New Music Forum: November 2006
The song for November is Don’t Lay a Finger by Epiphany. This is a new, young band - listen and comment; what do you like, how could they improve? I’ve labelled sections for reference, but what do I know? Visit them on myspace.
November 11th, 2006 at 2:23 pm
I am trying to be supportive of this Forum by repsonding, but must say I am gritting my teeth when listening to this again, as the vocal is so deeply irritating with the long drawn out notes at the end of almost every line. What would be effective to use once becomes really grating after a couple of times, and almost laughable after a whole verse. The maddening thing is it sounds like he’s possibly got quite a good voice! Would be interested to hear another track with a different style of vocal delivery. Also not convinced that the rather frenetic REO Speedwagon guitar soloing really helps the song.
So is the message that I shouldn’t slap my wife? I know that anyway. And anyone who doesn’t know that isn’t going to take any notice of you lot, methinks.
November 11th, 2006 at 2:38 pm
Great track ……. like the landscape quality with arrangement and vocals which are very distinctive. Everything clearly in it’s own space and not over produced. It sounds as if you’re listening to a band playing rather than just studio production. (I’m not saying that it may not have been recorded part by part - just that I like the wholesome result-!!) Very good bass and guitar work. SMALL CITISISM NOW (-!!) - Perhaps the keyboard pad which is a very important part of the arrangement is a bit neither one thing or the other …….. not quirky enough for my taste …….. it could be either somthing for example like a mellotron string sound or Farfisa organ ( ie make the texture a bit more unusual to give the track more personality) OR it could be blander and more anonimous ……. I find the choice of ketboard sound a bit irritating and boring. There are nice changes in pace with rythmn track as the track develops which maintain the interest. However perhaps the end is unsatisfying as it sort of fizzles off ……. it might be an idea to work out an interesting resolve rather than seeming to simply fall off the end. Could the drums profit from some work on the quality of the recording ……… they sound overly compressed and plastic …… particularly the snare sounds like a cheap drum machine …… they could give the track a lot more life if some thought was given to the way they are mixed. However this is all so subjective and maybe this is simply a sound quality that was desired …….. anything that anyone writes here is simply personal opinion and I’d pefer a more dynamic sounding kit. WELL DONE PEEPS - GOOD STUFF
November 11th, 2006 at 2:56 pm
As opposed to caller number one, I really liked this track. I wonder if the vocals aren’t in fact quite hooky and sadly there are too many guys out there who may need to learn that you shouldn’t slap your wife.
November 11th, 2006 at 7:10 pm
I’m with Mr Smith on this one. Dreadful solo and guitar sound. Drums played well but sound awfull - an empty tin of baked beans springs to mind. Song very average.Sorry!
November 12th, 2006 at 7:31 pm
Everyone hears something different that’s for sure, or maybe we all hear the same thing but what makes a piece of music work is a different set of priorities for each of us. I’m not that bothered about lyrics or recording sounds (it’s a demo) but I do like to hear what the notes do.
I like the vocal - as a performance and a melody. Vocal technique needs some work - tone and intonation - but I like the way the melody evolves. It’s essentially one melodic idea that evolves. But the best bit of evolution is the arrangement - there’s a lot of craft and invention gone into this, so I enjoy listening to the whole track without getting bored after a couple of minutes.
There’s a quirky quality to the music and I suggest the band plays on this and make it their identity; the vocal sound, crafted arrangements, slightly odd chord choices. It seems to be going towards being quite theatrical - go further. Ending - always a tough one; if in doubt, try something completely off the wall.
November 13th, 2006 at 12:36 am
I like the dynamics of this tune. The sudden crescendos I think are particularly powerful and I imagine would sound great in a live environment. I also like the arpeggiated guitar as opposed to simply strumming and feel that it gives the song a good texture.
Usually I hate to agree with Dave Smith on anything as he likes to suggest I get all my musical ideas from my Tina Turner collection (which I don’t have by the way) but he really does have a point about the vocals. That long drawn out note at the end of each line really starts to grate after the first verse. It’s an interesting idea and would maybe make a good little catchy intro but continuing throughout the song is to me just over the top. It also makes the vocal sound rather amateur which is a shame because I think that this guy actually has a good sounding distinctive voice which has been let down by this singing technique.
Finally I think that the ending is ok, but saying that I reckon if you put your heads together and toy around with it, you could maybe make it a bit more eventful. Like Pete says, go for something completely off the wall. It’s suprising how often that works.
November 13th, 2006 at 11:14 pm
Hi there. So, finally my first comment on this forum. Now, the reason why I can be bothered to write anything is that this tune is rather special. As Mr Smith says, the vocals are so irritating that they finally makes me sing along “Aaaaahhaaahaaahaaaa”. I cannot stand this piece of music, would never buy the single or pay a penny to watch them live BUT I think this song has got something special to it! They’ve got great sound as a band and I personally like the guitar solo because the vocals are so sloooooow that its a relief to hear something that goes a bit crazy. The drums really paints a nice rhythmic and dynamic landscape for the song. To me it sounds like some drum&bass punk that I’ve never heard before and I can imagine people dancing to this 4am. I think this song is great because I hate it. Ciao!
December 10th, 2006 at 9:54 pm
It’s been a long time since I commented on anything so here I go. As has been said the vocal line drags on way too much, and it gets boring quick! I think some of the vocal lines and lyrical content is too repetative to retain my interest especially in the verses, by verse 2 I’m asleep. I think it needs some developing and re structuring to make it more appealing and as someone else said, the keyboard sound doesnt suit the track, maybe they could only have keyboards in the choruses, solo and middle 8, to give the verses more space and to let the vocals breathe. I think the track ending is too sudden, it stands out like a mother. The good points are that it has good dynamics in the shifts between verse and chorus as Andy has said, the guitar playing is a nice change from the norm, the arabain tinged solo is good but too early in the track. The band are ok, it’s just the singer who needs to sing with a more stacatto style voice, lagato vocals only work on slow ballads in general, not on a fast drum n bass style track. I’ve never heard anything else like this track before, so it has a certain unique quality. bye.
February 6th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
As a first thing to read, I like it. The flow is the only thing I could really point out as something to comment on. And it flows. Up until the guitar solo. If I was in a 20,000 concert listening and then that arrived I’d stop dancing, stop and stare. Where’s that come from???!!
I thought this was a fantastic band?!! (Certainly sounded like it)
Different instrument, rhythms, person?
Seriously, sit him down and someone else stand up!