Dont Keep Your Love Away Parts 1 And 2

EricMilligan

19th Sep 2014 20:41 - 11 years ago

1274 18 66 30

Dont Keep Your Love Away Parts 1 and 2 - Orchestral track by EricMilligan

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19th Sep 2014 20:41 - 11 years ago

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Orchestral

7.33 MB

Description : This track is the first two sections of what will (hopefully) be a three-part piece — essentially a suite. I am posting parts 1 and 2 because I think they are ready for feedback from Looperman members. Part 3 isn’t done yet because it requires Human League style vocals from a singer with a distinct British accent. I have the melody and lyrics worked out. I sent a private message a while ago to a Looperman member who I think has the right voice for the job. But, haven’t had a response. Until I find a vocalist for it, I can’t finish the piece. In any case, the total file size of the complete piece would be greater than the Looperman limit, so it will have to be split into parts anyway.

Parts 1 and 2, in fact the whole thing, were inspired by acapellas posted here on Looperman by Jacques Demers:

https://www.looperman.com/acapellas/detail/6105/love-love-love-ououou-by-jacquesdemers-130bpm-dance-acapella

https://www.looperman.com/acapellas/detail/6093/dont-keep-back-2-by-jacquesdemers-107bpm-hip-hop-acapella

https://www.looperman.com/acapellas/detail/6091/dont-keep-your-love-away-from-me-by-jacquesdemers-107bpm-hip-hop-acapella

If you haven’t checked out Jacques’ tracks yet, you really should. He doesn’t set them up as “featured” so it might be easy to miss them.

The harmony in Jacques’ acapellas sounded very “Beatle-ish” to me, and that made me want to try my hand at doing a George Martin style treatment. I remembered that ScottsCovers here on Looperman had mentioned an instrument called a Mellotron, which was used by the Beatles, the Moody Blues, Genesis, along with other groups of that era, so I decided to use a VST mellotron as the primary instrument for Parts 1 and 2.

The acapella in Part 2 was in a different key than the one used for Part 1, so I needed to find a chord progression in Part 1 that would modulate the key. Jacques gave me some advice on that, which you can see in the comments on his first acapella.

Part 1 has harp, mellotron flutes, clarinet, french horns, and my attempt at a Penny Lane type trumpet solo (but much simpler). Part 2 has a string ensemble, solo oboe and trumpet in unison, and some Daniel Langois type processed guitars. Both parts were recorded at 60 bpm, largely because that’s where the acapellas seemed to sync best. However, I played the instrument tracks freestyle (rubato), so the tempo actually varies somewhat. Definitely not quantized!

There is a storyline behind this track. Part 1 is the blooming stage of a relationship. Part 2 is about the relationship in decline. Part 3, with vocals, will be about ending it.

I’ve included the transition to Part 3 (which will be a more traditional synth pop section) and just a bit of the first verse backing instrumental so you can get an idea of how things are headed in the final part.

This orchestral track was uploaded by EricMilligan. They retain full copyright and you are only entitled to listen and in some instances download. For further details on how you can use tracks see the terms and conditions and the tracks section of the help area.

Comments (30)

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NDAPOCKET123 5th Jul 2024 04:15 - 1 year ago

IM DIGGING THIS. HIT ME BACK. PEACE.

frankjavo65 1st Mar 2020 00:02 - 5 years ago

thanks for share!

LYnx999 5th Apr 2019 05:56 - 6 years ago

I could be the vocalist. Can I send you a finished version when I'm done?

FullCapicityMuzic 5th Mar 2019 15:46 - 6 years ago

Hmph! This is truly truly AMAZING! I did NOT expect those vocals in the beginning. It was like a "come follow me" hype and when I got to the destination there were angels singing, diamonds silver gold and all that sparkled floating about the atmosphere. I was greeted by lovely hosts dressed in all white, smiling, warm and welcoming me. It was like I was floating, unworried and unbothered about whatever it was I left behind. And then, what I'm guessing was part 2 took me to yet another place! Again, didn't expect the vocals, but they are so perfect here. I'm so dreamy eyed right now...I looooove your work. [now to wipe up some of this drool] Great great stuff! :-)

EricMilligan replied 5th Mar 2019 - 6 years ago

Thanks for the very nice feedback on the track, Patricia. It's great to see you back on Looperman. It's been a while, not that I should talk. I've been here only sporadically and haven't posted any tracks for quite a while. Anyway, I've often wondered how you were doing and if you would return.

I must tell you that I have been sitting on a partially finished track using your spoken acapella, "Summer Breeze". I actually think it's pretty good, or capable of being pretty good. BUT, I need a male vocalist (baritone) for it. Needs to have a voice like Luther Vandross or perhaps Barry White. So, it has sat on my hard disk for years, unfinished. Very frustrating because I think it could be something worth listening to.

You had a cold when you did that acapella and it gave your voice a husky character that really set the feel of the track. That's what inspired me.

Regards,

Eric

sheensheep 17th Jun 2017 11:34 - 8 years ago

I usually avoid older tracks on users' profiles, but I just had to leave my thoughts on this one.

This is a brilliant masterpiece. It's so expressive with so much emotion all the way through. And as the track continues to evolve it never loses its touch, with each section never feeling out of place. I disagree with @ sqrtofneg1 when he mentioned the trumpet sounds out of place. It gives of a feeling of confidence which I mention later.

I love how it transitions from this beautiful orchestral piece to the drum and guitar part (which feels intense and yet somehow calm at the same time. I almost can’t put it into words), then goes on to this electronic feeling break.

As I listen through the song, it becomes extremely easy to conjure up vivid images and stories in my head. It’s the mark of a great listening experience.

I think you’ve achieved what you’ve set out to do in capturing the blooming stage of a relationship, then seeing it decline in part 2. The first part gives off an air of mystery, curiosity, and shyness, and when the trumpets come in, it sounds like the person has become more confident to approach. Then the harps come in and it feels like the start of something beautiful. I can imagine two happy faces smiling in each other’s wake.

Then in part two, the mix of beauty from the guitar and intensity from the drums feels like two people who care about each other (or maybe once did) start to fall apart. I could go on forever so I think I’ll stop here Haha

The perfect mixing is only a bonus. I can only imagine the amount of time you spent on this track. I really wish that someday the third part will come to light, even though it has been a long time since you uploaded this. It feels like a story has been left unfinished.

There are some really good tracks here on Looperman, but in my opinion, this one tops it all. I really hope you continue to make music like this.

-Sheen

EricMilligan replied 27th Jun 2017 - 8 years ago

Thank-you for listening and for your very kind comments, Sheensheep! I'm glad you liked the track. I feel badly that I haven't finished it. I suspect I could could find a suitable singer (for hire) on Soundbetter, but I just haven't got the lyrics right yet. And I'm reluctant to pay out good $ to complete a song that really isn't as good as I think it could be. Interestingly, I really haven't attempted anything like this since. It was entirely dependent on those wonderful acapellas from Jacques Demers. I have several other tracks of varying genres in development, but nothing ready for exposure here on Looperman. All require vocals and the lyrics just aren't flowing for me. But, I keep on trying. :)

sqrtofneg1 17th Feb 2017 20:16 - 8 years ago

Woah.

This is astoundingly good.

It's extremely expressive, it captures the emotion of love.

Sounded a lot like the beatles at the beginning, but it morphed into something else later on.

The trumpet part in the first part sounded just a little bit out of place when it first came in.

Fantastic first part.

The second part had some expanding synths around 4:00 that were great.
Also, something like mallet percussion is prevalent throughout the second part, which added a little bit of sparkle.

The third part sounded promising as well.

It would be great if you did finish this project - I would like to hear it in it's entirety.

EricMilligan replied 27th Jun 2017 - 8 years ago

Thanks, sortofneg1. I'm sorry I didn't respond to your post sooner. I do appreciate your listening and leaving a comment. I agree, the third part does sound promising and it is very frustrating that I haven't been able to finish it off. I have partially completed lyrics. Not great, but getting there. My hoped-for singer didn't pan out. Still looking, but frankly, no sense locking in a signer if I don't have lyrics for them to sing. So, this remains a work in progress. Many other tracks in the same status, I'm afraid. I seem to be getting more picky about what I am willing to share (not satisfied with the quality of my tracks) and, at the same time, finding it harder to finish off anything. Is a bad combination I think. :)

athousandmarias 18th Aug 2016 14:59 - 9 years ago

Eric,

I stumbled upon a trailer for a children’s book that featured a classical guitar and violin rendition of The Beatles’ Blackbird. Then I remembered ‘Don’t Keep Your Love Away’ and I just had to visit Looperman and listen to your track again. :)
Masterful. Love how you created this beautiful mosaic of sound around Jacques amazing acapella tracks. You really captured “the blooming stage of a relationship”. Part 1 is definitely my favorite. Listening to it induces one into a state of seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. That, indeed, is what happens during the initial stage.

Thanks for being very detailed in the description, I'm learning a lot as I read the story behind the two pieces.

Looking forward to hearing Part 3 and a lot more new music from you!

Really wonderful work :)

EricMilligan replied 18th Aug 2016 - 9 years ago

Thanks itiyati! I really appreciate the positive feedback on this track. It is the only one I've left up on Looperman. My plans for completing the third section of the track kind of fell apart because I couldn't find a vocalist to collaborate with. Actually, all my music-making has hit a roadblock because pretty much everything I've been composing has been intended for vocalists. And, I can't sing at all! :)

jacquesdemers 23rd Mar 2015 10:06 - 10 years ago

hi eric its me jacques dont worry i,m still alive, " i,ll be back" and it,s gonna be
" not to bad girl's " , so they let me out of they psychiatric hospital......it's a joke...because i found an unlock door and i run out, so fast, i heard what you did and i was impress of your work , i love that and i just want to thank you to used my files, this time i move from my big and expencive place for more modest, its gonna take a few weeks and i'll be back with new stuff, than i did this winter, take care , jacques demers

EricMilligan replied 23rd Mar 2015 - 10 years ago

Bonjour, Jacques! It is SO good to hear from you again. I was worried. I thought you had abandoned us here at Looperman.

I'm very glad to hear that you liked how I used your files. They were great inspiration for me. The track has been pretty well received by Looperman members. Unfortunately, I have not found a vocalist to finish off Part 3 of the track, but I keep searching and hoping.

I am looking forward to hearing what you've done over the winter. I have not been very productive. I did just complete the Berklee Music online Songwriting Course. Very interesting. Focus was entirely on writing lyrics.

Eric

Spivkurl 20th Dec 2014 15:59 - 10 years ago

This is a very enjoyable couple of track! Very soothing and dreamy. Overall I thought that the quality of the mix was really nice! I only noticed that there was a little crackling in the right side near the beginning of the first track, which could be clipping, but maybe it comes from the melotron VST? Not a big deal. And then in the second track, the bass seemed very heavy to the left, which of course could be fully intentional. Just thought I'd bring it up because I just was talking to you about mono tracks. Everything else struck me as very pleasing! Nicely composed and performed! Fave!

EricMilligan replied 21st Dec 2014 - 10 years ago

Pat: I really appreciate your advice and explanation about use of mono in your response to my comment on the "Proximal Vicinity" track. I'm in the process of trying to figure out how to convert stereo tracks to mono. I'll check out the Logic Pro plugins, but I thought there might be channel strip setting that I could change. Some of my VSTs give me the option of loading a mono version of the instrument, so starting off on the right footing might be the better solution.

Your comments on the Don't Keep Your Love Away track were really interesting to me and I've just spent some time trying to figure out what was going on. I had an adaptive limiter set for a max output of 0db as the last plugin on my mastering output track, so I thought that would avoid clipping distortion unless I had clipping occurring in one of the instrument channels. My master output showed a max level of -2.7 db for the first part of the project so I thought I was OK. Then I inserted a metering plugin and changed its location in the sequence of plugins I was using in the mastering output track to see what each of the various compressors, EQs, etc. I had on the channel was doing to the output signal before hitting the adaptive limiter. I discovered that I had a compressor that was pushing the signal above 0db on the left channel. I also found that I had levels in a couple of the individual instrument tracks exceeding 0db, although it was my understanding that there actually is headroom on those tracks in Logic Pro and slight overages do not cause clipping.

The bass imbalance on the second track is a puzzle to me. I checked level meters for the bass tracks and left and right channels are completely aligned in their movements throughout the track. I need to listen to the track and not watch the meters I think to see if I can figure out what's going on. Anyway, thanks for the advice. It has prompted me to pay more attention to details on my mixes and not to just assume that a limiter at the end of the signal chain will right all wrongs! :)

Carrol 8th Dec 2014 12:31 - 11 years ago

This is a lovely piece of music, I can picture an orchestra on a stage playing this and there was a tiny snippet in the vocals in the beginning that reminded me of Kate Bush. Can't wait to hear it finished.