I've been learning more of BIAB Realtracks and how to incorporate them into other sounds etc. This is a song I co-wrote several years ago & posted a rough remake/remix of it months ago. I've had the vocal, (the prime problem), tweaked with an AutoTune type program by someone with the ears to do a decent job.
I started rebuilding the track and ended up with two versions - a fairly straight one with BIAB drums & organ + my guitars, (Teleclone on one side and Mustang HH on the other), & bass, (Emperador Semi with fender flat strings), then I decided to try a tangent using the guitars, organ and vocals from the original but adding extra tracks using a Mel9. It took a while to learn the Mel9 - the tweaks needed to sit them in a song are easy once known but it took some research & experimenting to get a decent mix.
The Mel9 tracks DON'T sound like real instruments or superb samples from a great synth - they sound like Mellotron tape samples- warts and all. I love the old 'Tron tones so am happy with the results but it may not be to everyone's taste.
Here it is...
https://soundcloud.com/rayc/sandpaper-castles-1811-02-by-miriam-stavert-ray-cochrane
Sandpaper Castles 1811
Here's a slight remix with the vocals raised a couple or three dB as suggested/requested.
https://soundcloud.com/rayc/sandpaper-castles-1811-21-miriam-ray
AND
Here's the more straight ahead mix with BIAB drums & organ
https://soundcloud.com/rayc/sandpaper-castles-1811-v1-miriam-ray

I'll build a sandpaper castle,
Beneath the noonday sun,
I'll sit & watch the people,
& laugh as they run.
Within my silent citadel,
I'll shut out the world,
& shelter in my fortress,
Making plans that won't unfurl.
I'll celebrate my solitude,
With music, wine & song,
Loneliness won't reach me;
Nothing can go wrong.
I'll fill my day with minutes,
& watch them slip away,
Eternally grateful for the present,
& the memories they slay.
Just sit & play old records,
& scratch them when they're done,
Try to destroy the memories,
But can they be outrun?
I'll celebrate my solitude,
With music, wine & song,
Loneliness won't reach me;
Nothing can go wrong.
Almost silently the day breaks,
& with it comes the rain,
So I sit in semi darkness,
& pray to go insane.
My mask I'll wear to meals,
For 'tis the part I'd planned,
You know!
The same old story,
In castles made of sand...

Ray,

This sure is something different! But very succeeded I think.
Miriam's vocals, and so does the track by the way, reminds me of Cocteau Twins from the 80s.
Very creative!

Rob

This is a very cool tune. Backtrack was so different. Vocal was excellent. Excellent guitar..

nice!

great sound, I wish the vocals were more out front (just a little)

enjoyed the listen,

Kenny

Ray,

This is incredibly creative. You've taken BIAB into musical areas that I've never dreamt of. I totally enjoyed the excursion that you and Miriam took me on. In case it's valuable feedback: like Kenny, I also found myself wondering what the song would sound like if Miriam's vocals were brought a little more forward volume-wise. I congratulate you both on a really fine creation and presentation.

All the best to you both,
Noel

Interesting sound, ray... cerebral...

I agree with Kenny that the vocal could use a bit of a bump...

rayc, lots of cool twists and turns in here! Like nothing I've really heard before! Ethereal in places with great chord changes! Thanks, Torrey

Rayc, I'm with you in that I also like those old Mellotron sounds.

I also would like to hear the vocal more up front.

Great song and very nice chord progression.

Very creative, really like the sound. Agree with all the comments about bringing up the vocals. Very enjoyable listen.

Steve

I loved it. A very surreal tune and melody. I think the melody is unusual and tricky thus the vocals would benefit from more confidence as well as being further forward in the mix.

Different unusual original.
Appreciate the hard work and effort.
Rob

Ray,

Very creative and evocative. As Rob says, this has a Cocteau Twins feel - and for me that`s a big plus.Miriam has a really good voice for the unusual melody.
Although its fine that the lyrics kind of float through the mix (some cool and unsettling lines in there!) I agree with the comments on bringing the vocal forward a little.
Lots of work has gone into your production and your sound is unlike anything I`ve heard using BiaB before- I`m looking forward to more!

Robert

Wow, what a tune! As others said, this is very creative and has a truly original vibe here. It reminds me vaguely of Bjork. Even then, the tune has a sound quality unlike anything I've heard made in Band-in-a-Box before.

Thanks so much for sharing

Thanks Rob,
that's very kind of you - any comparison to CT is greedily accepted.

Ta muchly Scott,
I have to admit that until the vocals were "tuned" this didn't work at all. I was looking for a good opportunity to use my new Mustang - it sounds good on its own but is an excellent pedal pusher.

Kenny,
You're a generous - I've raised the vocal level & popped a link in the OP. Thank you.

Noel,
Thank you very much for your kindness. I've raised the vocal level & put a link in the OP.

Floyd jane,
Thank you - though I fear you left hemorrhage from the end of your 1st line.
Vox upped & the link is in the OP.

Thanks Torrey,
I wrote the chord progression & lyrics in '84 but didn't do anything with them until this century. Ethereal is something I'm happy with.

Mario,
Until this July I cut & pasted .wav files from a set I found on line. I still use them for the voices the Mel9 doesn't do. Vocals lifted - please see link in OP.
Thanks for your kind assessment.

Thanks Steve,
I'm please you enjoy it & thanks for saying so. Vocals raised - link in OP.

Thanks Lambada,
I'm glad you like it - surreal - that's a pleasing compliment. The vocals have been raised, (link in OP), but I won't be able to get a confident retrack as it's bee a decade since I've seen the singer.

Ta Rob,
Three adjectives I can happily live with.

Thanks very much Robert,
I've lifted the vocal - they sit a little back as they were recorded to tape with reverb so mixing them in has been a little challenging,(remix in the OP).
Nothing like a sweet voice singing unsettling lines - thanks for that.

Deryk,
thank you very much.
a RealPak of Mellotron voices would be brilliant in BIAB.
The pedal to make those sounds costs about AUS$350, (I was lucky to be given it as a birthday pressie from a couple of relatives), and it's quite popular.
I've popped a link tothe straighter version of the song that uses RealDrums and more RealTracks organ and almost no Mel9.

Wow!

That was different and unusual -- in the good way.

I suspect you spent considerable time putting all that together.

Sounds great on our monitors!

J&B

Wow I love the feeling of this tune, thanks for sharing.

Thanks J & B,
This version didn't take too long once I learnt some tricks of the Mel9. The hardest part was remembering less is more. There were 5 other voices on the pedal I didn't use, well I did use but manages to leave out when mixing.

Thank you Tyler. I'm chuffed that you liked it.

https://youtu.be/5WJabh_vid4
[video:youtube]https://youtu.be/5WJabh_vid4[/video]

I really enjoyed this Ray.

Quite esoteric, interesting and very versatile.

All the versions are nice!! I think the louder vocal works better. Vocals and vibe are very nice-reminds me of The Cranberries. Nicely done!! Take care. Greg

Hi Ray.
I prefer the first version with Miriam's voice wrapped in and weaving so well with those cool sounds. Cheers.

Hi, Ray !

I´d say this was truly
superbly original and must
have been very difficult
to sing ! Trevor said
esotheric and i fully
agree with that !

Cheers
Dani