Musicians Collaboration Studio
Virtual Music Studio => Finished Works => Topic started by: CosmicDolphin on March 01, 2015, 04:16:12 PM
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A new track from me for my " Dark Dolphin" Album
Just for a change I did everything by myself on this one ! Which is something I haven't done since I joined here...still , I think I've learned a lot over those years and worked hard to upskill my mixing / production and lately singing. Hope you like it.
Words , Music, Mix & Mastering by CD
Take Away The Dark
I sit alone hour after hour
A perfect world , an Ivory Tower
Situations I can't change
I'm feeling so estranged
The world's been re-arranged
But where were you
To take away the dark
That's wrapped around this heart of mine
Still in decline
Because of you
You take away the dark
That's formed around this heart so black
There's no way back for you
I read your lies day after day
I hang on every word you say
Truth is stranger than the past - oh
We both know this can't last
The light is fading fast
But where were you
To take away the dark
That's wrapped around this heart of mine
Still in decline
Because of you
You take away the dark
That's formed around this heart so black
There's no way back to you
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Not the kind of music that I listen to but, sounds good and weldone...
... Good Job.
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Unlike Paulo, 80's synth pop is my favorite genre next to Jazz. Nicely done, Sounds like Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, Howard Jones, Blancmange and others.... cool !
:) :) :)
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The genre is not my cup of tea either, but as always: Perfect production, Mark! Right on par with the big shots that Gary mentioned.
It has a very authentic 80s sound.
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Thanks fellas, glad you enjoyed it...or at least appreciated it :)
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Cool song the backing vocals sound great.
Cyclone
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Absolutely perfect production and songwriting!
This holds def. up with the already mentioned artists!
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Hi Mark,
This is a first rate song and production.
Very appealing melody line, and your vocals sound great.
With any luck the Dark Dolphin album would be a hit in retro night clubs!!!
Andy
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That sounds great. A swirling kaleidoscope of sound with my headphones on, very professional both production and singing.
Steve.
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Cool song the backing vocals sound great.
Cyclone
Cheers. I did quite a few takes with different inflections when I was trying out the lead vocal and when I panned them the spare ones made nice backing vocals
Absolutely perfect production and songwriting!
This holds def. up with the already mentioned artists!
Thanks Doc.. Almost squeezed you in at the end there! What did you think to the mid section now?
Hi Mark,
This is a first rate song and production.
Very appealing melody line, and your vocals sound great.
With any luck the Dark Dolphin album would be a hit in retro night clubs!!!
Andy
Cheers Andy. Not sure if they are retro night clubs here but maybe I'll email them a copy
That sounds great. A swirling kaleidoscope of sound with my headphones on, very professional both production and singing.
Steve.
Yeah you should be able to pick out all the little details that sometimes get lost on speakers. I did some little panning bits especially
CD
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Cool song the backing vocals sound great.
Cyclone
Cheers. I did quite a few takes with different inflections when I was trying out the lead vocal and when I panned them the spare ones made nice backing vocals
Absolutely perfect production and songwriting!
This holds def. up with the already mentioned artists!
WOW !!! CD this sounds amazing. I happened to listen to it the first time with my headphones on. All I can do is agree with everything everyone else said. Truly one of the best productions on here!
Thanks Doc.. Almost squeezed you in at the end there! What did you think to the mid section now?
Hi Mark,
This is a first rate song and production.
Very appealing melody line, and your vocals sound great.
With any luck the Dark Dolphin album would be a hit in retro night clubs!!!
Andy
Cheers Andy. Not sure if they are retro night clubs here but maybe I'll email them a copy
That sounds great. A swirling kaleidoscope of sound with my headphones on, very professional both production and singing.
Steve.
Yeah you should be able to pick out all the little details that sometimes get lost on speakers. I did some little panning bits especially
CD
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Thanks Cal
I put a lot of it down to the guys here. They're such awesome musicians and I really can't compete so I've made my niche more on the production side which really helped on a more electronic type track like this.
CD
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Sounds friggin' great CD. I wouldn't call it retro. It's actually pretty progressive. It's up there with a lot of the current music I listen too. It depends on the genre really. I could see this used for a movie soundtrack. 8)
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i have to agree with the comments already made.
instantly i thought 80s electro-pop but couldn't place the group i was thinking of until i read depeche mode and bingo there it is.
and i agree that it sounds like it could easily be part of a movie soundtrack.
maybe a cameron crowe movie starring john cusack - say anything.
while i love the 80s --- my thing has always been big hair and big guitars.
but even still...this had me feeling a bit nostalgic.
good job.
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Sounds friggin' great CD. I wouldn't call it retro. It's actually pretty progressive. It's up there with a lot of the current music I listen too. It depends on the genre really. I could see this used for a movie soundtrack. 8)
Thanks Dave..yeah I was going for contempory electronic. >:D
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depeche mode and bingo there it is.
Thanks ROTM..yes..a big influence..seen them many times live 8)
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Now I would listen to this.
Yes, there are elements that are from that era but essentially it's an engaging pop song. I think it's much more elegant than a lot of those songs and I'm really impressed with your vocal performance, Mark.
I would actually buy this if it were on an album ::)
Billy.
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I would actually buy this if it were on an album ::)
Billy.
Thanks Billy..It will be...and you can..but to be honest I'm planning on a free copy for everybody on the Album..when it's eventually finished. ;D
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Hey Guys I'd sent this off for some Professional Mix Feedback from Sound on Sounds Mike Senior, here is what he said...
Overall, this is within spitting distance of a commercial release, as far as I'm concerned, so in general good work. The main thing separating it from showtime, in my view, is the vocal tuning, which still feels a bit shaky in general. There are also a few spots of vocal timing I'd address too, particularly the first chorus "to take" and "of mine, still in decline, because of you" which both feel early. The vocal balancing's pretty solid, though, which is great, and definitely helps give it a professional polish.
A few random thoughts that strike me as I listen: Nice involving intro -- like that a lot. Build-up into the first kick entry is good. The synth lead first heard 0:44 is consistently a bit early, and undermines the groove. So is the one in verse 2, first heard at 2:10. Have you considered dropping the snare for eight bars or so at 3:15? Would draw more attention to all those cool synth details you've got going there, and would also give you a way to build through the section by reintroducing it later.
Love the idea of the drop chorus at 4:02, but it's quite a long drop, and it feels as if it needs a bit more build-up through it. It seems to lose a bit too much momentum, where if anything the opposite should be the case -- it should seem inevitable that the drums will return. Your reverse transition effect certainly helps, but I think you need more than that. I wonder you could so something with the eighth-note synth stabs, for instance, to make them evolve over time. Or perhaps repurpose some of the great stuff you had during the intro, particularly that nice sequenced rhythm synth first heard at 0:21. Could you also go more to town on the full synth wash at that point too? There's no right way to do this kind of thing -- it just needs a lot of experimentation.
Everything is very clean and clear, despite the copius layers/effects, which is great news. The only thing I'd like is maybe a bit more pitched bass in the bottom couple of octaves, just to give it a little more warmth on big systems. The kick's nice and tightly controlled, so there should be no problem doing that.
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Mark
yes, that high synth @ 0:44 - 1:13 is definitely early, and does conflict a bit, a simple quantize would fix that.
I would actually buy this if it were on an album Roll Eyes
Billy.
yes I would too, this is good synth stuff.....
:) :) :) :)
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This sounds absolutely fantastic, CD!! 8) 8)
Very polished... Well done indeed!
Frank