Hi All,
Been away on my hols so I've got a bit behind with my thank you's. Many thanks to all who took the time to listen and comment, as always.
Great drama - very stark and bold. The word "home" is very memorable and encapsulates the theme and the emotion.
I did wonder whether "a bottle of rain" was the best expression for what you wanted to convey in that part - but perhaps it refers to something in particular?
Very brave stuff and a real success in my view.
Hi Adam,
That "bottle of rain" line was meant to say that if you're being waterboarded, it doesn't matter what liquid they use.
Hi - very deep lyrics - poet I suppose - good production I think and very clear
Well done xxx
Hi Katie,
Poet is stretching it a bit but thanks!.
Alan, this is class! Nooms called it when he said the outro slowly knocks it out.
The song is haunting, and disarming, the space in it draws you in and then hits you hard.
Not sure what you were looking for in terms of feedback, so these are my thoughts. Some of the lyrics were hard to follow, but the picture is painted nonetheless. Maybe they're hard to pin down by design? Some killer lines in there though.
Production wise, I personally think you went in too hard. Drums seemed uneccessary to me, but the piano and bass are killer. Would have liked to hear a bit more drama in the piano sound/ production, but that's more of a personal taste thing.
The way you draw the arrangement back at the end so the vocal plays against the bass is brilliant. Then the sax outro - real moments here man, love it.
It feels wrong to say anything against this because it has atmosphere in spades and I'm sure you know what you're going for. A very accomplished production and very rewarding to listen to.
Nice to hear another from you Alan.
Thank so much Tone. Really appreciate your comments. The somewhat opaque lyrics divided opinion but I always lean to where the listener can make some of the story up for themselves rather than having it all set out like a news report. Good to hear from you.
Hi Alan,
Really great track, stripped back, loved the vocal, your vocal tone and control is top notch.
I am not going to get into the song subject but loved the arrangement and instrument dropouts to expose the vocal. Good production.
Nice work.
Not many can pull off a vocal like that, including me.
Hi and thanks. The vocals are the easiest thing for me - a couple of takes and that's one live vocal with no patches. If only I could play the guitar that easily :-(
Hi Alan. Just catching up on some stuff that I've missed. This is simplistic yet lush at the same time which is very hard to achieve. Vocals are deep and velvety with a great presence. It's a very polished piece of work
Thanks pompeyjazz - means a lot coming from you.
Powerful stuff, your voice works really well on it too.
Those opening lines are really evocative. Simple but poetic, nicely done.
And the sax solo is ace. Sparse in the production but just what it needs.
Thought provoking and really great songwriting.
Hi,
Very kind words - thank you.
Hi Alan,
Powerful song on a soul-wrenching subject.
I liked the spare production that focused on the lyrics.
Really liked the saxophones at the end.
Later,
Stan
Hi Stan,
I think you've picked up on the main elements that worked.
The vocals are def the usp here, absolutely stellar!!!
Lyrics worked just fine for me, matched the mode of the backing track very well.
Think I actually prefer these kind of more abstract/open-ended lyrics better than your usual story telling ones (which are still very, very good)
Loved the break down in the middle, goosebumps...
And I even loved the sax solo (and I have not said anything nice about a sax since Baker Street!)
Respect! Well done!
Hi and thank you. I have been known to go abstract in the past:-)
Hi Alan,
Really like the vibe in this track.
So stripped and exposed.
Unusual, and an interesting departure.
The sax just adds that bit of finesse at the end.
Classy.
Digger
Ta muchly, Digger.
I think this is my favourite of yours, Alan.
It’s the kind of thing that really interests me, of course...and it’s the topic that should have cost at least one British Government minister his job...
Anyway, I read Ali Soufan’s “the black banners” a few years back...if I remember correctly, he was one of the top interrogators at Camp Delta and I think came to the conclusion (as most have) that torture yields very bad intelligence and sacrifices much in its gathering.
Interesting to note that ex-CIA John Kiriakou was, I think, the only man prosecuted over the Americans use of torture...and he was - surprise surprise - the whistleblower who revealed that it was happening.
The song has great lyrics (once again) and generates a real feeling of claustrophobia and helplessness. I don’t know if it needed the sax at the end...but it sounds really great, so why not?
Excellent...and a topic well worth tackling.
Thanks Paul. The song was not just about Guantanamo - I was also thinking of John McCarthy, Terry Waite and Brian Keenan and the others held by Isis etc. Terry Waite's book "The Cruelest Cradling" gets a name check!
Hi Alan, you've gone for a very sparse arrangement and that works very well to highlight the very smooth vocals. Love the bluesy outro, tops the song off very nicely. Your production and playing skills have improved immensely over the years Ive been listening to you.
Good stuff
Cheers
Jamie
Thanks Jamie - give it another 5 years and I'll be good enough to clean your studio floor!
Really cool song. Love the vibe, lyrics and the message. LOVE the sax at the end...whaaaaaaaaaat. yes yes yes.
Bravo!
Thanks Mutrins - your comments are appreciated.
Nice one Alan - your smooth vocals are the star here.
Very brave of you to put them center stage like that but they demand attention and hold the listener to the end.
For me it could have ended perfectly right before the sax solo which seemed to take it to another place.
Well done - the bar has been raised again 
Paul
Thanks Paul - I normally prefer leaning on the bar rather than trying to lift it!
I’ve gotta say, I enjoyed that mate. Lovely simple arrangement (not to be confused with not being difficult to arrange 
) that allows the listener to focus on the words and their delivery. You sound great as always. Lyrics are fab, my fave is the “bottle of rain, sweet champagne, taste the same when you’re drowning”. That’s a glorious line.
I agree with Johnny Uks awesome idea of maybe changing the title to Guantanamo Bay, that will put the listener immediately in the room with the singer, without too much guesswork.
Great stuff buddy. 
Hi, I 'm pleased you liked the "bottle of rain" line - it is one of my favourites. The song's not just about Guantanamo Bay see my previous reply to Paul.
Hello Alan,
It's good to hear you experimenting with different themes and musical approaches. I think that you made the right choice to focus on the vocal and subdued instrumentation. I stay away from such topics, mainly because I would have to write from the perspective of an observer of a story or journalistic account. perhaps, I should attempt to do something that's embodies more of a social commentary about current events. Still, your writing is to be admired. I have watched you go from strength to strength over many years my friend.
Wicked!
Thank you so much - your help on the forum has been invaluable to me.
