Fragile Gods - "Shadowboxing"
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6346 posts since 18 Jul, 2008 from New York
https://soundcloud.com/fragilegods/shadowboxing
The lyrics are on Soundcloud. Any feedback is appreciated.
The lyrics are on Soundcloud. Any feedback is appreciated.
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- KVRAF
- 2824 posts since 19 Mar, 2008 from germany
"Shadowboxing": A fantastic song!
The combination of grooving EDM elements and complex vocals is amazing.
The rhythm is relaxed and captivates you. The singing is partly composed like
a choir, partly amplified by vocoder voices - and gives the song its very unique
character.
I also think it's good that you dare to go over 4 minutes long. Because often a
motif - and a theme - needs some time to develop and create a certain mood.
And you did it well here.
The text is tough stuff: it's about the constant battle in the subconscious with
oneself, with one's own traumas and injuries, which everyone deals with
throughout their lives. The lyrics also convey desperation and the impossibility
of really overcoming one's own influences.
Overall: A song on a topic that is actually constantly relevant - very pleasing and
impressively musically presented.
The combination of grooving EDM elements and complex vocals is amazing.
The rhythm is relaxed and captivates you. The singing is partly composed like
a choir, partly amplified by vocoder voices - and gives the song its very unique
character.
I also think it's good that you dare to go over 4 minutes long. Because often a
motif - and a theme - needs some time to develop and create a certain mood.
And you did it well here.
The text is tough stuff: it's about the constant battle in the subconscious with
oneself, with one's own traumas and injuries, which everyone deals with
throughout their lives. The lyrics also convey desperation and the impossibility
of really overcoming one's own influences.
Overall: A song on a topic that is actually constantly relevant - very pleasing and
impressively musically presented.
free mp3s + info: andy-enroe.de songs + weird stuff: enroe.de
- KVRAF
- 2297 posts since 22 Sep, 2016
Hm, I'm afraid that i don't like the mix. Sorry, Frantz. Big heap fan of yours usualy, but not of this one.Frantz wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 2:16 am https://soundcloud.com/fragilegods/shadowboxing
The lyrics are on Soundcloud. Any feedback is appreciated.
The music seems disconnected from the lyrics. And there's some mid "resonances" in the lyrics that my ears don't digest well. Please don't take it personal. I struggled whether I want to be so harsh
May be the lyrics are just a bit too loud to blend well with the music, and may be one or two gentle multiband / mix compressors in sequence in the master would help to glue things.
- KVRAF
- 2833 posts since 5 Jun, 2011 from Preston, England, UK
Quality as always
thoroughly enjoyed...
We need to get a KVR compilation going
thoroughly enjoyed...
We need to get a KVR compilation going
The inner workings of vurts mind are a force to be reckoned with.
music is a need in my life...yes I could survive without it but tbh I dont know how
myfeebleeffort
https://paulroach2.bandcamp.com/
https://hearthis.at/83hdtrvm/
music is a need in my life...yes I could survive without it but tbh I dont know how
myfeebleeffort
https://paulroach2.bandcamp.com/
https://hearthis.at/83hdtrvm/
- KVRAF
- 2030 posts since 19 Aug, 2008
Shades of Kraftwerk a lot in this one. Enjoyable and well produced as usual.
Hmm, the vocal melody wasn't quite creative enough to grip me on this one, lack of variation imho.
Good to hear Aika back. Some very good moments and embellishments in the song, which were enjoyable.
Hmm, the vocal melody wasn't quite creative enough to grip me on this one, lack of variation imho.
Good to hear Aika back. Some very good moments and embellishments in the song, which were enjoyable.
- KVRist
- 152 posts since 1 Oct, 2005
Excellent. I really enjoyed that!
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6346 posts since 18 Jul, 2008 from New York
Very glad you liked it. There were no vocoders on this one. I used Synthesizer V to create the female backing vocals which turned out to be pretty involved.enroe wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 7:00 am "Shadowboxing": A fantastic song!
The combination of grooving EDM elements and complex vocals is amazing.
The rhythm is relaxed and captivates you. The singing is partly composed like
a choir, partly amplified by vocoder voices - and gives the song its very unique
character.
I also think it's good that you dare to go over 4 minutes long. Because often a
motif - and a theme - needs some time to develop and create a certain mood.
And you did it well here.
The text is tough stuff: it's about the constant battle in the subconscious with
oneself, with one's own traumas and injuries, which everyone deals with
throughout their lives. The lyrics also convey desperation and the impossibility
of really overcoming one's own influences.
Overall: A song on a topic that is actually constantly relevant - very pleasing and
impressively musically presented.
I decided to let this one go a bit longer because I liked the sounds that were introduced in the final chorus and decided to let it play out for a bit longer than usual.
These days I am rewriting or improvising the lyrics as I'm singing and am often surprised what direction the lyrics go in. I am probably being overly dramatic for the sake of the song. I wouldn't take the words too seriously.
Thanks as always for your thoughtful and detailed feedback.
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6346 posts since 18 Jul, 2008 from New York
I am going to have another look at the mix and probably bring down the delay on the vocals slightly. I don't think it will change your opinion much since I am not planning on making drastic changes. I appreciate the feedback and I don't take it personally, tastes do differ.] Peter:H [ wrote: ↑Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:24 pm Hm, I'm afraid that i don't like the mix. Sorry, Frantz. Big heap fan of yours usualy, but not of this one.
The music seems disconnected from the lyrics. And there's some mid "resonances" in the lyrics that my ears don't digest well. Please don't take it personal. I struggled whether I want to be so harsh
May be the lyrics are just a bit too loud to blend well with the music, and may be one or two gentle multiband / mix compressors in sequence in the master would help to glue things.
Thanks for listening and commenting.
- KVRAF
- 5883 posts since 17 Aug, 2004 from Berlin, Germany
Some Kraftwerk DNA, but more in the electro wave direction. I like it, also the combination with the vocals! There's not a lot of low end in the track but I think it fits the style, so I notice it, but I wouldn't change anything in the mix. Good work Mr. Frantz
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6346 posts since 18 Jul, 2008 from New York
Thank you very much, J.B.jethrobull wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 6:40 am Quality as always
thoroughly enjoyed...
We need to get a KVR compilation going
- KVRAF
- 3239 posts since 28 Aug, 2012 from Melbourne, Australia
Cool track Frantz! I like the synth riffs and the vocals sound great! Great transition to the outro.
Well done.
Well done.
Bandcamp
Music with progressive intent.
Music with progressive intent.
- KVRAF
- 1692 posts since 28 Oct, 2005 from Finland
Great job! Excellent song with nice rhytm and sounds.
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- KVRist
- 224 posts since 6 Sep, 2004
The tune is spot on, Frantz.
It's my cup of tea, this.
My "stuff" wants to be like this when it grows up.
The synths sounded great. I was feeling a bit of the Aggro Mix of Never Let Me Down Again right at the start and the synth at 1.10 reminded me of another DM song, Leave in Silence.
With regards to the mix, I'd give a testicle to be able to produce an airy, open soundstage,instead of my typical congested and dull results. My mixing journey hasn't got many miles on the clock, it's in its infancy and needs serious improvement.
I also felt a little Yello vibe at times.
Nice one.
It's my cup of tea, this.
My "stuff" wants to be like this when it grows up.
The synths sounded great. I was feeling a bit of the Aggro Mix of Never Let Me Down Again right at the start and the synth at 1.10 reminded me of another DM song, Leave in Silence.
With regards to the mix, I'd give a testicle to be able to produce an airy, open soundstage,instead of my typical congested and dull results. My mixing journey hasn't got many miles on the clock, it's in its infancy and needs serious improvement.
I also felt a little Yello vibe at times.
Nice one.
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6346 posts since 18 Jul, 2008 from New York
Glad you liked it overall even if the vocal melody didn't win you over.Bansaw wrote: ↑Mon Mar 25, 2024 10:16 pm Shades of Kraftwerk a lot in this one. Enjoyable and well produced as usual.
Hmm, the vocal melody wasn't quite creative enough to grip me on this one, lack of variation imho.
Good to hear Aika back. Some very good moments and embellishments in the song, which were enjoyable.
This was Synthesizer V, not Aika, although I did try to emulate the kind of vocals she normally does. I guess it worked fairly well if it sounded human to you.
Thanks for your comments.
- KVRAF
- 11673 posts since 13 Mar, 2009 from UK
I was a little concerned when I heard the lyrics, but then I read your response to enroe and was pleased to hear that the words were not necessarily meant to be taken as autobiographical.
The SynthesizerV vocals sounded very good, and quite similar to Aika in places. For the price, it sounds like quite a bargain, and better than earlier products I have heard or demoed. My favourite voice is probably Solaria which would seem to be a better fit for ambient styles. I think eassae has used it in a few tracks in the past.
Nobody else has mentioned it, but I thought I may have heard some "congestion" in the 2k-4k range, during the first two verses.
Great outro. It wrapped the song up nicely.
Good work
The SynthesizerV vocals sounded very good, and quite similar to Aika in places. For the price, it sounds like quite a bargain, and better than earlier products I have heard or demoed. My favourite voice is probably Solaria which would seem to be a better fit for ambient styles. I think eassae has used it in a few tracks in the past.
Nobody else has mentioned it, but I thought I may have heard some "congestion" in the 2k-4k range, during the first two verses.
Great outro. It wrapped the song up nicely.
Good work