• Songs
  • New semi-country rock instrumental - Traveling Light
2015/08/05 14:55:28
stevec
As opposed to my last few tunes, this one is very diatonic using a simple I V (and occasional IV) structure in the friendly key of C.  I'm referring to it as semi-country rock since I'm not very good at defining genres.
 
And inspired by Tim's (Starise) consistent use of real acoustic instruments, I actually recorded two tracks of acoustic guitar.  With a mic!  
 
https://soundcloud.com/steve-cocchi/traveling-light
 
2015/08/06 00:41:26
emeraldsoul
Yea! The early Joe Walsh treatment!!! Love the style here. Full marks for giving it some quirkiness, nice non-standard, non-boring touches, particularly the rhythm, which is great for me to listen to, but that old drunk couple dancing in the corner are gonna blow out an ACL.
 
Mix-wise, to make the electric guitar + its harmony partner more the feature, I wonder if a little high end eq might brighten it up just a bit? Help it shine more?
 
Your bass player has a run in there that's very ambitious - I used to be in a band and when I did that stuff, I got dirty looks. But it works here I reckon.
 
You have very tight coordinated rhythym for the guitars, bass, drums - but the piano kind of slides around a bit and slops it up a little. Should have cut him off at the fourth beer. ? Wait, that was another band I was in.
 
Enough digressions - cool tune! Will there be lyrics?
 
cheers,
-Tom
2015/08/06 02:03:45
Bob Oister
Sounds great, Steve!
 
I love the clean guitar melodies and Allman Brothers/Dickey Betts style harmonies, and the piano and organ fills are like icing on a very tasty instrumental cake!
 
You've got a nice clean, classic southern rock style mix that sounds perfect for the genre, too.  This really reminds me of one of my old favorites from the Allman's "Eat a Peach" record which I always loved.
 
I really enjoyed that, good stuff, buddy!
Bob
2015/08/06 03:45:10
synkrotron
That was a nice tune Steve... A really clean mix, to my ears at least (I have to bow down to Tom's skills in this area )
 
I'm not sure about the country reference, but I'm crap at genres too hahaha, unless it's blatantly obvious 
2015/08/06 05:16:32
ohgrant
Really cool instrumental, I enjoyed.
2015/08/06 10:17:12
evadianepug
Really liked that little piano run at about .30.  Nice bass sound, well nice everything sound.  I don't know what genre I place it in but who cares?  The bass has a real nice sound but ist loud in spots. Could just be me.  I like the guitar harmonies.  The ending chords are very cool.
2015/08/06 14:18:26
stevec
- Thanks for the input, Tom.  I would consider the rhythm fairly straightforward but then again I really hadn't taken ACLs into consideration.        I originally had a slightly rounder/jazzier tone on the guitars and later added some grit/brightness, but I'll give that another listen.   As far as the bass lines go, the song began life with the bass lines so I just let "him" do whatever he wants.  As for the piano, I'm guessing you're referring mainly to the solo?  I hem'd and haw'd on how much to edit the lines but in the end left it mostly as played.  OK, so maybe it was after a beer or two...
 
- Thanks, Bob.  I appreciate the Allman Bros reference!  It's hard for me to do clean-ish guitar harmonies and not hear that distinctive sound in my head.  Perhaps this is more southern rock vs. country, hadn't thought about that.  Either way I'm glad it's coming across that way. 
 
- Thanks, Andy, it's good to know the mix is translating well.  This is most "organic" thing I've done in a while, but I didn't see organic as a genre on SoundCloud so...  
 
- Thanks, Grant.   I'm glad you enjoyed the tune!
 
- Thanks, Warren.   Much of the piano was an after-thought but I am glad I added it.   Regarding the bass... since the tune started as a series of bass lines I had no choice but to let them stand out just a bit.  And the bassist agrees (we talk all the time ).   Adding those diminished chords at the end was also a last minute thing, but the idea wouldn't let go so I just went with it.    Overall it was one of the quickest songs I've done from idea to completion. 
 
2015/08/06 15:27:05
Beagle
Hey Steve - this does remind me of Allman bros on that electric.
 
nicely done all around - great performances mix sounds pretty well balanced to me.  what did you use for that organ?
2015/08/06 17:08:40
stevec
Thanks, Reece!   Appreciate the comments.
 
The organ is a slightly tweaked version from Kontakt 5 Vintage Organs (one with a French name).  Going from memory I believe there's some Quad Curve EQ, Blue Tubes valve, and sends to reverb and delay, most of which are automated to some degree.
 
2015/08/06 17:42:06
Beagle
I like the K5 Vintage Organs - I have them!  but I haven't used them since I bought my XK3c!
 
it sounds good, Steve!
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