[Skub]

Yo folks.

Encouraged by Paulski posting an entry which isn't exotic,erotic or neurotic and since anything goes,this is my entry. My logic may be logged as idiotic,so at least it ends with the same letters. 

Paulski and his sweet pyannie skills helped me out with this one. He's a charmingly helpful chap (for a Canadian) and his playing really put the finishing touches on the track. 

The topic is self explanatory and a good deal less than cheerful,nevertheless if not actually an enjoyable piece,my hope is that it connects with the listeners.

https://soundcloud.com/skub1955/secrets

If you look into my eyes
You'll see an empty space
I hold my secrets deep inside
You won't read them on my face

Don't ask me questions
You know it's for the best
I'm keeping all my playing cards
Close,to my chest

I must be quiet and never cry
No one must ever know
The police would come and take him
I'd have nowhere to go

Today has been a good one
He hasn't hit me much
Oh,my little brother,he's the one
To get the personal touch.

[digger72]

Hi Davy (and Paulski),

Really liked this. (Though the whispering freaked me out - always given me the creeps; Like on I'm Not In Love.)

Great playing and I love all the different elements moving the track feel around.
The verse doesn't sound like a verse - it's like you leap straight into a pre-chorus and never let go. Great idea. What did the band Roxette say? "Don't bore us, get to the chorus." Or something along those lines. This does just that - straight to the good stuff.

So much packed in to a short time.

Lyrically - very dark - total contrast to the music. Perhaps that gives it added impact.
Why am I enjoying this song so much when it's about something so bad?

Hope you're well.

Digger

[pompeyjazz]

Exquisite stuff guys. What I particularly like about this one is the attention to dynamics. You bring it up when it's needed and then bring it down, down,down. A dark tale indeed. The whispering was very effective, the lyrics capture the desperation "I must be quiet" Top work Skubster and that Johanna player you recruited ain't half bad too 

[nooms]

strong lyric davey.. simple and heartbreaking
has a kind o byrds'y feel in the vocals and the pace
i really appreciate the way paul supports the track without getting in the way just sits right in there.
the slow bridge is very effective which i found really moving 
you have a real gift for outros
guitars superb
yes, you guessed, i like it..
fine collab guys, do some more

[Paulski]

Great song Davey - love the vocals, heartbreaking lyrics and guitars.
And the twists in the arrangement are beyond clever.
I didn't really contribute enough to get a co-write but thanks for the mention - it was a pleasure (and an honour) to be involved in a small way 

Paul

[Binladeda]

 Excellent song guys

 Loved it when the bass came in at the end....total surprise

 Thought you handled the vocals really well, considering the story.
 The whispering is very effective.....and then you rock it up

 I was Moved 

[rightly]

I read the lyrics first and was really impressed.
This is a very sad theme. You seem to have a strong capacity to empathize.

The recording was also very strong.
Maybe it's just me but I listened to the music carefully
and sometimes I had the impression you might be showing off a little too much.

I was at times distracted from contemplating the theme and was sort of pulled into marveling at your skill and playfulness.

I thoroughly enjoyed the listen and will listen again.
It's a tough theme, I wouldn't suggest that you revisit it.

Like I said, maybe it's just me over analyzing   

Great work. It's always a pleasure to hear from you

[MichaelA]

Well if I'm thought to be doing the 80s in my recent songs, at least we have someone making 70s noises to add balance. Are we all stuck in our eras? But this is a lot darker than I can write! Very brave - but sensitively handled.

It's a decent makeshift band with that session piano over the usual skubguitar skill. You vary the dynamics very well and build the song up well too up to its solo climax, although I maybe thought that end bit was a bit too triumphant sounding given the theme. Maybe could have been darker.


Polished piece of work, as ever though. Worth doing this.

[Movin Flavour]

Guys this is a great rock tune.

I always think Pianos complement rock so well.

As usual some great guitars by Davy.

The whispering sections work so well and the vocals are lovely.

Well produced ...enjoyed this.

Sandeep

[ScottLevi]

Heya guys,

Was sceptical at the beginning; Davy's vocal + guitar is a wonderful combination that the focus on piano felt risky.

But that scepticism only adds to the enjoyment as from start to finish the sound is fantastic, dynamic and engaging. Others have said about the combination of elements carrying a real momentum, great playing by both and real well done composition as a whole.

Difficult lyric but sometimes these things needs exploring, and they're not so obtuse to take away.

Nothing constructive I could say, just to say I think your collab is great and hope to hear more from the two of you!

Cheers,
Scott.

[PaulyX]

Loads to like here... where to start?  I'll make a list...
- The piano triplet run down in the second bars of the main pattern (ace)
- The reverb / echoes on the main vocal (ace)
- The guitar solos (double ace)
- The way it lifts off in the last section (triple ace)
The whispering in the middle 8 works really well too.  It's a heavy subject matter of course, delicately treated. 
Good luck in the comp guys - this has got to be one of the heavyweight contenders in the quest.

[shadowfax]

Well..it's all been said innit! , I remember not so long ago when you were saying you didn't know much about DAW's....ha ha!.. your not fooling anyone Mr Skub, you are a consummate professional..this is amazing stuff!!

[adamfarr]

Powerful stuff, beautifully presented. Not much more to say! Really liking the political(ish) and social themes from you lately.

[Skub]

@digger72

Hey Diggs,good to hear from ya man,I'm glad you are weathering the storm. Funny,whispering freaks me out too,maybe that's why I used it! 

@pompeyjazz

Yeah John,that ivory tinkler has the touch for sure. He's cheap too! 

@nooms

I'm well chuffed you liked it nooms,Paul gave me exactly what I asked for,he's a very sympathetic player. 

@Paulski

Ah,you made it work,Paul. Thanks man. 

@Binladeda

Yo Bin,happy you connected. I hope you heard it with both ears! 

@Rightly

Thanks for the careful listen,Rightly. You have your finger on something,because I wasn't 100% sure of the way I ended the track. I do like incongruity,but I understand what you say about distractions. It's one of the problems of working alone,there's no one to tell you when to STFU! 

 @MichaelA

Ha! I could very well be a product of my era. I suppose what's in me comes out! You kind of underline what Rightly said about the song ending and I do take those comments on board. Perhaps I need to rein it in at times. Thanks Michael.

@Movin Flavour

Yo Sandeep,thanks for your cool remarks. 

@ScottLevi

Thankya Scott,I'm glad you warmed to the track. 

@PaulyX

Thank you SongMeister,much appreciated,Paul. 

@shadowfax

Ha! Professional my hairy arsehole. I'm glad you heard no glaring anomalies,Kevin. Thanks man. 

@adamfarr

I'm on my soapbox,Adam. Pretty soon I'll wear out my welcome! Thanks dude. 

[MartynRich]

I don´t know how I missed this one. I have visions of some guy on a road trip through the midwest while this is playing on the radio. Tears of a clown and all that Skuby.

The song is as exquisite as the little guitar break after the whispering and it seems very influenced by American prog rock to me...this wouldn't´t be out of place on any great album by those long-haired dudes from the 70s. Not that it sounds aged at all though. The hardest reviews to write are when the song is too good for words.