PhonoBrainer

Yeah I thought Dylan, in the cadences and style, but it's your own thing. FWIW I listened on earbuds from my phone, and I thought the bass was perfect! That can't help you much but I was happy. You might cut the intro down? I found it a tad long but glad I waited for the main groove to get there. Maybe Buffett is a writing influence as well? Jimmy, not Warren. ? Cool tune! Cheers, Tom

What the actual f ? Suddenly the murder hornet actually looks cuddly! I wonder: although internet pundits might prove them identically lethal - which one gives you a more pleasant death?

I like how you have some sonic elements that fight the groove, but the groove is still there and can't be denied. It won't be everyone's cup of funk but I dig it! I gotta get me some psychadelic flangey vocals going - and in this song you might bring them up just a bit in the mix, in the first half of the tune particularly. Nice outtro boomwhacker! I always appreciate your creativity. cheers, -Tom

@Douglas Kirby, @Bajan Blue, @noynekker, @Wookiee, @DeeringAmps, @daryl1968, @David Sprouse - a super big thanks to all for your comments, much obliged for your time. The kick drum was an issue from the get go, and correctamundo it's not that spleen-shattering subby kick you might expect. I probably shouldn't have advertised this as EDM! The kick as it is is part of the "Moonkits" drum thing for Kontakt, which is bent more toward the jazz/funk than the dance floor. I'm sure I can go back and exhange some sizzle for some beef - thanks for the observations, it helps. The "metal drum riffage" at the end is as noted pretty loud - it's an example of me just loving a part and not wanting to turn it down properly! I thought about adding a bass guitar in but decided that the guitar is too loud, too! I know I could do more with that section if I just found the brains to turn the guitar and drums down. We'll see! thanks again, -Tom

Jeeze, this is creepily spot on. You do such a good job on these. Loved reading your mix breakdiown, thanks for that. Your vocals totally work and sound full and interesting all the way through. You've got those cool little vocal mannerisms, that Hetfield does, down. So great! cheers, -Tom

Nice tune! I thought the lead vocal could have a bit more midrange added back to it, it's kind of eq;d on the bright side and sounds a bit thin maybe in spots. The bgv's really are a good add, they blend well and support the lead. At :54 your panned rhythm guitar strums are not in sync? I dunno, might be worth a check. Good luck with getting this one more air time, that would be very cool! cheers, Tom

Love the vocal recording, so nice and up front, and the rest of the mix instruments are wonderfully crisp and clear. Just another great mix, promised and delivered! I appreciated the understated approach you brought to this, it works a treat. cheers, -Tom

Hey Freddy, great job on the video, and I agree he's worthy of a tribute and then some. I did not know that story about Wilson, quite a testimony. cheers, -Tom

Fingers crossed for you.

I'm sorry. We want a block of flats, not an abbatoir.

Thank you for posting this picture! I hate it! Meanwhile, your tune is awesome, this is a new fav. Love the mellotron. How about "Switched-On Mellotron" or "Switched-On Wookie"?

I listened on headphones, and I agree great guitar work on all those parts, it all connects into a whole. Plenty of groove! I found on headphones a kind of over fatness in the sub bass, maybe 100 hz? About as low as my headphones could go? Like there was a lot of energy down there that was robbing the highs of your mix a bit. I don't know what you could do with that observation . . . but there you go! I thought of the very excellent Chaquico / Hedges stuff - you have a great guitar musical sensibility. cheers, -Tom

This was an absolute pleasure from start to finish, and all I did was noodle the piano a bit and comment. Markno999 was so creative and super diligent, raising the bar all the way along, and came up with awesome arrangement and mix. Thanks so much, M#999! This tune now has a musicality I could scarcely have known was possible. Kudos!!!

Kind of gothic bluegrass EDM. Would love specific ideas about what's wrong in the mix, or any comments, really! thanks!

I found myself liking the bass, the ocassional fretless sweep up into a note, and the way it was a taut and not mushy tone. Well done! I think the mix holds up really well, I'd only echo the comment that your lead vocal could be louder, particularly when in tandem with your talented female bgv. I also wanted this tune to kick into that wonderful doubletime that some Graceland (actually African! )songs do, but I guess this one is just mellower. It's a great mix and an ambitious song choice, well done! cheers, -Tom

Don't look back - something's sneaking up behind you.

One less since I left. I've always been adaptable, malleable, changeable, flexible, and ductile.

It's cool to audition vsti's in a project, you get to learn a lot by putting them through their paces. I liked your tune and the standout for me was the Vocalise. I could see that blending well with a lot of projects. The ending just sort of faded into the Irish/Celtic mist rather than resolve anything but I think your intent here was experimentation rather than song structure, correct? In any case my blood pressure lowered and I thank you for that! Nice one. cheers, -Tom

I think this one has greatness in it. I wanted some more punch in the drums when they come in at :44. Really cool vocals, I'd bring 'em up a bit in the mix . . . The guitar tones are pretty awesome and clearly mixed. Maybe overall, louder everything? Might be a mastering thing for down the line. I especially appreciate the alternating soft / driving sections in the arrangement, good dynamics in this tune. cheers, -Tom

from your blurb . . . "Multiform, fragile, inescapable, these perdition and redemption stories are like a mirror and a labyrinth of the human being" I think this nails it! I liked your song and it carves out a sonic territory for sure. Plus it's catchy as hell! Now, forgive me, but I recently watched the Eurovision parody by Will Ferrell and I couldn't help indulging a little whim, thinking about how suitable your song might be for such a thing. I don't know what regard you have for Eurovision Song Contest - what do you think? cheers, -Tom

Having heard I think nearly everything you have posted, I think this has got to be one of your better mixes. Very clean and the vocal pops! The excellent panned guitar parts in the chorus sit on the edges perfectly. Only thing I could ask about is, you seem to have a shaker or tambourine or such? Is it sitting right on the same beat as the hi hat? Or did you double the hi hats? Something could be cleaner in that area, they are comb filtering or flanging it up a bit. It's not a deal breaker. I haven't heard any song from you that isn't very very well arranged and constructed, and this is no exception. Thanks for sharing your work! cheers, -Tom

I thought by the intro we had unearthed an undicovered Steely Dan track! Love the mix, it's perfect! Great skills!!! Great chops everywhere! cheers, -Tom