NEW VERSION (September 9):
https://soundcloud.com/arcanor/soft-summer-rain
 
EDIT 3: As of September 9, I have added a few additional layers of percussion and rhythmic sequences.  And a new snare sound (this time it's not actually even a snare drum).  And a remix/remaster.
 
Sorry to keep bringing this thread back up again, but I have high hopes for this song, and would like to make it "just perfect". :)
 
One other thing I would like to mention is that I'm including this song in a new EP that I'm planning to release in the next day or two, in hopes of getting some of my newer material out to some internet radio stations.  I'd really appreciate any suggestions if anyone knows of good stations that are taking artist submissions.  My current plan includes SomaFM/Groove Salad.  Thanks!
 
 
ORIGINAL THREAD:

I started working on this song a few months ago and only recently finished it enough for public posting.  I would appreciate to know what you folks think about it.  Criticism is always welcome.
 
This is not a pop song. :)  In part, it represents a step forward for me as a songwriter trying to learn how to keep "space" in my music, and not fill up every nook and cranny with melodic harmonies or interesting counter-rhythms.
 
How did I do?  Did I go too far?  Not far enough?
 
Thanks for listening. :)
 
EDIT: As of July 3, I changed the snare sound to a softer, more electronic, more "pitter-pat" kind of sound, with more sync delay and hopefully a more "chill" feel, to match better with the vibe of the song.  Thanks to all for your kind suggestions about it!
 
EDIT 2: As of July 9, I changed the snare again (and the whole drumkit) to an even softer sound, with less "pitter-pat" and more "splash".  Please let me know what you think. :)  Thanks again!!

Hi Walt,
 
I've just finished listening to Soft Summer Rain... I was not disappointed (and I'm somewhat envious LOL).
 
The space you talk about is certainly there, and although you may not have filled every nook and cranny, it does not sound lacking, as far as I'm concerned. That said, I'm not familiar with your work, so I am remedying that right now  So I can hear all those nooks and crannies being filled 
 
 
cheers
 
andy

Thanks for the listen Andy.  I appreciate you taking the time!
 
Hopefully this track made it to the "Goldilocks" zone... not too empty, not too full.  Just right. ;)

Yeah nice chill track and it certainly captures the vibe of that genre. The mix ain't half bad neither :)
 
Keep it up

@biodiode: thanks bud. :)  I was just listening to some of your tracks.  I'll post about them elsewhere though.

Walt, I would say not far enough.
As I listen, especially with the background in mind, being part of the totality of the piece, every nook and cranny is being used up and thus in my opinion defeats what you are trying to accomplish. I'm thinking you need to work the tracks so that sound cuts, both in the background and foreground, work hand in hand with one another. You stated: learn how to keep "space" in my music, and not fill up every nook and cranny with melodic harmonies or interesting counter-rhythms, which doesn't seem to be the case, unless I'm missing the point of something here.
 
A lot of the background sounds work great with the foreground instrumentation but should also be in with conjunction with what you want to accomplish throughout the piece.
 
You thoughts on my thoughts!!
 
Peace and Blessings, John
  

Hey John, thanks for listening!
 
I think you may be using a different definition of the word "space" than I actually meant.  When I listen to this piece, I hear (in my mind's eye) many additional layers that could have been included, but I (with difficulty) resisted and did not add them.  My goal was to ensure that there was plenty of, I'll say, "artistic space" that left the creative canvas partially unused.  I hope (and believe) that I achieved that.

Walt, I think you accomplished your goal very well.  I get what you are after, and I also understand John's POV, but I think he's talking about something different than you.  This is a peaceful bit of music that induces relaxing thoughts, which would not be possible were it filled to the brim with one technique after another.  My only nit is that I would like to hear a sidestick instead of the snare which persists throughout the song (or, maybe something more ethnic).  All in all, good job!

Thanks Lynn!
 
That snare really seems to polarize people, unfortunately.  Some love it, some hate it.  My idea was that I wanted to place it out there in the middle of the room and hang the rest of the song off of it.  I like the idea that the snare/kick are bold, but sparse.  I feel that it helps keep the song together, since everything else is so fluid.
 
I did try out some sidesticks as alternatives (per your suggestion), as well as some softer snare sounds, on that part just now.  In the end, I think I prefer what I've already got, which is a processed LinnDrum snare sample out of an Ableton pack.  However, it's still on my mind as a potential "thing" to reconsider in the future.

I love it Walt. I think you have the perfect amount of space...especially for a chill song like this. I haven't read all of the other comments on the drums so I'm just putting this out there and if you already heard it I'm sorry to be a repeat...that snare is a bit much for me in this mix...that's really the only nit I can find. Here are a few things that came to mind as I listened...I could hear that snare replaced with a much lower and less acoustically bright sound...maybe even a hybrid kind of sound that combines a synth with a drum sound...I'm thinking of a more electronic sound. I would keep it lower in the mix and maybe even eliminate it in places.......it's funny this comes up because I was just in band practice last night and I was politely trying to tell the drummer that he could back off some. I asked him to add some sheen and he added too much lol!...............he was adding cymbal taps all over the place.
I was notorious for adding too many cymbal hits on some of my earlier mixes...I would think to myself, that sounds cool and I would add a lot of it. Later on I went back to the mix and thought to myself...man what was I thinking? As you know one or two cymbal hits in a three minute song is usually plenty. I was adding a hit every two measures. Neither one of us are drummers and that kind of thing is easy to do...JMHO.
 
I think the mix you made here is very nice otherwise...excellent chill feel to it wuith everything coming in just right.