Hi Forum folk,
Here's my latest contribution to User Showcase.

https://soundcloud.com/user-952388172/train-of-thought

TRAIN OF THOUGHT, created in RealBand, is a lively country-flavoured song, featuring guitars, shakuhachi, fiddle and rhythm section.
RealTracks:
Fiddle, Soloist Bluegrass Ev 130 (434) Andy Leftwich
Bass, Electric, ClassicFunkRootFiveAlex Ev 130 Alex Al
RealDrums:
NashvillePop16^1 (middle 8: NashvillePop16^6).

I would be grateful if you would have a listen and let me know what you think.
Comments, criticism and advice very welcome.
Cheers,
Mike

Very nicely done...
Interesting changes throughout keeps the song fresh from start to finish...
I enjoyed listening!

Mike,
Great energy!
Interesting combination of western country style and shakuhachi, works very well. In my opinion, it is very well arranged and mixed/recorded. It does not feel to me that something is sticking out at all.

At first, I wanted to mention that it could be slowed down by the end, but then I realized, it is a TrAiN, it does not stop, only becomes more distant, which you accomplished

Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

I always love train songs, somehow there is never enough of them. Great feeling of movement!! You got it perfect a nice contrast between the energy of the fiddle and the reflection of the shakuhachi.

Nice production. I like the smooth introduction and transition of each instrument/element. Very enjoyable to listen to!

Very cinematic - and nicely put together.
A very pleasant composition.

Peter

This song has some pretty fantastic energy and I really enjoyed the use of the fiddle. Thanks for sharing!

Wow Mike does that ever sound great! There is such an interesting rhythm thing happening in here that is so very unique! You obviously put a tremendous amount of work into this and it is respected and appreciated by me! Very complex in places and so smooth and melodic in others! Your instrumentation selection in here is varied and appropriate! Great work! Thanks, Torrey

A really tidy mix with dynamics and interest aplenty.

Thanks for listening Jim. Mike

Well done!

We love trains and we love good songs...so this is EXTRA special.

It's totally engaging from the get go and that's, for us, the hallmark of a good instrumental.

Excellent mix!

J&B

Excellent tune. Right out ou t of the gate I was thinking "Duster". Would be very good movie theme song.

Thanks Misha for your detailed comments.
I must admit that, on paper, it does sound unusual to have a shakuhachi and a fiddle in the same song but I'm glad you think it works well.
Thanks for listening.
PS I loved your Russian piece, Sever/North (see reply to your original post).
Cheers,
Mike

Hi Mike,

I think this is the first time I have heard your music.

This is excellent! Lots of movement and changes to keep things interesting. One of the best instrumentals I have ever heard on this site actually.

I assume you are playing all the instruments other than the realtracks you listed?

Very impressive indeed, well done!

I too am a fan of trains. You certainly have have combined some interesting real tracks and everything sounds great. A very interesting track. I loved the stops. Very well done, Tom

Easy to listen, it is pleasant to the ears.

Mike,

Very well done. Nicely paced - keeps the ear engaged well throughout. Pleasant surprises around every corner. Really kept me listening to every nuance...

Good mix.

Very enjoyable listen.

fj

Thanks Belladonna for listening and taking the time to comment. It seems like there are a few train song fans around.
Cheers, Mike

What a tune! A really interesting combination of instruments, and it flows amazingly well. The groove is fantastic, and the combo of the shakuhachi and fiddle somehow managed to come out sounding not forced at all. Nicely catchy on top of all that.

Great work and thanks for sharing

Great groovy song with beautiful wistful melody. The arrangement is excellent, that fiddle really makes the train going and that break in the middle is clever. Nice to hear an instrumental which really feels like telling a strong story.

Janne

Thanks for listening and for your kind words.
Mike

Thanks Peter. It's interesting that you described the song as 'cinematic' as I originally wrote the the tune for a documentary our local university was making about the closure of the nearby sugar mill. The mill used narrow gauge cane trains to collect the sugar cane from the farms in the area. Thanks for you comments.
Cheers,
Mike

Thanks for listening Ember. As the RealTrack library grows there are so many more musical options.
Cheers,
Mike
Thanks Torrey. Your detailed comments are so encouraging.
Cheers,
Mike

Nice! I love instrumental that "take you somewhere", and this is an excellent example of that.

The only nit was at 2:08 - for some reason that didn't work for me, although I really liked what you were going for.

The mix sounded excellent through my speakers, and the arrangement kept things moving and interesting the whole way through.

A very enjoyable listen, well done!

Thanks for listening and taking the time to comment rayc. Cheers, Mike

Thanks Janice and Bud. It's always good to get your views on my music. Thanks for listening.
Mike

Thank for listening Scott and for your kind words.
I'm not sure if I understand the "Duster" reference. Do you mean Duster, the slowcore, space-rock American band of the '90s, or are you alluding to something local that this Aussie doesn't understand.
Cheers,
Mike

Hi Mike ...

Wow ... this is just so cool! What a terrific production and concept. I would never have thought of using the shakuhachi flute. Great choice! And that fiddle just smokes! That was one fabulous listen!!! Best to ya ...

Alan

Wow. Thanks Dave for your glowing review.
I didn't play any instruments on Train of Thought, as I'm not set up to record live. However, the main guitar riff (as in the intro) is an accurate transcription of my playing. That riff and the other 'train' guitar you can hear from bar 5 come via Ample Guitar M Lite, a great free VSTi based on a sampled Martin D-41 guitar. I downloaded it from amplesound.net.
The shakuhachi playing the main melody is a Kontakt instrument.
For the middle section melody I was originally after some sort of Duane Eddy guitar sound. I ended up using the Kontakt jazz guitar with Amplitube's baritone guitar preset. I was happy with the end result.
Thanks for your interest and encouragement.
Cheers,
Mike

Thanks Tom. I certainly appreciate your comments.
Mike Thanks for listening. Cheers, Mike

Thanks Floyd. Your comments made my day as they cover many of the musical elements I like to get right before I upload: pace, interest (surprise and subtlety) and the mix.
Cheers,
Mike Thanks Deryk. That fiddle RealTrack is a gem.
Cheers,
Mike

Thanks for your comments Janne.
It's nice to think that someone so far from Australia is listening to my music.
Cheers,
Mike

Thanks David. I appreciate your comments.
Mike Alan, I love it when reviews start with 'Wow'. Thank you so much for listening.
Kontakt's shakuhachi flute is a great instrument, especially with the available articulations.
Cheers,
Mike