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#822487 09/10/24 01:56 AM
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Hi Forum Friends. I present my third BIAB song.

https://soundcloud.com/divinemetime/strange-alchemy

Going by your comments to previous songs, I tried to fill things out more, play around more with harmonies and also include a good solo which I struggled with in the first two songs. I wrote this song over 20 years ago (time flies) and performed it with a band called Mystery School. I'm so happy to be able to bring it back to life!

_DREAMUP - Dream Up Retro Pop Piano Ballad
RealTracks in style: 2702:Bass, Synth, CloudRapSub Ev16 075
RealTracks in style: 891:Piano, Acoustic, Solo-Accompaniment PopLiverpool Ev 065
RealTracks in style: 870:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ModernRnBRockWarmQuarters Ev 065
RealTracks in style: 871:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ModernRnBRockWarmStrum Ev 065
Custom MIDI Style: 49 Strings (ork448.STY [AB] Strings track)
RealDrums in style:RetroPop^01-a:Bass, HiHat , b:Bass, Snare
LoopAcousticDrumFullKit\Rock-biter_130_intro_sticks4even8
LoopAcousticDrumFullKit\Metal-gl_tomtoms100a ev16.wav
Piano Pop Promise Ev16 100

The song memo isn't quite right because I added 2 more instruments...a synth pad and a guitar which are only labeled as StrangeAlchemyRB Utility#1 and StrangeAlchemyRBPiano. I treated my Ah's with an echo and the lead vocals with dynamics and reverb.

he knew I’d call
it wouldn’t surprise me
he’s seen the way I walk through hell
he holds me in his heart
waits for the veil to part
turning the dust of my heart to gold

right before I give it away
poised in a self-designed power play
strange alchemy
he gives it all back to me
strange alchemy

you’ve looked outside
and tried to find
what you could only find within

what we push away
when we are afraid
is always bound to return someday

it wasn’t about him
he wasn’t the source
he was just the answer to a prayer
I’d merely forgotten
I’d merely denied
I breathe and the breath of God breathes me

Thanks for listening!

Last edited by BYOBand; 09/11/24 02:48 AM.
BYOBand #822504 09/10/24 04:09 AM
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Strange Alchemy indeed. There's something different, unique, inimitable about your compositions. This one has a labyrinthine complexity that leads the listener to unexpected places. The chord progressions are unpredictable and yet somehow they work incredibly well. You sang it soulfully and meaningfully. Well done.

As for the summary: go to "Edit" then "Song Memo" (third from bottom of list) then just copy & paste which bits of it you want to include in your post.

Ghostgum


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BYOBand #822529 09/10/24 09:44 AM
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Otherworldly and cool. Love the instrument choices and mix, and that harmonic movement is wild. Great job with the mini guitar breaks. There's a very cool held vocal "ah" or maybe a pad in the right channel (opposite the harmony) right from the start that gives a lovely haunting effect. Looking forward to the credits.

Ghostgun answered your question on how to copy the BiaB credits. This tip and many more are listed at the top of the User Showcase forum for future reference.


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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
BYOBand #822537 09/10/24 10:42 AM
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Interesting and refreshing. Well mixed too.
Reminded me of Kate Bush.

Vic

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You have a way with words, Ghostgum. Thank you so much for your encouraging appraisal!

DC Ron #822589 09/11/24 02:25 AM
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Thank you, DC Ron. I'm going to pull the song memo in a jiffy and upload it. But all the vocals are mind. Those guitar breaks were happy accidents during editing that just happened to work out, so I kept 'em.

Thanks also for pointing out the tips. There's so much information everywhere, the forum itself is a learning curve!

vicarn #822590 09/11/24 02:28 AM
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Hi Vic,

I love that you heard her influence. It wasn't conscious on my part, but I've always loved Kate's drama. Thank you.

BYOBand #822611 09/11/24 06:06 AM
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First of all, Tilted Halo is a terrific name. This one has the perfect mood for alchemy, and with the song you made gold. Excellent harmony choices, too, and well sung througout. Not sure how it would've sounded with Mystery School, but I hope your old bandmates have a chance to listen to this version. Much enjoyed.


Enjoy whatever happens!
marty

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BYOBand #822618 09/11/24 06:22 AM
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Interesting song. Well done.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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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It was quite a bit different back then. Glad you enjoyed it. I like how you connected the alchemy and gold...very nice thing to say. Thanks.

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Thank you!

BYOBand #823061 09/14/24 05:16 PM
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Lovely song. Very cool chord progressions. Excellent vocal. Well done..


Scott Collingwood
https://soundcloud.com/scottt709
https://soundcloud.com/spiritlevel-ca
https://www.youtube.com/@SpiritLevel-ge3hm/
Scott C #823081 09/15/24 12:26 AM
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Merci, Scott!

BYOBand #823259 09/16/24 09:15 PM
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Hello BYOBand,

Welcome to the forum.
It's a bit of an unusual chord progression.
It must have been quite difficult to play this song with a real live band.
I think using BIAB for this kind of tune can help you get the song you want.
It's very moody and your vocals are a perfect fit for it.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

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Thanks for listening and for the welcome!

BYOBand #823776 09/23/24 11:20 AM
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Ethereal, mesmerizing and ultimately very creative.

The interesting chord progression and nice melody are well supported by the BiaB session guys you chose.

Well done!

J&B


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Thank you J&B. I'm so grateful for my miracle-making 'session guys'!

BYOBand #823862 09/24/24 07:08 PM
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The 3rd corking song I've heard here today! As J and/or J&B wrote, it's mesmerising throughout. The instrumentation is perfectly picked and mixed. And the "Ahs" in the left channel really adds superb atmosphere to the composition. This is professional quality throughout and faultless. Really, really well done!


Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
BYOBand #823868 09/24/24 08:28 PM
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This is unique and very interesting. I really enjoy unexpected chord changes when they work - and they work perfectly in this song. Very nice mix.

Thanks for a super listen!

Alan


BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar

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BYOBand #823877 09/25/24 12:05 AM
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I really, really, like this track!

As others have already pointed out, your use of chords is very creative and the vocals evocative.

Listening to this was a wonderfully immersive and rewarding experience, and I very much look forward to hearing more from you :-)

DB09


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