Pink Piano
This one came to me yesterday arvo.
I pulled it together in BIAB and did some rough work then added my "vocal", bass and lap steel to it as ideas for the moment.
I'll replace the two rhythm guitars and, hope fully, find someone to play some lead but the RT will suffice for now.
BIAB provided drums, organ, two rhythm guitars, two piano parts (one just held chords and the other some tinkling between chords), gospel vocals & the lead guitar.
Knockhoffner bass, Squire guitar, Yahama FX500 unit, SX Lap Steel with a no name bar.
Modern's Deathcore Compressor, various Reaper JS FX and Density MkII Compressor, (very cool for "pinning down" bass & 12 string).
Recommended for somnambulists.
Your ideas, thoughts & suggestions are most welcome.
Modified to meet Mario's specs, (mind you I expected the request).
Some extra vocal lines added and some tweaking done as well.
I'll add the BIAB specifics when I've worked my way back through the SGU iterations.
PINK PIANO mix2
AND a quick fix because I heard a prob...
PINAK PIANO mix3
I've replaced the BIAB guitars and did a little arranging of parts.
I may have over stepped the mark though.
PLINK PIANO mix 4
Remix with Misha & David's concerns addressed. More bass, more meat in the intro/outro pianos and less piano in the "solo" section.
I used JS Spectrum Matcher to get my guitar parts to sound closer to the BIAB guitar parts. It worked very well -it's a cool FREE plugin.
PLINKY PIANO mix 5
BIAB STUFF:
RealTracks in style: 908:Bass, Electric, SmoothBallad Ev16 065 (replaced with a Knockhoffner, round strings , finger style)
RealTracks in style: 3099:Organ, Rhythm AmericanaSlow16thsMike Ev16 060
RealTracks in style: 3436:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm BritPsycPopBalladArpHiPhaser Ev 065
RealTracks in style: 3435:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm BritPsycPopBalladArpVibChorus Ev 065
RealTracks in song: 1883:Piano, Acoustic, Soloist Country12-8John Sw 065 (only little phrases as it was awful and very tinny)
RealDrums in Song: PopRock16ths^ (7 stems as I wanted just the snare in some parts and had to address a pretty awful modern kick click too).
RealTracks in song: ~2504:Piano, Acoustic, HeldChords 060
RealTracks in song: 1602:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm Pop16 Ev16 065 (this provides most of the piano "solo" that follows the guitar.
RealTracks in song: 3538:Vocals, BackgroundSoloist GospelCoolSoulful Sw16 075 (supposed to work at 60bpm but I had to use tuning software to reduce the wayward vibrato and bring it into almost tune)
RealDrums in Song:PopRock16ths^01-a:Snare, HiHat, b:Snare, Ride
RealTracks in song: 3348:Guitar, Electric, Soloist HazyBallad ev16 070
LYRICS
(they work better when murmured amidst the susurration of internal dialogue)
To each his own is what we are told
But not those whose lives are bought & sold
Your place is held if you comply
Though no warranty will apply

The truth is hidden in your mind
So deeply you will never find
The proof that hovers near your tongue
Despite the stories that you’ve sung

On and on conspiracies combine
Create a thatch held with brittle twine
To house your fears and keep them warm
While watching for the coming storm

I really like the backing tracks and the mix on them.
However I had a very hard time hearing you vocal. I believe you should bring them more up front. YMMV

Thanks Mario. I can say your suggestion wasn't unexpected. Sorted, (well, a little bit more anyway).

What a cool build on this, Ray. Such a good mix all the way through. The 2-and-a-half minute introduction was well worth the wait. I really like how it continues to build without losing the feel. Yes, of course I want your vocal louder. If for no other reason than to bring out those lyrics to the ear. I'd say 8 minutes is a bit long, but the odd thing is when it was over I immediately pushed play again. Good use of those passionate gospel vocals.

[ I listened to mix3 ]
Again something very Pink Floyd-like from you, some licks remind of "Echos", the gospel soloist of DSOTM, that's good.
Even in version 3 you could have raised the vocals a bit more, but you are close
Mix-wise, I'd probably lower the treble on the left guitar a bit so it's more balanced with the right guitar.

Just an idea: it would be interesting to see what the piano running through a guitar amp would do in some places.

Ray,

Hands down, this is my absolute favorite from you to date...

Such sensitivity in the arrangement and vocal lines. Outstanding mix!

I love this!

Bob

Hi Ray
Awesome song
The intro is so cool
Everything blends perfectly
Sounds really good
Great work
Many greetings
Andi ;-)

Mix 3

Wow, Ray, you nailed the Pink Floyd vibe completely!

Looking at the list of tracks and knowing the amount of regens and editing required made our heads spin. You really achieved the big, full surround sound feel. The guitars sound great and the lead was impressive as is.

Cool volume shaping on the entire song.

Your vocal sounds just right too (glad you raised the volume!).
We like what you did with the bgv’s.

We’re looking forward to the final mix!

J&B

Thanks Marty,
I think the failure of the last two chords to provide resolution may lead to wanting to hear it again...in the hope of a change.
Thanks for your kind words.

Thanks for the suggestions.
I'll try the Eq idea but may also try the alt. approach and raise the treble on the right piano part to balance the arp guitar when it appears. Thanks for prodding me into thinking.

Thanks Bob,
Sensitivity isn't something I'm used to.

Thank you Andi,
Still a W.I.P. but getting closer to completion.

Thank you ma'am, thank you sir.

Listened to the third mix. Very Pink Floyd. Cool.

The slightly chorused piano in the intro sounds a bit thin to me.

You'll be shocked to hear the I think the piano is still too quiet.

Had to look up "arvo". Did you mean "insomniac" instead of "somnambulist"?

I enjoyed the listen.

Thanks David,
there are, actually, two pianos at the intro and they are treated as if distant in a big room. That treatment reduces bring them closer and fuller sounding...the reverse being the case in the outro. Well, that was the intention anyway.
I'll look into the "thinness".
Which piano and which part is too quiet? I'll have a crack at addressing your concerns if you can give me some detail.
After the intro it's simple clomping chords on the left and chords with small melodic elements of the right, the recombine in the centre for the outro. Parts of the piano solo are spliced in for the slightly louder piano solo section.
Arvo is, as you've found, old Australian slang. O is tagged onto a lot of things in the peculiar vernacular often referred to as 'Strine. Take a break for a cup of tea and to eat at morning tea for tradies is "smoko" as they'd also have a gasper when on the break. Almost any name is abbreviated and then has O added - Thompson becomes Thommo etc.etc.
I did intend somnambulist - as in a soundtrack for sleep walking, (though not up to the standard of the soundtrack to Dr. Caligary's Cabinet), - rather than an insomniac's white noise to fall asleep to.

Ray,

I don't know that you'll have to replace much here....it all sounds pretty good to me! The bass in places sounds like a fretless to me!
That organ sounds excellent to me! I always have trouble getting a quality non-glitchy sound with those organ realtracks. It's a great sounding bluesy track! Thanks, TB

Ray,
Really cool pink floydish piece. I listened to the first and the last mixes. Definitely a big progress. The only two critical comments I have, and it is personal taste thing... is that I wish to hear more of bass and I think piano is a bit loud around 5:30. Otherwise, good stuff. Did not get bored after two x 8 min takes Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

Thanks Torrey,
There's nothing I'm capable of replacing now. I've exhausted my limited capacities.
I've been very lucky with RT organs...mind you they all needs some cutting & pasting, and found a great flatulent one for another song I'm working on.

Thanks Misha,
I'm having a little trouble hearing today - bass in my right ear only...must be an infection or blockage of some sort.
I've both compressed & lifted the bass for a more even and slightly louder track. I've reduced the pianos in the 5.30 area. I tried to address David Cuny's concerns as well.I think, between the tow of you, the song has improved.

Hi Ray,

I love the laid back groove happening on this, just a great mood! Definitely has a Floyd vibe, loved that band back in the day and will never tire of their music.

Really good arrangement, nice selection of tracks, and your vocal sounds good to me, suits the song. Is that a realtrack at 6:22? Great!

8:00 long but didn't seem long, well done.

I listened to mix5 BTW.

Thanks Dave,
You're very kind. Around 6.22 the drums, gospel vocal, piano, lead guitar & organ are RTs. The arp guitars, bass & lap steel/slide are me. I'm not sure which sound you were interested in the details of. All the BIAB stuff is from RTs though.

Sorry, Ray, I should have been more specific.
I was referring to the female vocal, reminded me of the vocal in "The Great Gig in the Sky".

Nice. Very Pinkish Floydish in it's overall feel. I was a HUGE Pinko Floyd fan and this is vintage. Even the low level of the smoothly delivered vocals a-la their song Echos as others have mentioned.

I also think this is one of the best things you've done yet.... and just getting to the female vocalist part very reminiscent of the Great Gig in the Sky.... nice.

STUNNING. One of your very best, in my view. Nothing more to say, because - to me - it just works; nothing more to add. I'm no good with music of the past, so can't find analogies or indeed compare you to any past artist; but this is epic. Stunning, sweeping, cinematic gestures in the music. Hats off to you.

How did you do that falsetto near the end? If that's you, unassisted by anything else, you really MUST sing more!!! (actually, I would say that regardless of anything else!)

Hats off, in any case. A joy to listen to this piece.

Thanks,
I'm exploring the writing/recording of other folk and this was me trying to get inside PF & TGGITS.

Thanks James,
the wonderful voice is a Gospel Real Track - listed in the O.P. It took some management & tweaking to get it to work though.

It's passing weird that the Overhead "stem" for this RealDrum set is mono. I was trying to place the cymbals in the stereo field and having a difficult time of it when I noticed it was mono...that explains it but doesn't help in the slightest.
Due to this I wouldn't recommend the stems I used.