WE with Alison

[rayc]

Here's a track I previewed earlier.
Now it's a little tweaked but, most importantly, Alison has leant it her talents.
It's BIAB drums n piano the rest of it is composed of
two rhythm guitar parts - through a Marshall plus one fake baritone figure part & one with eBow
bass
my vocal
and Alison playing the cello intro, solo, outro & little bits here n there.
I do want the kick n bass carrying the thing solidly up the middle.

We0106.mp3

This mix has most of the guitar parts removed.

Your suggestions, thoughts, comments are most welcome.
Here's an update based on @vomitHatSteve 's observations...



LATEST MIXES SKINNY & THICK
I've moved & lifted the piano in both as well as EQ carving in THICK to give more space for the cello & kickdrum.

We0706thick.mp3

MASTERED:

OR


When you say we
You don' t mean me
You talk of someone new
And there's nothing I can do.

People stop and ask me
If I'm doing well
But I now dodge their questions
There's nothing I can tell

When you say we
It's not how it should be
Because things have changed
And won't be re-arranged

People stop and ask me
About you and yours
I can't face their questions
I prefer to stay indoors

When you say we
My mind is all at sea
You mean a different two
That's not what we once knew.

People stop and ask me
About you and I
I can't face the answers
I chose to not reply

When you say we
You don' t mean me
You talk of someone new
And there's nothing I can do.

[vomitHatSteve]

This one is nice. I could maybe go for a little more cello. The tuning on your voice is very pronounced in this one.

I like the ambient, feedback guitars - a la 90s Pumpkins.

[rayc]

Thanks Steve,
More cello for both or one?
Yes, the unisons are passable but the harmony ends are tuned and obvious I'll see what can be done.

[vomitHatSteve]

I hadn't listened to the second mix.

I suppose it's much more prominent in the second one, and I'd only raise it in the first mix.

[rayc]

Thanks @vomitHatSteve ,
I've made some adjustments.
On the thicker version I carved some space for the cello from the guitars rather than boots it.
On both I removed a digitally generated octave higher vocal part I'd used to add some top end to my drab vocal...it sounds a little less process now I THINK...let me know if I'm wrong please.

[Alison]

After listening several times, I kept having the feeling something was missing. Didn't you have a keyboard in the version I used? Either I'm losing my hearing or it's not there anymore.

Other than that, I liked both recent versions you've posted. Your vocals sound really good in both of these! Thanks for letting me play on this, I enjoyed it very much!

[rayc]

After listening several times, I kept having the feeling something was missing. Didn't you have a keyboard in the version I used? Either I'm losing my hearing or it's not there anymore.

Other than that, I liked both recent versions you've posted. Your vocals sound really good in both of these! Thanks for letting me play on this, I enjoyed it very much!

Hello Alison,
there's a piano in there but it's a little quieter and only comes forward at the end of the verse I think.
Yes, lots of twiddling since I sent you a backing. That's a problem for me...I don't know when to stop.

[Alison]

After listening several times, I kept having the feeling something was missing. Didn't you have a keyboard in the version I used? Either I'm losing my hearing or it's not there anymore.

Other than that, I liked both recent versions you've posted. Your vocals sound really good in both of these! Thanks for letting me play on this, I enjoyed it very much!

Hello Alison,
there's a piano in there but it's a little quieter and only comes forward at the end of the verse I think.
Yes, lots of twiddling since I sent you a backing. That's a problem for me...I don't know when to stop.

well, you stop when your ear has had plenty! It's all so subjective that I think it all boils down to what YOU want!

Love the song, love the chance to play!

[JD01]

Coming straight in at the last mix - We've had a 4 day weekend in the UK.

Interesting song, like the idea of having a cello part on it, really suits the song.

The distorted electric guitar on this isn't really adding much with those stabs on right. They're really quiet to the point they're not really there and I don't think they'd fit in with the song anyway. Maybe just take them out? If you really want extra guitar parts to flesh this out how about some clean guitars playing arpeggios - I think they'd fit in with the style much better.

The piano is really quiet in the mix - I know its there and its filling things out, but I can't really hear what its doing.
The drums are also probably a bit on the quiet side but they're also really distant.

This is a better vocal, Ray. You're getting there!

[rayc]

If you really want extra guitar parts to flesh this out how about some clean guitars playing arpeggios - I think they'd fit in with the style much better.
The piano is really quiet in the mix - I know its there and its filling things out, but I can't really hear what its doing.
The drums are also probably a bit on the quiet side but they're also really distant.
This is a better vocal, Ray. You're getting there!

James,
Thanks.
I found playing arpeggios difficult on this as many of the chords are simple triads on the three high strings...when I did track them they sounded awful because there was so little scope - I did add a two note "arp" to the verses (people stop &..." but it's the best I could do that sounded reasonable.
I've raised the level of the piano and moved it to keep it clear of things that were in the same sonic range.
The drums sound quite loud to me BUT I did create more space for them with some EQ carving.
There wasn't much tuning on this one except for harmonies and an octave unison part initially. I did find some of the notes I chose when holding from one chord to another were poor options so tuned them yesterday. Things are far to noisy for any tracking at present.
THANKS!

[Alison]

I'm glad you raised the piano! To me, it really does drive the song. I think I like the thick version the best but I really couldn't tell you why. . . love what you've done with this! And, yes, your voice sounds great in this.

[Mr Clean]

Comparing We0706skinny vs We0706thick, I prefer the mix on We0706thick. I agree with JD that it could use a little more guitar or something introduced somewhere to lift the song. Maybe some trebly chops on guitar ala Ska/Specials kind of sound. That would work with this as it has that Ska feel to it.

The only thing I'm not a fan of is the sound of the snare. Seems a bit tinny and dry. Piano could maybe come up just a tad more. As it is the main instrument in there, the driving force as it were.

Great tune though. I really like it.

[rayc]

I couldn't stop tinkering and as I kept tweaking based on suggestions the song kept moving away from my original idea so I stopped dead and had it mastered.