StaticNomad

I've got to agree 100% with the previous comment. The playing is really good but the sound of the guitar is awful.

Great timing, lots of movement about the neck in only a minute so lots of creativity there. Love that massive last low note!

I also didn't hear a drum machine.

I see this was uploaded in 2008 so I hope you've got a better guitar recording technique now. There's also a lot of noise on it.

For all I know, you may now be making awesome metal tracks with a great guitar sound. Good luck with it.

Ah, sorry, I see now that you're doing a cover. Fair enough though the playing is still spot on.

Something about the movement of those chords that makes me hear a vocal for this. It's crying out for a good one.

It's not really my kind of style but I can hear a good song in here.

I like those strings that come in around 0:43. Then that beat makes the track take off.

Probably a smooth soul singer on this rather than a rapper though anything's possible (maybe both).

If you can get a good vocal you'll probably want to make it longer, say at least 3 mins.

That intro definitely made me want to continue. Only problem is there's quite a bit of noise on it, which continues. Can you find a way to remove the noise?

Really good singer. Whose vocals are they?

Good delay on her voice.

On 0:54 when that synth comes in, it could really do with some bass there. Maybe just put a sub bass underneath it to beef that section up.

Actually, I think there's a lack of bass at various other points, though sometimes it works fine (I can give you specific time references if you like).

Synth riff at 1:15 is wicked - just my kind of thing.

2:50 double time drums is brilliant. Wasn't expecting that but it's the kind of thing I like to do often in my music. Only problem is that those fast drums don't last long enough. Make them longer!

Lots of good stuff in this track and nice mix of the chosen elements and flavours but I feel it could be made much better and then be a really good piece of music and song.

Finally, sorry to hear about your friend. But this has a strong emotional depth to it so a good tribute to her memory. Well done and I hope you can make it even better.

Thanks for the reply, Mr XpekT. Yes, those drums are very accurate and just the right sound so probably too good not to use.

You've just given me an idea:

Why not try doing a version that is the same structure but make some things very different? So, some very different drums, use of strings, whatever.

Maybe more of a funky powerful psychill version? Not dubstep!

The singing and production is so accurate here that it's almost too good a cover. Too good in the sense that you've really accurately recreated a great song in just the same way.

This not a complaint but, as Pete clearly has the voice for it, why not try the same vocals but over different sounding music?

So, it would sound like Cornell playing with maybe The Prodigy or Chemical Brothers (just examples - I don't mean try to sound like them). That would be really interesting to me to hear as I love a good, alternative cover.

Separately, I've listened to some of your many rock tracks on this site and you have a lot of ability. That recent one with JJ Weekz was great (see my comments on it). Well made music but I think you need more vocals and/or other instruments eg synths. Pete and JJ are good ones to have...

Good stuff, as those Soundgarden chaps would surely agree. You know I'm a massive fan of theirs, though their most recent album is no good and not worth reforming for.

Anyway, I heard this first without knowing it was Pete's vocal and wondered who it was. You do an excellent job of getting somewhere near Cornell, though he's still got a special edge that is really hard to reproduce. That's what makes him one of the greatest alternative hard rock singers of all time.

2:15 scream is very close to that special Cornell overdrive as well as various other bits of phrasing.

Actually, Pete may even sound a bit better than Cornell does these days as I think he's lost it quite a bit vocally. Tough singing like that when you're nearly 50.

I'm struggling to fault the guitar, bass and drums on this. Who's playing the drums?

My one creative idea is to have some other percussive element replace the spoons in that section, though it sounds just fine without.

I generally couldn't care less about straight covers ie ones that make no attempt to rearrange or change the sounds/genre.

But this is such an excellent approximation that Soundgarden fans probably wouldn't notice if they heard this live and weren't looking at the stage.

Nice intro vocal. Reminds me almost of some Vietnamese singing.

Far out synth pad could go really nicely with that.

This actually reminds me a lot of spaghetti western Morricone-style music.

I'm well aware that those drums are basically a whole genre in themselves (that I've heard thousands of times) but I don't like them and would completely change them. I would probably just use different hip hop beats.

But this is pretty far out stuff and really well put together. I think it might be much better just as an instrumental. If you do get a rap, it's going to have to be really good to not let this fascinating track down.

Good length track too so, overall, excellent work.

Cool stuff. Certainly didn't sound like hip hop with the intro. Then the beat kicked in and it couldn't sound more like hip hop.

Good rap and lovely female vocals with a great tone and melody.

Where's that guitar solo from? It's really good and is the kind of thing that makes a regular hip hop track really stand out from the crowd.

Great set of elements though maybe it's still a little sparse (I know hip hop often is). Could maybe do with some subtle pads.

With the return of the female vocals on 2:08, I'd look to add some really beautiful, lush evolving pads behind her voice and maybe add reverb/delay to her vocal. Would make the track more far out and really give it a boost. I'd probably also change the drums there, make them really kick a lot harder. Throwing some big ride cymbal breaks in would fit.

Really good stuff (one of the best hip hop tracks I've heard on here in a while) but I can hear how it could be better. But leave it the way it is if you're really happy with it.

I'm not a house guy but this is actually really good. Very professional and there could definitely be some commercial success for this little remix.

I don't know the vocals but they're good. Who is the singer as I think I recognise her?

Reverb on vocals at 0:44 is effective and they're nicely held.

Maybe the filtering at 1:14 could be better - goes slightly too bright for my liking (extremely minor criticism).

Overall very good stuff that was well worth me pressing play.

Thanks for the list of samples. I don't have any Native Instruments stuff but these sounds are good so I'm sure I'd get on well with them.

Would like more orchestral stuff so I can integrate it into less obvious genres such as psychedelic rock, delta blues, hip hop, d'n'b or a combo of them all.

As I asked before, do you compose any of these tracks specifically for images?

As you clearly know what you're doing, I'd be interested to hear what you make of my own cinematic, very stringy and drumless composition called Visible Aura. Made a long time ago but recently slightly updated and improved. Not high quality string samples but I think they sound good. https://www.looperman.com/tracks/detail/104733

Thanks again for the info and your track.

So, I've had a listen now to the original. I clearly didn't read your track description correctly as I thought you were doing a cover.

But no, you came up with the words (and sang them) so it's even better than I thought.

Original is good but crying out for a good vocal - which it got.

Good luck with the minor fixes. Small changes can make a real difference - especially if you do lots of them. Sometimes they make a difference in ways that people can't actually express.

So, if you dropped a drumbeat in a bar and then fixed it, some people wouldn't be able to tell you what had been changed - it would just feel better to them.

This is the way I try to think about all the heavily detailed micro-editing and mixing I do - all those little things will add up to something significant in the end.

I find this a bit difficult to analyse and take apart so I'll just say it's very effective cinematic composition that wouldn't be out of place in a whole load of movies and TV shows. So, Game Of Thrones, all sorts of historical stuff.

It reminds me a little in places of Thomas Newman's recent Skyfall soundtrack so check that out if you haven't (I mean away from the film ie just as a piece of music).

I like the Eastern lead melody starting on 0:32 as it's very majestic. Nice, slow notes gradually rising. And then it gets overtaken by another part so a skilful blend there.

Clearly, as you can put all this together, you could do loads more like it. Are these just straight musical compositions or would you like them to be attached to a picture, so to speak?

Finally, a list of sound samples/instruments used on this would be interesting (to me, at least).

This is really extremely good, as everyone has already said. Vocals and guitar really stand out (very effortless soulful voice eg on "behind", "heavy load") but it's great right from the first drum fill and then guitar solo etc.

3:13-3:16 guitar reminiscent of some of George Harrison's playing on his classic Something.

There is indeed a bit of Willie Nelson in the vocals (wouldn't have though of it if I hadn't read it).

I don't know the original but will listen later.

Maybe I can help by suggesting some minor "fix" type of improvements.

I can clearly hear an audio pop edit just before 1:24.

Guitar solo starting 1:26 is great but too loud, especially, but not only, the first few notes. I'd just lower any offending note's volume - easy fix.

2:08 the drums drop a beat (I should add it's a good and suitable drum track).

3:32 I can hear what might well be you opening your mouth to sing so it's another sort of minor pop (maybe vocals recorded without pop shield).

Final fadeout is not complete so track cuts off a little too abruptly (easy fix).

These are really very minor quibbles but I believe if something's good, why not make it even better. These minor problems are really easy to fix though playing and singing like this certainly isn't.

If you don't fix these things, there's a good choice no one else will ever even mention them as they don't get in the way of what is an excellent piece of music.

Easily the best thing I've heard from you though the John Martyn cover was also very good.

No problem regarding review. It's a shame there's not more intelligent and critical comment on here though I appreciate that writing about music isn't easy. But some people make almost no attempt. So, "Nice track" or "I like it" or "Dope" are pretty much a waste of time.

I should have guessed it was Metal Machine as I do like that one and Tempesta's quality playing. Check my track Lord Of Misrule to hear lots of it plus Drumkit From Hell in some of the most intense parts.

But the Metalheads EZX is probably my favourite and I've used it on loads of tracks (not all heavy). I also have Metal Foundry though I haven't used it much yet.

Debt Black Hole is probably my greatest metal drumming masterpiece and there's jazz drumming in there too.

One idea for this track is for 0:28. Let that low bass note at the end of the bar ring out without any drums behind it (so just remove them for a beat or two). I'm sure you'll make this a longer track so, if you repeat that bass and drums section again, maybe you can try my idea out then.

Excellent stuff that's difficult for me to criticise. Not my favourite sort of riffs but very good in the chosen genre.

0:24-0:33 maybe that bass could be EQ'd a bit to be a bit more powerful (though it's a good sound). Maybe also try a stereo widening effect there as it could be a really powerful bass break but isn't currently that powerful.

Great drums - which software do you use? On 0:47 there's a very short tom/kick fill I like that stands out.

Good guitar tone that's not too distorted so I can hear everything it's playing but obviously still packs a serious punch.

Hope you get some good vocals as this would be just great with the right ones.

I'm not really sure why you've recounted that lengthy story about Mozart and Salieri. Presumably it's because I asked why you chose to do a particular thing with your track.

I was merely giving the honest feedback that I felt the drums I so liked were too quickly removed and then took too long to return. These are compliments and then just suggestions as to what I would do with the track if it were mine. But it's your track so do what you feel is best for it.

Really killer drums. For me, they really stand out. Is that a loop? Maybe not as it's also got some good fills.

Why did you take them out for so long ie between 0:30 and 1:20?

It feels like they should really come back in on 0:49. The perfect drop is there!

The last few seconds are pretty much the perfect ending for this sort of music. But I think you can improve this by lengthening it a bit and not having such a long section without those excellent drums.

I should add that I also liked all the other elements but I'm just focusing on the drums as they stood out to me and then you cruelly took them away!

Not sure what you mean about sending through another project. I'll look out for your tracks on here and leave advice now that I know it's helpful (or PM me if necessary). Some people find my suggestions useful, many don't respond, a couple have even given me outright abuse and insults. Because of the latter, I'm reluctant to say anything at all disapproving (though I do this constantly with my own work) and really only comment on tracks that I think are good or have potential. One guy even called me 'the greatest critic on the Loop', which was odd and a bit worrying though he later said he meant it as a compliment.

If I like something, my feeling is almost always that it can be better. So, I try to analyse which areas need to be worked on, though it can be hard to express how you think someone should go about this. And you don't even know if the element for which you're suggesting improvement is maybe the bit they think is perfect!

Recommend to me some of your tracks featuring Superior Drummer as I still haven't heard any track that I am aware of using the software. It and EZ Drummer are all over most of my last 12 or so uploads on here. I have most of the EZ add-on packs and a few Superior ones. Might get another EZ one this week (Rock) as I find I can never really have too many drums.

I use between 2 and 5 kits on a track and love mixing and matching elements. The EZ Metalheads and Claustrophobic kits are particular favourites and I love the Superior Roots and Sticks kits too. I'd love some orchestral drums (eg kettle drums) but there are none for Superior but there is a pack for BFD. But I don't have BFD!

Good luck with this track as I'm sure there's more to come from it.

I commented on the earlier version so won't say it all again (eg excellent guitar). But this is better.

Bass effective starting on 0:24 , gets better on 0:43.

Ambient beds are all good - just my kind of thing.

Little shakers good percussion choice but the one that comes in 1:04 interferes a bit with the guitar. Maybe they're not coming in on the right beat.

Still think more could be done with drums in those first few mins eg gentle cymbal rolls, a delayed fill here and there, maybe a hint of a beat fading in (have some fun with it) though basic sparse choice works fine.

Vocal sample 1:41 effective. Sounds like more vocal should now happen but I quite like that there is no more!

2:57 onwards bass is loud enough and effective. This section is probably all too loud, as can be seen on waveform (technical point) but good mix. Cool psychedelic section but needs to be longer! So, maybe return/drop back down to ambient chill though maybe with more of a beat this time. Maybe chop the guitar up a bit or something eg some reverse bits.

" I've heard these sounds coming out of upstairs windows walking around Paris."

Yes, there is something oddly French about it. Must be the groove or something. It's certainly not the sitar/drone!

I agree that something else should take over from the lead instrument, to provide a bit more variety.

But it's still good work and unusual too.

I found the track by clicking on the random search button a few times. I was expecting I'd get hip hop track after hip hop track. And that is exactly what I got! And then this came up...

Great vibe to this that I instantly like and so will lots of other people. Nice, delayed piano and a bit funky clav too.

Really good voice that I can't fault, even though this really isn't my sort of style of music.

Definitely keep going with this one and make it at least 3 minutes as you've really got something good here.

I think the drums are a bit weak and need beefing up though I don't mind how upfront the vocal is - that makes sense for this style.

Some compelling loops and beats right from the start.

Nice synth build and drop into 0:53.

Funky little riffs.

Gets even better on 2:20.

I've heard loads of stuff like this before but this is still good and would sound much better played out at a club than it does with me just listening on headphones at home in the middle of the afternoon.

Hi. I found this track just by clicking 'random'.

Short but very nice and effective cinematic composition.

I love all the low notes of the cello - great tone on them.

I don't really have any suggestions for how you can improve this. Everything right about it and nothing wrong with it.

Yes, there are some good EX Drummer metal kits. I have all three and use them regularly. One is from John Tempesta (White Zombie) and another from Meshuggah's drummer. They each have different acoustic sounds and great MIDI files.

If you're happy with your Boss drum machine, no problem. But please check out the EZ Drummer kits as they're really good.

If you want to hear what they sound like, please listen to my songs on here called Debt Black Hole and Lord Of Misrule as they have some interesting, complex metal drumming on them. I think you might like them.

Good luck with your drums!

Good riffs and guitar tone and some powerful blast beats here.

Pretty much perfect drums and a good sound. I use Superior and EZ Drummer. Is this an EZ Drummer kit? If so, which one?

Quite a good fadeout ending - most people make the fade much shorter than that but I like a long one.

Yeah, I agree with Danke. Killer riffs and good double bass drum work.

Really like that first riff on 0:24. Cool, distinctive tone.

Guitar riffs are pretty clear and easy to hear so good tone again. Don't like it when people make the distortion so rough that it's hard to make out what's being played.

People will love this in industrial/metal land, I'm sure of that.

Progressive melodic weirdness at 2:14 and then more around 3:01.

Quite a bit of creativity and a good length track too.