Hi Folks.
This is the last tune I was working on past couple of weeks. My talented
in-laws where visiting, so I made a good use of opportunity. It was
not their cup of tea, but being good guests they agreed to a small
collaboration. I recorded 2 versions. Russian and English.
Ray (rayc) helped me to complete English lyrics. Constructive
comments ALWAYS welcomed! Thank you for listening.
Misha.


Dead River

----------

Dead River Russian vers.


Lyrics:
Shepherd’s wind is herding lazy clouds
Shaking linden trees and crows’ nests
Ear drums vibrating from the cacophony of their voices
Echoes from smallest kray to the streets of Bucharest

As a rabbit embraces the caress of the python
I stepped in to the river that long had been dead
Decrypting my passwords, hacking thoughts, lost dreams
Washing away my memories

Days, that are ripples on water, are fading,
Sadness sinks to the bottomless silt
The river tells stories while mad men make their choices
Dark water standing still it's not what it seems not what it seems


Me: Lyrics, arrangement, mix, vocals
Tamara - Domra (Russian mandolin)
Anatoliy - Bayan (button accordion)
Ray-Lyrics / edit.
BIAB:
RealTracks in song: ~1435:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm
JazzFunkGroovinChords Ev16 110
RealTracks in song: 920:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm Rumba Ev 110
RealTracks in song: 3203:Guitar, Acoustic, Soloist RnBPopBrent Ev 110
RealTracks in song: 3249:Guitar, Electric, Background ModernFunkSingleNotesBob
RealTracks in song: 2010:Guitar, Resonator, Soloist CountryWorkinRob Ev16 090
RealTracks in song: 609:Guitar, Resonator, Background Roundup Sw 120
RealDrums will be substituted :BossaBrushes: a: Sidestick Brushes b:
Sidestick, Ride
-----
Several midi instruments and synths of Halion Sonic. / vArranger.
Recorded and mixed in Cakewalk.

You had me right from that cool intro.

One word summary, Brilliant! Only complaint was it was too short.

I'm on my third listen, well done Misha and family!

Wow - what a tune! You really did an outstanding job here. It has an almost eery quality to, while still remaining catchy. The mix and your vocals are fantastic, also. Very captivating right from the first few measures too.

You should be proud of this one - thanks for sharing

hi misha great listen very engaging thanks eric

Well done...
I certainly enjoyed this family collaboration...
Both the English & Russian versions...
However I'm still scratching my head trying to figure out the lyrics !

Very cool intro Misha. Super vocal and such and excellent backtrack. Loved your instrument selection

The touches added by the in-laws really make this happen.
As usual with BIAB it's the human elements that bring an arrangement to life.
Another fast & fun process with Misha.
As to the lyrics Jim: I followed Misha's lead as he'd set out most of it.
I read it as a confluence of the rapid degeneration history, culture and environment.
That, however, is my interpretation only.

Hi Misha,

Listened to both of your versions. To me the Russian version was even better than the English one. But do consider that both are very, very good.
The songs are very catchy and mysterious at the same time. But you have a patent for that, don't you?

And, reading these lyrics... I understand it's about a lost love or eaten rabbit, am I right?
Very good work, Misha and those colleborating with you (but I already told you that in my third line).
Nothing to complain about, so you have mastered your vocals now!

Nice weekend,
Hans

Really powerful, emotional song with some great images!! Production and vocals are excellent! Great job!! Take care. Greg

It's really nice to hear that even though it wasn't their cup of tea they were still happy to help!

Dave,
thank you for your support!
Well, the beauty of "short" is that idea of composition is there, but it ends before it becomes boring
---
Deryk,
Thank you for listening and kind words! I am proud of myself that I seduced my in-laws to participate.
---
Eric,
Thank you for listening!
---
Jim,
Thank you for your support! Sorry lyrics are a bit foggy. Ray is almost correct. I guess, in concept it is about human perception of the forces that are beyond our control. If you read this, related old joke:
Donkey drinking water from the pond. A hunter shoots at the donkey. Donkey's last thoughts:
-I am drinking water...Water supposedly is healthy and good for me. Why do I feel sicker and sicker with every passing moment?
---
Scott,
Thank you for listening and your kind words!
---
Ray,
I am glad you stepped in to help me! Thank you!
---
Hans,
! Patents expire, this is more like a tattoo. Thank you for kind words!
I need another life time to master the vocals, but I have a feeling that you will agree with me that experimenting brings much more joy than mastering.
---
Greg,
Thank you for awesome feedback!
---
Ember,
Thank you for listening! I was worried how they would respond to this tune, as I do not like to "squeeze" the talent out of people, but it worked out nicely, without pressure.


Misha.

I like that funky bass line, it's even melodic, very interesting to hear how well it works with those more traditional instruments and that slavic chording. Very intriguing lyrics, has very dark mood and requires decrypting, but I like it as a nice puzzle, in my mind it reflects the rewriting/forgetting the history in current times.

Janne

We are down with Dave (BlueAttitude) "it's too short!"

Congrats to you and the family....

No need to parse it all out as we like everything about it.

The edgy, cryptic lyric is open to so many interpretations and its mystique adds to the cool factor.

Well done!

J&B

Misha,

This is great... Awesome collaboration. The mix, urgency of the arrangement and the vocal is all outstanding.

So well done.

Bob

Cool tune! Interesting instrumentation and lyrics, and I enjoyed your singing.

Misha & Family & Ray...

Awesome. Superb music!!

Ray's lyrics are a delight and Misha's vocal put them across with inspired drama and passion.

Tamara's and Anatoliy's contributions make this soar!

The mix of the Russian version is excellent. It has more "punch" with more "warmth" at the same time (than the English version). I really enjoyed that. Very well done.

A great listen(s).

fj

Very well Misha.

I like your music and always prefer creativity over the same old stuff. But I think you need to be careful not to give the listener so many bold, intricate, disparate images. One or two relevant images is all the average brain can handle in two or three minutes of music, I suspect. Unless your goal is to be the T.S. Eliot of music, which is a legitimate aspiration. I say this as someone who is guilty of the same thing and needs to often stifle myself. But again, I like your music and keep the creativity coming! : )

Misha (& family),
Fantastic! Both versions are excellent... the Russian mix of your vocals just edging it for me.
The Domra/mandolin especially works so well- their cup of tea or not, your family did you proud, as this funky, enigmatic song deserves.

Robert

Hi Misha,

you really manage to come up again and again with great songs.

A very catchy tune, and I LOVE the funky backing track. Brilliant contributions of your family. And, yes, the lyrics are cryptic, but I like the possibility of sorting them out myself. Oh yes, well-sung !

Very enjoyable, Misha.

Cheers,

Stefan

Vocal tone and accent seemed just right with the arrangement. Enjoyed listening.

Sorry for late replies to some great (and helpful) comments posted,
had minor turbulence with life choirs

Janne,
Thank you kind comments! To my own surprise, folk instruments worked well on it. You are right, I should probably write a few less cryptic tunes before
I become a broken Enigma machine
---------
J&B,
Thank you for listening and your supportive feedback! I used to write
very short tunes, just to grasp idea, I guess it is an old habit
-------------
Bob,
Thank you for kind words!
-------------
David,
Thank you for listening and your support!
-------------
FJ,
Thank you for listening and nice comments! I gave a bit different treatment to each version. Probably makes sense to try and overhaul majority of instrumentation next time when I will do 2 versions. Should be fairly easy with BIAB arrangement in place and would be less boring to the ears.
-------------
Rob,
Thank you for listening!
-------------
TuneMonger,
First of all, thank you for listening! And your comments...Spot on!
You are so right. It is a difficult task to overstep internal dogma. Thank you for talking straight! I should tame some habits
-------------
Stefan,
Thank you for giving this time and your kind comments! I was worried that my mother in law would have issues, since it is completely not her type of music, but it worked out. I guess next step is  to introduce her to Parliament-Funkadelic 
--------------
Mark,
Thank you for listening and positive comments!


Misha.

Missed the the first ride up/down. I listened to the Russian version (who can resist?) and just read the English. (Maybe if you had promised a female singer, I'd have switched ) I think this is your best vocal. The syllables fall right and the subdued and "whispery" tone of the voice itself (not just the effects) fit the mystery of the lyric, which to my mind can be heard as pertaining to everything from the geo-political to the personal.

Ya know, it's dang easier to get all philosophical and highfalutin in the comments when you've listened to Russian. I'll get to the English eventually.

Ma and Pa -in law were not only kind to contribute, but beautifully contributed. It may not be their cup of tea stylistically, but musically they "got it". Big smiles here.

Hi Misha,

Wonderful song in both versions. As usual I like the Russian version the most, but don't listen to me... I just have a crush on the Russian language which I think is sounding very beautiful.

I like the lyrics... it is a bit surrealistic... but I like that.

Good productions as well!

Thanks a lot for sharing!
Will

Tangmo,
Thank you for listening and your support! I always enjoy reading your edgy comments filled with creamy goodness of the language
----
Will,
Thank you for kind words! The Russian version was the first to come

Misha.