Hi Everyone,
Many thanks to all who took the time and trouble to listen and comment. This was something I had never tried before so i'm glad that the feedback was so positive.
you tried somthing different.
very beautiful; i think the whole drum section needs more low end and should be louder.
But yeah; definitely new and very beautiful arranged; the spacy pad sounds are great; i also hear a cello or violin?
the new instrumental approach also changed the way you sing - the phrasings.
Reals a GREAT effort and a beautiful song with beautiful words.
B
Thanks, Butcher - very perceptive review.
Hi
Great song! I like the vocals and the melody!
I´m not an electronic fan but I can say - well done!
Would love to hear a version with real drums and guitars :-)
Cheers
I tried this originally with guitars but just couldn't make it work. This format really came about via desperation!
Wow very different from your usual music you bring but in a very good way
I really like this a lot but I did not like the extra instrumentation when it started up in 3 verse, to me it got muddy, I think this song could have gone all the way without that
cheers
Thanks for the kind words. i brought the extra instrumentation in to maintain interest. Without that, it was a bit samey all the way through
Very compelling listen, Monty.
The ambiance, here, is haunting, as the lyrics lift this into something somewhat sober.
There's an eerie edge to this that brings me right in.
Good stuff, Monty!!
-Tom
Thanks Tom. I was aiming for a feeling of something unsaid going on behind the lyrics and I think you've got that.
Wow what a massive change of style allan! ...good for you & a very brave thing to do & to pull it off so fabulously well!
Loved the synths & the sea sounds ...i was back on the prom at shanklin with a cornetto in my hand!
I dont prefer it to your guitar stuff but it is a breath of sea air vacuuming the dust out of that comfy sofa sound youve had for so long
I notice things recur in your lyrics ...usually lost love & theres always lots of old rusty things from the past lying about & lots of gazing into the distance & lots of reminiscing ..
omg I must be getting on a bit to recognise it 
Hi Tinam,
I'm pleased that you liked the change. You may remember you made similar comments about my last song "Sunset Cafe" so change is something I do try every now and then. I do have certain themes and i do have a style of writing which probably explains the certain motifs turn up.
Wow, that was really something different!
Kudos for moving out of your comfort zone! As several has already pointed out the lyrics are fab and your vocals works great in this context as well. Production sounds good but I think the vox is to up front esp. in the first part, the balance is a bit better later on. I would also have prefered electronic drum sound for this track but that is of course a matter of taste.
A very brave and successful attemp at moving out fof the box!
Thanks for the lovely comments. The volume of the various parts of the mix is a matter of taste - others have recommended the opposite of what you prefer. The saying goes "You can't please everyone so you'd better please yourself".
Hi, very good stuff.
I'm undecided whether the main synth is too much all the way through but that's probably just me.
I agree with an earlier poster that the sfx cheapen it a little, perhaps the waves with the gulls.mthis isn't to say I haven't used them myself but I don't think you need them.
Impressive lyrics.
Well done.
Yodasdad
Thanks for the comments. I see where you're coming from but I don't agree. Used carefully, the effects can enhance the immersion and set the scene of the song which they do here.
this is lovely, Alan
i wouldn't have thought that the synth-y sounds would have worked well with your old-fashioned vocal style...but it worked brilliantly...nice job
Thanks. I wasn't sure the combination would work either. "Old fashioned" eh? If it's fashionable now, it's going to sound dated next week so I prefer "vintage" or "retro". It will come around again
Hi Alan,
Very nice write.
I like the addition of the synthy sounds. Something of a departure from your signature sound.
Vocals are top notch.
It was like a folksy Enya.
Well thought out and constructed piece.
Digger
A folksy Enya? I'll definately take that as a compliment. Glad you liked the track.
Lovely song
I like the recurring synth in the song.
Vocals are well produced and haunting.
I like sound affects!
Great lyrics too.
Sandeep
Thanks Sandeep - your comments are much appreciated as always.
This is simply the best thing you've done Alan. The arrangement, melody, lyrics, cross-rhythms, chorus...emotion, it has everything. It still has your vocal character but with a real heartfelt ambience that really shines through. It is simply stunning.
The instrumentation and arrangement are pushing your boundaries and it is great to hear. A load of thought has gone into this and it shows. I so dig the chorus, I simply wasn't expecting it but it works and sticks in the head. You've got a real piece of art here.
Martyn,
That's one of the best reviews of my work that I've ever heard and it really made my day. I thought that this track was pretty special and it's gratifying to hear that others agree. Many thanks again.
Well I've not heard your other stuff but I like this very much. Crystal clear production encourages listening, and you've got that spot on. Clever and emotional lyrics and an insistent and infectious groove. I really liked this song.
Thanks Bill. This is completely unlike my other songs from an instrumental point of view but lyrically, melodically and vocally it's pretty representative.
Super lyrics. Really lovely imagery and similies. They bring pictures into the mind and I can really see the scene and feel the loss / missing. I love the slow build throughout, too - the gradual introduction of elements until they're all there, and then gone. That works well and is beautifully handled, right through to the perfect introduction of the tambourine. The melody and vocals (which are great) fit all of this really well.
What I don't like is the percussive synth line that's running throughout. Once I locked onto this I couldn't get away from it and it sat on top of everything (even when other elements were louder) and I couldn't get beyond it to enjoy the song. It's probably just me and it's definitely not uncommon with me - sometimes a hi-hat or a rim shot will do the same to me and others don't seem to mind so it's probably no biggie.
Hi delboy. You're the only person who didn't like the synth which is the part that I think really makes the song but I understand everyone hears everything differently. I appreciate your positive feedback on the song itself - those compliments mean a lot.
Wow Alan,quite a musical departure for you on this track.
Awesome imagery depicted by the lyrics,I can taste the salty air as I nurse my regret and desolation.
Loved it all.
Hi Skub,
You got it! So plased that you liked the new sound and the song itself.
"That is most excellent! I most definitely think it works. I have to get really picky to find any nits, but I found two. They're only grammar, so nothing to do with the music or lyric overall, both of which are totally first class in my book.
First grammar nit is this part:
The rusting steel and rotten keels
Of the ancient boats
Stranded on the shoreline
Reminds me of the way I feel
The sentence, without the parenthetical description is "The rusting steel and rotten keels...remind me of...." instead of "reminds me of".
The other one--I'm not sure if I'm misunderstanding it, or if it's really a grammar nit. It's this bit:
A seagull flies his keening cries
Sounds just like
A babies wailing
If you add punctuation, I think this is saying "A seagull flies; his keening cries sound just like a baby's wailing." If I got it wrong, just kick me off the dock.
Bottom line is, I don't have any worthwhile nits, so I have to rely on picky grammar issues...I'm putting your song on my new sharing list. I've started posting links to songs by "obscure singer-songwriters" on my Facebook and Twitter accounts, in the hope people will share them and they'll get more extensive exposure. Aren't you just excited??? Grin"Thanks CalioMoko. A bit weird that you took up so much time over minor gramatical niggles but that's your way. Pleased that you could see past those and like d the song anyway.
I was very surprised by this from you Alan. It's a big departure form the other stuff of yours that I've heard and I really liked it. You've developed a great ambience. Vocals are understated but convey the emotion perfectly. Like the subtle synth backings. Good stuff
JohnThanks, John. You pretty much reflect what a lot of people have said so I'm happy.
Beautiful song and damn fine lyrics, nice production and arrangement..
shadowfaxThanks, Kevin. that means a lot coming from the maestro.
Leonard Cohen meets Echo and the Bunnymen with a hint of Tom Rush. Definitely works for me.
The words suggested a longing for a past love, the music hints at something far more sinister. Right up my street.
KeithThanks keith,
What a trio of comparisons! I'm truly flattered. I'm so pleased that you liked the song.
Thanks once again to everyone who posted.
M
