Green Grow The Rashes

[The Babel Fish Project]

This song is the first finished work (and planned to be the first release) of a new Babel Fish Project collaboration between myself (Derek) on guitar and vocals, Anni Coyne (vocals) and Mark Taylor (12-string and bass). I'd love some feedback on it from the collective. Hope you enjoy it.

[The Babel Fish Project]

LOL, you guys always get the rough end of the stick (pun intended).

Hey look, can I ask a favour? I've got an unfinished track, it's second on my player (the AFC player, not the widget), Can't Weld A Body, cover of a Karine Polwart song.

I've only done one percussive thing so far, and that took a surprisingly long time, because I wanted a particular sound, the sound of rivets being knocked in with a sledgehammer. Not having access to a convenient shipyard, I eventually settled on a hammer and mattock combo.

Thing is, no particular hurry or anything, but if you get the chance I'd like to have your thoughts on what else you might do with it. I like the idea of industrial type percussion, because it suits the subject matter of the song.

It's also missing a solo instrument for a short instrumental break in the middle, but I had a new idea for that last night. I didn't want to put it up here because, although I've got her blessing to do a version of it, it's not finished and she hasn't heard it yet.

Now there's a confronting experience - playing a cover to the person who wrote it and waiting for their reaction! Should be fun! ;-)

[The Babel Fish Project]

Hi, I'm Mark, I'm the guy that predominantly produced the track in my little home studio, played the 12 string guitar solo, and "programmed" (ie played with the matrix on Garageband) the drum parts, and they are just a rough 1st version. I am loving all your feedback, and without access to a side snare, I think the next stage is maybe replacing the first half of the snare part with toms, and mixing the percussion down a little (sorry, I'm a rock/metal guy when it comes to drums, and I agree that the drummer is clearly the most important part [ie Bonham, Paice, Grohl, Lombardo, donati, etc]) in other words, loud and tight. Can't wait to hear your feedback on the next version!

[The Babel Fish Project]

... By the way (Mark again obviously), I don't know about Suzan Vega,I was thinking Jimmy Page (Zep 3), and Blind Melon. Seasons Greetings to yawl!

[Tim 'tbone' Tapling]

No
I cant take the credit for this thread ..
but its an area of production I'm interested in .

[The Babel Fish Project]

Oops! Who did I inadvertently risk offending by not crediting them? Ah, it was BTE. Sorry!

[Bell Tone Easy]

lol..

As far as I am concerned, if there's any offense taken at the opinions expressed here, as long as they are honest and fair, the offended party must misunderstand the purpose of the group.

I don't edit myself much here. If you're interested in feedback, I'll give you what I got. It's not all thought through and through, or always sensible. Or worthy of consideration. But it's a gut reaction, based on listening.

So heee! no offense even entered my mind...

[The Babel Fish Project]

Good. I was only concerned to give credit where it's due. I had mistakenly given credit to someone else for coming up with the song review group, when the idea was actually yours.

I joined to get the honest feedback, gut reactions and all, and I wanted to say what a good idea it was, and how well it was working for me. I've had heaps of helpful suggestions etc, so... thanks for putting it together!

[The Babel Fish Project]

Thank you very much to everyone who contributed to this discussion. The feedback has been invaluable. We think we have it now. Here is the 2nd, and hopefully final, evolution since I first posted it here, and it incorporates many ideas and suggestions from group members. I'll leave the old one up here for comparison purposes, I think it might demonstrate why a group like this is so useful!
Once again, thanks everybody, I hope it's to your liking.
Derek.

[Tim 'tbone' Tapling]

Sweet !

[Bell Tone Easy]

I just heard the re-mix and it's beyond my expectations, wonderful additions of vocals & instrumentation.

Sweet.

[The Babel Fish Project]

Thanks guys, you both contributed a lot to the discussion, and that helped us improve it, especially that percussion. I like it much better now. We have also 'tweaked' the vocals and instruments to get what we think is a better 'balance.' We've called it the AFC re-mix because of all the great contributions here.

Derek.

[Bell Tone Easy]

Cool.. we'll call this discussion a successful wrap then :)