AndyB01

Here's a new one for you -  been working on and off for around a year on this one. I originally posted a very raw mix of this on Soundcloud (which is the one Tom heard), this is an updated mix of this. It needs something to fill the Middle 8 and the production needs some serious work still, but it's an improvement on the last version so I am generally pleased with how this is coming along.

Unlike many of my recent songs that were built entirely from pre-canned EzKeys tracks, this one is an entirely original composition on which I have used EzKeys as a virtual session pianist (by using the replace midi function) which is why there is the odd discordant bit of piano I need to fix in MIDI edit.

And yes I know I slightly missed the start of the intro (not sure how that happened) and I'll have over-cooked the reverb and delay on the vocals for many ears - but that's kind of how I like them. Although, on reflection, I definitely need to back the delay off a little.

It's a song that really means a lot - but as to why - well that's for me to know and you to ponder.

All mixed and produced in Cakewalk by Bandlab for a change from the other DAW I have been using recently (sshhhh). 🙊

Enjoy!

Andy

p.s. complaints to @emeraldsoul who encouraged me to post this. 😂

Wow - so many comments - cheers guys

Thanks @Wookiee agree on Mr Hackett - 100 per cent and I'll try and get some more stuff posted when I find time

Cheers @garybrun @daryl1968 and @amiller appreciate the critique

@emeraldsoul no mics involved - the guitar in question is a curious beast - it is in fact a Yamaha Silent Guitar (SLG200N) that I got earlier this year - just DI'd via a Focusrite 2i4 interface and the reverb is an onboard effect. It's a great guitar for recording and comes to bits for easy storage - as well as being less annoying for Missus AndyB01 for when I have to do me some practice. :-)

@Douglas Kirby I've always loved and played classical guitar since I was a kid (or tried to) and never owned a gut string before this year - how utterly crazy is that. Sad fact is, I rarely get the steel strung out of the case these days - I think I'm better on the nylon that's why. The only downside - re-stringing the beggar - that's a dark art!

Thanks all for feedback

Thanks for the listen @Johnbee58 and @Beagle - I'll see if I can have a crack at Blood on the Rooftops sometime. 😊

On 6/11/2019 at 10:55 PM, John Maar said:

Lovely, Andy!

Steve Hackett is also one of my favs.  Good thing he left Genesis after Gabriel.

Agreed - his back catalogue is an incredible legacy and so many different styles - I saw him most recently last year on his Genesis Revisited tour and was completely blown away - simply stunning.

On 6/11/2019 at 11:08 PM, msmcleod said:

This is a favourite of mine also, along with the intro to Blood on the Rooftops.

Ah yes - I never quite mastered Blood on the Rooftops - another great song - perhaps I'll give it another go sometime - those hammers and pulls at the end of the intro are quite a trick to pull off.

Thanks for listening and for the feedback - very much appreciated

18 hours ago, emeraldsoul said:

 

@Andrew Ball - super kind of you, mate! You appear to be a long-suffering listener!!! I dig your stuff as well, and I would encourage you to post your tunes more often. Thanks for the lift! You have a double threat of guitar and keys, and a good voice as well. I think more people should check out your stuff.

 

You are too kind and I know you're not blowin' smoke so I appreciate the comments - I certainly wouldn't describe myself as 'long-suffering' where your stuff is concerned.

Maybe I should post more stuff but I got badly stung on a forum once by a particularly obnoxious individual and it kind of makes you wary about putting yourself out there. I'm working on a new song at the moment that's has been in development for a few months (I'm even playing the keys - with no assistance from Toontrack for a change) but there's still a lot to do so it might be a few weeks before it's ready for air play. 

Since finally getting my very own nylon strung guitar (after decades of owning only steel strung versions) I've been trying to re-acquaint my tired old brain and broken technique with the rudiments of classical guitar. This is my take on the classic Genesis track from Foxtrot - from the guitar meister himself, Steve Hackett (my all-time favourite guitarist).

I've been trying to perfect this for years and - as you can tell - I still haven't mastered it!  😂

And yet, I feel it's got to a level where I'm not entirely embarrassed to share it publicly - so here goes:

Apologies for the odd dropped harmonic - hopefully it doesn't detract too much.

Enjoy!

Andy

Loved it - who rhymes Fitbit with Nitwit - brilliant! 😂

Fantastic lyrics, production, groove - really great stuff. Please, never stop songwriting - this was teriffic. 

Andy