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I started this song on Monday - I went downstairs plugged in and pounded away until a progression came to me, then a 2nd. I built the basic song in BIAB using a ska guitar, a clean tele sounding one and bass n drums from a "punk" style. I imported the tracks to Reaper, rendered it & listened to it a few times that night. In the shower on Tuesday I had a lyric idea - not great, not even nice but an idea. I replaced the BIAB guitars with a Mustang track and a Tele clone track using a Marshall amp crunchy as well as clean. Wednesday the lyric idea had developed into a "melody" as well so I sketched that with a few passes and replaced the BIAB bass A few listens and a sleep pointed out the phrasing problems amongst others. Today I retracked the vocal and added some gap filler guitar for intro & solo parts. The BIAB RealDrums are solid and have been through a little EQ and compression. It needs a real voice, a real solo and some Valium - tracking at 165bpm was messy and exhausting. It's a ditty about a post punk/post new wave figure. SoundCloud link: https://soundcloud.com/rayc/in-the-kitchen-pygmy-beat-extendedLyrics... IN THE KITCHEN VERSE1 Pounding out an urban soundtrack` Fake to face we take the bus back Everything breaks it’s what we lack CHORUS1 Don’t send Debbie to the kitchen Keep Natalie from the kitchen Don’t send Debbie to the kitchen Just don’t know what might be found Don’t let Ian in the kitchen Eyes glazed and he’s twitchin’ Don’t let Ian in the kitchen He’ll end up hanging around VERSE2 Transmission breaks and it ends Walking on splinters with my friends You know some days we can’t defend CHORUS2 Don’t send Debbie to the kitchen Keep Natalie from the kitchen Don’t send Debbie to the kitchen Just don’t know what might be found Don’t let Ian in the kitchen Needs to take his medication Don’t let Ian in the kitchen He’ll end up hanging around VERSE3 Family portrait on the wall Belgian whispers for the fall Crisis high prices one and all CHORUS3 Don’t send Debbie to the kitchen Don’t send Debbie to the kitchen Don’t send Debbie to the kitchen Just don’t know what might be found Don’t let Ian in the kitchen Don’t let Ian in the kitchen Don’t let Ian in the kitchen He’ll end up hanging around No joy no No fun no No joy no fun.
Last edited by Andrew - PG Music; 02/09/23 08:07 AM.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Nice one, Ray! Great groove. Your vocal sounds good to me. Solo wise this is way out of my comfort zone or I would offer to do one for you. Don't think blues licks would fit somehow!  But yeah I dig it, well done.
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That's got a genuine punk feel. Loved that grinding bass.
Nice.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Hi Ray,
I notice you start making songs that are not really my cup of tea. Still they are intriguing to listen to it all the way.
And it's amazing in how short time you put it together. Just 3 days, including the lyrics!
The band is pretty good. It also seems to me you must have had a lot of fun and energy making this song. Very nice!
I have one thing about the mixing of your song. To me your vocals can use more gain/ get upfront. And haven't you thought about a screaming 'double'on the chorusses. I can imagine four or five voices screaming allong not to send Debbie (or Nathalie, or Ian) to the kitchen. Have you ever allowed someone into your kitchen? I'm getting ideas how it must look like...
All the best,
Hans
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ray,
Excellent Punk-ness. Punk-y lyrics and a classic Punk melody.
The bass and drums sound great.
The guitars sound good too. But I thought they were just slightly too "mellow" in tone (for Punk) - thought they could use some high EQ crisp (other than that, they are superb).
You vocals work well. I agree with Hans - some upper register backing in the chorus would send it over the top.
Catchy the way Punk should be. Terrific groove. A real head-rockin' chair-dancer...
fj
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Nice one, Ray! Great groove. Your vocal sounds good to me. Solo wise this is way out of my comfort zone or I would offer to do one for you. Don't think blues licks would fit somehow! But yeah I dig it, well done. Thanks Dave, IF you hear any of my stuff that you'd like to drop a line on just let me know: I'm always happy to have an ace blues flavoured solo on most of my stuff.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Thanks Guitar Hacker,
The grinding bass is a DI'd Vantage. In the box I set up a send and receive track with a Klon clone VST on it. The bass sends a split to the Klon which is EQd and hammered by the drive which sends it back to the bass track where they blend. It's WAY too hard to guess how much drive is necessary until the mix is full. Without a vocal it sounded like the bass was 200% too loud but with a vocal it's almost right. Hence I didn't use the VST as an input effect not an insert on the main bass track as they, as a matter of course, cut significant bottom end.Using send & return allows me to add drive without the loss.
Last edited by rayc; 05/28/20 09:57 PM.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Hi Ray,
I notice you start making songs that are not really my cup of tea. Still they are intriguing to listen to it all the way.
And it's amazing in how short time you put it together. Just 3 days, including the lyrics!
The band is pretty good. It also seems to me you must have had a lot of fun and energy making this song. Very nice!
I have one thing about the mixing of your song. To me your vocals can use more gain/ get upfront. And haven't you thought about a screaming 'double' on the choruses. I can imagine four or five voices screaming allong not to send Debbie (or Nathalie, or Ian) to the kitchen. Have you ever allowed someone into your kitchen? I'm getting ideas how it must look like...
All the best,
Hans
Hans, Thanks. Yes, it came together pretty quickly. It would've been faster if I hadn't spent a couple of hours trawling through my lyric scrap heap looking for as easy out. As it was the lyric was done in a sitting and tweaked twice since (including once after the posted version). As the vocal isn't meant as a keeper I didn't explore textures and harmonies but a gang vocal for the chorus is definitely one of the ideas I'm hoping to achieve once I get a vocal sorted. The "screaming" is an excellent idea. The kitchen in the story is in a Manchester suburb and is infamous/notorious.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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ray,
Excellent Punk-ness. Punk-y lyrics and a classic Punk melody.
The bass and drums sound great.
The guitars sound good too. But I thought they were just slightly too "mellow" in tone (for Punk) - thought they could use some high EQ crisp (other than that, they are superb).
You vocals work well. I agree with Hans - some upper register backing in the chorus would send it over the top.
Catchy the way Punk should be. Terrific groove. A real head-rockin' chair-dancer...
fj fj, Thankyou. I have an EQ setting for the guitars that is muted at present but does just what you suggest. I was a little afraid it'd be too fizzy so thought I'd run the mix by some ears first. I'll try the EQing now you've mentioned it and as the vocals, of a sort, are in place.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Hi Ray.
This is wonderfully crafted.
The vocal seems a little lost in the mix.
There was some feed back now then.
Rob4580
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Ray, You getting faster and better! Root Punk flavor. Very original sound. "It needs a real voice, a real solo" I think you are wrong  It is good like that, semi-raw. That is what genre dictates. Vocals are great! Personally I would prefer them to stick out more, but I know you like em a little buried. This was a treat! Thank you for sharing. Misha.
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Hiya Ray, this is way out of my comfort zone too, but good work I agree with the others who say the vocals need to come up
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Hi Ray.
This is wonderfully crafted.
The vocal seems a little lost in the mix.
There was some feed back now then.
Rob4580 Hello Rob, The new mix in the OP has a louder vocal ...I am waiting on an actual singer on another forum who wanted a crack at it. The feedback is actually deliberately recorded...It's my little fetish.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Ray, You getting faster and better! Root Punk flavor. Very original sound. "It needs a real voice, a real solo" I think you are wrong It is good like that, semi-raw. That is what genre dictates. Vocals are great! Personally I would prefer them to stick out more, but I know you like em a little buried. This was a treat! Thank you for sharing. Misha. Misha, Thanks mate. I've bowed to your preference - update up top.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Hiya Ray, this is way out of my comfort zone too, but good work I agree with the others who say the vocals need to come up Graham, thank you for sitting in the wrong chair to listen. I appreciate it.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Hi Ray
Cool punk sound. Personally I think the solo suits the song as is. I agree a 'gang chorus' would lift it (like that term). Nice job on the lyrics, which I assume reference Ian Curtis' untimely demise.
Regards,
Leon
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Hi Ray,
Thanks for your answer.
I hope to hear those yelling voices in the back once.
And I had to laugh loud when reading that kitchen wasn't yours, but an obscure, but famous pub.
Nice day,
Hans
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You pegged it Leon an odd song but it is, essentially, as it came to me in the shower.
Thanks for the kind words.
I hope the weather wasn't too bad down there - it was COLD and wet here but not as bad as predicted.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Hi Ray,
Thanks for your answer.
I hope to hear those yelling voices in the back once.
And I had to laugh loud when reading that kitchen wasn't yours, but an obscure, but famous pub.
Nice day,
Hans Hans, I'm sorry I was opaque with my reference... "The kitchen in the story is in a Manchester suburb and is infamous/notorious." The address is 77 Barton Street in Macclesfield, Cheshire. 
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Oh sorry Ray. I misread your post on that.
Still I had to laugh. And to be honest; don't you agree the kitchen as a name for a pub looks better than reality?
Or is that a bad thing to say?
Would you advise me to visit it?
Stay safe,
Hans
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