You Mystify Me

[Richard John]

Hi
This is a song written recently. Rushed a little, to enter in an internet competition under the banner of Lazy Mouse (A collab with Maria - profile coming soon)
The idea was for it to be quite sparse and acoustic, and I like the basics and melody, but it feels a bit unfinished. Maybe a little bass (Stu) and some haunting synth (Sal) or visa versa, would add something. Absolutely no hurry, I know we're all busy folks! If nothing comes to mind, thats fine too. Just thought I'd put it up.
Cheers
Richard
PS Anybody else out there, feel free!

[Saladin De Tolosa]

Back from work, now 5 days left to go for playing the Lazy Cat.
I can't help telling a few about your song : I LOVE IT. And I'm pleased with work on it , because I can't resist to a collaboration with Maria-as you know I'm mad with her voicing- , and by the way I got time.
Perfect takes my friend !
I would easily imagine some sonic atmosphere during the first section, that will give me the opportunity to test my new synth with this kind of "dressing", but respecfully with the spaces that Maria's voice deserves.
With the banjo section, what about a slight drumkit(rimshot+ride) with a cool classic doublebass (Stu, what d'ya mind?) ?

[Stu]

i love it too.... have it downloaded and am gonna load it up tonight... will give it some thought on a nice lazy bassline..? maybe something on the fretless... a fretted bass will be too percussive for a song like this I think... and the double is playing up... needs a set-up i think... and definitely a new preamp battery... we'll see... might be the instrument to use though..?

Richard... you should know that this is a perfect song as is, and all this new input might just change it beyond recognition..? you may come to hate us.. ha ha.. :)

ps... why has this reply gone above yours sal..? odd...

[Richard John]

Hi All
Glad you like it. I think all of your ideas sound good and I have a completely open mind to the outcome (athough maybe not a thrash metal version!)
The song is 105 bpm. Any clips or ideas, upload recorded with the original mp3, so we can each see where they fit in. Then if possible upload the clips solo, so I can mix them into the original project.
Feel free to create any other versions or mixes.
Exciting stuff!

[Stu]

Richard... the more i listen to this... the more i like it.. :)
i got the bpm no bother... and this makes punching in etc fairly straightforward... but can you give me some idea about the chord progression here... even the root notes would do... i have been faffing about with it, and am yet to discover a progression that works for me... odd..!!

i am working on a fretless bass for this... quiet lines that should maybe sit in the background somewhere..?

regards...
stu

[Richard John]

Hi Stu

The 1st chord sequence is - D7sus2 and D7sus4, Gmaj7, Cadd9 with flattened 5th (had to look this up!), Am7, D x2

2nd sequence is - C, Am, D, G, Em x2
Then - Cadd9sus4(sorry!), G, Em, Fmaj7, D

The above is a bit rough, especially with the other guitar picking a harmony to complicate it (+ I've had a couple of beers and my wife is tutting as I'm sitting and strumming at the PC while she's watching TV!)

Still, hopefully it's of some use.

Cheers
Richard

[Stu]

wow... there;s some mad shit in there... ouch... am gonna have to look some of these up myself... it makes sense though (in the neighbourhood to where i am messin' on i guess), and will be useful...

sorry i put you through 'wife tutting'... that's a bummer... it could take you weeks to restore the status quo now..?

cheers
stu

[Stu]

wow..!!
am just not getting my ear round this at all.. not like a trune to have me beat really... this is a complicated line, and anything i come up with is kinda 'jazz-like' and i feel like i'm starting sequences completely outside of the root.

ouch... this could take me while... and i'm not sure you'll go for the final result..?

can you post the line you want the bass to underpin..? and without the other guitar and vocal (which is very very nice... but throwing off even more)

stu

[Richard John]

Hi Stu
I've attached the original guitar line. Hope it's of use. I tend to have an initial idea/ chord sequence, record it, then find something elsewhere ,often higher up the guitar neck, that harmonises ok. ie I don't think too much about keys etc.
Sorry to cause problems!! Don't worry if nothing comes to mind, or maybe add something really simple.
Thanks for trying
Richard

[Stu]

Hi Richard... am getting this downloaded now...
i recall knowing more about key when i was younger... ha ha... i think you just don't need them anymore when you get older.. :) clearly this is why some people are famous, and i'm not..!!
oh well....

something will come... don't worry... at least until you get it... ha..!!
stu

[Saladin De Tolosa]

Hi Richard! I have to make my silence clear. I'm very impressed by your song : wonderful singer, incredible chord chart,etc. I'm feeling very useless at first sight. BUT I know that this state of mind often drives me to do my best, so I don't give up!
I'm gonna try something around your chords with the rhodes, and try some gentle noises with the moog : RIGHT NOW.
Cheers

[Saladin De Tolosa]

Here's a pair of moog clips for Mystify. As you can hear, I'm in a theremin-like mood these days. I'd like to work on rhodes now ; I'm afraid it'll be harder, considering the chord chart, but this is a good challenge.
By the way, I'm going to post a new MP for my last saturday night project(if you've got some ideas...) called(provisory) "Guide".

[Stu]

here you go... try this... i have noi idea whether you think it'll work..? i like it... bit rough at the edges but that's just me.. ha ha

reference tracj included...
stu

and... only one of the files has uploaded... doing the next one now.... hmmm