StaticNomad

Thanks for the answer. Cool vocal from you and you have a good voice and great timing. Guitar tone is perfect, as is the control of the wah.

Clavichord (I think) is damn funky.

I must check some more of your stuff as this is really classic stuff.

Are you actually 21, as is said in one of the verses?

My only complaint is that the track didn't either have a bitchin' guitar solo or build into something bigger and heavier in the last 30 seconds. Getting some fat open hats and more of a rock kit would have given it a huge lift.

The drums sit just fine but they could progressed and been varied a bit more. But I say that as it's the kind of thing I do a lot whereas other people tend to like to keep the same kit throughout a song and also not particularly build it and then drop it down.

The fadeout ending was OK but I still think something more interesting and definitive could take its place.

Excellent work that people will enjoy - I just try to be honest about my preferences and how I might have done it.

I think this sounds excellent and very professional. However, I'd prefer to give a more complete review once you've told me a little more about it.

So, is it you playing all the instruments? And doing the programming?

Whose are the vocals?

The more detail the better and then I'll give a more in-depth review.

Great work.

With my previous reply I hadn't actually checked your changes. I have now listened again and couldn't notice a lot of difference so what you've done is probably subtle. I do like to go back and check any updates to tracks I have commented on. Sometimes people even make changes based on my suggestions, which is kind of what the feedback/reviewing should be about, I think.

I guess it's partly becasue I didn't hear any problems with the vocals so am less likely to notice a slight improvement. As I said, I was hoping for more work on the drums, though you'll probably get round to that eventually, as well as giving it a more definitive, conclusive ending.

I also had a bit of desire to hear the guitar introduced earlier as it's probably my favourite part. Maybe just briefly in some sort of intro as I feel it sets it apart from other, similar tracks. I look forward to any updates though what you have is already good, as everyone has already said.

Oh sorry to hear of any depression problems. But not sure if this: "having to deal with so many champagne problems" means they're not really very massive problems. Maybe it's a bit like that phrase "first-world problems" like being annoyed about when your supermarket delivery will arrive as opposed to 'third world problems' such as whether the water supply is fit to drink.

Anyway, I'll be very interested to hear your new version of this highly promising piece. I can't say I could really spot your Reason synths in there (which is probably a good thing, means they're not really generic) though maybe they're the sorts of sounds I tend not to use or have missed in the presets.

New age/prog rock could be good. Slam a bit of hip hop in there too as there's very little prog rock with any hip hop in, as far I'm aware. I guess I try to do a bit of that, though.

Best of luck.

Hello again. Yes, this is no doubt better than Spivkurl's first production and I'm sure it's better than mine.

You've got some pretty decent feedback here so keep reviewing others' work and asking for feedback in your tracks' descriptions and I'm sure you'll get it. I'm among those who doesn't mind writing a decent amount to try to help out.

Just starting out with production now must be amazing but confusing. So many very cheap and powerful 'sound toys' on offer and so very much to learn. It's going to be a blast for you and there will be so much to take in and all sorts of advice you don't fully understand.

You don't absolutely need a college course as there are all sorts of online tools and tips and guides. I can help you out with a few suggestions. One good place to go is the website of the best music tech magazine in the UK, called Sound On Sound. Check it and its forums out. Also has hundreds of interviews with all manner of big name artists over the years. Lots to learn there.

Good luck and try to move away from drum loops and get into programming some good acoustic drum software as it offers much more flexibility.

No problem as regards more extensive feedback. That's what I almost always do and kind of what I think this site should be more about rather than just single sentence ego-stoking.

Yes, know what you mean about cooking and not adding too many layers or too much stuff. I probably suffer from being able to come up with just too many parts and riffs and changes and drum patterns and so on. So I probably cram them in and then extend them out so tracks become so long and perhaps too busy and too varied.

I must exercise more restraint.

Anyway, my suggestion is you very carefully add some small details and pushes here and there to augment the quality stuff you've already got (and knocked out damn quickly, as far as I'm concerned).

So, the drums, as already agreed upon. Maybe a little emphasis of the vocal here and there and whatever else you come across that can give part 2 a lift (that's just how I hear it should be).

I do love to repeat cool little parts and riffs though I think some of my favourite most memorable parts are in songs where they only happen once. That makes them even more valuable and precious.

Good luck though I'm sure you won't screw it up.

Hello. This grooves along nicely with a warm, relaxed vibe. Everything sits well and is to hear and nothing interferes with the vocal. Maybe I'd prefer a bit more variety in the grooves. Perhaps second half could have some progression of the 1st half's drum patterns. Could be just the same sounds but played on some other hits.

So, 2:26 when her vocal comes in a bit more forcefully I thought that was a good opportunity to move to a bigger snare, maybe a big reverbed clap to take the track to another level and make it more intense.

My favourite sounds are the guitar-like ones starting on 1:46. Is that a sample-based guitar instrument?

Good work but I'd like it to build to something more intense (it can still be chilled) in the second half.

Yo. Didn't see this when you first posted it but glad I've now found it as it's excellent work.

Really majestic movements in those synths and surely the best thing I've heard from you.

I sometimes find it quite daunting when I come up with a particularly cool riff or collection of parts as sometimes doing great initial ideas justice does not come easily. Sometimes it's very easy but I've heard loads of songs with cool parts in them that just weren't that great and should have been better (I guess we all have).

Anyway, I actually think this works well without drums or extra bass or guitar etc.

So, I suggest making a purely drumless version lasting, say, 3 mins.

At the same time, make a grooving beat-heavy version. If it were me, I'd spend ages playing around with loads and loads of different acoustic drumming grooves and kits as well as drum loops.

I'd probably decide quite a few different ones worked and then would spend ages working out how to transition between those different grooves. But that's me so maybe you'd prefer to choose a good, fairly simple hip hop groove (for instance) and just stick with that and not move to double time swinging jazz or d'n'b or whatever.

Good luck with it and let us know how you get on. Definitely consider the two versions as I think you're nearly there with this (drumless) version.

Oh, and maybe make the intro a bit simpler - perhaps go with the coolest, most distinctive and memorable part so it's a memorable intro.

Hi. This is good for your first production attempt. It's got a pretty clean sound, for a start.

I like the overall vibe, the bass, subtle chords from the keys (Rhodes?) and there's some psychedelic squelch in there.

I think it might be better if you start with bass and drums without the vocals.

In the first minute I think there's too much reverb on those vocals and they take up a bit too much space. I'd just turn the reverb down and then maybe turn it up to that sort of level at the most extreme parts - a bit like a guitarist turning on the heaviest distortion just for certain parts.

I think the track seems too long, probably because of the lack of changes. Same bass sound and quite possibly line for 5 minutes. Drums don't really change either. Need more fills or a change to the ride or change in groove. I guess it's just a loop and that's why there's always that open hat in the same place.

As with so much music, this is the sort of track that could really do with a real drummer (or quality programmed kits, which is how I work) to give it a lift in all sorts of places. That way you could probably get away with the same bassline for 5 minutes. But the same bass and drum loop is just a bit too much for that amount of time, in my biased opinion.

Good luck with it and feel free to let me know if you disagree with my observations.

Ah right - I get what you did now. Maybe you should have just said in your track description that before 0:43 is the original. Your work after 0:43.

Good luck with your beat. I think it works pretty well though I'm not someone who samples other people's records though sometimes I do hear it done well. And a quality mashup is a thing of great skill and beauty and I absolutely love some of the best ones.

Check out a guy called Wax Audio. Free excellent mashup albums from his site. Some of them are almost better than the different original songs that he's brought together. Check one called Golden Teardrop. And his Stevie Wonder-Metallica mashup is great fun too.

Loo and Placido are other guys who do great mashup sets. Lots of free ones available from their site.

Hey, I think your forum post was OK. I've never posted in there advertising a track (and I've been uploading one a week for the past 4-5 months) but I think it's OK, even if it was about once a week.

But I'd say do it honestly with a title such as 'New track' plus some other description.
That way people can see it's just someone saying they have a new track so can choose not to look at that forum post if they are against people advertising a new track as a forum post. Just don't do anything deceptive with the title of the forum post.

That's just my opinion so take it however you like.

Anyway, back to your track. As Gzglitchers said, it's probably too long for home listening (but maybe OK length for club). My challenge to you is to try making a shorter, snappier version. You might even prefer it over this longer one.

Good luck!

Lots to like here. Where does this vocal come from?

One slight problem I have is that I find the vocal a bit too dry (completely dry?) so would prefer a bit of added reverb. But, without, I guess it gives it a more intimate feeling, which some people do like.

This is an odd little floating thing. Very dreamlike music. Would work well in a fairytale scene. Something quite toy-like about some of those keyboard sounds.

Well done on coming up with something a bit unusual.

I saw your forum post (and suspect you may have inspired another about how not to advertise your track) and thought hey, why not check it out.

This is actually better than I was expecting. I'm not much into house as it generally bores me. But I like and makes lots of electronic music so of course like some house.

Anyway, I thought the intro was a bit too long though I appreciate that this is often done so the track can be mixed into another during a live set.

If it weren't for that I would start it on about 0:38 maybe just with that lead delayed sound. Simple but effective there.

I thought about 2:37 to about 3:25 were a but unnecessary and dull though I love the long sub around 3:25.

It really gets moving on about 4:50, which is maybe a bit too long to take.

I agree that the reverb sounds good in this one.

I do like the final deep sub release note.

Overall, I thought it was a good solid effort but nothing I would remember and no obvious melody or anything particularly interesting or unusual.

It would be a decent effort in a club but, to be honest, people will groove to most things of a dance variety in a club so I don't think it's that hard to knock out some half-decent club music.

Anyway, I hope this review helps in some small way. Was it what you were looking for with your forum post?

Cool, haunting synth sounds. My kind of big, widescreen, sweeping intro.

I don't know what a triple flute is. Is it three flutes tied together to make one superflute?

I can't actually hear that much flute in this. Perhaps it needs to come up in the mix.

I can't really fault this as a big, haunting, drifting composition (oh, except for the abrupt, cutoff ending) but I don't listen to much ambient as I tend to get bored so feel I need a groove under those sorts of far out sounds I love.

So I'd probably have trouble picking this out of a whole load of other similar ambient pieces. But I'm sure it would go fairly well over some scene or other in, for instance, Bladerunner.

Are you familiar with the Global Communication album? That's probably my favourite ever ambient album.

Bet this was trippy to make. Might have had you falling asleep at your computer (careful you don't accidentally delete all files).

I don't know the song you're referring to but this sounds good. Only problem is that I have no idea what you're actually doing here as this just sounds like someone else's complete song.

Ah, maybe I get it now. Is it just that you've added some drums after 0:43?

Hi. I'm a huge fan of this song. Absolutely loved it the first time I heard it used on a sailsuit Youtube video (that is well worth watching).

I'm surprised that you've chosen not to have a massive bassline, as in the original. There's a version of the band playing this live and there is almost no bass and it sounds a lot worse without it.

But your version is more of a chillout version so OK not to have a massive bassline.

I'm not sure that the last 25 seconds of your version work so well. Something slightly awkward about those pauses.

Maybe I can give a more detailed review once I've listened back to the original.

"I have been enjoying your guitar work so much that I am actually looking for more natural guitar sounds in my stuff."

Thanks. Guitar playing is the way I express myself best and feel I have the most control over any musical element. Flowing playing generally comes quite easily to me even though I don't really practise or play that much.

As regards you getting more natural guitar in your stuff: I guess nothing beats real playing, with all its nuances and timing errors and idiosyncracies.

But have you tried any sampled-based guitar instruments as well as guitar VSTs?

I don't use them much (for the reason that I don't really need to) but they can be cool. Though when I do use them, I don't get the timing and feel and expression that I get from my actual guitar playing. It's more that I turn a guitar sound into more of a processed sound that complements all my synth stuff.

But maybe some of these guitar VSTs would suit you. There's one from Sugar Bytes that I haven't tried though they generally make good software.

As regards bands taking years to make one album, have you noticed that in the 60s bands used to knock out at least one album a year? More than one full album a year was not uncommon. These days one every few years is more common. I find the reasons for this quite fascinating. First is that studio time was more expensive then so I guess most albums were done by bands who regularly played live and then just went in the studio for a shortish time and knocked it out, without spending ages on their sound. More sounds available these days so more time spent tweaking!

Anyway, good track. I enjoyed listening again.

Yo, Spivkurl. Stop flooding this site with your SHIT! We're having to employ industrial cleaners to remove it all and it's one hell of a job. And it still smells really bad after each deep clean.

0:19-0:21 there's actually a really cool little tune in that twisted vocal sound. Definitely take advantage of that! Cut it out and extend it. Could even be a type of chorus.

I am indeed in your Spivkurlian face but I'm not judging you (you are above judgement - only God and the Devil are qualified to do that). But you'll never put me in my place!

Hello. More good work. Got much better on 0:37 when that pad came in.

Some suggestions (that's what I prefer to do rather than just gushing praise, especially when something is already good):

1:06 that little guitar fill is good but slightly odd and then continues maybe slightly too long to interfere with her vocal.

First beat and bass that comes in sits well though maybe that hat is a bit too loud/prominent. May also be slightly too harsh a sound.

Ah, 2:54 we get to hear much more of that guitar. Like that bit.

Very deep throbby bass (which locks with the kick). Like it when it goes higher on 3:57.

Good, dreamy pad movements. Effective piano punctuating the vocal from time to time.

I know it's hardly a short track but I sort of wish that the vocal could have gone somewhere else - maybe got more insistent and intense so built up to something. But if JJ didn't do that, fair enough and I guess you're just working with what you've got.

Don't let my minor criticisms and desires put the idea in your head that I didn't like this. Lots to like here and my stuff has quite a bit in common with it. Lots of good taste and skill and beauty in here. As I always say, I just want things that are good to be even better. Most of the time, I believe that is possible!

Well done.

He's got a good voice and is talking about interesting stuff. It's a little too background and uneventful a track for me but works well as a background, drifting vibe.

Relaxing sort of stuff and probably good on a compilation/playlist of all sorts of other chillout music. It would stand out as being something a bit different.

You can also choose to listen closely to what he's saying so there will probably be something new to hear or idea to reflect on even after quite a few listens.

By "stop-start with the drums" I mean that I would like the drums to continue uninterrupted more often rather than breaking down and stopping and then building back up again into a main, solid groove.

Breadowns, pauses, fills and drum changes are all great for providing excitement in a track and I love doing them. I just think this track would flow better if you didn't do those breakdowns and pauses so many times but kept the beat more constant. Also, if you do it too much, it loses its appeal.

I haven't heard of "Aren't You Clever" by Laurie Webb but will now look her and it up.

Good luck with any improvements or alternate mixes.

Well this is definitely goa trance. Can't say I've really listened to it in years!

Very psychedelic and a lot of work has gone in here. Not surprised to see Spivkurl likes it - this is right up his twisted musical street. I also agree with him and others about the mastering and the single block waveform. But I get that it's supposed to be loud and powerful and aggressive.

2:49 really gets moving with that syncopated hihat.

Lots of weird sounds in here and it'll be popular on a crazy rave dancefloor.

Hi. Sorry to hear you see yourself as a failure though I don't know you so there's not much more I can say about that.

I'm generally not a fan of dubstep (though I am sort of making some right now) so please take that into account.

I liked the parts in this that weren't the obvious dubstep. So, start to 0:39 and then 1:07 to end. These sections have a cool , reggae-like groove (I guess you could say dub) that could do with a cool reggae vocal (the bits that are in there are good) though I'm less keen on the type of snare used.

Syncopated keyboards are also great.

Very farty bass in your dubstep sections. I also like the slightly dark and discordant sort of string stab heard eg on 1:08.

I hope that review wasn't too painful for you. Good luck with this.

If it was me, I would pretty much remove all the dubsteppery here and go with your cool dub vibe. But please do what feels right to you and only you.

Hello. This is some quite creative and complex stuff. Strange, complex structure to it.

Big bass drum you've got thundering away there.

Good vocals and a classic sound for this genre. Whose vocals are they/where are they from?

I like the skittering, panning shaker/hats that come in on 1:54 They make a real difference to that verse. Maybe they should have been brought in sooner (just an idea).

Strings also sound great. Delay on them is just what I like.

Perhaps a slight problem with this, with reference to the slightly strange structure, is that there's too much stop-start with the drums. It's creative but maybe this would do better with some steadier beats.

But it's really good stuff with definite commercial appeal so I can understand why it's one of your favourites.

Hey - good reply. The noise isn't too big a deal here. I just tend to point this sort of thing out in reviews in case the person making it hasn't noticed.

I've uploaded tracks that had a really obvious need for some parts to be EQd and noise removed but no one said a thing! So I tend to point it out as I know in the past I've been in denial about it and other problems being there.

Anyway, you will definitely want to check out Calexico - excellent group. I'd recommend the albums Black Light and Feast Of Wire and make a friendly bet that you will love them.

As regards you writing "a lot of Latin/spaghetti western/southwestern styles of music", my music theory and knowledge of harmony or chords is awful. I've never studied any Asian or Middle Eastern music but it comes out quite naturally in me. I think it's when I start doing semitone or tritone stuff - to stop it being discordant or too evil-sounding I find the notes that seem to work and that often comes out as Eastern sounding.

Maybe, somehow, there's something you do that makes the Latin/spaghetti western/southwestern naturally come out. Not sure if that's using A minor. Probably something else as well.

Anyway, cool track so keep it up.