Native Alien

Community Recordings Originals (Not Covers)
1

Hi All,

Wasn’t planning on being away so long, but stuff got in the way.
Anyway, been messing with some new songs to get back in the ring. We’re trying for a slightly heavier sound, more guitar than some of our previous efforts, whilst still keeping our post punk/new wave roots.
We’re planning on 10 tracks (all in the works at various stages). Bleach Black Devotion I shared a good while a go.
Not sure where I’d pigeonhole this - probably just plain old rock?

It did get played on BBC Introducing, but I wasn’t happy with how it sounded (they always sound inferior to the pro productions anyhow, but this seemed worse than previous tunes) so revisited with a new guitar tone and remix. To my ears it sounds better. Not perfect, but who wants super polished? (Sure AI can give folk that if they really want it.)
For me - Humans doing human things - be they good or bad. :slight_smile:

Any feedback welcome.
All the best,
Digger & Katja

Native Alien

Fire, a port in the storm
I’m seeking heaven in a fairer form
Jesus, now, where do you sow?
Done a lot of running, an’ I’ve nowhere to go.

No amount of praying
Gonna figure it out
Missing on a journey
Of my torment and doubt
Lost within the striving
It’s all lies and denial
Sinner on a Sunday
It’s a mask and a trial

I’m an alien
Just an alien
Just a stranger in my own skin
I’m an alien
A native alien
I know the end
But I don’t know… where to begin

Shadow, translation of fear
I’m yearning solace in a crystal clear
Faithless, preach, where do I turn?
Done a lot of listening, but still nothing I learn

No amount of praying
Gonna figure it out
Missing on a journey
Of my torment and doubt
Lost within the striving
It’s all lies and denial
Sinner on a Sunday
It’s a mask and a trial

I’m an alien
Just an alien
Just a stranger in my own skin
I’m an alien
A native alien
I know the end
But I don’t know where to begin

No amount of praying
Gonna figure it out
Missing on a journey
Of my torment and doubt
Lost within the striving
It’s all lies and denial
Sinner on a Sunday
It’s a mask and a trial

I’m an alien
Just an alien
I’m a stranger in my own skin
I’m an alien
A native alien
I know the end
But I don’t know where to begin

12 Likes
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Liked that!!! Thanks for posting.

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Hey Diggs and Company,
Lots to digest here. Is it doughnuts and coffee or coffee cake…? Not sure. I like the lyrical writing and I bet there was a lot of time spent there. Vox is great as usual. I like the guitars and bass. But I am not sure on the drums. Perhaps to my ears they are a bit “poppy”? That snare is the main deal in that I think. I might consider thickening up the drums to support your “more rock direction”?

First rate production. Sad that in most cases, when these hit the radio, they sound entirely different. I have had the same thing happen with my 1 play song, ever done. They even mono-ed it! UGH!

Can’t wait to hear the rest of the album tracks!

Keep up the great effort!
LBro

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Stephen and @katja

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Greetings :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

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Thanks for sharing!
Great songwriting, playing, singing and production! Wow! :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

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When Digger’s posting, I always know I’m in for an experience :smiley:
always nice to see you old friend!

Alright, this song instantly enters top #3 in TCS repertoire.
This is my kind of jam
You can’t hide the new wave influences and this throws in some industrial.

Haunting perfection once again from Katja’s side. If I was living in her neighbourhood, I would be taking her on tour with that voice. After all those years she still baffles me. Say hi from me :wink:

agree that the drum is a teeny bit “off” perhaps; but on the other hand, that contrast makes it “strange”. I don’t think it’s wrong. in my head, it would be dirtier, smudgier, grittier,…

It’s a long, lyric heavy song and I have some difficulties with locking into a story.
It’s descriptive but I miss a journey, an evolution.

Besides that feedback, it’s,once again, a banger :smiley:

There is still margin on that heavy end; I see (“hear”) you guys going heavier at one point, Some day, Katja will go of that teasing and perfect restraint that makes curly waves like velvet through those TCS songs and she’ll be angry and raw with you creating a cutting, raspy guitar with heavy undertones. :smiley: (yes, I have an active imagination)

Anyway, I’m still open to do guest appearances (vocal or guitars) on one of your tracks and I’ll be proud like 8th grader with his science project.

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Hehe, I’ve been waiting for the drop-
and was I disappointed? Not on your nelly! :grinning_face:
I’ve said it before and say it again, The Comfortably Strange remain the gold standard in my book for Community productions :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:
I’ll echo most of what’s been said above, with the exception of the drums. I admit to not paying them due attention, but have no wish to go back and see if I can find flaws… :wink:
I was surprised not to relate more to the lyrics-
My whole life an outsider/alien; the strong religious imagery/language; darkness and turmoil
My melon is twisted! :roll_eyes:
and, oh yeah… where’s the next track button?

1 Like
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Fantastic! Great tone on the rhythm guitar.

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Wow! Totally knockout guys - a move to a slightly heavier genre for you. It was superb!

How did you get the guitar sound - the one that comes in just before the vocals at the beginning - slighly reminiscent of Bowie’s Heroes? It was perfection…

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Hi All,

Thanks for checking out and the kind words.

Totally agree about the snare. I was trying to get it to punch through the mix more. My reference was Criminally Insane by Slayer. (Not going to be everyone’s cuppa if you check that out. Lol) Think I got too much ping and not enough thud. I’ll revisit.

“How did you get the guitar sound - the one that comes in just before the vocals at the beginning - slightly reminiscent of Bowie’s Heroes? It was perfection…”

I’m afraid to say that was a pad synth through an amp sim. The guitars don’t come in until “No amount of praying.” It’s the Depeche Mode fan in me - can’t fully shake their influence. :slight_smile:

Lyrics - I’ve always struggled with the story telling side - so tend towards more abstract around a theme. Some work better than others. At least they’re not as miserable as they used to be. :slight_smile:

Lieven - we shall work on a tune! We’ve got the 10 rough tracks we’re after, and i’m sure from one of of them I cut a bit which i’m calling my Megadeth riff - so maybe a starting point. :slight_smile: Perhaps something along the lines of Bring Me to Life - Evanescence?

As for top 3 TCS songs - don’t want to raise expectations, but for me it’s not in the top 3 of the new songs we’ve been messing with. A couple perhaps have Katja cutting loose a bit more… in a slightly psychedelic way. She’s an absolute angel.
You mention industrial: one of the songs i’ve christened the genre as Industrial Glam. It’s probably neither of those but it seemed fitting.

Anyway. I waffle.

Thanks again.

Digger

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Fabulous, as always Digger and Katja.

No critique from me, just pure enjoyment of your production, composition, lyrics, Katja’s voice . . . so much to love.

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Boom that was incredible guys. Kind of had a Garbage ( the band of course :joy:) vibe to it. Top notch production all around.

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I don’t know what genre I’d call it……other than to say it’s not really mine :grinning_face:. Even though it’s not really my type of genre, I did enjoy the song. Good production too. Good job.

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Ooh… nice work
As a fan of lots of heavier music and having been in some metal bands in my youth I definitely like the heavier vibe of this one… I’ll try and give a few bullet points of constructive critique (apologies if i waffle)

Heres my 2 cents

  • Aside from the drum issues others have mentioned the production is good… I kinda —

  • wanted more aggression in places on the guitar… a bit more palm muting in some spots may have helped with dynamics… Also some of the picking could have been double its speed to give a little more energy to the riffs

  • Similarly the overall rythm of the song rolled along steadily but almost too comfortably and left me wanting a bit more dynamism

  • Vocally the singer has a super clear voice … definitely getting Evanescence sorta vibes with the operatic clear delivery… She stays almost too in the pocket… I can literally feel that she has WAY more to give vocally… I know she can belt out more high notes on thay chorus which would create more energy / emotion

Otherwise wonderful work guys!

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Thanks for checking out.

@BenHorrocks Much appreciate the 2 cents. Not sure my fingers have much more speed in them these days. Lol. Aggression - perhaps if I play more following my football team’s latest defeat. Katja - deffo got a voice capable of bigger things.

Thanks again,

Digger

1 Like