Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357
Lately Spirit Level songs have been loud, high gain outings; here`s something completely different Scott and I worked up and never quite finished.
The write happened at the time the Thai cave boys rescue was happening ( a story my family hung on breathlessly as we have connections to the area).

Music Underwater

Style is _SCARCE.STY (Scarce Dreamy Americana)

RealTracks in style: 2877:Bass, Acoustic, AmericanaSlow16thsByron Ev16 060
RealTracks in style: 2704:Synth, Rhythm CloudRapLowOrgan Ev16 075
2705 " " " " Percussive
RealTracks in song: 1596:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Pop16ths Ev16 065
RealTracks in song: 1840:Synth Pad, PopModernGrooveMellow Ev16 075
RealDrums Mallets slow Folk 8ths
Loops Waterphone/Rainstick/Bodhran
Scott: Guitar: Les Paul

Amp: Marshall 1974x

Effects: H9’s and an Archer.



Music Underwater

drip drip cavern dark
shivering shimmering
thoughts fly and spark

folding wings inside myself
hours of days accordion
who will come to help
neversinkneversinkneversink


weak the arms fighting for me
in a tiny ocean
the belly of a beast
heard that drum once before
music underwater
the day I was born

deep inside this dare
drink the midnight cool
pray the mountain spirit spares

feel her breathe and sigh
how to tell you mother
when we are eye to eye
swimtoyouswimtoyouswimtoyou


weak the arms fighting for me
in a tiny ocean
the belly of a beast
I heard that drum once before
music underwater
the day I was born

© Robert Cordrey Jan. 2019

User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,921
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,921
Robert & Scott...

A really cool soundscape. Innovative instrument choices. Carries the narrative well. Scott's guitar fits perfectly.

A good write.
"I heard that drum once before
music underwater
the day I was born"
...nice.

There were a few spots where the vocal gets "muddled up" with similar frequencies resulting in a bit of boominess. (Not sure which track is bumping into it...)
It's a cool vocal.

Good envelope-pushing. Keep it up!

fj

User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,782
Veteran
Online Content
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,782
Hi Robert and Scott,

I had to listen several times to this remarkable, intriguing song.
It appealed to a lot within me, beside the story of those boys.
The melody is the most intriguing part, but Roberts' vocals had a great contribute to it too.
Very well done!

The things Floyd mentioned I didn't hear, but that is maybe because of my second line.

Beautiful!

Hans


Hans Berkhout
(Birchwood)
https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,979
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,979
Robert, this sounds like a sunrise... Beautiful piece of work.

Bob

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,330
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,330
Originally Posted By: floyd jane
Robert & Scott...

A really cool soundscape. Innovative instrument choices. Carries the narrative well. Scott's guitar fits perfectly.

A good write.
"I heard that drum once before
music underwater
the day I was born"
...nice.

There were a few spots where the vocal gets "muddled up" with similar frequencies resulting in a bit of boominess. (Not sure which track is bumping into it...)
It's a cool vocal.


Good envelope-pushing. Keep it up!

fj


Thanks Floyd. I was so glad Robert put this song back on the table. Glad you liked it.

Originally Posted By: Birchwood
Hi Robert and Scott,

I had to listen several times to this remarkable, intriguing song.
It appealed to a lot within me, beside the story of those boys.
The melody is the most intriguing part, but Roberts' vocals had a great contribute to it too.
Very well done!

The things Floyd mentioned I didn't hear, but that is maybe because of my second line.

Beautiful!

Hans
[/quote

Thanks Hans. Glad you liked it.

[quote=rsdean]Robert, this sounds like a sunrise... Beautiful piece of work.

Bob


Hey Bob Good to hear from you glad you like the song.


Scott Collingwood
https://soundcloud.com/scottt709
https://soundcloud.com/spiritlevel-ca
https://www.youtube.com/@SpiritLevel-ge3hm/
User Showcase
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,267
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,267
Robert,
Such a contrast from previous tune. Excellent slow write! Your poetry is always a treat. Nice intimate vocals. Scott's guitar sounds perfect. Percussion works very (!) well on this. A good clear mix. Enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing!
Misha.

P.S. That cave incident was very intense and emotional. Sadly, that hero diver died.

User Showcase
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,599
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,599
I was surprised by the style change, closer to Robert's usual song. But it is welcome change. Easy to relate to the feelings in the story, because it was such a big news also here. "Hours of days accordion" - the delicate subject handled beautifully.
Nice vocal effect to give feeling of an echo in a cave. Also percussions and loops add to the imagery. Maybe Scott's guitar could have had some bouncing effect somewhere. The guitar works nicely on its own. I like the selected bass.

Janne


Hear My Music:

Soundcloud
YouTube

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357
Originally Posted By: floyd jane
Robert & Scott...

A really cool soundscape. Innovative instrument choices. Carries the narrative well. Scott's guitar fits perfectly.

A good write.
"I heard that drum once before
music underwater
the day I was born"
...nice.

There were a few spots where the vocal gets "muddled up" with similar frequencies resulting in a bit of boominess. (Not sure which track is bumping into it...)
It's a cool vocal.

Good envelope-pushing. Keep it up!

fj


Floyd,
Thanks for supporting our delving into different styles.
This was a tough song to mix - I wanted a "cavernous" sound ( bassy, echoes) which is challenging to keep from sounding muddy. Others with more experience in whatever genre this fits would know better how to sort the frequency overlap; my solution was to record the high harmony vocal and pretty much ignore the tonal balance of modern music.

Robert

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,136
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,136
We followed that story very closely. It was fascinating in many aspects ... technically, human nature and geographically.

Thanks to your backstory it is easy to envision facets of the news story within your write.

We felt the cavernous vibe that you mentioned. And the ethereal production also adds to it.

Your vocal, Scott's playing, the band choice and the mix all worked well to create that vibe.

Well done!

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
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 3,007
PG Music Staff
Offline
PG Music Staff
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 3,007
This painted a really strong image and felt like a musical story for sure. Great use of the style. Thanks for sharing!


Cheers,
Ember
User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,060
D
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
D
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,060
Spirit Level,

You folks really have been hitting your stride of late. While a departure from your more recent cuts, this is just excellent. Moody and haunting, with an underlying sadness and beauty. Love’s Scott’s guitar work on this—really resonates. A poetic, wonderful write; excellent vocals—in particular that harmony sits just perfectly behind the lead. Outstanding work, gents!

All the best,

Deej

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,081
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,081
A really beautiful song. A very otherworldly sound, which fits the topic perfectly. The lyrics are poetry, as always, and the guitar work by Scott is thrilling, as usual. Great job here. The band captured a mystic mood too. Nice.


My music can be heard at: The Cracks
User Showcase
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,072
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,072
Wow, what a cool song. Robert & Scott, you guys are such talented songwriters and performers. I really like the almost haunting harmony. Everything so tastefully presented.


Enjoy whatever happens!
marty

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@babumusic51
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marty-straub
Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, Ozone 12, EZDrummer
User Showcase
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,062
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,062
Very cool intro, sets the mood right from the start. Nice production, sounds great through the 'phones.

You guys are pushing the sides of the envelope with every song you do, no matter the genre.

Always a delight to listen to!

User Showcase
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 448
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 448
Originally Posted By: Ember - PG Music
This painted a really strong image and felt like a musical story for sure. Great use of the style. Thanks for sharing!


Well said !

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357
Hans - Glad you could relate to the subject and enjoyed our change of pace

Bob- I like that image; thank you for listening.

Misha - I appreciate those positive comments.
I`m as hardened to feeling watching news as most; those boys and particularly their equanimity under such duress, got right through.

Janne - Yes, this is my musical ballad self,with percussion,sound effects and Scott`s fine accompaniment.
Thanks for your kind comments on the vocals and lyrics.

J&B- I`m happy to hear you found those cavernous sounds convincing. Thanks for your thoughtful comments.

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,264
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,264
Nice one.
Subtlety and nuance...very pre me.


Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,330
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,330
Originally Posted By: Rustyspoon#
Robert,
Such a contrast from previous tune. Excellent slow write! Your poetry is always a treat. Nice intimate vocals. Scott's guitar sounds perfect. Percussion works very (!) well on this. A good clear mix. Enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing!
Misha.

P.S. That cave incident was very intense and emotional. Sadly, that hero diver died.


Thanks Misha for the awesome comments. So glad you liked the song.

Originally Posted By: jannesan
I was surprised by the style change, closer to Robert's usual song. But it is welcome change. Easy to relate to the feelings in the story, because it was such a big news also here. "Hours of days accordion" - the delicate subject handled beautifully.
Nice vocal effect to give feeling of an echo in a cave. Also percussions and loops add to the imagery. Maybe Scott's guitar could have had some bouncing effect somewhere. The guitar works nicely on its own. I like the selected bass.

Janne


Thanks Janne for checking out the song. Appreciate your comments. Glad you like it.

Originally Posted By: Janice & Bud
We followed that story very closely. It was fascinating in many aspects ... technically, human nature and geographically.

Thanks to your backstory it is easy to envision facets of the news story within your write.

We felt the cavernous vibe that you mentioned. And the ethereal production also adds to it.

Your vocal, Scott's playing, the band choice and the mix all worked well to create that vibe.

Well done!

J&B


Thanks Janice and Bud for checking out the song. So glad you liked it.


Scott Collingwood
https://soundcloud.com/scottt709
https://soundcloud.com/spiritlevel-ca
https://www.youtube.com/@SpiritLevel-ge3hm/
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357
Thanks to all listening and finding good things in our subterranean musing...we`ll be back with another rocker soon!

Robert

User Showcase
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 1,572
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 1,572
Hi Robert,

Nice research in the instrumentation which creates a very special atmosphere. The reverb is well balanced and allows you to highlight your voice. The lyrics are very gripping. Well done.

Kindly regard
alias JaniJackFlash


Kindly regards
Derochette
alias JaniJackFlash
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!

All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!

It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.

What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?

XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!

Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!

The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.

The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.

The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.

Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos

With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.

Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.

Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.

Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.

2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.

Holiday Weekend Hours

As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:

April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours

Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!

— Team PG

Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!

If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!

If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!

Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics86,220
Posts802,035
Members40,070
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
Newest Members
Orchestr8, dimtass, Quamido Pirendo, Allan63, isledge
40,070 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 127
zedd 110
DC Ron 94
rsdean 86
Noel96 76
Today's Birthdays
flashlarue, gary133, kirbonite
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5