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Post by Rob W on May 2, 2016 12:44:48 GMT
3 votes. Voting will close on the penultimate weekend of May at 9pm)
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Post by Rob W on May 5, 2016 7:42:12 GMT
Stephen Clark - Wodehouse World
I see what Stephen means by the Kinks influence. I am with you (re Jeeves and Wooster) and this is a fantastic tribute. I love the arrangement, I love the lyrics and I love the melody. This is a very affectionate song brilliantly executed I was wanting drums but the lack of electric drums was, in the end, perfect. The tune meanders beautifully through the chordal landscape and the lyrics, as ever, are seemingly effortless and funny. Another winner from the hit machine!!
Time & Julie - Give the Game Away
Having played the bass on this (and, I think you’ll agree, having taken Tim’s ‘Don’t Avoid What’s Easy’ line literally when it came to my bass part!!) I wondered whether I should excuse myself from commenting and voting on this but Tim presented me with a rough song with no lyrics and I think I’d not be exaggerating if I said I played it only three times before saying ‘that’ll do’.
This bounces along very nicely and is a lesson (to me at least) that less is sometimes more when it comes to the number of chords used in a song. Tim’s vocal is again assured and the melody well chosen. I wasn’t wholly convinced by the break in the middle but I suppose it could be argued that such a relentless ‘bounce’ needed to be broken up.
Lyrics. I didn’t listen until I’d dissected the music but when I did, a) the ‘moaning’ in the break suddenly makes sense and b) it’s a brilliant story (it would DEFINITELY feature on Judge Rinder) brilliantly told. I appear to have already decided where two of my votes are going and I’ve only listened to two songs. Well done, again. Very, very good and very, very accomplished.
Colin P - Are we nearly there?
Ha ha. Firstly, the ukulele, is a welcome addition to your arsenal of instruments and gives a more organic feel to your songwriting/presentation (as opposed to the very staccato feel of some of your Garageband instruments.) I completely understand your ‘ear worm’ comment and the melody at the chorus is perfect and sweet, complementing the message of the lyric (I particularly liked the ‘out of tune child accompaniment’ at the end. You with an effect or an actual out of tune child?)
I really felt as though I were on the journey with you having been on long car journeys with children in the past (luckily, long ago in history!) and, probably due to the sun shining as I travelled to London on the train, I almost caught the scent of the sea as you approached the South of France (that could, however, have been the on-board loos!!)
Another welcome addition to an impressive back catalogue of material from Colin. (Though, I now COMPLETELY understand the ear worm reference in your blurb as this was the last one I listened to before I arrived at Liverpool Street and was walking and cycling with ‘Are we nearly there’? going round and round in my head!) Well done and, again, welcome back.
Tim & Glyn - Something Will be Found
Sketches are good. This, though is more than a sketch in my view. I loved this from the off. It felt very ‘free’ in its approach and the back vocals/harmonies were absolutely stunning. This is really unusual and I love the keyboard playing (the sort of ‘three step’ chords at the start of every bar.) Yes, I agree that perhaps it would benefit from a little more light and shade but if you re-record it, don’t lose what you have here which is a wonderful piece of easy listening (and I mean that in the nicest possible way.)
Glyn’s voice really works multi-tracked (in a way that mine never seems to. I’ve tried!) A fabulous return and a dark horse if ever there was one!!
Phil S - From Nothing…To More than Nothing
Phil, I know, is a very competitive chap. He leaves nothing in the tank when it comes to running and I would imagine that this is perhaps a theme of his life too. This is a trait I admire because I feel that I am similar in my approach. We both thrive on competition. However, where we perhaps differ is in our approach to the outcomes of SWC voting. I think Phil’s lack of SWC ‘Victories’ bothers him and I would implore him merely to be contented that his material (which is very rich in content, it’s experiemental, at times Avant Gard and also - remember Eurovision? - highly entertaining) is being listened to and appraised by his peers and, as Sting once said, music is its own reward!
Friendly advice delivered, now on to the song.
Three or four voices form the beginning? It’s a very pleasing effect particularly the fact that it’s unaccompanied. Once the drum machine kicks in (I love the choice of electronic drums) one suddenly realises (I think) that once again Phil is in some weird time signature (I’m not sure because I never found the first beat of the bar to count.) The trumpet solo before the breakdown is a particular highlight for me and this is evocative of some of those John Hassle/David Sylvian collaborations from the early eighties.
I think Phil, whether deliberately or not, has taken on board the ‘light and shade’ advice and performs the whole track very well both as a player and an arranger/producer. I really enjoyed it.
Christian D - Breathe More Deeply
Christian is becoming/has become a master songwriter. He is Squeeze and Elvis Costello; he is Ian Dury and Jake Thackery; he is Rogers and Hammerstein. His melodies swoop effortlessly over wonderful chord structures and his lyrics are always poignant or funny and well observed. This song has everything that one would expect and he continually sets the bench mark for the rest of us (a mark that some of us can only dream of reaching.) One is transported into his song-world completely as the lyrics and music combine perfectly to create a three minute lesson in songwriting. Brilliant.
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Post by timwarner on May 7, 2016 10:14:45 GMT
Wodehouse World - Stephen Clarke
Nothing wrong with the Kinks feel here. Really smart lyrics with some great observations that I’d never really thought about before. I could easily imagine this being played on a Radio 4. You’ve really captured the spirit of Wodehouse (or what I know of it, anyway). There’s some very good playing, and the harmonies are just right. The only bit I wasn’t completely happy with was the line about the flat tyre, it just didn’t gel to me. Everything else was smooth. Love the whimsical ending, fade out.
Give the game away - me
I was trying to make this sound like a small band (only drums, bass and one guitar).
Are We Nearly There? - Colin Parish
I love the idea that you made this up to entertain the kids and irritate your wife on long car journeys (I may reciprocate one day and do our own holiday song ‘rain go away’). I like the gentle Ukulele and then the heavy guitar(?) coming in for an instrumental at about 1.30, it’s like something that Elbow might do. The background vocals remind me a bit of the elf like voices on Bewley Brothers. You’ve are really pushing what’s possible on the iPad.
This Heroic Approach - Rob Warner
This is beyond anything I could conceive. I really don’t miss a big hook or catchy chorus, it’s all a bit grown-up anything so overtly ‘pop.’ I have offered to play guitar parts for you in the past but, I can see there’s really no point doing that any more. The guitar playing here is excellent, as is everything else (I especially like the drum sound). Not having to come up with lyrics that mean anything has really worked well. The only negative I can think of is some of the high harmonies seem a bit too high.
Something Will Be Found - Tim and Glyn
Short and sweet. These are some of the best vocal harmonies I can remember from the SWC. I think it’s a good sign when I want to listen back to the song after it’s finished and, you’ve kept it so lean, it certainly had that effect. As usual, the playing is accomplished without being flashy.
From Nothing to more than nothing - Phil Sanderson
Some more good harmonies in the introduction. What is that drum effect? It sounds a bit like an electric tabla. There are a good collection of sounds here. I even like the guitar sound/treatment. The line I struggle with is ‘repetition is a form of change,’ every time I hear it I think the same thing: ‘no, it isn’t.’ It seems to end quite suddenly.
Breathe More Deeply - Christian Duffin
Initially, I’m getting a sort of ‘she’s leaving home’ vibe at the start. I could easily imagine this song as part of a musical. I could never think up the tunes that you seem to produce so naturally. As usual, there are layers to listen to and enjoy the song anew every time I listen to it. I wonder if how long you must spend to get your songs so rich in content. You get the electronic, instrumental sound to fit in so well among all those acoustic instruments. It’s another brilliant piece of work from the artist formerly know as Eddie Custard.
For me, there are two standout songs, the others are just very good. It will take a bit longer to figure out where to cast the third vote.
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Post by stephen on May 7, 2016 16:11:00 GMT
This month everyone seems to have produced songs that could only be theirs. As far as I'm concerned, developing your own style and voice is what it's all about.
My favourite months are when we get the chance to do our own thing. Genre months force us to explore new sounds, OK, but sometimes a musical "comfort zone" is simply what matches your personality. It's no bad thing.
My Wodehouse song
FYI if you listen carefully there is drumming on there – just me plinking on the hi-hat and snare, and doing a 4/4 thump on the bass drum. It's a light song so I wanted the bass and the guitars to do most of the rhythm work. The line about the flat tyre is a reference to the way Bertie Wooster & Co are constantly trying to solve problems by shooting back and forth between London and "the country" in their little two-seaters.
T&J Warner Give the Game Away
Great song. Excellent chunky guitar playing, tremendous bass and a really good story that develops with each verse, and makes the chorus relevant every time. The subtle multi-tracking of the voices is very effective, and that chorus is a fun cross between the Police and Squeeze. I thought the bridge was building up to a monster guitar solo, so I was slightly frustrated, but that's just an old Ritchie Blackmore fan talking. The sheer professionalism of all of this is very impressive.
Colin P Are We Nearly There
As you say, it's a real earworm, which is another word for a memorable hook. Very singalong use of the phrase everyone dreads. Real instrument shock, too – nice plucking. The opening verses reminded me of Mungo Jerry's In the Summertime, that holiday feel, though Mungo didn't go in for the same humour and irony that you use. I reckon if you'd just added Mungo Jerry's thumping beat you'd have a summer YouTube hit.
Rob W This Heroic Approach
As usual, some great keyboard key changes, with a winding melody which, as you say, sounds like a sort of freewheeling exploration that produces a really cool laidback effect, sort of Steely Dan. Great instrumental touches like the arrival of acoustic bass and the shots of guitar, then the double guitar solo. And I really like the "face up to what's real" hook – I'd just have been happier if you'd ended on that rather than feeling obliged to finish off by quoting the month's theme phrase. And recording vocals under a duvet sounds like a good idea.
Tim & Glyn Something Will be Found
Yes, a really nice sketch, or more than that, because you only need another 45 seconds or so, maybe a bridge, and it'd be a full song – and a very cool one too. It starts out with a very memorable melody line, excellently sung, and then the multilayered voices work really well, with that "keep on looking" hook implanting itself deep into the consciousness. A great ending, too, wistful and longing, perfect for the theme of the song. Yes certainly worth developing, and repeating that "keep on looking" as long as you want.
Phil S From Nothing
...
Yes, another excellent addition to the Sanderson soundscape. The electronic beats and womp womp bass are really effective, especially combined with your trademark guitar sound and those slightly robotic voices, and there are so many musical parts to this that even if (like me) you're not a great fan of electronic music it never stops being fascinating. You always manage to sound as though you really have something urgent to say, both verbally and musically.
Christian D Breathe More Deeply
I thought the most subtle chord changes happened on the keyboards, but here are guitar chords I've never heard of, or put together in combinations I would never think of. Very Harrison-like, halfway between Here Comes the Sun and Something. Great swooping melody in the verse, and excellent hook, then the bridge leads us off somewhere entirely new. It's just a shame that unlike the Beatles you can't simply summon a brass section for your intro and the keyboard solo, because that would have rounded off the nostalgic feel of the song perfectly. Another winner.
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Post by stephen on May 7, 2016 16:14:39 GMT
PS only 8 votes by three voters? We do get three votes, right?
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Post by Rob W on May 7, 2016 21:05:20 GMT
I think Tim said at the end of his review that he had only voted for two and was going to mull over who to give his third vote to.
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tandg
Junior Member
Posts: 67 
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Post by tandg on May 15, 2016 20:23:55 GMT
Wodehouse World – Stephen Clarke
This is really beautifully constructed song. The lyrics are so clever, it’s easy to overlook the quality of the harmonies, the skiffle-like rhythm that suits the Wodehouse style so well and the lovely little electric guitar touches. This is really successful all-round – you captured the good-natured humour of Wodehouse (escaping from kissing the fiancée of a jealous earl is just perfect) with a really enjoyable, catchy song – one of your very best.
Give the Game Away – Tim Warner
Really impressive guitar work throughout this tale straight from Jeremy Kyle! I had to listen a couple of times just to check that there was just one guitar part. The bass works wonderfully well and the drum programming is perfect. This has a real 80s R&B pub band feel – you referenced Dr Feelgood and I think that’s exactly the feel that you achieved. Good stuff!
Are We There Yet? – Colin P
What can you say? I’m not sure I want to hear the song many times but it’s a funny, witty and charming song on an all-too-familiar topic. It’s far too catchy and it’s fun to have a song written on a ukulele. I particularly enjoyed the middle 8 and the final chorus is a riot - I love the treatment of the vocals and the high voice at the end.
This Heroic Approach – Rob Warner
Great sounds abound! I love the surprising drum sound – without it the song would be very Steely Dan. The electric piano sound, guitar bursts and the vocal line are all SD but the drums somehow move it away enough to be distinctively a Rob Warner piece. Add the great harmonies and this is a really heart-warming way to spend 3 ½ minutes.
From Nothing…to More than Nothing – Phil Sanderson
At first I thought it was a barber shop quartet. Now that’s something I never thought I’d write about a Phil Sanderson song! What follows is bursting with ideas – surprising sounds, beautiful passages, driving rhythms followed by abrupt stops and starts and completely unpredictable structure. I particularly liked the drum sound – like Rob’s song this is an unusual choice of sound and works really well for me. Contrary to Phil’s expectations, I think this is genuinely Leicester City (based on this season’s performance only).
Breathe More Deeply – Christian Duffin
Lovely acoustic guitar – really well recorded and placed in the mix. As always with your songs, the vocal line avoids being predictable without sounding artificial or forced. The harmonies are great and the whole recording sounds really full…and then it dawns on you that there aren’t any drums. I’m full of admiration that this sounds so complete without them. The main chorus line ‘breathe more deeply’ is beautiful and the song is a really accomplished piece of writing and recording.
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Post by philsanderson on May 15, 2016 21:31:56 GMT
Stephen Clarke – Wodehouse World
Completely pleasing to the ear and a joy to play along to!
The lyrical content of your songs always leaves me feeling uplifted but then I tend to feel somewhat deflated as I cannot even begin to match you. Even the almost awkward rhymes in your material work so well.
I like the almost Cockney enunciation at times ( ‘eg ‘ge’ engayged’ )
As a footnote I’ll add that I am related to PG Wodehouse ( it’s why my mum gave me Graham as a middle name so I would be PG) If I remember rightly he was my grandmother’s great uncle. No money through royalties has ever been passed down to our branch of the family I may add.
Tim and Julie – Give the Game Away
Shades of Dr Feelgood /early Police style here but in a distinctive TW style. Unlike Rob I really like the middle bit and I wanted it to be developed ( maybe the extended mix will make it onto your next ‘album’!) Literally as I was typing this ( Sunday 9.40 )I read TandG review which mentions The Police! The lyrics are spot on – it makes me wonder what source of news you might tap into for July! I may well dip my feet now in the murky waters of tabloid journalism. Rob’s bass line and sound is really good, although I am sure you would have been more than capable of providing a great bass line too.
Colin Parish – Are We Nearly There
The ukulele is a most welcome addition - a nice organic addition to your sound and works so well with your voice. The backing ‘children’ voices are almost terrifyingly scary ( I love them!) ‘That’ line doesn’t half stick in your head, after each listening I keep on not trying to sing or hum it and on even a short journey last night with a completely different CD on it was STILL going being played in my head.
Charming tale and so true... although it makes me realise guiltily that I haven’t taken my own children away nearly often enough recently!
Rob Warner- This Heroic Approach
I’m glad that I wasn’t the only one to rely on just selecting lines from the Oblique Strategies website. I note here that we both chose a few of the same lines. ( repetition is a form of change... works here, but not in my song apparently) Great drum sounds again - a definite area I cannot hope to compete with unless I upgrade. I’d like to hear an unrestrained guitar solo on your work – you keep everything so well in check and well controlled mind, something I find more difficult.
Tim and Glynn
Re your sleeve notes....More please! Wonderful captivating harmonies on the chorus... but my favourite part is the opening sections before it kicks in. The deceptively simple keyboard line is sublime. On a personal note can we work on this... ? As Rob commented ‘A dark horse’, but galloping freely across the SWC meadow with its fetlocks blowing in the breeze!
Christian Duffin
The piano line in the latter half of the song is so good – almost wish there were another instrumental section wedged in at this point so we can hear more of it. Your vocal lines and delivery are so spot on that it’s almost scary. Back to instruments.. not sure of the synth solo re the sound, but it’s only a minor quibble and this is assuredly another outstanding piece of music.
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Post by stephen on May 16, 2016 21:48:41 GMT
Phil you're related to PG Wodehouse? Shame about the royalties (big shame - maybe you can write a song about knocking off all the relatives) but what you've obviously inherited is the knack for inventing, and then doing, your own thing. Surely that's worth as much as royalties? (Well no it's not, but you've got to be positive haven't you)
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Post by colinallcars on May 16, 2016 22:19:17 GMT
A great bunch of songs this month - every time I think I’ve written something good I’m brought down to earth when I listen to what you guys have done. The standard of these songs is very high.
Thanks for the nice feedback about my offering. Just to clarify, all the guitar sounds on Are We Neraly There? are actually my little Kala soprano ukulele, recorded through the iPad. The voices are also all me - the childlike voices are a filter called ‘chipmunk’ - sweet!
Stephen Clarke - Wodehouse world
This is a charming song with a lovely English feel to it - like the Kinks circa Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon. Lovely playing on all the instruments - they sound so right and organic. The lyrics are beautifully crafted - reflecting the silliness of the stories, a comforting world I’d sometimes like to retreat to - and your voice and melodies work really well - reminded me of your own song about going deep down south. A touch of the Bonzo Dog band too - really lovely.
Tim and Julie Warner - Give the game away
Great guitar playing - in fact the musicianship throughout is great. Another silly song about a ridiculous situation - a cuckold hoisting himself on his own petard. Lucky neighbour! This is funny and clever. I like it when it breaks down to just the voices. A complete song - wouldn’t it be great if you could hear something like this on the radio?
Rob Warner - This heroic approach
Super groove from the off - drum and bass - yummy! Reminds me of one of my all-time favourite bands - Scritti Politti - brilliant. Great playing throughout. The lyrics work - and I think the ‘face up to what’s real’ works as a hook that could be developed further.. I always love your voice and it’s as strong as ever here. A very grown up, satisfying sound.
Tim and Glyn - Something will be found
You guys have a unique sound - dreamy and relaxed. Lovely harmonies and lovely unexpected chord changes. I love the fact that it’s so short, leaves the listener wanting more and reflects the lyric about not being able to find the key. (Although that line did remind me of the old joke about how you know when there’s a singer at the front door…. They can’t find the key and they don’t know when to come in. Boom boom!)
Phil Sanderson - From nothing to more than nothing
Fabulous harmonies in the opening acapella section - really pleasing. And then you introduce this super groove - totally unexpected. This really works. The lyrics even make a bit of sense!! The guitar reminds me of Genesis - just wandering around in the background adding colour to the sound. Lovely production all round - I like the way the gruff voice is counterbalanced by the silky smooth voices. You’ve made something out of something. Super!
Christian Duffin - Breathe more deeply
You seem to have more chords than I’ve ever heard - all those augmented ninth diminished whatevers add subtlety and nuance to every song that you write. Super harmonies, fab lyrics - lessons for us all. ‘The Isle of Man or Turkmenistan’ - inspired! You have no fear about writing about the difficult subjects in life, but you always bring optimism to the bleakest of outlooks. A guy who is injured decides to see the world. Like I say, a lovely song with lessons for us all.
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Post by eddiecustard on May 21, 2016 22:59:37 GMT
Sorry for the belated response this month - some very good stuff here.
Stephen Clarke - Wodehouse World
The excellent singing, melodies, and the sense of fun are the standout features of another loveable Stephen composition. The tune behind the line ‘Sunny refuge on rainy days’ sounds really good and there are multiple great rhymes.
It’s got a lot of buoyancy and is something The Kinks would be very proud of. Just the right use of the lead guitar to introduce new ideas and little fills. Another winner.
Give the Game Away - Tim and Julie
A man unable to conceive with his partner is concerned that his infertility/low sperm count will be made public? The solution: get the lookalike neighbour as a stand-in. This is another excellent starting point for a classic Tim comedy, which contains some well-placed grunts and a sting in the tale (not literally). Musically, it skips along beautifully. Tim’s singing remains on an upward curve and he deserves marks for the quirks that include the a cappella section, the cowbell and the sudden change of tone on 1.36. The harmonies are spot on. Bright, tuneful, funny and very enjoyable.
Are We Nearly There – Colin Parish
The third good comedy of the week, complete with background noises of children and a weary adult trying to keep his sanity. Colin’s pulled together some good lyrics here, my favourite being the bit about the foghorn waking the kids just when the driver was enjoying some peace as they slept.
There’s an inventive use of voices to represent different characters. Especially effective is the crying and squeaky voice of the child near the end and the ‘eat your crisps’ line. I like the unexpected sound of the solo at around 1.30. Colin has been modest about his musical skills – he can play the piano and the guitar. Could have been a big hit in the 70s if Colin had sold it to The Grumbleweeds or The Wurzels.
From Nothing…to More Than Nothing – Phil Sanderson
Not sure why you’re down on this one, Phil – it’s certainly not Aston Villa territory; you’re far higher up the league than that. I like the synth beat at the beginning and the whispery vocals. There are lots of catchy bits, and the ‘Disconnect from Desire…’ section is especially strong with its ethereal and tuneful air. Not really sure what the song is about but the atmospherics and the melodies are high quality. The twists and turns keep us guessing and yet there is plenty to hang on to. Good use of space. This is one of my favourite of yours from recent months. Great stuff.
This Heroic Approach – Rob Warner
Rob’s hit his stride with this outstanding song – one of the best things he’s done. I like tone of the organ, and the bass always sounds great on Rob’s work. He’s always reaching for the uncommon chord and the slightly obscure, and yet his melodic journeys have accessibility too. Extremely good.
Something Will Be Found – Tim and Glyn
Soulful, melodic and airy, with some very nice chords. There’s the sort of high quality, breathy vocals we’ve come to expect from Glyn, alongside the interesting tunes that flow throughout this short piece. Excellent chord change at 0.44 to bring in the chorus. You should definitely finish it off – this isn’t simply a crumb of an idea, you’ve got the lot here. Please polish it and re-enter in future. It’ll be very popular.
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Post by timwarner on May 23, 2016 8:54:55 GMT
Congratulations to Stephen, Rob and Christian. It was a good month and your songs certainly captured the hearts (and votes) of almost everybody, leaving the rest of us scratching around for some crumbs. If anyone's interested, attached is the story I based my song on. I can't think what initially attracted me to the story. Attachments:
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Post by Rob W on May 23, 2016 8:55:21 GMT
Wow! A three-way split! That doesn't happen very often. Both Christian and Stephen were worthy winners this month. Congrats.
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Post by stephen on May 23, 2016 16:39:21 GMT
Cheers, and congrats to the co-winners. I would have liked four votes this month - very tough to decide.
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Post by colinallcars on May 23, 2016 19:56:04 GMT
Great songs this month, as shown by the spit in the votes. Well done everyone.
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Post by eddiecustard on May 24, 2016 9:43:32 GMT
Well done everyone - a strong month for songs.
A fascinating tale, Tim.
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tandg
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by tandg on May 25, 2016 21:45:45 GMT
Well done to the three of you - three very good songs. Although I'd love to know more about how you recorded the songs, what I really want to know was over what period were the "72 attempts"?
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