Monday, January 24, 2011

In which things are revealed

Right, it's about time I stopped putting it off.  This is what I have so far for one of the tracks on my upcoming EP.  I alternatingly love it and hate it each time I listen to it, so I'm going to put it online now before I change my mind.  Again.

I'm new to all this online music posting trickery, so let me know if it worked - and of course, what you think!

Hopefully in a few weeks there will be a bit more stuff to put up here, but in the meantime, here's Longest Night:



Also, just because I feel like being generous to my poor long-suffering readers, here are a couple of sketches for cover art provided by the talented Ariel Pascoe - these may change before I actually print the EP, but I'd appreciate some thoughts in the meantime on these too.  And I'd like you to tell me which one you like the best!


12 comments:

  1. The first one Beet. The second one is scary, and I might have nightmares, since some freaky eye is looking at me. And it also looks like the dude is scared and wants to run away from the eye. The first one gives more of a 'journey' feel, that you are taking the listeners on a trip rather than trying to kill them.

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  2. Thanks, yeah so far people tend to be going with the first one - I haven't entirely given up hope on the second, but from what I'm hearing, I'd have to make changes... well, ask Ariel to make changes :P ... for it to work.

    Any thoughts on the music itself? Constructive criticism is welcome :)

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  3. Seriously good song Nick! Love the background instrument (melodica?). The harmonising intertwines really well with the melody as well.

    I have to agree with the fb comment regarding the overlap at 2:04...it's a little bit jarring at the moment and could do with a bit of smoothing out.

    The only other nitpick would be that I find the last note too high. Not sure if it's deliberate or not, but it leaves the song hanging just a bit too much for my liking.

    Album covers...to me the cover needs a window (or some metaphorical representation of a window) so I'd go for the second image...but in saying that it is definitely very dark. Perhaps for balance you could keep the scary eye looking in, but instead of a scared dude in the corner maybe have joyful dude staring right back at the scary eye...ying/yang yada yada...

    Just my 2c...

    Andrew.

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  4. "Seriously good song Nick! Love the background instrument (melodica?)."
    It's a combination of Melodica and organ, and of course an intricate strings arrangement. When Nick puts out an album, we'll probably get an actual string quartet to play my arrangement for him, but for now, my keyboard serves its purpose.

    "I have to agree with the fb comment regarding the overlap at 2:04...it's a little bit jarring at the moment and could do with a bit of smoothing out."
    I agree too. Keep in mind that this is still a fairly early mix, and has yet to be tweaked and mastered properly.

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  5. ^^ what Dave said :) Just wanted to give a taster of what will come!

    @Andrew: I've been thinking something similar about the second cover... I think in theory it's my favourite, but everyone's comments on it are spot-on, and your suggestions are similar to the kind of thing I'm thinking of. I'm not really worried and if the EP's ready before anything else can be worked out I'm happy to go with the first one anyway :D

    Also, when doing the vocal takes, it's amazing, I said the exact same thing to Dave about the last note! He made me sing that pitch, so blame him :P Glad I'm not the only one who thinks that, anyway. Me and Dave will have to fight that one out later ;)

    Oh and which Andrew are you? You can PM me if you don't want your secret identity given away on my blog :)

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  6. Err, I'll think you'll find it was the other way around, I thought you should resolve it, but you wanted to leave it hanging. :-P

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  7. Now I know which Andrew it is! Thanks :D

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  8. Wow... I am so impressed. Since this was 6 months ago, is there more now?

    Although this may be a bit late, I really like the second cover. I guess I like the idea of looking into my soul and discovering something crouched and hidden in the corner.. even if it is a bit scary.

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  9. Hey Saritha! I haven't even looked at my blog for ages and just noticed your comment :)

    There is more now, and in fact the EP is almost done (Dave and I just have to do the mixing and fixing up of stuff)... as is always the case, I'm not as enamoured with the stuff I wrote as I was when I started writing the EP, but I'll certainly be releasing it so will be happy to send you a copy!

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  10. This is a cool track man, love your work!

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