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Here's a song built from the ground up with BIAB. I started with a couple of chord progressions and the lyrics, (rejected by a couple of potential users because of the theme). Chord sequence placed in BIAB and a full arrangement built in there. I then, slowly, replaced the BIAB guitars & bass with my own playing to get the sounds/riffs I wanted. Stephen accepted the challenge. The vocals have been manually de-essed using a pre-fx volume envelope. In the choruses I opted for a send parallel vocal track set up with overdrive and a flanger & blended with the original to give the vocals a boost & some grit. Vantage Bass, Fender Squire Bullet Mustang, Fender 12 string acoustic, super cheap spring reverb pedal and some handy Marshall Cabinet impulse responses helped liven things a little. I also double tracked the arpeggio guitar - one set DI & the other mic'd amp. BIAB Real Drums, organ & Ahhs remain from the build process. I HOPE to have a real solo by next week. Mixed and augmented in Reaper. https://soundcloud.com/rayc/narcissistswife-pygmy-beat-extended-featuring-stephen-smithMixes WITH SOLOs. 1st guitar as played by my co-writer from 76 - Eric Drabwell... https://soundcloud.com/rayc/narcissists-wife-guitar-pygmy-beat-extended-featuring-stephen-smith-eric-drabwell2nd BIAB CELLO solo... https://soundcloud.com/rayc/narcissists-wife-cello-pygmy-beat-extended-featuring-stephen-smithI used two lots of compression as well as overdrive on the cello to help it cut through a thick mix. AND, just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water ... a version with BOTH... https://soundcloud.com/rayc/late-october14combosolo THOUGHTS? Lyrics... The Narcissist's Wife The man who keeps his powder dry And neither smokes nor drinks Will have you plead for hard relief With just the way he thinks. The narcissist’s wife. She She lives alone Despite his presence in the house His word Cuts like a knife Despite his calm She Knows he isn’t Cut close to the life Of the narcissist’s wife His foreplay has been perfected Scripted blow by blow Each moan or cry in place The wife tells friends it’s so. Each moan or cry The wife tells friends it’s so The narcissist’s wife. She She lives alone Despite his presence in the house Always Plays the jack-knife Despite his charm She Knows he hasn’t Cut close to the life Of the narcissist’s wife solo The narcissist’s wife. She She lives alone Despite his presence in the house His word Cuts like a knife Offhanded harm She Knows he means it Cut close to the life Of the narcissist’s wife The calm impassive voice Of a man who wields power Who knows he can make you Never to have existed Within the subsequent hour. Never to have existed Cut so keenly close to life With just the way he thinks Music & lyrics by Stephen Smith & ray cochrane
Last edited by rayc; 11/25/19 04:01 PM.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Clever writing as usual, Ray! I like the way you change that chorus each time.
Good vocal by Stephen.
Looking forward to hearing it with the real solo.
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ray,
What an INTERESTING write!
The tracks form a perfect bed for the lyric and melody.
A really good mix. Everything blends well. A treat for the ear.
fj
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Ray,
The lyrics are original and grab attention- glad you found an unsqueamish vocalist- and he does well with a cool, surprising set of changes.
Really like the instrumental sequence at 2:30 and those ringing guitar arpeggios throughout.
I`m ready for the solo now.
Robert
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Ray, everything you come up with has such interesting twists and turns in it and in this case, it's the melodic changes in the chorus! It's a highly memorable and enjoyable melody sung in excellent fashion by the vocalist! Very good production and performance Ray! Thanks, Torrey
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I too like the ringing guitar! Interesting lyrics--makes me wander what was unacceptable with earlier drafts. Sound a little Bowie-esque.
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Intriguing, has that 'wish I knew more about this' thing like a lot of short stories I read have. Singer is good! Sounds like some artist I used to listen to but my musical past is too vast now to identify who. Youtube and Spotify have compounded that problem.
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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Clever writing as usual, Ray! I like the way you change that chorus each time.
Good vocal by Stephen.
Looking forward to hearing it with the real solo. Thanks Dave, I'm easily bored so writing changes into a chorus keeps me busy. There's a draft solo done but I think I need to do a little timing correction in a spot before I post it.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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ray,
What an INTERESTING write!
The tracks form a perfect bed for the lyric and melody.
A really good mix. Everything blends well. A treat for the ear.
fj Thanks fj, I was a little worried mixing the organ prominently in the choruses but, in the end, it seems to work. I'm pleased your like the mix.
Last edited by rayc; 11/23/19 08:46 PM.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Ray,
The lyrics are original and grab attention- glad you found an unsqueamish vocalist- and he does well with a cool, surprising set of changes.
Really like the instrumental sequence at 2:30 and those ringing guitar arpeggios throughout.
I`m ready for the solo now.
Robert Thanks Robert, I can understand someone being uncomfortable with the topic but it's one of those things that needs to be discussed. Solo will be SOON.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Ray, everything you come up with has such interesting twists and turns in it and in this case, it's the melodic changes in the chorus! It's a highly memorable and enjoyable melody sung in excellent fashion by the vocalist! Very good production and performance Ray! Thanks, Torrey Torrey, As you know - I have no melodic sense at all but for this one I'd managed to sort the phrasing out pretty well and that lead Stephen to the melody. Thanks again.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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I too like the ringing guitar! Interesting lyrics--makes me wander what was unacceptable with earlier drafts. Sound a little Bowie-esque. The ringing guitar is a direct result of buying a cheap spring reverb pedal: it gave me the initial impetus for the song. The lyrics were only very slightly changed for this version so hold true to the theme. A couple of folk were uncomfortable, understandably so, singing about sexual violence & spouse abuse. Thank you for your kind comparison.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Intriguing, has that 'wish I knew more about this' thing like a lot of short stories I read have. Singer is good! Sounds like some artist I used to listen to but my musical past is too vast now to identify who. Youtube and Spotify have compounded that problem. Tunemonger, A vast past has left you aghast? Hopefully it sounds a little like Pygmy Beat as well. Thanks.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Hi Ray, hi Steve, what a write - can't even imagine who that song's all about...  . Very interesting chord progressions - not easy to find a fitting melody in some parts, but Steve, you really did well. Great rich sound (as we would always expect from you, Ray) -I was thinking on what I was reminded: Scott nailed it: bowie-esque. Ray, I do envy you for your ability to work with all that tech-stuff - it really pays off. Great production. Best regards, Stefan
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I really like the way you captured the darkness of the underlying theme.
Interesting chord progressions that worked well to further exemplify the story being delivered.
Moreover, the ending certainly indicated that there is 'no end in sight' for the situation.
Definitely well portrayed.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Good lyrics from you & Stephen Smith...
Dark but good...
And I genuinely enjoyed the chord progression on this piece...
I believe It heightened the melodic structure & lyrics of your song...
All in all a very nice collaboration,
Jim
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Great song. Great performance. Reminds me of Ziggy Stardust era Bowie. Excellent.
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Big sound. Very Ziggy, which is very cool. Great use of BIAB as a foundation. BIAB is a great tool. Great instrumentation that you added too. Excellent mix.
I like it!
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The title certainly begs the question of how a narcissist could gain a wife I must confess that even given my background in clinical psychology I can't figure it out! The write is brilliant. The message creatively comes across with just the right amount of subtlety. The fine instrumental and vocal performances are wrapped up in another of your room filling mixes...outstanding. We enjoyed it and look forward to the next version... J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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Hi Ray, hi Steve, what a write - can't even imagine who that song's all about... . Very interesting chord progressions - not easy to find a fitting melody in some parts, but Steve, you really did well. Great rich sound (as we would always expect from you, Ray) -I was thinking on what I was reminded: Scott nailed it: bowie-esque. Ray, I do envy you for your ability to work with all that tech-stuff - it really pays off. Great production. Best regards, Stefan Thanks Stefan, My minimal skills come from some excellent tutors in a couple of forums. You're very kind in your assessment of the song.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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