StaticNomad

Fine work for a first electro track.

Are you aware that the first bassline (eg 0:21) is a lot like the extremely classic song Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics? No problem as it's great but I think they're pretty much the same notes.

1:06 I like it when it gets going in this uptempo funky style. Melodic and you can dance to it.

139 that lead is OK but not playing a sound I like. Not bad, just not my sort of thing but some other people will love it so I'm just being honest.

0:20, 0:24 and 0:2 there are some obvious audio pops as the audio cuts out. Would be better if you could smooth out those stops there.

I think the drums actually sound fine here. Yes, I think FreeRad just meant that you should increase their volume. Or decrease the volume of everything else. That will "bring them forward in the mix".

Good luck with it as you're onto something good here. Much better than my first track all those years ago!

Yo. Good collection of sounds you have here.

Not quite sure what you're playing apart from the piano. Maybe the busy, funky little basssline?

Yes, guitar is beautifully played and recorded. I agree that it's the backbone of the track.

Drum break works well. Seems to stand up to being repeated many times.

By the time the beat kicks back in on 3:26, I think you're just repeating yourself. There's nothing new in the final two sections so the track could definitely be shorter. Just as well it's good stuff. Ultimately, have it as long as you like - I just offer my honest opinion.

Overall, a funky little acoustic track. Not sure what genre this is...

So, the additional detail I said I'd give.

Main bassline is pretty dark. Reminds me a little of something like Massive Attack's stunning Mezzanine album eg Angle (first track). Especially with the drums behind that bass.

Good ethereal, shimmering pads on top.

Shaker that comes in with vocals is not only a bit loud but probably not necessary as it interferes with vocals. And it's close (dry) and she's distant so it seems even more prominent.

Vocals may well have a bit too much reverb on them.

1:38 chorus good piano notes and vocals but maybe hat needs to be heavier (or more open or both)to really give the track a big lift. But what the drums are playing is fine.

2:20 good spill of the vocals into the next verse.

2:40 effective stop

3:01 good glassy shimmer

And the shaker's back, still interfering with the vocal. Try choosing a different, less intrusive drum sound to play on that beat.

3:26 I like the little synth lead. Kind of subtle and slots in well.

Fade out ending is OK. I've heard many worse but am not a fan in general of such endings. Something more definitive would be better.

Overall: I like it but probably not as much as when I first reviewed it. There are definitely things that can be improved upon so hope you manage it, after giving this a bit of space, as it's worth sticking with.

0:040 a really deep, cool sound.

A lot of the percussion makes me think of the Terminator 2 soundtrack by Brad Fiedel. Excellent film and soundtrack.

Some of the brass melodies are similar and the sound of the big hit at 0:59 and 1:43.

0:30 (and later on) I'm not sure if those big, deep, busy drums (toms?) are a bit out of time with the other percussion parts. They're very busy ad don't seem to be playing with the other such as snare.

More powerful and effective soundtrack music from you.

Brass sound is my favourite thing here.

Yo. I like the lazy, far out guitar intro though maybe there's a bit too much reverb on it.

Gets cool when the drums and bass enter then 1:129 we get into some chunkier riffage.

Guitar maybe slightly too loud as the drums are a bit far back in the mix though just right when guitar drops out at 2:03. I'd expect a drummer to mix his drums louder!

230 good lead that blends well with rhythm guitfiddle.

Pretty rocking stuff, but in a chilled out kind of prog way.

It's overall a good, clean sound you have here and a decent mix. God instrumental prog so well done.

Aha - all loops and synths. I couldn't tell.

Well, they all fit well together. I expected the guitar playing to be yours as I know you do play. Don't you?

It's also a pretty smooth mix and doesn't sound like cut up sample-based music. Much more like a live band. Are you programming the drums or is that also loops?

You also have a nice day...

I have something to say: this is really good.

Intro 40 seconds are a bit boring so I prefer the second intro from 0:40 and then the drums and vocals come in.

Good reverb on the vocals and I like the drum sound.

1:39 there's a vocal phrase I really like and then it's repeated a bit later.

Strings sit nicely in this one.

2:24 good start to the guitar solo, with chilled drums behind.

This is really very musical. Are you doing everything apart from the vocals? Who is singing? She has a great voice.

Good length to this track. You don't rush things but instead let the music breathe.

Congratulations.

Hey, no problem as regards feedback.

I almost always write fairly long and detailed reviews. This one is qute short for me. That’s probably because there wasn’t that much variation in the track so I didn’t have so much to say.

I’d suggest going back and auditioning some new parts. You could probably do more with the piano parts. Maybe chop them up and re-order them as I’m sure other good melodies can be made out of them. Also, audition some other d’n’b drum loops to find the basis for another section you can take this into.

I’d also try having the same bass part played by another bass synth as that can give it quite a different character. Then vary that a bit and you’ll have a nice, new, strongly related part.

So many ways to make more of what you have – something I do all the time in my music work.

Good luck and I look forward to hearing an improvement some time.

Yo, bro. WTF is up with 77 plays and only 2 comments?

Must be all those users who just do not comment.

I've already commented on a previous upload of this track so you know I think it's totally awesome. Really one of the best songs on Looperman. That excludes my stuff, of course, as none of it includes a proper song.

But this is one proper, proper song and I'm enjoying grooving to it again.

Only real production complaint is that maybe those vocals are a bit too loud. Maybe they were recorded with some clipping. Just a thing to improve upon but this is still badass.

Greetings. Nice ambient intro and the crackly record scratch stuff works well. Beautiful piano.

Then we get some light drums and heavy long, bass notes. Sort of delayed voices in the background.

Drum removal and we're sort of back to the intro but it's a just a break until that fat bassline returns.

Now I want it to really build to something more. Maybe bigger and better or just something else melodically. But it doesn't, which is my only complaint about the track.

I just felt it should have gone into some other sort of theme but you just spent the last 45 seconds doing the same sort of stuff as before.

Overall: good work and lots of beauty here but I know it could be better.

Lovely piano loops. This is a big, big chiller.

Nice bass chugging gently away under the piano.

Then we get a bit of shaker joining the bass, which then drops out. So that you can bring it back in with a big, clappy, slightly trap-like beat.

Lot of space in this track. Quite sparse but that allows everything to ring out really well.

Much more chillout than hip hop as far as I'm concerned.

Only problem ism abrupt, cutoff ending. Otherwise, excellent work.

More good soundtrack work from you. You really need to do a film!

Very short powerful sound at 0:14 and 0:33. What is that?

Cool, very powerful drums. No need for a bassline. They have a lot of bass in them.

0:37 low, long pad sound I like.

Ah, now I know where the vocal is from. It's from a sound library by Eduardo Tarilonte. Definitely a lot like Lisa Gerrard so a great sound.

This track is really all about the jungle ambience, the drums and the vocals.

Powerful work!

“Do they ever have Izzard with them?”

No. They’re just doing a load of shows only in London as their sort of farewell forever as Python. They’re all in their 70s (apart from Graham Chapman, who died in the 1980s) so this will definitely be it. No, no Izzard though Simon Pegg (good British comedy actor, also in some Hollywood films) did make a brief appearance.

“Too many drunk hillbilly idiots”

We don’t exactly have them in England but of course have their dickhead cousins, as does every country, I guess. They may all even somehow be genetically related. Since you mentioned that, I’ve been midly worrying about a boatload of dickheads coming over to my inflatable kayak and stabbing it a few times, and then sitting back and laughing as we sink. Would be very amusing from an aggressive dickhead’s perspective. Could happen but I guess/hope probably not.

I have an inflatable kayak as I don’t have a car (never learned to drive, don’t really want to) so can get this one around on my own (plus paddles, lifejackets, bags of extra food and clothing) on buses and trains using a porter’s trolley. It only cost around $550.

Yes, plinking notes sound a bit cheap and cheesy. Would sound better with a better synthstrument playing them.

Give the cymbal building a go. It could play some little fills at the end of a bar or you could have another, slightly different one fade gradually in, panned to the opposite side of your main cymbal (so, probably left). Try taking some of those MIDI files of fills (which are probably mostly on snare and tom) and moving them to the cymbal.

Doing so might make your track a bit nicer, bro.

P.S. I have just uploaded my first new track in about 6 weeks. Another mega epic, surprise surprise, with some heavy shit in it, especially in the full length version. I was considering calling it This Mean Motor Scooter, in your honour, but think I’ll save that title for another meaner, heavier track.

Fantastic work and I love just the first few seconds.

Good main beat then follows (no problem with the EQ on that for me).

0:43 and there's a magical vibe that is introduced. Great emotive, fairytale sounds.

I'm surprised only one person has mentioned the exceptional vocals. Were are they from? Very clear and gentle voice.

2:24 change I find a bit awkward but I guess it's not a problem. Perhaps fits the far out, blissed out vibe. Reverse vocals then work well.

Bring those drums back in hard on 3:00.

Man beat reminds me very strongly of a particular DJ Shadow track. Can't remember which one. This track makes me think a little of UNKLE's excellent song Bloodstain.

3:24 cool, weird high overdrive sound. What is that? Previous far out chords sit well underneath it.

Deep stuff that's perfect for chilling to so well done.

I checked your profile and found this:

"I find conventional instruments to be tired and boring."

Do you still feel that way? I love making far out sounds and new textures but I find you can do some pretty crazy stuff with conventional instruments, especially if you stick them through various, carefully controlled effects.

Greetings. I am mostly well and went to see Monty Python live the other night then did a couple of days of kayaking on different rivers in London, one with just a hint of very mini rapids.

I listened to Divinations and it is good so will listen to the whole album again.

Don't forget that you could build your house in the woods with a penknife and then play with My Little Pony in housebuilding breaks. That's a Wilderness Construction Brony. There's also Ninja Brony, who likes to do a bit of plastic pony stroking after a hard day's ninjing.

Lots of different bronies out there. There's even Metal Brony, who plays face melting evil lead solos and sledgehammer riffs wearing a top hat with platic ponies dangling from it like corks dangling from an Australian tilly hat.

Anyway, back to your nice track, bro.

You've updated it quite a bit.

Shuffle ride intro works well (cymbal quality sounds great) but I think you could build that cymbal work a little more over 40 secs. Perhaps fade in a layered second cymbal.

Then we get your fave reverse cymbal and we're in to some rocking rather than clippity cloppity shuffling.

New beat makes it more uptempo (in case you hadn't noticed) but that's fine.

I think moving that previous 1:52 riff to the start was the right choice But I would say that as I suggested it. Basically, all my suggestions are brilliant and should always be implemented immediately.

1:12 high bell bass riff still sounds cool. It just has a different sort of tone so stands out.

1:44 not sure about plinky plonk main theme return there. It's you getting a bit glockenspiely. But where's the dubmetalstep? Note are fine, sound is a bit dodgy.

I guess you've faded out again as you work out your next move and will eventually get a better, more conclusive ending. Maybe you could end it like this:

Fuuuurrrrrrrrrrr

Excellent work! Lots to talk about here so I will give a lot more detail sometime tomorrow. Lots of vibe and atmosphere and fine vocals (no surprise from JJW) and some good rocking.

But there are some problems, such as the far too loud right panned shaker, which interferes with the vocals and other elements.

Lots of nice touches ad some weirdness too but there are a few things to fix/tighten up.

Well done yet again.

More detail to follow.

Some of the sounds remind me a little of Valvedriver's stuff, though without the drums.

Quite a dark and menacing vibe you have here.

0:32 I don't like that bassy synth. It's too loud, raw (ie basic synth sound) and buzzy and doesn't seem to fit. And it fades out abruptly/awkwardly at various points. Sounds more at home in a dubstep track. Other synths around it have much more beauty and vibe to them.

I'd completely change that synth sound though the notes and timing are probably fine.

2:40 it's good when the bass joins that lead melody and then the ethereal pad fades in. And then that problem synth is back, dominating everything else.

SO, I'd change one big, main problem and then I think you'd have a really effective, atmospheric, mysterious piece that would be suitable for all sorts of sound design work.

I probably wouldn't listen to it as a standalone piece but some people certainly would. I prefer to have drums and more movement and melody and stuff.

But the vibe you have going here is good.

Not sure if I've ever commented on one of your tracks before. Pity you didn't describe the instruments and what you're doing here as it helps me evaluate what's going on. So I'll just have to guess.

Pleasant piano intro. Acoustic guitar that I think might be VST plus a lead, emotive one on top. Then another panned to the left but a bit strummier.

Drums and piano playing a good melody.

It's a fat rock kit you have here. Have you got it sort of reverse panned? I ask because hat is on the right and ride/bell cymbal on the left, the opposite way round. Not a problem, I just wondered. Busy kick and it's a snare sound I like.

2:27 little drum pause but good the way the strummy guitar continues. Then we get some far out lead synth and strings added to the two other guitars in the mix. This is a big, thick mix - the kind I like and like to do myself.

3:32 good brass rise.

4:08 sax that I think must be a real one. Your playing? I have no way of knowing. It's good.

4:41 guitar solo has too agressively screaming a sound. Playing's pretty good but the sound really dominates the mix. Seems to push everything else back.

This is big and heavy due to the busy mix but also kind of chilled out. Sort of pumping emotive rock. Nice bookend as well with the return to the piano. I do that sort of stuff a lot in my own music.

Mix is good and my only problem is that guitar solo so well done.

Good luck with your small pointy cone seat though I still recommend the swinging harness. Could be good for swinging triumphantly through the jungle.
"found in the murky and uncharted realms that lay between 119 and 121 BPM"

Haha - your way of saying: "Yeah, guys, it's yet another track at 120BPM. No one works that tempo quite like me. My heart beats at 120 so it's my natural home".

Shuffle groove is different for you but could do with more fills and variety. Check my There Goes Gravity track to hear a 10 min shuffle workout.

Some of the first half sounds a bit mediaeval. It's the happy, jaunty twiddling, I think.

0:40 high bass slots in nicely.

0:56 Sounds like a jaunty Irish jig, with couples dancing merrily arm-in-arm.

1:26 not so much bass wah in jaunty Irish music.

1:36 high bell bass? Does sound bell-like there.

1:52 easily start of best section and I agree with The Valve that this should be start of track as it's got more balls and vibe than first half. First needs more attitude, more balls added. A good dose of hairy nutsack would help beef it up, even if that is somewhat mixing the metaphors.

Your track is nice, bro but could be nicer.

P.S. I now like another Mastodon album apart from Blood Mountain: the new one. First track has some cool vocal effects. Might go see them in concert in UK in December.

P.P.S. I'll try not to become a brony. But if I ever do, I'll also become extremely macho to compensate eg eating kilos of steak whilst pumping iron, farting loudly, crushing beer cans in one hand and bouncy a couple of bitches on one knee, even if that does require more than two hands.

I agree that this is the best thing I've heard from you.

Classic synth sound and melody right from the start. That bassy synth really moves in a very smooth and seductive way It's a little bit 'liquid'.

0:29 drop is good. I'm not so keen on the top layer new chord part. It sounds a bit too predictable to me but works fine in the song.

0:42 a classic synth lead playing a good lead melody and sort of solo.

1:13 drums get another layer added so are a bit more intense now. Bass still sounds cool.

1:42 seems like the drums have dropped out a bit too early. Should maybe be 10 secs longer.

You additional drumming at the end makes some difference but I was expecting some bigger fills. Not a problem though as it all works just fine.

I like the fadeout ending too as the beat ends and we hear the different elements decaying. I think there's some guitar in there as well. However, you could let it decay for just a few seconds more.

Fine work you should be proud of.

Greetings, O buttless one. Since you had the ischial removal operation, does it hurt when you try to sit down? Do you have to have some sort of special seat eg a hanging harness that you carry around for when you want to rest but not lie down? Maybe something like one of those sex swings.

This is something a little different for you and it's particularly 1:52 onwards that I like. First half is OK but needs more work. Jaunty horsey clip clop beat sounds less jaunty/silly in second half, something I'm trying to understand. More on that later.

More work needed and more elements to be added. Until next time, I'll just say 'buen canc herm', which I think could be the Spanish version of nice track bro.

Fuuurrrrr

P.S. Will you ban me from commenting if I become a brony?

Greetings, Ensam. Lots of love for this track. That’s because it’s very good!

I became aware of Veela’s existence when listening to a track or two from a guy on here called DJSLT-UK. She is an amazing vocalist but those sample packs are definitely not for me. I just don’t want to be using the same vocals that I know many other people are using, even though they are good and even though I’m confident I’d produce a track sounding unlike anyone else’s using them. Who knows - maybe I'll change my mind.

Anway, this is fine big chiller and would be a good instrumental. I shall give more detail later, as I always do unless I don’t quite have the time for time-referencing analysis, as is the case now.

Congratulations.

Greetings. You and your mega lengthy tracks. Do you really expect people to sit all the way through these things? If you can't say it in a few minutes, what's the point in going on for ten?*

*Joke/sarcasm for obvious reasons

Anyway, this is more pumping stuff. 0:30 really takes off and that blippy intro lead makes much more sense now. Very fat and solid bass.

1:00 that's a cool vocal sample. The way the synth screech comes in at the end of each phrase works really well.

Around 3 mins and you're kind of doing a DJ crossfade into your next section. don't like it as much as the first. But at 4:00 it makes more sense and that rising offbeat bass warp sound is cool and the sort of thing I should use.

4:00 lead delayed and then fading out noise provides some cool atmosphere.

Damn, I've written a fair bit and only halfway through the track. Just as well I don't have to review my own tracks (actually, I do in replies to comments).

That'll do for the first half. Might comment on second half another time.

Your mixes are always tight and I don't have much to suggest regarding production. Don't know if these sounds an samples just come in such a clean form and you just lot tem together. Can't be that easy, can it? Everything sounds clean and makes sense to me. And I'm just sitting at home listening rather than out on the dancefloor.

Yes, sonically it’s no doubt your best yet.

I never did any of the watching of tutorials you’re talking about. I actually hate those kind of things and it’s all too technical for me though would definitely work for some people.

I’m sort of too lazy to want to bother copying and studying other people’s techniques. That’s why I haven’t played a cover song (on an instrument) since aged about 17. I didn’t have the internet at all for the first few years of home music making so no chance of online tutorials anyway.

I guess I just spent lots of time developing my own sound and technique. Maybe that’s partly why I have an unsual sound and ways of combining instruments.

I still don’t have internet in my music studio so no chance of following online tutorials whilst in there anyway.

Little tricks from pros are useful (just partly as interesting ideas) but I think the best thing is your own experimentation (and getting it wrong) so that you see how you feel and react to sounds.

I always think the best way for me to come up with something good is to do things that inspire me more. So, just following what works for someone else won’t necessarily do that for me.

Anyway, you sound like you’re on the right sort of path so keep it up.

P.S. Check out the Sonicstate weekly music tech podcast. It’s a fun and interesting UK-US chat about music tech, bands and much more. Not at all just gear reviews! And it’s been running since 2007 so hundreds of hour-long episodes to download and enjoy.

Greetings. I'm very impressed with your production progression. Don't know if it's easier starting out these days with music production than when I did or if you're just a quick learner.

This sounds good right from the first beat. It's a simple but effective and tight drum groove. High trippy delayed melody is melodic and distinctive. Bass complements it really well and waiting 35 secs to introduce it is a good choice.

I'm not keen on the vocals or lyrics but that's just my personal preference. Others will feel differently.

Actually, the chorus of "It's greener" I do quite like, with the rap being my least favourite part. I actually think the telephone effect works well and provides good contrast.

Maybe a change would help this track though it works OK without.

Overall, it's a really tight production and I can't really fault it a great deal.

Reminds me just a little of Depeche Mode and Dave Gahan in places (probably that chorus).

Very well done.