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Songwriter Forum => Feedback on Finished songs => Topic started by: digger72 on April 05, 2019, 08:34:37 PM

Title: Host
Post by: digger72 on April 05, 2019, 08:34:37 PM
Hi All,

Good to be back.
Been a stressful time since July, but trying to get some order and happiness back in to life.

It's been ages since Katja and I recorded anything - apart from our version of Silent Night just before Xmas (Trying to get the urge back.)
So this is our first original effort since kicking our own butts. Slightly apprehensive about whether the quality is still there; Kind of doubt your own judgment after so long away.

Thanks for listening and any comments - good or bad.

Digger & Katja

https://soundcloud.com/digger-72/host/s-FfmF3

HOST

Hey girl
What do ya do?
I’m just waiting for a fool like you

Hey girl
What do you say?
You wanna do it and you’ll do it today

I’ll rule your heart,
Pull on your strings
I’m gonna make you do
All those things
I’ll show you living
A pulse for your rhythm
I’ll show the way
Cos I know you’re willing

Host
That, all too familiar
Dead eye stare
Lost soul
Take me in
I’ll answer all your prayers

Hey girl
What do you want?
I got it all and it’s here for you

Hey girl
The price for today?
You do it all now I’ll take you away

I’ll take your mind
Crush all your dreams
I’m gonna make you feel
All your screams
I’ll give you something
A hell for your living
I’ll lead the way
Cos I know you’re willing

Host
That, all too familiar
Dead eye stare
Lost soul
Take me in
I’ll answer all your prayers
Title: Re: Host
Post by: pompeyjazz on April 05, 2019, 09:15:06 PM
Hi Digger & Katja, great to hear you back on the forum with this driving, dark, indie anthem. Love the dynamics on this one, great vocals and bv's which are really hooky. Loved the guitar interlude towards the end as well, simple but so effective with guitars swirling around my head. This one is going to be a real ear worm as I'm still singing it now after writing the review  :) Great to have you both back  :)
Title: Re: Host
Post by: Andreas on April 05, 2019, 09:25:22 PM
Love everything about this! The production, the lyrics, the instrumentals, and the voice :) Just brilliant!
Title: Re: Host
Post by: crystalsuzy on April 06, 2019, 12:44:34 AM
So nice to hear something new form you guys  :) You haven't lost a thing digger! the quality is right up there with all your other stuff.  8)
I always love the dark moody vibe that sets you creations apart...I'd know one anywhere 8)
Katja's vocals are as wonderful as I remember, as is your guitar playing digger :-*
Fantastic piece of work guys! I hope things in your real life get better and better, and you keep writing for ever and ever  :)
Title: Re: Host
Post by: shadowfax on April 06, 2019, 08:25:21 AM
Bloody awesome guys..what a terrific song, perfect arrangement, great vocals, particularly enjoyed the instrumental section... :) :)

gobsmacked!!! :) :)
Title: Re: Host
Post by: PaulyX on April 06, 2019, 09:00:22 AM
Welcome back. That’s a cool track (and Mrs Pauly thinks so too). Nice brooding synths and I love that slightly atonal sound you open with. It’s a bit Joy Division, a bit Curve... nice and sinister. Cool title too.
Title: Re: Host
Post by: Binladeda on April 06, 2019, 09:38:31 AM

 Guys ;D .  So nice to be feeling comfortably strange again ;D

 Welcome back, and back with a bang....what a song.  I love it ;D .  It ROCKS.....
 and you aint lost a thing Digger.  The quality is still there.  Are you still using
 Garageband ?

 The guitars are sounding great, and the drums and bass drive it along really, really well
 Katja is sounding as seductive as ever  ;Dxx .  Great arrangement and production

 Just love it guys... One for radio 6  ;D ;D





 
Title: Re: Host
Post by: Inanité_sonore on April 06, 2019, 01:53:56 PM
Hello,
 
I love your song ! There's something that reminds me The kills and I like it.

The guitars are very good, I really like the sound. The voice has something black and deep that makes traveling away.

The mix is just as it should be, according to my modest ears.

I say Bravo !

IS
Title: Re: Host
Post by: Viscount Cramer & His Orchestra on April 06, 2019, 02:12:27 PM
Digger...classy stuff from you two as ever.

Really good pro sounding track with great drive and some catchy hooks in there. All sounds good and tastefully polished with your comfortably strange vibe all over it!

Good work!
Title: Re: Host
Post by: digger72 on April 06, 2019, 03:04:51 PM
Hi All,

Thank you for the kind words.
Spent days going round and round on the mix - just doubting my ears. Glad it wasn't all bad.

Bin - I record in Ableton - got it as freeware when I bought my trusty old Focusrite Saffire many a moon ago. Always found it to be a rock solid interface - and Ableton seems easy enough to use. Garageband is Apple isn't it? I'm Windows.

Bass DI into the interface. Guitar through the Marshall and some Di. Synths - Synth 1 & Nexus. Drums - Addictive (mix of sample and tapped out on the old midi keyboard);Though I'm hoping my daughter's boyfriend might start offering some live drums. (He's a drummer for a band called Breeders.)

Simple is my middle name. Haven't got the patience to become technically good.  :D

Thanks for checking out and commenting.

Digger
Title: Re: Host
Post by: Neil C on April 06, 2019, 05:11:40 PM
All sounds great atmospheric rock to my ears.
Drums a pounding then nice a quiet for the verses and bang hits you with chorus. Vocals as chilled as hell, love the guitar 'break' great too.
 :)
Neil
Title: Re: Host
Post by: Skub on April 06, 2019, 06:26:30 PM
Yo you two.

It's beyond cool to see you back up and doing what you do best. I hope personal stuff is tolerable for you Stephen.

The track has new wave/punk authenticity. Anyone with half an ear will pick out the influences and how you both expand on the theme.

Your concerns about sound quality are without foundation,this ticks all my boxes.

As a side note,Asphyxia is still one of my all time favs.  8)

Incidentally diggs,the s/c track doesn't allow for likes or reposts.
Title: Re: Host
Post by: MartynRich on April 06, 2019, 10:38:35 PM
God I´ve missed you guys. This is just amazing. I´ve always been a great fan of your music and this is just superb AGAIN. Everyone has mentioned all the things I would have said so I can´t add much more, just please make it likeable and shareable on SC so I can spread the word (Jumps up and down in excitement and claps hands at the return of The Comfortably Strange).
Title: Re: Host
Post by: Paulski on April 06, 2019, 11:44:04 PM
Excellent work - driving groove, great vox and guitars.
Everything always seems to fit perfectly in your tracks.
They're like a beautiful painting with nothing out of place.
drooling with envy  ;D ;D
Paul
Title: Re: Host
Post by: rightly on April 07, 2019, 09:55:27 AM
Sounds great.
Also technically.
A whole lot of tension with those smooth backing vocals over it.
Very catchy. Nice to see you back   
Title: Re: Host
Post by: mickyplankton on April 07, 2019, 10:33:01 AM
Hi Digger. This is top drawer moody indie. It's almost goth but is too polished. I also heard echos of Joy Division. As others have said the production and mix are faultless and allow the well rehearsed song to really breathe. It's catchy in a slow build kind of way.
For my personal tastes I would have preferred a dirty bass guitar to the synth bass you use and also would have preferred it be slightly faster. But don't change on my account as I'm sure I'm in the minority!
Title: Re: Host
Post by: MonnoDB on April 10, 2019, 05:57:20 PM
Polished, slick - beautifully produced. Love the repeated vocal ‘ooh’ - it’s extremely effective and very very catchy. That guitar part around 2.38 is great.. Very strong in all aspects - vocals of course also fab. Great to hear a new one from you!
Title: Re: Host
Post by: diademgrove on April 15, 2019, 03:39:17 PM
Hi Digger,

as you know I think it needs a bit more low end. Love the nod to Mike Ronson and Katja's vocals are top notch as usual. Great song,

Keith
Title: Re: Host
Post by: montydog on April 19, 2019, 12:53:27 PM
Hi Digger/Katja,

It's all been said by previous commentators but I'll just re-iterate what a brilliant track this is. So moody, indie sounding and cool. Everything just as it should be in the production and arrangement. Sounds like it's the latest single from a pro band with a record deal and professional producer. What more can I say? One of my favourite things on here at the moment. I bleedin' love it.

M
Title: Re: Host
Post by: digger72 on April 19, 2019, 03:05:55 PM
Hi All,

Many thanks for the kind words - has given us a lift and the drive to get back in the swing of things.
Picked up a few bargain plugins in the latest Waves sale - so wanting to try them out.

Anyone looking for a nice reverb check out their H-Reverb - I managed to snap it up on a bogof deal.

Cheers,
Digger
Title: Re: Host
Post by: Movin Flavour on April 23, 2019, 08:05:36 PM
Great tune Guys

Love the Bass.
Love the Harmonies
Top Guitars
Excellent production.
Has a real 80s / New Wave feel which is brilliant.

Top tune,an enjoyable listen.

Sandeep
Title: Re: Host
Post by: LostBoy on June 10, 2019, 11:54:02 AM
Gotta say, I LOVE this!! Great vibe, really cool track! Well done!🎶👊🏻🎶😄
Title: Re: Host
Post by: Sterix on June 12, 2019, 07:37:56 PM
One of my SOTMs for April. It hooked me from the start. Lyrics were just great, as is the tune. Wonderful.
Title: Re: Host
Post by: andy5544 on June 16, 2019, 05:00:45 PM
You were always one of my favourites on here , brilliant moody track , I'm amazed you're not rich and famous yet ( or are you ? )
Title: Re: Host
Post by: tboswell on June 18, 2019, 10:19:38 AM
Gothy fun, takes me back to the late 80s when I was wearing even more black:)

Like that you've stuck to the same chord sequence throughout but made it work, with rising and fall in the arrangement.

Great vocal, really enjoyable :)