Ears please!

[SteveJCurtis]

Hi all.
I haven't been on here in a while so please excuse me if I ask for your assistance on this instrumental and would be grateful for any comments. Is it "swampy" enough for this listing? (and although it's 3 mins plus, I can edit it before I send it in - it's due tomorrow!) Thanks!

Link to instrumental:
https://soundcloud.com/stevejcurtis/cottonmouth-swamp

for this listing:
TAXI #Y170924SI
SWAMPY INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by the CEO of a very successful Music Library with a really long track record of great Film, TV, and Advertising placements. They’re on the hunt for well-crafted, Instrumental Cues in All Tempos that are in the same general ballpark as these references:

“Swamp Blues (Slide/Bottleneck)”

“Mean Old Thing” by Andrew Kubiszewki

“Southern Comfort Slide Guitar Cover"

Please give them swampy Instrumental Cues with a real-deal, backwoods vibe, style and sound. Ensemble size can vary; anything from a duo to a full band sound can work for this pitch. Your Cues should stick to a central melodic motif while adding layers of additional instrumentation as they progress. Anything that sounds stiff, synthetic, or MIDI driven won’t work for this pitch. Pieces that would work in any of the “Gator” or “Mountain Men” shows with moods that range from emotionally upbeat to tension-based could work well, but don’t limit yourself to just those!

All submissions should be about 1:30 minutes in length, give or take, with non-faded/buttoned endings.

[augietaylor]

You did a nice job on this! I like the feel. Definitely feels backwoods, nice performance. I need to say that the only critical thing is the tambourine. Seems out of time sometimes and at the start a tad out of control and at end of snap, the jingles fade unevenly. Maybe it's my ears. Nice job and the tambourine doesn't really get in the way but would be nice to clean it up a bit.

Glad you stayed away from a tremolo guitar. I usually love one but it's nice to not have that as so many of these sounds tend to have that. Nice to be different!

I like the B and C parts of the song, both sound comforting, which lends to the place where this song comes from. Home. Woods. Maybe swampy, but I can't reference swampy since I've rarely been around a swamp.

[funsongs]

From the Peanut Gallery -
first: did not listen to the ref tracks... so these are just straight-up comments from my ears .
really like the panning/separation/sense of airy-space in the mix; very cool instrumentation & composition.
the only thing that MIGHT make it even "swampier" - is if it was even a tab-bit slower, less tempo - more 'lazy/swampy'.
my 2 cents' worth.
Oh - and, good title, too - and that's always important.

[feaker66]

Hi Steve I say this is really good. I closed my eyes and I could see that old porch with someone in the rocking chair. Great playin on all counts. fingers crossed here

Sincerely

Paul

[ComposerLDG]

Not the genre I write in, but that is some nice playing. Nice easy going track, definitely sounds to me like it fits the bill.

[steveboy]

Hi Steve,

I think it's swampy enough and I think you might be able to edit this into a couple of cues. Good luck with it!

[SteveJCurtis]

Hi guys.
Many thanks indeed for your input.
I have re-mixed and edited down to around 1.40ish - I can't seem to get it to 1.30 as per the listing but it does say"1.3 give or take.." so I hope I get away with it.

If y'all are interested in hearing the edited version, here's a link:
https://soundcloud.com/stevejcurtis/cot ... swamp-edit

Many thanks again and have a great day!
SJC

[SteveJCurtis]

ps...Peter, sorry, I couldn't change the tempo because it would mean re-recording the various guitars and I just ran out of time on this one. Good suggestions though. All the best!

[funsongs]

ps...Peter, sorry, I couldn't change the tempo because it would mean re-recording the various guitars and I just ran out of time on this one. Good suggestions though. All the best!

No worries - it still sounds great, and prompts me to wanna write Swampy Cue titles!
Bullfrogs in My Rearview Mirror
On the tempo thing - some folks have that program that can change BPM without altering the key or sound quality; I don't have it, sad to report.
Certainly didn't expect you to do a re-do.

[SteveJCurtis]

Bullfrogs in My Rearview Mirror

Ha ha ha!!! Brilliant!