Check last post for updates.
I've picked up the music making for a bit and recorded these two songs. Unfortunately I don't have Ida to sing at the moment, so it's all me.
composition and arrangement by yours truly.
Criticism? Thoughts? Opinions? Be frank! :)
Leave is very nice
it's kinda like old tavern folk music which is cool. There's too much much poor quality reverb on the vocals though. If you go with lots of reverb then it has to be good quality.
The flute melody is nice but it's really kinda simple and needs expanding on.
The singing isn't ideal but has a charm. I'd really like to hear someone with a very gravelly voices take it on or alternatively someone with a super sweet voice.
Before the Tide is nice but the drumming kills me... Upload a version without drums and i'll drum to it :P
It would also benefit from a trip hop remix. :P
Not that I know much about music, but I really enjoyed Leave. It left me feeling very homely. I personally didn't mind the vocal style, although I imagine that it could work nicely with some sort of harmonising duet in parts.
I think I agree with Calin about the drums in Before the Tide. They sounded a bit generic. Apart from that, the song had a nice flow about it.
Well, sounds pretty good as it is. Probably just a point of view (what I'd do if I knew how to do it), not real critique. Yeah, no deep knowledge of music theory, so take it with a grain of salt, plus I don't know some terms in english:
Leave
- in the verses, piano and mouth harmonica kind of clash a bit, in the chorus it doesn't bother me that much though
- chorus, might I suggest, that the guitar (is that a guitar?) breaks the loop/rythm and is chopped up to follow with the piano chords. it partly is already, but it could be a bit more
B4DTide
- very 60ies trippy, yeah drums, sound a bit like they're on a loop, the end of a verse is kinda over pronounced and generally I think less snare (or something other to replace it with) would make it more atmospheric, maybe keep that last part that's under the flute solo
The first tune is quite cute and folksy. I can hear your accent in certain words (before=bef-your, assured =ashored) which causes a little confusion since the rest of the tune reads so well. I don't think the tune suffers for only having your voice, though I'd be interested in hearing it in a lower register.
Second tune has a nice, acid-trippy 70's start to it. Drums don't bother me except they don't sound 'part' of the tune (mixing issue?). I suppose a more 70's sounding drumset (rougher sound) might help draw them into the tune more, but overall I wasn't bothered by them at all. The solo bit with the two flutes sounded a bit like they were playing against each other rather than harmony, but aside from that I don't see a problem.
It might help if in the future you include the lyrics in your post so people can read along and judge the composition as well as the music.
Hm yeah the accent thing is an issue, as I usually speak with a very british accent, but try to sound american when I sing just because I think it reads better with more pronounced R's etc, but unfortunately it probably sounds a bit weird at this stage.
About the drums in Before the Tide, yes they're pretty generic, and I guess I could try adding some reverb to them too, and change some of the fills to make them sound less loopy and more varied.
There is little to do about the vocals - the girl who usually sings is in another city and I can only wait until she comes back...
thanks for your advice, I'll work on them later today :)
Although this genre is not my cup of tea, The first tune is very nice and stylish, easy to listen. Some issues ProgZ pointed out, but overall it is good.
The second tune however is that the composition and style is irritatening and disturbing me. It is like I feel marching all the way. Ta-da, ta-da, ta-da ....etc.
I like them. Leave is great and Before the Tide isn't too shabby. Although, I judge a song on its opening so I was slightly perturbed by the second one to start with... but the flute solo made it enjoyable. I like a bit of flute. Plus you don't need perfect vocals to sing, take for example James Blunt. I'd hate to have the job of squeezing his ball sack every time he sings.
I love them both. Can't say much more than that. They're very enjoyable! I didn't mind the drums or the reverb on the vocals either, it gave them a nice oldschool feel.
You're not a bad singer either, well done! Keep up the good work!
Here are two new versions.
http://www.esseb.com/andail/beforethetide6.mp3
http://www.esseb.com/andail/leave5.mp3
Before the Tide has had the drums toned down and softened quite dramatically, and most of the generic fills have been disposed of. The bass has been revamped and is slightly more varied now, hopefully to avoid the marching ta-da-rythm it had before. Also new vocals and slightly varied lyrics.
Leave us without any Choice has been modified in various ways, including new vocals, slightly altered lyrics, and a second voice to make a duet during some parts. The harmonica has been disposed of, as it interfered too much with other instruments.
Hopefully these changes have been improvements....
Leave sounds just as good, although to me the second voice sounds like an echo. It just needs to be a tad more noticeable in comparison with the first voice.
Ps. Today is a year since I joined.
much better this time it is ;)
however as far as I am concered it still has this marching rhythm
but it could be your brand, your kind of style, british-pop-folk-style
The problem I do not like, is how you sing. I mean your phrasing, the dynamics etc..there is something disturbing me
Nevertheless as I said above this could be your style,
take care of your style :)
Quote from: david on Tue 20/04/2010 20:37:49
The problem I do not like it is how you sing. I mean your phrasing, the dynamics etc..there is something disturbing me
It's ok, I simply don't have a very good voice! It's just a hobby and I do what can with what I have - I prefer to let others sing but they're not always around...
Quote from: Andail on Tue 20/04/2010 22:34:20
Quote from: david on Tue 20/04/2010 20:37:49
The problem I do not like it is how you sing. I mean your phrasing, the dynamics etc..there is something disturbing me
It's ok, I simply don't have a very good voice! It's just a hobby and I do what can with what I have - I prefer to let others sing but they're not always around...
actually your voice is ok, just try to sing with more fluent feeling, because It seem to me as if you are singing like this-way-and-this-is-real-ly-dis-tur-bing ;) to me
on top of I have a feeling that you are a little frightened of what you will come up with.
Actually just sing naturally, easy, and then no problem :D as you are speaking
Only listened to Leave but it's a really nice song Andail!
I think the problem with your vocals (which are very good btw!) is that you are concentrating on pronouncing the words too much, i'm guessing English isn't your native tongue?
Singing is a fine mix of pronunciation and producing a consistent tone, i suggest focusing on the softness of your voice, try to keep a consistent volume without letting it suffer when concentrating on lyrics.
Don't underestimate yourself on the singing though! You have a very nice voice that just needs a little direction, rather R.E.M if you ask me :).
Allright, I'm probably boring the heck out of you, but I've been home with a cold lately and got nothing to do, so here's a brand new song:
http://www.esseb.com/andail/always.mp3
I've tried to emulate some kind of low-fi American folk tradition, with pretty minimalistic arrangement and repetitious melody.
I have absolutely no idea how people may receive this - it could be crap for all I know...
cheers
Wow. Love this latest one, Andail! By far my favorite of the bunch!
Quote from: Andail on Sat 24/04/2010 17:36:23
I have absolutely no idea how people may receive this - it could be crap for all I know...
cheers
not at all
this is far more better and interesting than the previous ones
certainly very good progress, good direction :D
Really nice. Pop out a few more and you've got yourself an album! :D
In the newest one I find it a little distracting that the vocals seem to be leaning towards the rightside speaker. In my experience most songs have the main vocal track panned slightly to the left which feels more natural and balanced.
Other than that it's a very lovely song!
You remind me a little (just a little you're not much imitating him or actually try to) of Mark Knoppfler's singing abilities. Which is great! He may not be regarded as the best voice ever, but he had emotion. And that's hard to get. I only listened to the last, and I'm really fond of it. Greatness overall! Your voice is very nice, don't know and can't tell how much you can stress it, but it's better than you think.