KVR Audio

Frantz · Post by **Frantz** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 10:31 pm

Dark sentiments in a synthpop package. Aika Zabala's harmonies lift the gloom.

https://youtu.be/OVpH3WVztg0

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2v6OonwVyhEoWD4GIQ7wKh

Instruments used: Hive, Repro5, Monark, Rayblaster, BFD3

Any feedback is appreciated. The lyrics are on Soundcloud. Thanks for listening.

Edits
Nov 22 - Video added.

justin3am · Post by **justin3am** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 11:12 pm

Great lyrics! Relatable. Super wide sound stage! I've been making my mixes more and more claustrophobic lately, but I always appreciate a nice spacious mix.

Great work as always. Thanks for sharing!

Dirtgrain · Post by **Dirtgrain** » Tue Nov 03, 2020 12:38 am

Your voice and singing are so cool (backup vocal is great, too). When you put delay on the end of a lead vocal line--I liked it. I wondered at one point what it would sound like if you worked in more reverb on the lead vocal here and there, but that's my amateur self just wondering. I dig it.

Unreflected · Post by **Unreflected** » Tue Nov 03, 2020 2:19 am

Very nice. I feel the main voice is out from the music, it needs integration. Effects.

ChameleonMusic · Post by **ChameleonMusic** » Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:32 am

Dark sentiments indeed! The lyrics worked well with the music for me.

I feel the main voice is out from the music, it needs integration.

I agree that male vocal is pushed quite far forward in front of the mix, but I seriously think that it works there...wasn't sure on the first listen, but on the second I became more positive.

There are no rules for what works in terms of mixing in vocals, just guidelines... and, even now after doing this shebang for over 30 years, it always amazes me how some things work with one song and just suck in another.

Lead vocal performance - works really well on this one, particularly liked the timing of it all and its flow.

Song structure is strong... rises and falls between verse and chorus appropriately with a great contrasting section.

My only issue was with the instrumental backing track - great choice of sounds and generally well mixed, but possibly just a little bit flat dynamically? It's certainly got an excellent stereo presence, but maybe is a little lacking in variety from front to back of the mix? (No biggy here as it didn't detract from the listen)

layzer · Post by **layzer** » Wed Nov 04, 2020 6:58 pm

quailty work as usual Frantz ol chap. catchy and solid mix and production, imho.
i love the phrase "words i never said, echo in my head" .... if you
never said them how can they be echoing? lol. brilliant!

htcnext2 · Post by **htcnext2** » Wed Nov 04, 2020 7:23 pm

You managed to catch this typical 80s UK sound (like Psychedelic Furs eg.) esp. regarding the vocals. Dark indeed, some sentiment leftover from Pop music eruptions from the last century. Good work - always wondering about the junction of accoustic drums and synth arpeggios, which marks a unique style maybe.

Bansaw · Post by **Bansaw** » Thu Nov 05, 2020 1:40 am

Very good! Mix was excellent. Vocal melody was very interesting.
1:54 very nice refrain.
Is this a more acoustic drumkit than you normally use?
Ending was good too.

Frantz · Post by **Frantz** » Thu Nov 05, 2020 1:21 pm

justin3am wrote: ↑Mon Nov 02, 2020 11:12 pm Great lyrics! Relatable. Super wide sound stage! I've been making my mixes more and more claustrophobic lately, but I always appreciate a nice spacious mix.

Great work as always. Thanks for sharing!

Glad you enjoyed it and liked the lyrics.

Aika sang many harmonies on this so I spread her vox across the sound stage. I don't recall doing anything out of the ordinary with the synths in the mix other than keeping things sparse so there is plenty of room for individual sounds to breathe.

Thanks for your comments.

Frantz · Post by **Frantz** » Thu Nov 05, 2020 1:23 pm

Dirtgrain wrote: ↑Tue Nov 03, 2020 12:38 am Your voice and singing are so cool (backup vocal is great, too). When you put delay on the end of a lead vocal line--I liked it. I wondered at one point what it would sound like if you worked in more reverb on the lead vocal here and there, but that's my amateur self just wondering. I dig it.

I might go back and add a little reverb on the lead vocals. They are fairly upfront and dry. Thanks for listening and providing helpful feedback.

Frantz · Post by **Frantz** » Sat Nov 07, 2020 4:25 am

Unreflected wrote: ↑Tue Nov 03, 2020 2:19 am Very nice. I feel the main voice is out from the music, it needs integration. Effects.

Thanks for your comments. I may slightly tweak the reverb level on the male vocals this weekend.

e@rs · Post by **e@rs** » Sat Nov 07, 2020 10:30 am

No .mp3 this time?

Frantz · Post by **Frantz** » Sat Nov 07, 2020 4:29 pm

e@rs wrote: ↑Sat Nov 07, 2020 10:30 am No .mp3 this time?

I wasn't sure if anyone was interested in an MP3. Here it is:
FragileGods_TheWordsINeverSaid.mp3

Paladin on a Horse · Post by **Paladin on a Horse** » Sat Nov 07, 2020 5:51 pm

retro 80s pop - very catchy.

mindstuff · Post by **mindstuff** » Sun Nov 08, 2020 7:43 am

Quality production for sure. Do you release any of these tracks on any labels or... Do you do all the sound design? What is your studio like? The track reminds me of a mix of Duran Duran, Bengals, David Bowie, and a James Bond movie.

Fragile Gods - "The Words I Never Said"