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Reviews for "Under The Velveteen Skies"

Under The Velveteen Skies
by Ivan Chew
Recommends (29)
Tue, Aug 4, 2009 @ 10:08 PM
 
SackJo22
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permalink   Tue, Aug 4, 2009 @ 10:21 PM
Ohh! What a soothing wash of sound and sentiment and intent. Extraordinary. Poignant. Beautiful. This song went right into my heart. Everybody sounds so good, together. I can go on and on, but I think I will just listen again, if you don’t mind.
 
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permalink   SackJo22 Tue, Aug 4, 2009 @ 10:36 PM
I just want to add that I visited your blog post about the process of the artists involved in the creation of this music. I think this work exemplifies what I find so wonderful about the ccMixter community — the spirit of congeniality and sharing it engenders, proving that music is indeed a universal language that traverses geography and time.
 
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permalink   Ivan Chew Tue, Aug 4, 2009 @ 10:54 PM
You’ve said much better than I can! What works is also the way strangers are sharing stuff. And so the samples and the music becomes the main focus rather than Who. Meritocratic Music? :) There certainly is a sense of kinship, here at least.
Carosone
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permalink   Wed, Aug 5, 2009 @ 1:05 AM
I feel for this track (perhaps because I did a similar concept in my own “storybook”). It gives a sense of wide space, I will study to understand how you achieved it, but you might also enlighten me… And, yes, collaborations are the nut of this place, and a big joy!
cheers
fc
 
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permalink   Ivan Chew Wed, Aug 5, 2009 @ 7:16 AM
Thanks! I’m afraid I won’t be of much help in explaining how the feel of the track was achieved. It should be teru to explain it, as he mixed it all up (I suggested he should be the one to upload this title track but he politely counter-proposed I have the honour). Also, much of the underlying texture was colab’s work (see colab’s stems and his explanation here.

Basically, colab sent a piano sample (3/4 measure) to teru. Teru turned it into a 4/4 measure and colab added more stuff to it. By the time I heard the track, it was more or less complete as what you hear. My contribution was the Erhu and the guitar and narva9 came up with the lyrics and her vocals. Finally teru mixed it all in again. He refined it 2 or 3 more times after we gave additional inputs. This explains the process but maybe not the technic, so I guess it’s not as enlightening as you would expect. Thanks for listening!
 
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permalink   Ivan Chew Thu, Aug 6, 2009 @ 7:12 AM
One more thing… it seems you need to watch Star Trek the night before, in order to achieve the spacey feel. At least, that’s what teru said, as I recalled from the sequence of events (see bullet point for May 23, 2009). heh.
panu
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permalink   Wed, Aug 5, 2009 @ 3:23 AM
how wonderful. if i had heard this track without knowing anything about the participants, i would be warmed by the joy of original music played beautifully. as it is, knowing the contributors, drops of pride fill my eyes.
 
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permalink   Ivan Chew Wed, Aug 5, 2009 @ 7:35 AM
Quote: drops of pride fill my eyes :)
DoKashiteru
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permalink   Wed, Aug 5, 2009 @ 5:44 AM
Beeeeautiful. My high expectations have been met with a vengeance :D

 
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permalink   Ivan Chew Wed, Aug 5, 2009 @ 7:36 AM
I’ve heard your tracks. This is high praise. I’m sure I speak for the rest when I say “thanks for the compliments!”
colab
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permalink   Wed, Aug 5, 2009 @ 6:04 AM
Just a quick note to say on the record that I am very glad to have been part of this project - and I’m glad we ended up doing it this way - the process was casual and relaxed and apparently good for creativity. :)

I love the end result - it’s one of those rare times when the finished result is even better than the individual parts. teru did a fantastic job with the producing on this track - really made all the parts sing together.

Thanks again for taking the initiative to do this, and for the chance to be part of the project.
 
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permalink   Ivan Chew Wed, Aug 5, 2009 @ 7:41 AM
Indeed. When I sent the invitation to collaborate, I was prepared for a polite “no” or more likely no replies. Frankly I felt like Oliver Twist asking for an extra piece of bread! :) So I was elated to get positive responses, to say the least. And then when we discussed things over email, it was, as you put it, casual and relaxed. Dude, thank you.
timberman
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permalink   Wed, Aug 5, 2009 @ 7:24 AM
Very very beautiful. .
 
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permalink   Ivan Chew Thu, Aug 6, 2009 @ 6:41 AM
We thank you for saying that.
CiggiBurns
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permalink   Wed, Aug 5, 2009 @ 9:40 AM
Stunning, beguiling, moving and beautiful. What an absolutely fabulous piece. Do more!
 
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permalink   Ivan Chew Thu, Aug 6, 2009 @ 6:43 AM
Quote: Do more!Now that is the best encouragement!
TheJoe
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permalink   Wed, Aug 5, 2009 @ 1:32 PM
I got a wink from colab a few week ago about this project without any details, just it is an exciting project.

I know a bit what it means to have a collaboration. Ivan you did a great job on it, also for the detailed schedule of development. That s very interessting to read while listening.

I think I can hear the “fingerprints” of all involved.

For the music: Ivan you play a wonderful guitar as for the sound and also for the decent notes and lines. Colab always has a very subtile way to play ,mmmh lets say a tasteful and also decent piano.
I think teru has done the ambient sounds etc. Narva9 has here a touch of Joni Mitchell and naming her, I would say (even if I hate it to compare sometimes) it has the mood of some Joni Mitchell songs from the late 80s and of course with the touch of 21st century.

Overall a very convicing composition and production the more when we think about how difficult such a project can be. I am looking forward to listen to the other songs.

From me a two hands of thumbs for you all! :-)
 
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permalink   Ivan Chew Thu, Aug 6, 2009 @ 6:46 AM
Wow. 10 thumbs up would be hard to beat. We thank you for the compliment.
victor
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permalink   Wed, Aug 5, 2009 @ 2:25 PM
I’m not a huge fan of “explicit” collaborations when the pool model we use here is available, but ultimately it’s the end result that matters, not the process and the results here are just gorgeous.

It could well be my laptop/portable speakers system but it sounds to me like the whole mix takes place in the mid to highs range and I missed hearing more bottom but musically and every other way this is a great achievement.
 
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permalink   Ivan Chew Thu, Aug 6, 2009 @ 7:00 AM
Quote: fourstonesI’m not a huge fan of “explicit” collaborations when the pool model we use here is available, but ultimately it’s the end result that matters, not the process and the results here are just gorgeous.Thanks for the comment, fourstones. I think I understand what you mean re: the explicit collaboration Vs. the ccMixter pool model. It’s an interesting perspective and got me thinking. I have to say this “explicit collaboration” would never have taken place if it wasn’t for ccMixter’s pool model in the first place. And I feel the ccMixter pool model will be a superior one compared to the explicit one, imho. Because it always puts the music first, and makes the question of “who is the contributor” less relevant.

In truth, this was less of an explicit collaboration. More accurate to say we were coincidental collaborators for the album. From my view, we four kept bumping into each other using the same root sample. The final one-off project just to top off the whole thing.
 
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permalink   victor Thu, Aug 6, 2009 @ 12:58 PM
You know, I can think of, oh a couple explicit collaborations that have worked out pretty well - Miles Davis Group, the Beatles, Le Hot Club de France, etc.

of course both models are important, it’s not a question of mutual exclusivity. I love this case where they overlap/interact, in a hard to define way; that’s great and just proves that indeed, the music was the most important part. Hats off.
narva9
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permalink   Wed, Aug 5, 2009 @ 7:47 PM
:-) n9
 
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permalink   Ivan Chew Thu, Aug 6, 2009 @ 7:03 AM
Someone should invent a smiley to say “you rock!”
duckett
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permalink   Wed, Aug 5, 2009 @ 8:26 PM
Very cool.. I’ve had similar happy results with collaborating here, glad you’ve discovered your own collabo-magic!
 
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permalink   Ivan Chew Thu, Aug 6, 2009 @ 7:05 AM
Quote: duckett… glad you’ve discovered your own collabo-magic!It is possible the term “collabo-magic” will appear in the lexicon soon. :) Thanks for the comment.
RadioZero
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permalink   Thu, Aug 6, 2009 @ 6:04 AM
Great track! It is truly wide and open and willing to take you in :)
I was urged you to play it again and again because it has the right time, tempo and structure. Great collaboration!
 
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permalink   Ivan Chew Thu, Aug 6, 2009 @ 7:07 AM
Quote: RadioZero… urged you to play it again and again because it has the right time, tempo and structure.I can certainly second that. We thank you for the compliment.
Anchor
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permalink   Fri, Aug 7, 2009 @ 5:50 AM
really very fine…Narva vocals and lyrics poetic - and your lush musical backing superb!
 
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permalink   Ivan Chew Sun, Aug 9, 2009 @ 9:54 AM
Thanks, from us! (personally I have to say it’s teru’s magic touch in the mix)
oldDog
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permalink   Sat, Aug 8, 2009 @ 11:00 AM
This is superb. It’s a treat to trace the constituent parts, knowing a little of each of the contributors, and the way it all works together is magical and moving.
Congratulations on showing off the best of the spirit of ccMixter.
 
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permalink   Ivan Chew Sun, Aug 9, 2009 @ 9:57 AM
Quote: Congratulations on showing off the best of the spirit of ccMixter.We thank you for saying that!
ditto ditto
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permalink   Sat, Aug 15, 2009 @ 5:59 AM
Four talented artists for a very great collaboration..Magical..!!!
 
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permalink   Ivan Chew Sun, Aug 16, 2009 @ 8:26 AM
Hey, thanks for your kind words!
opus_opium
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permalink   Mon, Oct 18, 2010 @ 6:11 AM
Awesome Sounds and Vocals..Wonderful Song to Wake up 2!. Thanks All!
 
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permalink   Ivan Chew Mon, Oct 18, 2010 @ 8:19 AM
On behalf of the rest, thanks!
Snowflake
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permalink   Sat, Oct 18, 2014 @ 10:35 PM
special thanks to Sackjo22 for sharing this track as one of her favorites her at ccM. somehow i’ve not heard this gem of indescribable beauty. stunning.
 
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permalink   Ivan Chew Sun, Oct 19, 2014 @ 12:16 AM
Thanks for reminding why I love ccMixter. Or rather, why something like ccMixter works, and must continue to exist (hopefully along its original founding principles).
 
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permalink   Snowflake Sun, Oct 19, 2014 @ 5:41 PM
Your vision is my vision. Thank you for being part of this amazing, evolutionary experiment in music. Your support means the world.