Firstly I am sorry for that negative review tone. I didn't realize it will ever sound like something that negative at all! Only tried to share some concepts, ok maybe from too much negavive perspective . I can't really complain about your music because you always post high quality tracks. I would say again this is some great music very unlike from the other stuff posted on the site.
The only problem is that when I need to think too much when going into the details of the arrangement I may do not like some single sounds, which is often the case here on looperman. For example: from the perspective of the real acoustic piano sound the artificial piano used normally in looperman electronic or cinematic tracks will always sound computerized and silly. So sometimes I feel upset and am posting weird or ridiculous track comments.
Anyway I do not really want to make you shorter tracks at all, just trying to suggest using slower or faster tempos than your usual - because it may really affect the form. There's absolutely no need to use any pre-defined songs structures (but it can be a great exercise anyway). By saying that 'there's nothing happening' I do not mean that it is boring. I never feel bored listening to your music.
I know there's much of new synths sounds and impressive sonic elements on each of your new track, new guitar riffs and more but from the global perspective I think you still make the same song. This particular musical form that you're using (I do not know how to label it correctly, maybe 4/4 kind of 8- or 16- bar blues) was probably something I heard before from you many times, dressed in different sound-image. I see that you're not really interested into the form exploration, I mean: in any specific traditional classic sense. That's why I said that there's no improvements. Again this is very subjective personal opinion of mine. I do not find discussing details of the arrangement very useful when there's so much things happening. Pointing them will probably take years of ceaseless commenting.
I know that working alone is harder so I sometimes download acapellas and loops as well and try to work with them. Also I did remixes and sometimes I can find someone to make a collab with. But of course it's not going to work every time.
So this is also good way to learn when working with other's stuff. I do not think it takes anything from the originality of my work.
Again I am sorry for a strange and negative tone of the previous comment, which was totally unintentional! Also I think you go too far in analysing and exploring what I exactly meant. Probably I am unaware of some important subtleties of the language. I freely discussed some possibilities of how different your music may sound instead of pointing things I liked.
Ok, so now I am going to play your track and listen to the music itself instead of thinking too much (I want to take it with me but sadly it's not possible).
Your review wasn't too big a deal but I worry about my musical inadequacies and wonder how long I can make interesting stuff without becoming boring or repeating myself.
Most important is to know that I have large musical limitations. I'm not a classically musician like yourself and I have poor pitch, can't sing and know little about music theory. I only know the major and minor scales and rarely think about them. I don't know modes but I'm sure I use all sort of different ones just from playing with note combinations.
I have problems doing things like changing key, which is why many of my tracks are in the same key. This track has a key change (to D, my favourite as that's what my guitars are tuned to) but I don't think I've done it very well.
I've always felt a bit of musical impostor as I don't really know what I'm doing. I try to focus always on what I can do and believe I have an ability with sounds that many people do not have. I have big ideas and am good at hearing relationships between sounds. I can groove quite well on my instruments, which helps when you want to make music that grooves.
I focus on the change in sounds and mood rather than understanding how to progress chord sequences. If you're listening for those sorts of changes, you may always be disappointed. I don't know about the cycle of fifths and find all music theory really hard work and no fun. I'm also bad at maths so music theory seems to me as being like algebra. I prefer to listen and feel and groove and see what I get.
I probably cover up my music theory failings by making sounds and instruments do a lot so that it doesn't sound like I'm playing in one key most of the time.
I know how to get an Eastern sound by using semitones but don't know any Eastern scales.
I don't know how to describe the musical form you say I use. It's 4/4 but I have no idea if it's 8 or 16 bar blues.
"you're not really interested into the form exploration, I mean: in any specific traditional classic sense"
I don't know how to! I could maybe learn from other musicians who know this stuff but I've never spent that much time working closely with them. I don't count jam sessions (I have done many of those).
" nothing is really happening other than just that 'holding on to nothing' (for example from 6:48 - just a bass groove)."
The bass groove is there as a break from the higher frequency guitar parts, then I move to other, newer parts. It's just a way of separating sections so the listener gets a rest from the busy, top end melodies and frequencies.
"trying to suggest using slower or faster tempos than your usual"
I will try and you're right that it does change things. I still haven't done 3/4 though I have done a bit of 6/8. But 4/4 is simple for me and offers so many possibilities.
so nicely performed! I remember listening to this female acapella, it sounds really interesting in the context of this tune.
Clarinet solo is really fine as well as the entire performance. NICE!
I think you played some chords on piano too low (I mean a lower keyb. range). There's also too much processing added when going for a 'modern sound' - that very final 3:17 chord doesn't sound anymore like a real piano to me anymore. Probably there's too much of lower freqs in there, I do not know...
Yeah i totally agree. like phatkatz says up there^ maybe bumping it up an octave will help but ive tried that and it doesnt really give me the sound im looking for.. ill need to mess around with it and use some of the ideas in that forum and see what happens.
I know there's a clock in it. I can hear it from 0:00. Also as I am getting old time seems to slow down gradually. Maybe it's because I practise awareness.
hi. so just sitting this early afternoon and listening to your new track I realized that this is very much a kind of 'levitating' while 'holding on to nothing' smoky music. For example from 5:50 I can hear a guitar solo starting in a lower range and it really seems to gradually progress till 6:48 at first (but it doesn't really evolve too much). It sounds still like a teaser a bit. I mean... guitars are great as always! but there's too much of drum sequencing for my taste and way too much of 'echoing' of your guitars by other instruments. Still it's very skillfully made and very impressive but why do not create something which would be much simple than that sometime?
I say that because there are many places on this composition (and probably on many others compositions from you) where nothing is really happening other than just that 'holding on to nothing' (for example from 6:48 - just a bass groove). That way you can easily continue and transform this one into a 30 min song I guess.
Ok, there are very interesting guitar riffs but it's only a little part of this composition. If you will ever try to place them in a totally different context (without all synth 'echoing') you could have much shorter but very powerful tracks eventually, who knows. I say that because after listening to your productions over a longer period of time I can't see many very significant improvements (maybe you can point them?). It's more like you are 'already there' with very specific sound and type of music prefference.
Anyway this title sounds to me bit like a big ego thing, something similar to your '3000 miles of funk' if I remember correctly.
I found your review quite negative and depressing, perhaps even insulting, but it's given me some things to think hard about.
"why do not create something which would be much simple than that sometime?"
I think that is your main point and your main problem with my music. I actually try to make my tracks shorter. I have split a lot of tracks that were between 11 and 19 mins in two in the last year. You want me to make shorter, simpler music. I find that boring and it doesn't give me time to do the exploring that I like and need to do. How long do you want it to be? 5 minutes? 3 minutes with a verse-chorus-verse structure and middle 8?
"nothing is really happening other than just that 'holding on to nothing'"
There's so much happening in my tracks all the time. You also perhaps have a lot of 'nothing really happening' in your tracks.
"too much of drum sequencing for my taste"
What does that mean? Too many drum fills? Too many drum sounds? I have no idea. My tracks almost all contain lots of drum sequencing so I have no idea what is wrong with the drums here. I like them.
"I can't see many very significant improvements (maybe you can point them?)."
You want me to go through and explain all my improvements in my tracks? Or just this one? That would take a long time and be boring. If you don't think I make improvements, why would me trying to explain them to you make you feel any different? Every track I do contains new sounds, structures, melodies. They're new to me so if they're not new to other people, I don't know what to say.
You know that I try very hard to explain what I do in my track replies but I'm not going to go through and point out every thing I think is interesting to someone who thinks there's a lot of nothing going on.
You seem to mostly make one genre of music (jazz fusion) and I don't really make music in that genre so there's no reason for you to like any of my music.
"this title sounds to me bit like a big ego thing"
I can't tell if that is supposed to be an insult but it looks like one. If so, you're wrong as both 9,000 Years Too Young and 3,000 Miles Of Funk are other people's phrases that I discovered and liked and thought would suit my music (they're only titles - I have to have a title). They do have some meaning (especially the second one) but I can't be bothered to explain them.
"Great music as always!"
That is a strange way to end your review after mostly complaining so you have confused me there. I don't mind if people don't like my music as it's unusual, uncommercial and maybe just too long ansd complex for most people. I understand that. I'm not trying to be popular, just trying to get better at the kind of sounds I like. I work alone so it's lonely and hard to improve and understand what it is that I do.
Your words gave me some things to think about and I do try hard to improve. I'm sorry if it's not good enough - I will try harder.
hey! I really do not know how to approach this correctly - my listening system is very simple nowadays (drums, bass and other stuff...). This is very floating kind of music regarding to it's harmonic content! Nice piano introduction - I really like that quality sound, some nice female distant choirs and like... lots of twinkling synth sounds! Simple but good bass foundation.
thanks a lot alex.
got a busy time in my life right now, sorry it took so long to get back.
i haven't done any new things recently but did use the little time i had to improve some existing ideas like this one. and just some random jams every once in a while of course :)
so long my friend - hope all is well
this is some interesting stuff, pretty much something similar to what I can hear in summer at some of these open air festivals I guess. Very happy vibes (and trumpets!)
A bit too hot mixed for my taste but still nicely combined!
so after re-listening to all the stuff and loops I can say that I really appreciate what you did. For sure there's much to improve as the recording still sounds not very clear in my opinion, especially the drums. Probably it is a bass line that generates some strange frequencies at places, I do not know... But overall this is some good effort with nice additions. I understand that creating arrangements and finding perfect instruments might be difficult - I tried many times!
Some times i had to stretch/clip/move the vocal track to get it less offset to my music. The intention was that Charlene would re-record the vocals, but it somehow just didn't happen. But the result is ok anyway.
So I managed to play this one on speakers and definitely can appreciate very solid bass foundation now. Good synth sounds, particulary I like that kind of drone synth sound pretty much, can't really label it very precisely - it adds some very nice, kind of organic and insect feel. I guess there are many different synth layers in here.
Also that female lead-in element (0:13) is very similar to some of your older works...
Overall this is very fine synth stuff: I find it much more 'morphing' than really 'melodic' in a traditional way (nice arpeggiated kind of 'glassy' sound from about 1:08 and some other places later). When listened first time to this I realized there's actually a harmonic 'bridge' part from 2:10 which can really make this tune even more listenable regarding to the overall structure. Background choirs are nicely placed as well as the man's voice sample.
Not something that I can listen all day for sure, as I basically would preffer something that is full of light and warm haha... but I can appreciate this production too for it's decadent atmosphere! Probably Hans Rudolf Giger will fit perfectly here https://www.pinterest.com/iandenison/hr-giger/
That's a good thing to call it. That's basically, exactly what it is.
The female lead in sounds similar because I've used it in "50 Weight and Body Paint" and also in "Twas Brillig-Slithy Tove". I've always liked it when artists would somehow connect songs, or reuse an element from past works. I guess some would call it recycled, or not creative, but I like to do it.
"Probably Hans Rudolf Giger will fit perfectly here"
Almost 25 years ago, I was an 18 year old artist when I discovered Mr. Giger's work. I went out and bought all of his books and spent countless hours studying his work. I mean, right down to the individual brush strokes. The perspectives, the compositions, the textures, everything. I dissected them fully. He was like a god to me. The worlds he created and the creatures that lived within were completely original and never before seen. He is what inspired me to drive my creativity and push for the originality that no one has ever seen, or with my music, heard.
So, when you say to me that Hans Rudolf Giger would fit perfectly into my song, it is truly one of the greatest compliments I could receive. So, for that, I sincerely thank you.
this sounds to me like some kind of a raw electronic piece. Did you played synths in a real time or it's just a kind of midi sequencing and layering the plugins happening? Just curious of your creative process on this one. Also I think that you may consider letting the reverb play itself out and allow the sound dissapear into space at the very end of your composition.
Other than this is some interesting one, reminding me of an analog synth work à la Spivkurl at parts even haha...
hey, alex. my stuff is always programmed 100%. I don't have any chops to speak of on keyboard or otherwise. I took your suggestion and gave the track a reverb tail but surprisingly it did not add much. surprised that you drew a comparison to spivkurl work! nice to hear from you always! Dan
so nice to see you again. Not much to say on this one... but it's only because that I am listening on the laptop speakers now... anyway I am going to download this track to get much better listening experience and a proper pespective. For now I can only say that the beat you've used here seemed so similar to the one from 'Twas Brilling' and it's remix at first.
Anyway my true name is Aleksander - Alex is an artificial name given to me by a guy which I am woking with currently (not on musical matters at all)
Aleksander, it's good to hrar from you as well. Which do you prefer to be called, Alex, or Aleksander?
Hopefully you had a chance to listen to this on better speakers. Laptop speakers really aren't conducive to any kind of bass-y music. Also, I hope you enjoyed what you heard.
As far as beat similarity goes, it is similar. But the type of song that it is is very similar. Bass driven and heavy. This one is just a lot darker. I really like the slower, heavier driven beats.
Anyhow, thanks for listening, and taking the time to share your thoughts. I alway appreciate it.
How is it ridiculous? Im just doing what the website says to get featured and tht is to comment on tracks promoting your track. You don't have to be a douche just ignore the comment man. Srry
thanks so much for the reply! Spring is busy indeed in here as well! Again I am really liking a kind of positive songwriting feel on this one - so different from your electro-decadent/heavier stuff! 'Spring feel' I guess!
The updates and the continous creative process is always impressive! Alex
And thank you as well for the continued discussion! I had been taking care of about 60 plants to get prepared for planting while working on this song, as the cold weather stays late into spring here in Minnesota. Now all of them are in their homes for the season, so I can rest a bit, as long as it keeps raining. I can't thank you enough for the appreciation of the positive feelings in the song. One of my biggest regrets about my previous album is the negativity and anger which seeped into the final product, but that aspect was very real. I made a promise to myself to get more positive, at least in my songwriting... though it is still quite real. "Spring feel" is correct. I sort of stopped updating songs previously, instead I waited for it to feel done, and left it alone. This song was different though, it was wrong and needed completion. As usual, it is about several things at once, and even the title is not the original (though it rhymes, so it shows up in the lyrics). Your support is much appreciated!
I commented on this one already but it is just to say that I am still in unconditional love with some of the tunes from the latest collection (bringing great memories when just joined the site back late summer last year!). Psychogenic Sammich is absolutely special, the way you incorporated these sweet piano melodies is just too sweet!
But I am here because of your 'GoneJah' which really starts off somwhere on the rail station with excellent huge reverb (cool recording btw). Great house track (reggae, tribal...), so chilled (great house synth chords). Feeling on the vocals is a bit decadent, as always... Absolutely hypnotic work! I am a fan!
Hey my friend, it is always a pleasure to hear from you! I'm not completely sure, but I get the feeling that you quickly became my biggest fan... though it could be just that you get involved more here on Looperman. The only people I know for sure have heard my latest all the way through are my wife and my parent. If you're listening to my stuff regularly, then you chose a good time to get on board though, as 2013 to present is definitely my best work. Psychogenic Sammich was a real departure for me, and I'm really happy with how it turned, so it is good to get positive feedback from you. You made me go back and listen to "GoneJah" just now for reference. I can't take full credit for the rail station recording, but as the only profession I have is theft and insanity, I won't give credit. I was happy with how that one turned out well, though it easily could have become a set of loops uploaded on the site. Just when I got to finishing the album, I realized it was close enough to finished to be included. Thus it became part of the second trilogy on the album. I'm assuming when you speak of the vocals being "decadent," I assume you mean the album as a whole, as "GoneJah" had no vocals... I would definitely plead guilty to that. 2014 and my life as a whole has been thoroughly decadent, and I am proud of it. Though on a regular basis, I deprive myself of things, and I'm proud of that as well. Thank you so much for your positive words and support!
hey, totally loving the updates! the way the synths were played is just pure fun and your guitar sound is so perfectly sounding in the context of this song. Such a lovely and happy tune, showing how creative you can go in songwriting. Favourited for sure!
Hello Alex, thank you for being the first one to comment around here on the update! It gives me a good push to check out what you've been up to. Spring is such a busy time around here, so I haven't been listening to much. Really happy you are enjoying this one! It was quite a challenge... hard drive issues, sound card issues, tuning problems, noisy environment, bad vocal days, alcoholism... you know. But I did it, and there's that! Thank you again!
hi again, at first I was really surprised that I commented on this already haha. But seriously you might know that productions like this are somwhere usually quite far away from my musical preferences and the stuff I am usually listening too...
Anyway to follow J. Monae thought it is 'Dance or Die' tune which was my reference on the previous comment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGDkdx2zjK0 Of course your song is much heavier and basically I find female vocals extremely decadent-sounding. But I would recommend you to listen to the entire 'Archandroid' album anyway - it is probably one of the best contemporary albums I came across last few years (I listen mostly to older music). Processing used on vocal from around 2:47 definitely reminded me of one of the number from this album.
And lol I do not really think vox should be higher or lower haha - it's perfect in that context. I only suggest you to put the song lyrics on the future tracks (eventually) as it's still a bit difficult to me to figure out some spoken phrases... and get the proper perspective from the very songwriting point of view.
good to experience your first track of 2015. basically this is probably my first track of yours of this year, maybe the first that I ever heard from you ever even. hope not the last from you anyway.
there's no proper ending in here. also I do not find this one evolving at all. can you elaborate?
Hey Promenade. Thanks for your time to listen to my track. Definitely not my last time. I am already working on my next track ha ha. Yeah I didnt think of a way to end the song completely. Yep I need to improve on my ways to evolve the track. Thanks for the positive criticism. Looperman is so cool. users take their sounds serious. On soundcloud you will never get this kind of feedback.
definitely not a fusion. not at all. it requires only a skillfull producer (and a little bit of haunting female vocals addition) to become a perfect radio oriented chillout. For now it's only a sketch.
but very interesting guitars on this one - I thought some real-time played effects can make wonders. Still it all feels like being quite disconnected - not really playing but just wondering....
Well the fusion comes in fact with the combination of jazz-Disco
with a little bit of funk on the bass...
So putting all 3 flavours together makes it a fusion, but music is
just that Music...
I don't know any female vocals that are out here, with the mind set
of thinking differently...
They all almost sound the same, auto tuned to death and lack the
tools to create their own sound...
I'm done trying to make someone sound good, when they don't
from the start...
This track I added some toms and cymbal crashes, gave it a lot more
cohesion and feel...Not sure if I'll post it here yet...only because it's
ready for something else...
I am familiar with the original one. so what you are actually doing in here? Just curious. At least I managed to add the piano on this one https://www.looperman.com/tracks/detail/165540
Hi!
What i did was to ask for the vocal tracks from Charlene. Then i just added the original guitar, did some time stretch on the guitar and Charlene's vocal as you can hear if you listening carefully at some part, put on my tracks, played the drums the piano and added another track for the acoustic guitar.
on 9000 Years Too Young by StaticNomad
Firstly I am sorry for that negative review tone. I didn't realize it will ever sound like something that negative at all! Only tried to share some concepts, ok maybe from too much negavive perspective . I can't really complain about your music because you always post high quality tracks. I would say again this is some great music very unlike from the other stuff posted on the site.
The only problem is that when I need to think too much when going into the details of the arrangement I may do not like some single sounds, which is often the case here on looperman. For example: from the perspective of the real acoustic piano sound the artificial piano used normally in looperman electronic or cinematic tracks will always sound computerized and silly. So sometimes I feel upset and am posting weird or ridiculous track comments.
Anyway I do not really want to make you shorter tracks at all, just trying to suggest using slower or faster tempos than your usual - because it may really affect the form. There's absolutely no need to use any pre-defined songs structures (but it can be a great exercise anyway). By saying that 'there's nothing happening' I do not mean that it is boring. I never feel bored listening to your music.
I know there's much of new synths sounds and impressive sonic elements on each of your new track, new guitar riffs and more but from the global perspective I think you still make the same song. This particular musical form that you're using (I do not know how to label it correctly, maybe 4/4 kind of 8- or 16- bar blues) was probably something I heard before from you many times, dressed in different sound-image. I see that you're not really interested into the form exploration, I mean: in any specific traditional classic sense. That's why I said that there's no improvements. Again this is very subjective personal opinion of mine. I do not find discussing details of the arrangement very useful when there's so much things happening. Pointing them will probably take years of ceaseless commenting.
I know that working alone is harder so I sometimes download acapellas and loops as well and try to work with them. Also I did remixes and sometimes I can find someone to make a collab with. But of course it's not going to work every time.
So this is also good way to learn when working with other's stuff. I do not think it takes anything from the originality of my work.
Again I am sorry for a strange and negative tone of the previous comment, which was totally unintentional! Also I think you go too far in analysing and exploring what I exactly meant. Probably I am unaware of some important subtleties of the language. I freely discussed some possibilities of how different your music may sound instead of pointing things I liked.
Ok, so now I am going to play your track and listen to the music itself instead of thinking too much (I want to take it with me but sadly it's not possible).
Your review wasn't too big a deal but I worry about my musical inadequacies and wonder how long I can make interesting stuff without becoming boring or repeating myself.
Most important is to know that I have large musical limitations. I'm not a classically musician like yourself and I have poor pitch, can't sing and know little about music theory. I only know the major and minor scales and rarely think about them. I don't know modes but I'm sure I use all sort of different ones just from playing with note combinations.
I have problems doing things like changing key, which is why many of my tracks are in the same key. This track has a key change (to D, my favourite as that's what my guitars are tuned to) but I don't think I've done it very well.
I've always felt a bit of musical impostor as I don't really know what I'm doing. I try to focus always on what I can do and believe I have an ability with sounds that many people do not have. I have big ideas and am good at hearing relationships between sounds. I can groove quite well on my instruments, which helps when you want to make music that grooves.
I focus on the change in sounds and mood rather than understanding how to progress chord sequences. If you're listening for those sorts of changes, you may always be disappointed. I don't know about the cycle of fifths and find all music theory really hard work and no fun. I'm also bad at maths so music theory seems to me as being like algebra. I prefer to listen and feel and groove and see what I get.
I probably cover up my music theory failings by making sounds and instruments do a lot so that it doesn't sound like I'm playing in one key most of the time.
I know how to get an Eastern sound by using semitones but don't know any Eastern scales.
I don't know how to describe the musical form you say I use. It's 4/4 but I have no idea if it's 8 or 16 bar blues.
"you're not really interested into the form exploration, I mean: in any specific traditional classic sense"
I don't know how to! I could maybe learn from other musicians who know this stuff but I've never spent that much time working closely with them. I don't count jam sessions (I have done many of those).
" nothing is really happening other than just that 'holding on to nothing' (for example from 6:48 - just a bass groove)."
The bass groove is there as a break from the higher frequency guitar parts, then I move to other, newer parts. It's just a way of separating sections so the listener gets a rest from the busy, top end melodies and frequencies.
"trying to suggest using slower or faster tempos than your usual"
I will try and you're right that it does change things. I still haven't done 3/4 though I have done a bit of 6/8. But 4/4 is simple for me and offers so many possibilities.
I hope that explanation helps...
on The Way Side by Musicante
Clarinet solo is really fine as well as the entire performance. NICE!
Alex.
Ciao,
M.
on Xyilent - Gaia by XyIlent
I think you played some chords on piano too low (I mean a lower keyb. range). There's also too much processing added when going for a 'modern sound' - that very final 3:17 chord doesn't sound anymore like a real piano to me anymore. Probably there's too much of lower freqs in there, I do not know...
There's some interesting thread about it https://www.looperman.com/forum/thread/183362/mixing-grand-piano-from-hell
Hope some of this is useful.
Best, Alex
AWESOME feedback Alex,
Cheers :)
on 2 Girls by LuigiCWB
You can always play the guitar solo in the middle or simply post the link to the complete production if there's any.
on times passing by silverman
There's no time in the very present.
on DJ The Observer FT KATE BUSH- Bad Dreams 2015 -- by djtheobserver01
HerEs ThE PrOpeR liNk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW3gKKiTvjs
i CaN sAy I ObSerVeD youR trACk TherefORe
mY HApPy
LoL, its to slow for me...
But i like the sample and i always wanted make the ultimate track with this sample..LoL
Greetz !
on we have to dream by philkawf
I get it now.
Some people experience haluciations
for sure
on we have to dream by philkawf
The spice extends life haha.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOjjnIPwd7c
We have to dream in order to sleep? Am I correct?
The spice is vital to space travel for sure.
on 9000 Years Too Young by StaticNomad
I say that because there are many places on this composition (and probably on many others compositions from you) where nothing is really happening other than just that 'holding on to nothing' (for example from 6:48 - just a bass groove). That way you can easily continue and transform this one into a 30 min song I guess.
Ok, there are very interesting guitar riffs but it's only a little part of this composition. If you will ever try to place them in a totally different context (without all synth 'echoing') you could have much shorter but very powerful tracks eventually, who knows. I say that because after listening to your productions over a longer period of time I can't see many very significant improvements (maybe you can point them?). It's more like you are 'already there' with very specific sound and type of music prefference.
Anyway this title sounds to me bit like a big ego thing, something similar to your '3000 miles of funk' if I remember correctly.
Great music as always!
I found your review quite negative and depressing, perhaps even insulting, but it's given me some things to think hard about.
"why do not create something which would be much simple than that sometime?"
I think that is your main point and your main problem with my music. I actually try to make my tracks shorter. I have split a lot of tracks that were between 11 and 19 mins in two in the last year. You want me to make shorter, simpler music. I find that boring and it doesn't give me time to do the exploring that I like and need to do. How long do you want it to be? 5 minutes? 3 minutes with a verse-chorus-verse structure and middle 8?
"nothing is really happening other than just that 'holding on to nothing'"
There's so much happening in my tracks all the time. You also perhaps have a lot of 'nothing really happening' in your tracks.
"too much of drum sequencing for my taste"
What does that mean? Too many drum fills? Too many drum sounds? I have no idea. My tracks almost all contain lots of drum sequencing so I have no idea what is wrong with the drums here. I like them.
"I can't see many very significant improvements (maybe you can point them?)."
You want me to go through and explain all my improvements in my tracks? Or just this one? That would take a long time and be boring. If you don't think I make improvements, why would me trying to explain them to you make you feel any different? Every track I do contains new sounds, structures, melodies. They're new to me so if they're not new to other people, I don't know what to say.
You know that I try very hard to explain what I do in my track replies but I'm not going to go through and point out every thing I think is interesting to someone who thinks there's a lot of nothing going on.
You seem to mostly make one genre of music (jazz fusion) and I don't really make music in that genre so there's no reason for you to like any of my music.
"this title sounds to me bit like a big ego thing"
I can't tell if that is supposed to be an insult but it looks like one. If so, you're wrong as both 9,000 Years Too Young and 3,000 Miles Of Funk are other people's phrases that I discovered and liked and thought would suit my music (they're only titles - I have to have a title). They do have some meaning (especially the second one) but I can't be bothered to explain them.
"Great music as always!"
That is a strange way to end your review after mostly complaining so you have confused me there. I don't mind if people don't like my music as it's unusual, uncommercial and maybe just too long ansd complex for most people. I understand that. I'm not trying to be popular, just trying to get better at the kind of sounds I like. I work alone so it's lonely and hard to improve and understand what it is that I do.
Your words gave me some things to think about and I do try hard to improve. I'm sorry if it's not good enough - I will try harder.
on midnight hindsight by doudei
This one will help me fall asleep for sure!
Lovely sweet piece! Alex
got a busy time in my life right now, sorry it took so long to get back.
i haven't done any new things recently but did use the little time i had to improve some existing ideas like this one. and just some random jams every once in a while of course :)
so long my friend - hope all is well
on Less is more - more or less by aelmen
this is some interesting stuff, pretty much something similar to what I can hear in summer at some of these open air festivals I guess. Very happy vibes (and trumpets!)
A bit too hot mixed for my taste but still nicely combined!
Alex
Agree, totally. Happy vibes and sunny festival, life is good! :)
Cheers!
/Anders
on Just Because ft Charlene Stevens by aelmen
so after re-listening to all the stuff and loops I can say that I really appreciate what you did. For sure there's much to improve as the recording still sounds not very clear in my opinion, especially the drums. Probably it is a bass line that generates some strange frequencies at places, I do not know... But overall this is some good effort with nice additions. I understand that creating arrangements and finding perfect instruments might be difficult - I tried many times!
Really good take on this one.
Best to you, Alex
Some times i had to stretch/clip/move the vocal track to get it less offset to my music. The intention was that Charlene would re-record the vocals, but it somehow just didn't happen. But the result is ok anyway.
/Anders
on Labyrinth Of The Absurd by ValveDriver
So I managed to play this one on speakers and definitely can appreciate very solid bass foundation now. Good synth sounds, particulary I like that kind of drone synth sound pretty much, can't really label it very precisely - it adds some very nice, kind of organic and insect feel. I guess there are many different synth layers in here.
Also that female lead-in element (0:13) is very similar to some of your older works...
Overall this is very fine synth stuff: I find it much more 'morphing' than really 'melodic' in a traditional way (nice arpeggiated kind of 'glassy' sound from about 1:08 and some other places later). When listened first time to this I realized there's actually a harmonic 'bridge' part from 2:10 which can really make this tune even more listenable regarding to the overall structure. Background choirs are nicely placed as well as the man's voice sample.
Not something that I can listen all day for sure, as I basically would preffer something that is full of light and warm haha... but I can appreciate this production too for it's decadent atmosphere! Probably Hans Rudolf Giger will fit perfectly here https://www.pinterest.com/iandenison/hr-giger/
Best to you, Alex (which I prefer:)
"I like that kind of drone synth sound"
That's a good thing to call it. That's basically, exactly what it is.
The female lead in sounds similar because I've used it in "50 Weight and Body Paint" and also in "Twas Brillig-Slithy Tove". I've always liked it when artists would somehow connect songs, or reuse an element from past works. I guess some would call it recycled, or not creative, but I like to do it.
"Probably Hans Rudolf Giger will fit perfectly here"
Almost 25 years ago, I was an 18 year old artist when I discovered Mr. Giger's work. I went out and bought all of his books and spent countless hours studying his work. I mean, right down to the individual brush strokes. The perspectives, the compositions, the textures, everything. I dissected them fully. He was like a god to me. The worlds he created and the creatures that lived within were completely original and never before seen. He is what inspired me to drive my creativity and push for the originality that no one has ever seen, or with my music, heard.
So, when you say to me that Hans Rudolf Giger would fit perfectly into my song, it is truly one of the greatest compliments I could receive. So, for that, I sincerely thank you.
Take care, Alex.
Aaron.
on Master and Servant by DanGoldstein
this sounds to me like some kind of a raw electronic piece. Did you played synths in a real time or it's just a kind of midi sequencing and layering the plugins happening? Just curious of your creative process on this one. Also I think that you may consider letting the reverb play itself out and allow the sound dissapear into space at the very end of your composition.
Other than this is some interesting one, reminding me of an analog synth work à la Spivkurl at parts even haha...
All the best to you, Alex
on Labyrinth Of The Absurd by ValveDriver
so I will listen later on!
on Labyrinth Of The Absurd by ValveDriver
so nice to see you again. Not much to say on this one... but it's only because that I am listening on the laptop speakers now... anyway I am going to download this track to get much better listening experience and a proper pespective. For now I can only say that the beat you've used here seemed so similar to the one from 'Twas Brilling' and it's remix at first.
Anyway my true name is Aleksander - Alex is an artificial name given to me by a guy which I am woking with currently (not on musical matters at all)
Hopefully you had a chance to listen to this on better speakers. Laptop speakers really aren't conducive to any kind of bass-y music. Also, I hope you enjoyed what you heard.
As far as beat similarity goes, it is similar. But the type of song that it is is very similar. Bass driven and heavy. This one is just a lot darker. I really like the slower, heavier driven beats.
Anyhow, thanks for listening, and taking the time to share your thoughts. I alway appreciate it.
Take care.
V.
on Turnt Up Ft Jak Wilks by KaloKidd
I say that because of your ridiculous comment on my track https://www.looperman.com/tracks/detail/166669
I do not even listen to 'trap'
on Stealth Matriculation Vocal Mix by Spivkurl
The updates and the continous creative process is always impressive! Alex
on Psychogenic Sammich by Spivkurl
But I am here because of your 'GoneJah' which really starts off somwhere on the rail station with excellent huge reverb (cool recording btw). Great house track (reggae, tribal...), so chilled (great house synth chords). Feeling on the vocals is a bit decadent, as always... Absolutely hypnotic work! I am a fan!
on Stealth Matriculation Vocal Mix by Spivkurl
Best to you, Alex
on Yellow Flowers On The Sky by DFletcher
Other than a very nice lovely-electronic sounding track.
on SchizoMetric SickHopStudios Master by flonut7
Anyway to follow J. Monae thought it is 'Dance or Die' tune which was my reference on the previous comment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGDkdx2zjK0 Of course your song is much heavier and basically I find female vocals extremely decadent-sounding. But I would recommend you to listen to the entire 'Archandroid' album anyway - it is probably one of the best contemporary albums I came across last few years (I listen mostly to older music). Processing used on vocal from around 2:47 definitely reminded me of one of the number from this album.
And lol I do not really think vox should be higher or lower haha - it's perfect in that context. I only suggest you to put the song lyrics on the future tracks (eventually) as it's still a bit difficult to me to figure out some spoken phrases... and get the proper perspective from the very songwriting point of view.
Best,
Alex
on Red Shoes by DJCeddy
good to experience your first track of 2015. basically this is probably my first track of yours of this year, maybe the first that I ever heard from you ever even. hope not the last from you anyway.
there's no proper ending in here. also I do not find this one evolving at all. can you elaborate?
thanks for sharing,
A.
on T45-Omar-Soundhound Project by soundhound
this is too chilled.
definitely not a fusion. not at all. it requires only a skillfull producer (and a little bit of haunting female vocals addition) to become a perfect radio oriented chillout. For now it's only a sketch.
but very interesting guitars on this one - I thought some real-time played effects can make wonders. Still it all feels like being quite disconnected - not really playing but just wondering....
I really enjoyed this one,
Alex
with a little bit of funk on the bass...
So putting all 3 flavours together makes it a fusion, but music is
just that Music...
I don't know any female vocals that are out here, with the mind set
of thinking differently...
They all almost sound the same, auto tuned to death and lack the
tools to create their own sound...
I'm done trying to make someone sound good, when they don't
from the start...
This track I added some toms and cymbal crashes, gave it a lot more
cohesion and feel...Not sure if I'll post it here yet...only because it's
ready for something else...
on Just Because ft Charlene Stevens by aelmen
I am familiar with the original one. so what you are actually doing in here? Just curious. At least I managed to add the piano on this one https://www.looperman.com/tracks/detail/165540
Best,
Alex
What i did was to ask for the vocal tracks from Charlene. Then i just added the original guitar, did some time stretch on the guitar and Charlene's vocal as you can hear if you listening carefully at some part, put on my tracks, played the drums the piano and added another track for the acoustic guitar.
/Anders