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The Bottle Of Solace Just a song about the search for solace from a bottle in a lonely and harsh world. Surely not everyone's cup of tea, but sort of one of my favorites, the BIAB instruments provide a perfectly raw soundscape for the melancholy depicted in the story. I could have used a more rock oriented Synth V voice, but I thought Saros presents more of an ordinary man... I wrote this song already 8 years ago, but recently heard that my ex-colleague had died from drinking, I thought he was very successful in life and work, but who knows, it could happen to any of us. RealDrums: RockThrashHalfTime RealTracks: #387 Electric bass #2743 Synth Bass #1595 Acoustic guitar pick #1257, #2681, #573, #838 Electric guitar ##2585 Electric guitar DI (+Amplitube 3) #2650 Electric guitar solo DI (+Amplitube 3) #2704 Synth Organ Vocals: Synthesizer V SAROS (lead), JUN (Harmony) Mixed in Adobe Audition (music) & Cakewalk by Bandlab (vocals & mastering) Lyrics: [Verse] A child is crying out for meal the feeding bottle is her treat little hands are reaching for the teat. maybe someone's taking care comforts just by being there doesn't judge but removes the feeling of scared. [Chorus] Why is home an empty place? who could fill my hugging space? I get solace from the bottle there is no more lack of grace. [Verse] I was full prepared to opt to share my life around the clock but you chose to invest in some safer stock. Dealers sell drugs at the door but nothing for my chronic sore I do not want to pressure you anymore. [Chorus] Why is home an empty place? who could fill my hugging space? I get solace from the bottle there is no more lack of grace. [Bridge] There's no need for blaming me I'm just languishing in loss if I'm offered a cure against it I'll be ready to bear its cross. [Verse] When the world serves pain and pox I've put my best friend to his box the carrion is attracting vulturous flocks. On this lonely New Year's Eve one thing keeps me company and doesn't list all my flaws cold-bloodedly. [Chorus] Why is home an empty place? who could fill my hugging space? I get solace from the bottle there is no more lack of grace. -------------------------- Janne
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Heavy feel. Nice crunchy guitars. I like the groove.
You made some rather unique chord choices in the chorus. And an abrupt change of direction in the bridge. Interesting .
All in all, nice job on this song.
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, Janne.
A dark sounding song with dark lyrics. Saros was a good choice.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Dark and sad, and your backing tracks with those unexpected chord choices support the lyrics perfectly. I like sad songs, and I think this is one of your best ![[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]](https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/images/icons/default/thumbs_up.gif)
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Oh, you're so right, Janne. Every aspect of this production points to and adds to the melancholy. Man, the chord changes and the melody give us that feeling, even if we just hear the lyrics as notes rather than words. Those vocals are perfect, too. I really like the drum track too. Sad event that made you resurrect this one, but so appropriate. Even the song pic is a special piece of the whole. Loved it all, Janne
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Well, dark, but NICE and dark. Great chord progressions. They create a twisty-but-cool musical path for the twisty lyrics. Also like your inventive use of BiaB guitars and how you used the DI RealTracks to get the right tonal colors. I need to do that more.
Saros sounds fine, but to my ears he only sounds like an "ordinary man" if that man was a cabaret singer. Ha! Just kidding! I'm not sure what style of voice would best suit this style of song. It's quite its own niche.
Condolences for your departed colleague. I've reached an age where those wakeup calls are occurring with alarming frequency...
Well done, Janne!
DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Janne,
I love the heavy & moody feel of this song. Great vocal from SAROS. Also, some really nice production throughout.
Excellent work!
Bob
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This is terrific, Janne. The guitars were perfect for the dark atmosphere you created. Saros sounded great. So sorry to hear about your friend. All the fancy, tricky drugs in the world, but alcohol is still taking its share of victims like liquid plague.
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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Love the instrumentation in this. It's a really well formed gritty song with great lyrics. It's a personal taste thing, but an alternative singer, real or AI, would have made it that much better. It really needs a gritty vocalist. Excellent song all the same.
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.
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Heavy feel. Nice crunchy guitars. I like the groove.
You made some rather unique chord choices in the chorus. And an abrupt change of direction in the bridge. Interesting .
All in all, nice job on this song. Thanks Herb, I appreciate your pleasant feedback  Glad you noticed those chord choices, GbMaj13 | Ebm69/Gb | F7b5 just to mention the first ones, choices that don't always work with another set of instruments, but usually the most fitting ones are found by using the current set, so it could be said that the initial band choice is a collaborator. Janne
Last edited by jannesan; 06/29/25 05:01 AM.
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Hi, Janne.
A dark sounding song with dark lyrics. Saros was a good choice. Thanks David, glad you liked Saros, I tried to make him sound a bit more darker as the sound and the lyrics wanted. I was tempted to remake the song with HXVOC, but it would probably have been too obvious choice... Janne
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Dark and sad, and your backing tracks with those unexpected chord choices support the lyrics perfectly. I like sad songs, and I think this is one of your best Thanks BD for your kind and supportive comment Glad to hear that the chords, tracks and lyrics fit together so well. Good to know that sad songs speak to you, I guess I have to please my few listeners  Janne
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Janne, an outstanding song.
Super groove and arrangement
That synth vocal was so real sounding that if you hadn't said anything I would have thought it was a human.
Super mix
PS - I did a song in 2015 about a friend whom drank himself into a nursing home at the age of 50 and died from drinking a few years later. If interested it is on Soundcloud and called Demon. So yes it can happen to anyone.
The bumper sticker said "I'm a veterinarian, therefore I can drive like an animal".
Suddenly I realized how many proctologists are on the road.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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I love those dark guitars. Saros was a good choice, fits in well. You put a lot of tension in the chorus with those chords---very good!
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Janne,
Good Music.
It is obvious you put thought into the arrangement and production. Well Done!
A Great Sound. Throughout the entire production. An impressive, big sound. (with dynamics)
Interesting write.
I really enjoyed this.
Impressed.
fj
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Thoughts:
That is a great band and an excellent solo.
The distorted vibes are perfect.
Love the dynamics in the fine mix.
Saros and Jun are a good pairing for this dark lyric.
The harmonies and chord changes in the chorus are outstanding.
They perfectly provide both tension and the melancholic feel.
We’ve had friends in similar circumstances and it is very sad.
We could go on, but this is, simply stated, a tremendous epic production.
Exceptionally 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
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Janne,
I always look forward to you posts because I know I’m going to hear something fresh, unique, and well-executed. No exception here. Excellent work with the synth vocal. But it’s really the complete production, all its elements, that make this tune shine. Compelling write as well. Really top-notch stuff!!
Deej
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Oh, you're so right, Janne. Every aspect of this production points to and adds to the melancholy. Man, the chord changes and the melody give us that feeling, even if we just hear the lyrics as notes rather than words. Those vocals are perfect, too. I really like the drum track too. Sad event that made you resurrect this one, but so appropriate. Even the song pic is a special piece of the whole. Loved it all, Janne Thanks Marty, your positive reviews are always the special moment of my day Janne
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Well, dark, but NICE and dark. Great chord progressions. They create a twisty-but-cool musical path for the twisty lyrics. Also like your inventive use of BiaB guitars and how you used the DI RealTracks to get the right tonal colors. I need to do that more.
Saros sounds fine, but to my ears he only sounds like an "ordinary man" if that man was a cabaret singer. Ha! Just kidding! I'm not sure what style of voice would best suit this style of song. It's quite its own niche.
Condolences for your departed colleague. I've reached an age where those wakeup calls are occurring with alarming frequency...
Well done, Janne! Thanks DC for your heartwarming feedback "Nice and dark", yep, that's how I feel, somehow comforting despite the sad subject. This could be the only time I've used DI realtracks and I did it to get even darker sound different from normal smoothed BIAB sound. Janne
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Janne,
I love the heavy & moody feel of this song. Great vocal from SAROS. Also, some really nice production throughout.
Excellent work!
Bob Thanks Bob for your positive review Janne
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