the acoustic guitar and Johns'
lyrical bass lines really contribute strongly to this
composition.

Wonderful, reassuring words...

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Really liked this a lot. There was a bit of distance in the
mix that I wasn't 100% sure about. When the sax first
kicked in it sounded a little muffled to me. Although the
levels and production were great, I think the sax adn the
vocal could have benefitted from being a touch clearer
and sharper. LOVED the rhythm guitar and the sax playing
was superb.

Great composition and terrific track. Great job guys.

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Tobin piece ever.I tend to love songs that feel like home.
It's a hard thing to decribe, but it's that odd flavor as if the
song is something you remember hearing before, not like
comparing it to something else. It just feels familiar.

Wonderful. Fanned and Downloaded.

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Thanks, Packo. In this song, about returning (to a place like home, or to a
realler home), makes it all the nicer that you feel at home with it. Twon's
warm layered guitars helps in that; but it was what I was going for and I'm
really glad you caught it (again, your comments are like ESP). I tried to make
the chorus the journey away and the verse the return home. Thanks for your
careful listening.

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I enjoyed this, appreciated the ending tag, as if the music was part of the pilgrimage, part of the lyrics. One into the other and I felt like something was being said even when you weren't singing. This is incredibly skillful writing and arranging. I liked the unusual harmonies by the way and could detect no offkey notes, but I was never noted for having great ears. It was all top notch.

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Whoever gave this song something below a 6 has holes in their head. Although I like a harder edge to my jazz, this folk jazz new age lightness lifted me up, like your lyrics. Most noteably the excellent soprano sax and bass playing. I liked the lightness of the bass, by the way, it went with the entire uplifting experience. This is so complete, an excellent arrangement of highest quality.

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Thanks for the lift me up comments. Kind of a wind at my back thing was
going on in my head when writing this, the sense of having both the pull of
tomorrow and the sanctuary of yesterday's love still there as a sanctuary is
what I was going for.

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I kinda like the off key harmonys in the singing. It gives it
a naive, playful quality I don't get from most of the
Mueller oeuvre.

Not a fan of the soprano sax. All I hear is Kenny G.
Makes my skin crawl, but that's just me.

Love the phased fretless bass sound.

I really enjoy the progressions and the way the whole
piece builds. It smacks of being a huge project.

Lighter suits you better. Have fun making music. Let
THAT part of your sould show.

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I prefer "dissonance" to "off-key" when referring to the harmonies(!) I always try something new, to add to the drama and thoughtfulness, and often it ends up not making the final version and getting replaced by something more standard. But I liked these harmonies, gave it character, I thought. As for adding whimsy to music, few are as good as you at that. It is something I am working on, tho. Thanks for the thoughts. (Please put your music back on MJ!)

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so well this song. Open, airy, free, and beautiful. I think your harmonies do work in this song. Just another layer in this richly woven tapestry of music. I love the sax part especially, as it playfully carries me along while listening. It is all so very good.

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I ben listening to this song 6-7 times and its start to grow
on me, and i cant get the chorus out of my mind. :-)

Personally i love 2 chords groove because then i have to
think about the dynamics and get the feeling in to it.

sory iam not so good in english so i can express myself
right. ;-)

But when my son was listening to the song he sat down in
my knee and was totally concentrated. And when it was
finished he slammed his hand on the computer keyboard
and said : AGAIN!!!! ;-)

Wonderfull song
Thompa



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What a great compliment. I used to set my first born in a little seat on top of
the piano, when he was 4 months old, and play different musical phrases and
then use the ones to which he would react positively. 24 years later, he is
still a wonderful fan and insightful critic. I'm so glad your son like it!

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Wow! Very nice... it's so smooth. I especially like the
dissonant vocals (the final "Again"'s REALLY kick) and how
you're able to bring the song through those ripples back
to the serene feel from the begining. Marvelous!

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Thanks, Gio. Those are my favorite moments too. I was going for those
portals in life that appear as moments of change yet once through them you
have a sense of return... perhaps to who you are, at your center.

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the song overall works really well. the sax is hot, the
words are rich and evocative, and the guitar is just sweet.
nice work on this by all! the drums are good, but for my
ear just a touch louder than i prefer, but that's a personal
preference and takes nothing away from the song.

i really love the lines:
"When you change the way you look at things,
all the things you look at change.
Every time I come to return,
I arrive for the first time, again."

it's akin to philosphies of the i-ching and again, works
really well. this is a wonderful collaboration and i'm glad i
tapped into it! thank you!


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Thanks for your insightful comments. I wrote these lyrics after reading poetry
by T. S. Eliot. I am working on more collaborations with Twon. Thanks for
your encouragement; he and I really enjoy working together. Plus, he loves
my cooking!

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