Intonation Crisis Project

[rayc]

This is the song I was recording when I had the crisis. It's simple and sparse for me. The unison guitars made it important to get a little closer to a decent intonation on at least one guitar.
I think I've achieved that but today there's an outdoor wedding across the road with a PA, DJ & HUGE generator that sends rumbles through the air and earth so amp recording is a no no for the moment.
This is basically built around the fact that I like the sound of G#m -> D. I tried to not over do that interval and the rest is, in my mind the meandering is, a little like Pink Floyd but a lot more like the Greek psych band Will'O'the Wisp.
Clearly it needs a melody, a lyric and a lead .
So far this is it... ACTONE amp in a box for today...
Oh, the drone feedback is a Muff clone into my Marshall I figured noise & intonation weren't going to be an issue for back ground texture.
BIAB drums & organ.

This is the 1st draft

Nov Gene1111b.mp3

and this is the mastered version
Stratmonkey played lead, BIAB did gospel vocal, organ & drums.

Dec181222less thudb.mp3

LYRICS:
V1
You insist that we exist,
In language of the pragmatist,
But knowing doesn't make it so.
Before we learn it's time to go.
C1
Shhh, don't say it aloud,
Nothing that could make you proud.
What you say is taken down,
And recited when they take your crown.
V2
What you feel and what you see,
are nothing more than things that we,
Conjure for a farewell kiss,
While we're astride our own abyss.
C2
Shhh, don't say it out loud,
Conversations are a thundercloud.
What you say is taken down,
And recited when you're far from town.
C3
Hush, keep it in your head.
No, you're no better off dead.
What you say is taken down,
And restated in your wedding gown.
V3
Waking from some reality,
To find it wasn't meant to be.
Knowing something, making plans:
All is nothing when the barcode scans.
C4
Shhh, don't say it out loud,
Conversations aren't allowed.
What you say is taken down,
And recited at your time to drown

[Greg_L]

Seems okay to me. I don't see (hear) what all the fuss is about. That seems well within the loose tolerances of a stringed instrument plus human imperfection. Totally fine.

[vomitHatSteve]

Yeah, intonation sounds alright to me.

[Armistice]

Sounds fine to me - not so sure about all the noisy stuff going on behind it though, but I'm sure the tune will develop in time.

It's long enough to get a small space opera, or perhaps some wizards, into the lyrics...

[rayc]

@Greg_L & @vomitHatSteve,
YAY,
That means I've managed to set the intonation well enough on one guitar.
I could post the pre set up version but that'd be cruel.

[rayc]

Sounds fine to me - not so sure about all the noisy stuff going on behind it though, but I'm sure the tune will develop in time.

It's long enough to get a small space opera, or perhaps some wizards, into the lyrics...

Yes LOOOONG indeed. Space wizards and a few borrows for Uriah Heep's lyric style text.

[rayc]

A little more development.

[Armistice]

I think it's time you ditched the Pygmy Beat Extended moniker and go by "Intonation Crisis Project"...

[rayc]

I think it's time you ditched the Pygmy Beat Extended moniker and go by "Intonation Crisis Project"...

Nomenclature advice only? I played chords for longer than a bar, I didn't do many two change per bar bits and I think it almost resolves in places.
New mix with new drums and some "texture" added.

[rayc]

New mix with new draft vocals.

[vomitHatSteve]

New mix with new draft vocals.

Draft as in placeholder lyrics? The main lyric I caught was "A-B-C-D-E-F-G"

I'd definitely bring the vocals forward a little.

[Lt. Bob]

He might have meant daft lyrics

[rayc]

@vomitHatSteve&@Lt.Bob,
Draft & daft lyrics now in the O.P.
Low level because, well, the vocal is not good yet.
I'm still feeling about for a fit.

[Armistice]

Last one in the list is the current one, right?

I'd say snare needs a bit more presence and meat, whilst the kick needs a bit more bottom end. Same with toms where they appear - up a little perhaps.

Guitars and keys sound very good.

Voice, as always - up a bit in volume and lose some of the reverb - although perhaps you're doing it for effect - if it was me I'd have a bit less reverb in a larger room and you'd still get that floaty effect thing.

It's all very floaty and spacious. You're using your normal key change / chord change methodology but taken it in a different direction. Nice work, so far.

[Mr Clean]

Listening to the last mix in the list with the vocals. I REALLY like this. Vocals could come up a bit as it's kind of hard to hear what your singing but reading the lyrics helps. I can definitely hear some Psych/Prog influences in this. There's a little Floyd in there for sure and the backing has that 69-73 sound vibe to it.

Great stuff. As it is I think it's pretty damn good. I'd just like to hear the vocals a little clearer.

[rayc]

Last one in the list is the current one, right?
I'd say snare needs a bit more presence and meat, whilst the kick needs a bit more bottom end. Same with toms where they appear - up a little perhaps.
Guitars and keys sound very good.
Voice, as always - up a bit in volume and lose some of the reverb - although perhaps you're doing it for effect - if it was me I'd have a bit less reverb in a larger room and you'd still get that floaty effect thing.
It's all very floaty and spacious. You're using your normal key change / chord change methodology but taken it in a different direction. Nice work, so far.

I've upped the fundamental on the snare.
The toms got the same.
I'll work on the kick.
I've changed the reverb as suggested...though I think I have a vocalist lined up.

[rayc]

Listening to the last mix in the list with the vocals. I REALLY like this. Vocals could come up a bit as it's kind of hard to hear what your singing but reading the lyrics helps. I can definitely hear some Psych/Prog influences in this. There's a little Floyd in there for sure and the backing has that 69-73 sound vibe to it.
Great stuff. As it is I think it's pretty damn good. I'd just like to hear the vocals a little clearer.

Ta,
The vocals are low but I hope to have a real singer on this soon as well as someone playing lead so will adjust when I get them in.

[Mr Clean]

Ta,
The vocals are low but I hope to have a real singer on this soon as well as someone playing lead so will adjust when I get them in.

Real singer? What's wrong with your voice? It sounds great, fits the genre/mood/song nicely.

[JD01]

Ray, I've been busy as hell so I'm coming in at the last mix.
I just think the drums are a touch quiet throughout and there's way too much 'verb on the vocal.
Bass, seems a bit quiet also.

Its very Meddle era Floyd. I always think of that minor chord to the b5 major chord as the "Great Gig In The Sky" interval. Its really distinctive.

Guitars sound ace - I think what I might have previously thought of as just Ray holding chords in some sort of strangled death grip was just a symptom of your ropey intonation. Your guitar playing just sounds better on this... I'm guessing you haven't just started taking lessons! Quite musical feedback at the end too.

[rayc]

Kick UP bass UP Lap steel added.