Hi All,
I've got a new fresh one from the oven, style-wise reverting a bit back to my natural rock/prog tendencies.  
 
The song is called "Too Near To See" and can be found here: https://soundcloud.com/steve-cocchi/too-near-to-see
 
Hopefully the song translates, but as always, comments, suggestions or otherwise are welcome!
 
 
Edit: Second mix posted with some drum tweaks and a bit more reverb. 
And lyrics, as requested:
 
Taken away can we know where we're going to
Within a day with no end till we try
To fill the promise of love that we promised to
Begin the way that we feel that we might

Taken away will we know where we're going to
Or will we see what we want to believe
If it's a matter of time can we find the way
To find the center of our interweave

Too near to see, the bank of the rhythm is hiding, be still
(Still as the wind until you're)
Finding, the will    

The day is long and the sky has not given in
Hanging the sun off the night of the song
Back in the day with the love of the older ones
Into the day where we go to be strong

(Back into the)

Taken away and we know where we're going to
Taken away and begin to be clear
To see the way that we seem to be everywhere
And all the time that we know to be near

sounds a bit crossed between happy the man and early genesis....
 
i really dig this kind of stuff...
 
the drums seem a bit stiff, but i like the arrangements and choice of beats and fills...
the drums seem to be playing straight time with no swing,
and this REALLY needs the swing elements to open it up...
 
great solo section, lots of fun!
 

Yes, yes. . . how can you not like this.  Very cool – the odd timings, syncopation, great playing – love that little pulled descending line that shakes everything up.  It’s such a very cool track – with all the layers it still comes across as very, very clean. Great job and a lot of fun to listen to.

Nice mix Steve!. That's some serious guitar and bass work on this, well done! 
 
Regards,
Dan
 

Love it Steve! Hearing lots of influences here. Very creative track. Mix sounded pretty good to me too. Nice job!

I dig it.  I like the old school prog as much as the newer stuff.
 

gonzo - thanks, man, early prog is always somewhere in my brain so I appreciate the references.  I'll have to re-listen to the drum track for some possible ghost note addirions...     The solo section was fun.  
 
Manuel - thank you!   Yeah, that little descending line was one of the things that kept me going with the song.  Glad to hear the layers are coming through OK!
 
Dan - thanks!   The guitar and bass lines were a @$%@ to get together timing-wise, so I appreciate the comment. 
 
Bob -  thanks, I appreciate it!   Glad to know the influences and mix are coming through. 
 
Pete - thanks, loves me some prog.      I don't listen to much newer stuff though, I'll have to do that...
 

stevec
 
loves me some prog.      I don't listen to much newer stuff though, I'll have to do that...
 

Great track Steve, I'd love to try my hand at something tricksy like this  On the basis of this I think you'd enjoy Big Big Train (if you haven't heard them already).

Holy crap that was fun! I think you are making it up as you go along!
The chops are excellent, and the prog journey through the different sections is a never-get-bored treat.
Particularly after three minutes when the layers add in, great work man!
 
Mix-wise, I could only comment that the snare seemed a little muffled, but with so much going on, you might not want anything else added to the spotlight!
 
thanks, great tune!
-Tom

James - thanks!  Yeah, I do have fun doing this type of music, and having grown up on 70s prog it's just in my DNA. But I will most certainly look up Big Big Train (never heard of them!) 'cause new good stuff is well, good.
 
Tom - why, thank you!   It was fun to do, and don't tell anyone but yeah, some of it was made up as I went along.  Controlled improvisation.      The end section was my Kansas influenced mini-piece and was fun! For the snare, I probably tweaked the level + tone about twenty times and in the end decided to keep it in check. Good spot!