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Post by Rob W on Apr 16, 2017 17:50:27 GMT
Voting and commenting is here!! (Finally!)
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Post by timwarner on Apr 20, 2017 14:01:31 GMT
Funk then, huh? I think we have some very different ideas on what that means or, perhaps, the song takes on a life of it’s own and steers us away from the funky course. In order to sound funky, I’ve found it’s more important than usual to listen on a good sound system or headphones. Listening through the laptop speakers really doesn’t do it. That said, I like to listen in sub-optimal conditions to see if the song still comes across.
I’m not sure I can think of the lyrics of any funk song I’ve ever heard so, to me at least, the lyrics seem less important than usual.
I’m In Love (but she doesn’t give a funk) - Stephen Clarke
To me, this really feels like that famously funky band, the Kinks. It had been mentioned you’re not keen on genre tasks and, in this case, I think your story telling has got in the way of the task. I especially like the break-down at about 2 mins.
The Best Thing In This Crummy Town - Christian Duffin
Ah! That’s pretty funky. Funky sounds for guitar and bass. I love the ‘Kiss’ era Prince and this reminds me of that. The complexity of the chords puts it more towards the jazz end of funk (I’m sure there’s a name for it). A good, straight forward melody is nicely moved along by those chords shifting under it. I love the Bvox in the chorus. Julie hardly mentioned 'plinky-plinky' when we listened.
Change The Destination - Phil Sanderson
Really strong funky start. Then I get distracted by the drums which remind of of ‘Look Back In Anger’ at times. There is some rip-roaring shredding. It’s an interesting take on your new circumstances. I hope you take advantage of some of the opportunities. Exciting times.
Leave Our Fields Alone - Tim & Glyn
A funky protest song? Groovy. Lovely patient build up then, a good groove that isn’t interrupted by too many chord changes. This is really good. Then, in comes Simon with another wonderful solo. If there is a problem, it’s that the solo is SO good the rest of the song supports the superb solo but, it could be i’m just a guitar nerd.
Tiny Hands, Tall Tales - Me
I would like to have had another go at coming up with a melody line. Unusually for me, I’ve written the month’s longest song and, when I listen back to the offerings, it certainly feels like it.
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Post by stephen on Apr 23, 2017 17:59:42 GMT
Christian D Best Thing Yes, nicely tight trousers in the verses, and the layers of rhythm guitar are pretty Prince-like too. The bass is solidly economic, almost a percussion instrument. Best bit for me is the guitar riff behind the "nobody's chased me" bit and the outro, very smooth and memorable.
Phil S Change the Destination First time I've ever heard acoustic funk, but then I should get out more. It's one of your trademark atmospheric songs, with the distorted electric guitar and slightly weird beat, funkier than usual, but still recognizable. Nice hook, the destination/station lines work very well. Breaking free from the 9 to 5 is pretty funky.
Tim & Glyn Leave Our Fields Alone A useful thing to have, a hot in-house guitarist. Good funk workout feel, very live-sounding. The "so rich, too bad" section works very well to lift us into the chorus, and the hook will be a great one to sing while you're lying in front of the bulldozers.
Tim & Julie Tiny Hands Very catchy bass riff, the laid-back beat and the title giving the whole thing a whimsical feel. I like the way you keep the hook line coming at us, sort of grinds it into the brain. It reminds me a bit of Ian Dury and the Blockheads.
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Post by eddiecustard on Apr 25, 2017 10:50:08 GMT
Stephen - I’m in Love (But She Doesn’t Give a Funk)
The verse reminds me of an indie band in the mould of Joy Division but as Stephen says, the funk does kick in – and to great effect – on the ‘I’m in Love’ section of the chorus. This is the highlight, and deserving of a big production. There’s a clever change of tack with the chord change just after ‘I’ve been trying not to lose my mind’, and I like the conversation exchange that goes: ‘Funk off and die. What?’
It took me a few listens to figure out what the deluded narrator was saying in the bit at the end as he stands forlornly outside the door with a packet of condoms. But it was worth the effort with the funny pay-off line of ‘how do you know? You haven’t even seen it’. I like the way you’ve changed the vocal setting/delivery here to a slightly distant tone to convey the idea that the narrator is out in the cold.
Mine: The chorus is actually ‘nobody shakes me like you do.’ The singer would have loved being chased, but alas it never happened.
Phil – Change the Destination
I really enjoyed this one; even though it doesn’t remind me of any funk song I’ve ever heard. It’s another brooding, minor key outing for Phil, and yet has a breezy, insistent quality. I like the speedy path to the chorus. It doesn’t seem to be about a divorce – perhaps a couple being more ambitious in their travel plans, or deciding to move to another country? Are you about to join Stephen in Paris? Two minutes is often all you need, and you’ve packed a lot of successful ideas into this one; the acoustic guitar stabs, the urgency of the pacing and dual vocal work stand out.
Tim and Glynn - Leave Our Fields Alone.
I found myself singing ‘hey, farmer, leave our fields alone’, before I’d even heard this one. This is the funkiest song of week. There’s a powerful pulse on the bass at the beginning and Glynn’s harmonies are great on ‘Leave Our Fields Alooooone’. The introduction of the funky rhythm guitar at 28 seconds is neatly timed and well played. The verse has a spritely vibe, and there’s an excellent guitar solo, with some jagged edges. Hope they do leave your neighbourhood undeveloped - play this on loop if the diggers arrive.
Tim and Julie – Tiny Hands, Tall Tales
Nice economical bass – there aren’t many notes, but they all count. This works just right to help create a nifty funk sound and ambient mood. As usual Tim and Julie manage to wring interesting musical swerves out of very few chord changes. There are some nice descending guitar shapes in the instrumental section just before the two-minute mark. This is funk of a laidback, ambient quality – well done.
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tandg
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by tandg on Apr 29, 2017 17:13:21 GMT
In googling ‘funk’, I came across a definition that said that each instrumental part adds rhythm rather than melody. This probably explains why none of us sound, or indicate in our commentary, that we are entirely comfortable with the genre – I don’t see us a collective of rhythm junkies (if there is such a thing) but what a good impact the theme had on the songwriting!
Stephen Clarke – I’m in Love (but she doesn’t give a funk) There’s a bit of a battle going on here. Funk is the one musical style where you could have got away with American pronunciation and while normally I would be totally in agreement to pronounce in song how you speak, the song definitely sets off with ‘a white man trying funk’ vibe. Nonetheless it bowls along nicely and just as I thought I knew where it was all going, in bursts the wonderful chord change and harmonies on ‘lose my mind’ to be immediately followed by the chorus, which to my ear sounds genuinely funky – especially as the guitar backs off, leaving the drums and bass parts to shine. The unexpected lyrical “frankness” is really funny and this is all round good fun.
Christian Duffin – The Best Thing in this Crummy Town What a brilliant introduction! Sounds really funky straight away. I particularly love the short reverb/echo sound on the verse vocals and you just about hold the funk intention together until it hits the chorus. At that point your obvious love of killer chord changes and flowing harmonies takes over. That’s not particularly a criticism – if I didn’t know the theme was funk, the invention and variation between verse and chorus would make this an absolute favourite. I listened to it several times in a row and think it is one of your most accomplished songs – beautifully performed and mixed and full of warmth.
Phil Sanderson – Change the Destination After the shock of the thong song, this feels like a return to normality for Phil. The drum track is great and the song really feels slightly breathless like it’s racing to a destination. I’m not certain that’s really funk but like Christian’s song, the theme has helped you to step a bit outside your (un)conventional style and it really works. On headphones the ‘call and response’ effect of the vocals is great and the swirling, shifting sounds make it a compelling piece of composition. Great guitar finale as well!
Tim & Julie – Tiny Hands, Tall Tales Now this does sound like funk! Your description of having to programme the bass part doesn’t really surprise me – it works perfectly with the song and renders this song as a bit of a triumph but it would be so difficult to play accurately throughout the whole song. Let’s face it, most white men struggle with such a rhythm-based musical genre and one of the benefits of SWC is that we have to learn how genres work (and have a new respect for really good songs that fit the genre). The guitar part is really nicely timed and well recorded but my favourite part of the song is the brilliant ‘tiny hands’ backing vocal. Not only is its timing exquisite but the lovely way it tails off is perfect. This is such a good song as a result and like the others, the effect of introducing an unfamiliar genre has pushed you to produce a song that is thoroughly enjoyable.
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Post by philsanderson on Apr 30, 2017 17:48:12 GMT
My reviews are on their way - hopefully before mid evening! ( I have voted, though!) The artist formerly known as 'Europhil' has occupied my music room today and really cannot safely be left alone. ( plus i'm on standby in case Interpol arrive to take him back to Marseilles Prison)
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Post by philsanderson on Apr 30, 2017 21:04:17 GMT
Apologies for late posting of review, I almost got there for 2100, but when I realised I wouldn’t make it in time I diverted my energies towards repairing the damage done to my house by ‘the artist formerly known as Europhil’ ( it's OK, my wife knows a good plumber )
Stephen
The guitar parts, chords… almost have a heavy metal/rock touch to them ( not a criticism, but it’s the first impression I got from the song and it’s stuck with me since!)
Really like the break out into different drum/ percussion sounds when they happen. Great lead and backing vocals, especially on the ‘lose my mind’ lines. The groove on the chorus is funky and foot tappingly catchy.
Christian
Quite a touch of jazz funk here - especially in the opening section. How tight were those trousers? ( the higher vocals are really good – my favourite vocal part of the month. ) The section from 2.26 to 2.47 is another real highlight. It’s all played very well - the keyboard part is excellent.
Tim and Glyn
I can picture the scene now in that field, the three of you set up and playing in front of the digger, and in an ideal world the landowner being so captivated by this great song that he calls off the builders and makes instant plans to create a nature reserve instead. Another terrific song. So many highlights, but I’d put the vocal harmony parts at the top of the pile. The groove is authentically funky and played skilfully.
Tim and Julie
When the ‘tiny hands’ line first hits your ears it could almost be annoying, but by the end of second listening to song it’s lodged in your head, refusing to shift, and I found myself singing it every time I was clutching my secateurs this weekend. What a great funky groove - you’ve really embraced the genre full on and come up with a classic. ( for my part I embraced funk whilst putting down my drum track, but then had a what the heck feeling for the rest of the writing and recording ). There are great guitar and brass sounds throughout.
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Post by timwarner on May 2, 2017 6:36:56 GMT
Well done Tim & Glyn. I think you really got the funny* feel but still produced a good song.
Edit: *funky, obviously. Curse the autocorrect.
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4. Funk
May 4, 2017 23:32:00 GMT
via mobile
Post by eddiecustard on May 4, 2017 23:32:00 GMT
Well done, T&G - a deserved winner.
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tandg
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by tandg on May 5, 2017 19:13:06 GMT
That's completely unexpected. Perhaps protest funk is an up and coming genre! Let's hope it works. Sorry to say we've only just got going on Eurovision but hope to finish over the weekend. Thanks for the kind comments.
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