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Hi Folks.
Health issues kept me out of the loop for a few weeks. Much better now. Have a lot of catching up to do. I started writing this tune in February before the war started, and it was not emotionally easy to finish it at a normal pace. I finally wrapped it up  in April, and mixed it a couple of weeks ago. All comments are welcomed and thank you for your time.
Misha.

Rituals

 

Running, stumbling, falling
Just to make to closing gates
Seems like time is shifting faster
Life's tectonic plates

Centuries of rituals
Killing for the shiny gold
Reality became so "virtual" and cold

We are paying our debt,
We are burying our dead
We are dancing blindfolded on the edge
And we let the bridges burn,
passing points of no return
Feeling safe and happy in our cage
Writing with tears and blood history pages.

That sweet reasoning of alternate morality
A tender relationship between the pray and the predator
Mind hardcoded to reject duality
Seems like the truth got competitor
Seeping through the cracks of our minds

Centuries of rituals
Killing for the shiny gold
Reality became so "virtual" and cold


Tech stuff:Composition/ lyrics / vocals -  me. 
BIAB:
RT 1958:Bass, Baby, Guajira Ev 120
RT 3703:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking 90sAcRockSlowGroove Ev 090
RT 3646:Guitar, Nylon Fingerpicking IndieFolk16ths Ev16 100
MIDI SuperTracks in song: 2065:Piano, Rhythm NewAgeAlbertiPretty Ev 100
RT 1815:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CelticSlowWaltz Ev 110
RT ~1032:Guitar, 12-String Electric, Strumming Ev 085
RT 2635:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm CountryBluesRockHigh Ev 110
MIDI SuperTracks in song: 2065:Piano, Rhythm NewAgeAlbertiPretty Ev 100
Custom MIDI Style: 0 < No Patch Change > (PnoMood2.STY Piano track)
RealTracks in song: 2456:Cello, Background PopSwing Sw 110 (1TrackStringQuartet)
RT 2457:Strings, Rhythm CelticAir Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 3877:Tin Whistle, Low, Background Folk8thsGeoff Ev 110
RT 3771:Tin Whistle, Low, Background Folky16thsGeoff Ev 085
RealDrums in Song:BossaBrushesPerc^1-a:Congas, No Kit , b:Congas, Shaker, Triangle, No Kit
Synths of Kontakt and Halion. Mixed in Cakewalk.

I really like the way the song builds at the beginning. And then keeps building and changing.

You've got a way of building songs that start in one place, twist and turn, and arrive somewhere else entirely. I've used the description of a ride through a musical fun house, and that's what happens here as well.

And that's not even mentioning the poetry of the lyrics!

Great arrangement, mix and vocals as well. You take disparate elements and blend them together seamlessly.

Where's the "Thumbs Up" emoticon? I need to paste in at least a dozen...

Hi Misha ...

yeah - everything that David said. He just bsaid it so mucj better I'd have been able to do. Original. Powerfull. Bold. And so good! What a great mix!@ You are one of the most creative and gifted people on these forums!

Alan

PS: Glad to hear you're feeling better!

Misha,
the string arrangement on this...the BIAB combined with your synths I assume...is gripping.
There's also a grainy texture of a Mellotron about some parts...love it.
A harrowing tale expressively told.
Crikey, you're very, very good at this stuff.

Hi Misha
Glad you are feeling better again
Your song is great
Really brings out the message of your great lyrics
Excellent singing and playing
Many greetings
Andi ;-)

Hi Misha,

Glad to hear you made it back to the forum after the healt issues. I was away to, same reason (in a way).
What a wonderful, intriguing, song you made.
At first I thought the strings to be a bit too loud, but they were needed for the tension in the song and lyrics (who are great too).
And it is a typically Rustyspoon song. Glad you are back!

Hans

So glad to hear you, Misha, and happy to hear you are healthy. Man, reading the comments I want to say everything David Cuny said. You are so good at this, my friend. In addition to David's musical funhouse comment, I like this: "Life's tectonic plates." This is a fantastic mix. How do you get so many pieces in there without it sounding like a cacophony of chaos? I listened a few times to try to pick out each one, and you blend them so perfectly like a conductor nodding to the tin whistle player sitting way in the back behind the tympani.

True musical art, not arty, your creativity just flows in unpredictable ways.
-The lyrics are pure poetry
-the arrangement is amazing, hard to understand how all these instruments are made to play together like a living organism. Piano, the percussions, the tin whistle are just some examples of clever usage
-I really like the melody and the organic structure of the wholeness. The chord progression is excellent, especially the "centuries of ritual" part is wonderful.

I could go on listing more superlatives, but I must save some for your future projects

Janne

Misha, this is outstanding.

Love that backing band...Very original!

Great vocal with outstanding lyrics.

Mixed to perfection.

IMHO this is your best to date!

PS - I'm glad that you are feeling better.

This is a nice song, nicely arranged with really good and expressive vocals.

Things I noticed that could be changed:
- at about 1:40 there is a drum fill that I think is a bit out of place
- in the last chorus there is this flute/whistle/whateveritis fighting against your vocals. I would wait with it until after the last vocals. Or have it play a little less busy.

Misha, you are a master of poetry and more than proficient in building arrangements in BiaB.

I'm not musically trained enough to expound on the nuances like others above have but I can say there is timeless truth in these lyrics that sadly is all too relevant these days. This needs to be translated into Ukrainian AND Russian and sent to the populations of both countries.

Let's continue to support these freedom loving people as their invaders brutally destroy civilian energy infrastructure knowing full well that Winter is approaching. Let's also hope that our brothers and sisters in Finland and all other countries can quickly re-stock their iodine pill supply. The emperor with no shirt is determined.

Misha,

Stunning!

"We are paying our debt,
We are burying our dead
We are dancing blindfolded on the edge
And we let the bridges burn,
passing points of no return
Feeling safe and happy in our cage
Writing with tears and blood history pages."

WOW.
Killer! might be a better word.

The production is gorgeous.
Your best mix, I think. So clear. So cohesive. So complete.
Best vocal processing, too. Whatever you did there...keep doing that!!!

Amazed. Impressed.
You Make Art.

fj

(thanks for the help with my Scarlett. After more, different problems with it, I decided to buy a new one...)

Misha

I was going to say stunning but floyd beat me to it. Superb!

You are making some incredible music and so unique.

Loved it.

Peter

haha, I'm also in the was going to say "Stunning" camp along with Peter

Excellent, Misha, your music always pushes the side of the envelope.

Ok, instead of "Stunning" I'll go with "Wonderful"

Misha,

This has a beautiful, mysterious sound that is perfectly matched up with your excellent vocals! It's a piece that had to take an enormous amount of effort to put together! I love your arrangements, they are always professionally done! Thanks, Torrey

So many RTs but somehow from it you built a wonderful gestalt. Amazing to me how poetic you can be in what I assume is not your first language. Great work!

Glad you're feeling better, Misha.
Wonderful song to return with. Lovely dynamics in the complex and beautifully mixed arrangement. Lyrics are excellent as usual. I too was going to single out the passage Floyd quoted. Powerful stuff.
Regards,
Leon

Complex and captivating composition. I can't wrap my mind around how you did it. You have taken me on a dizzying musical adventure. You have outdone yourself!

Hi Rustyspoon

Captivating composition. Well written lyrics. Lots of instruments that intertwine perfectly. It's fun and well done. I apprecied

Kindly regard
Derochette
alias JaniJackFlash

Your songs are always interesting and original, Misha.
Great mix as usual.

Vic