Wow, long as always and a lot going on. There is a deffinet skill in keeping a listeners interest over the whole of a long piece and you did that with ease. After listening to the whole track all I have in my head is the riff/chord structure that you seemed to stick to the whole way through, all the touches to keep that interesting almost seem subliminal now and have melted from my memory. Bear in mind, knowing how much you put into your tracks, I tried to switch off and just listen to the music and get into the groove without letting my brain get overloaded with technicalities, as there are so many to remember.
The groove I found amazing and love the bass sound (what did you use for it). I would've maybe liked the drums, in places, to have a bit more attack and bit to really bring out the groove but thats just a personal thing.
Greetings. Good to hear that you interest was kept over the whole piece. Here's how it works for me:
Working alone, as I do, I'm forced to trust my judgment. I believe I have good taste in music and understand when something works or doesn't work. So, if a piece still interests me as it continues, I believe there is a good chance it will do the same for others. I certainly don't always get this right and the tracks whose sections I just can't get right do really piss me off.
But I don't really hear any obvious weak sections here. As always, it's only long because I felt there was enough good stuff to justify the length. I could have put a lot more in and resisted recording a whole bunch of varied guitar parts in the second half's breakout section.
I don't know if it is is the same riff/chord structure throughout. Quite possibly as I'm terrible at changing key but good at introducing loads of changes and variations using other techniques. If you listen again, maybe you 'll get some of those string melodies stuck in your head. They're still stuck in mine,as are some of the bass parts.
The bass is the same Reason patch I have used in probably something like 10 tracks on this site. I just keep reusing it as it's so very powerful and warm. Here's another good track featuring it prominently (also the track this one came out of):
At least 90% of my synth work is from Reason. I just use the software's synths and samplers plus various sample-based instruments and patches I have collected since I started using it in 2001. I'd love to have Kontakt and use some of the great sampled-based instruments but I just haven't got round to it yet.
You didn't give me any time references so I don't know where you think the drums need more attack and bite. While it's obviously a major chill track, I've kept the drums quite powerful ie no gentle brushwork here. I think you're saying you want them to be more powerful in places but I'm not really sure.
A track similar to this, though with much more slide resonator guitar is:
Hey Simon..many thanks from myself,Detlef and Steve for your positive thumbs up mate!...I did spend a fair amount of time mixing this little devil (I love my Auratones! lol) and getting a pass from a pro like yourself means a lot mate!....going to be plugging in the router shortly,expect some pics!...cheers Dave :)
I really enjoyed this. Industrial, atmospheric, emotive and slightly disturbing. Made me feel uncomfortable then relaxed then on edge again, a roller coaster.
Thanks Simon, I'm glad you enjoyed it. The intention was to make the song emotional as I have a version with lyrics that is about something very personal. It's all about my war experiences and post traumatic stress disorder, so it was intended to be a bit disturbing. So watch out for the full version at some point :) TT
Yeh man, I'm enjoying this. Smooth sound and great use of the vox samples. As a crit I would try and tune the main melody vocal, from the first section,a little better to the track, its not far off but it sounds a little pitchy on a couple of phrases but thats just my personal thing.
Even tho it all works really well and I love it. The 4 min transition is superb really cool musical section, head boppin stuff.
Really cool interesting track. Love the kinda haunting melody over all the madness.
Good production and mix, maybe a little more stereo width but its a minor point.
shit hot mate, solid bass and rythm, with a killer lead hook. Great production if maybe a little on the dry side but fck me when you breakout at around 3.10 it gave me goosebumps.
whoa, I like what you have done to the bass. You've really cleaned it up, I struggled to get proper control of it in my mix. Quite a narrow mix compared to most others, which is refreshing as sometimes its hare to concentrate on just 'the music' with really wide mixes.
Hey friend, sorry for the late reply! I'm happy that you enjoyed listening to this one, as it was a fun challenge to mix and master. I guess as far as the bass goes, the biggest contributors to the control were; convert the channel to mono (I did this just by using monophonic plugins), and cut the unused frequencies with parametric EQ (viewing a spectrum analysis, and killing the sub and very high frequencies). Beyond that, I didn't do much to the bass. Also, it helps to accentuate different frequencies in the bass and low drum channels, as they often fight for headroom. Once I spent that much time mixing properly, the master was pretty easy. Thank you very much for the comment!
Its exactly about the taking part and growing and also widening our experiences.
I like your take, nice and chill and I like you picked up on the woodwind melody at the end, really makes for the build.
If I was to offer advice, it would be to clean up the guitars. I would remove everything below 200Hz as there is already so much going on down there in the rest of the track the guitars adding to it muddies things a little.
Really good job, nobody is kickin you nowhere with that effort :)
I am liking the nice clean sound you have achieved on this, its more natural than my version. I think my only criticism would be that the last section feels like it all leans a little on the right side. It is probably a personal thing of mine though coz you have both the picked electric guitar and the strummed acoustic panned out there, those are two instruments I thought to be fairly prominent.
Haha... I mixed this just using headphones and my hearing on the right side isn't quite as clear as on the left. I think I'll go back and swap sides on the headphone so I can hear what you hear n then fix it up a bit - thanks for the critique ;)
I think this is the 2nd or 3rd time I've listened to this track and each time I've liked it more as well as hearing different things.
I feel as though the simple demeanor this track has, try's to hide the very clever, complicated and really well executed elements that you have not only put together but mixed so well also.
I really like this track !!!!(in case you wondered)
Hey buddy, this comment means a lot to me! It's always a good feeling when someone can feel where you were coming from when listening! It's an important track for me, and it makes me happy it's been well received. In fact it's the most played techno track on Looperman now! Schweet. I'll be swinging by your page in a moment! Thanks much!
I like to try and listen to a track as a whole entity and man this has a vibe. Its not often that I hear music that takes me on a journey with some vivid visuals in my head, this track did it.
I could go back and go into detail but I really don't want to. Its a bit like after eating a really nice meal, you don't want anything else so as not to loose the beautiful taste in you're mouth.
Nice work once again, oh and I choose this one for the title as its kinda how I feel sometimes.......... ;)
Dark, brooding and psychedelic but with hip hop, eastern elements and slide country blues and banjo and strings and stuff. Sounds like an unlikely mix so I suspect there may be no other piece of music quite like it.
I sort of hope there isn’t (to make mine stand out as unique). However, I also hope there is as I’d like to listen to it.
I particularly like the title. It’s really a comment on the mix of instruments, with the idea of having instruments that sound from a different time (so, a lot older) mixed with much more modern, even futuristic, instruments.
So, I guess the older instruments are the banjo and resonator guitar and the newer ones are the filtered, psychedelic strings, beats and generally slightly futuristic vibe. I guess it’s also an unintentional reference to time travel, where you’re in the right place but you’ve moved through the centuries – a bit like what happens quite a few times in the excellent Back To The Future trilogy of films.
Thanks for checking it out and leaving some thoughts.
Nice track and nice combination. Melody maybe gets a little repetative and maybe a little bit of extra octaves now and then could help but its only a small gripe.
on MeloStep 5 by HunterFoxzAC
on My Kitten by traz75
Good work, I enjoyed the tune....
Simon
Thank you!
You will find it, its under the long flute solo from around 1:10. As faint noise, but still there. :)
regards, traz
on Otonoha by 15ludwicke
Nice job
Simon
on A Little Bit Of Infinity by StaticNomad
The groove I found amazing and love the bass sound (what did you use for it). I would've maybe liked the drums, in places, to have a bit more attack and bit to really bring out the groove but thats just a personal thing.
Nice work.
Simon
Working alone, as I do, I'm forced to trust my judgment. I believe I have good taste in music and understand when something works or doesn't work. So, if a piece still interests me as it continues, I believe there is a good chance it will do the same for others. I certainly don't always get this right and the tracks whose sections I just can't get right do really piss me off.
But I don't really hear any obvious weak sections here. As always, it's only long because I felt there was enough good stuff to justify the length. I could have put a lot more in and resisted recording a whole bunch of varied guitar parts in the second half's breakout section.
I don't know if it is is the same riff/chord structure throughout. Quite possibly as I'm terrible at changing key but good at introducing loads of changes and variations using other techniques. If you listen again, maybe you 'll get some of those string melodies stuck in your head. They're still stuck in mine,as are some of the bass parts.
The bass is the same Reason patch I have used in probably something like 10 tracks on this site. I just keep reusing it as it's so very powerful and warm. Here's another good track featuring it prominently (also the track this one came out of):
The Beast That Could Always Be Tamed
http://www.looperman.com/tracks/detail/154691
At least 90% of my synth work is from Reason. I just use the software's synths and samplers plus various sample-based instruments and patches I have collected since I started using it in 2001. I'd love to have Kontakt and use some of the great sampled-based instruments but I just haven't got round to it yet.
You didn't give me any time references so I don't know where you think the drums need more attack and bite. While it's obviously a major chill track, I've kept the drums quite powerful ie no gentle brushwork here. I think you're saying you want them to be more powerful in places but I'm not really sure.
A track similar to this, though with much more slide resonator guitar is:
Honey Mango Heaven
http://www.looperman.com/tracks/detail/162441
That's even got slide trance and dream swing slide jazz in it and I think it will be your sort of vibe.
Thanks again!
on HARLEQUIN by Planetjazzbass
Beautifully executed and produced, very pro
Simon
on The Number by RealProblemShuckers
I must check out more hardcore.....
Simon
on Dark-Dub by DanceDemagogue
Good job getting the emotive thing going.
Simon
on Mo Deep House by FreeRadical
Even tho it all works really well and I love it. The 4 min transition is superb really cool musical section, head boppin stuff.
Great track
Simon
on Failing Times by failingtimes
Good production and mix, maybe a little more stereo width but its a minor point.
Gonna listen to some more, thanks.
Simon
on umek remix by FreeRadical
Great track, keep them comin
Simon
on Proximal Vicinity Memphis Style by MemphisB
Nice job
Simon
on ShortBusMusic - Proximal Vicinity - DaveDaG mix by DaveDaG
Nice work
Simon
on Proximal Vicinity Spivkurl Mix 13B Master B by Spivkurl
Excelent mix
Simon
on Proximal Vicinity Short Bus Mixing Comp by fixxxer
I like your take, nice and chill and I like you picked up on the woodwind melody at the end, really makes for the build.
If I was to offer advice, it would be to clean up the guitars. I would remove everything below 200Hz as there is already so much going on down there in the rest of the track the guitars adding to it muddies things a little.
Really good job, nobody is kickin you nowhere with that effort :)
Simon
on Proximal Vicinity - ShortBusMusic Mix Comp by WongKiShoo
Nice work, clean and to the point.
Simon
George
on Looking For You by Spivkurl
I feel as though the simple demeanor this track has, try's to hide the very clever, complicated and really well executed elements that you have not only put together but mixed so well also.
I really like this track !!!!(in case you wondered)
Simon
on Right Place Wrong Century by StaticNomad
I could go back and go into detail but I really don't want to. Its a bit like after eating a really nice meal, you don't want anything else so as not to loose the beautiful taste in you're mouth.
Nice work once again, oh and I choose this one for the title as its kinda how I feel sometimes.......... ;)
Simon
Dark, brooding and psychedelic but with hip hop, eastern elements and slide country blues and banjo and strings and stuff. Sounds like an unlikely mix so I suspect there may be no other piece of music quite like it.
I sort of hope there isn’t (to make mine stand out as unique). However, I also hope there is as I’d like to listen to it.
I particularly like the title. It’s really a comment on the mix of instruments, with the idea of having instruments that sound from a different time (so, a lot older) mixed with much more modern, even futuristic, instruments.
So, I guess the older instruments are the banjo and resonator guitar and the newer ones are the filtered, psychedelic strings, beats and generally slightly futuristic vibe. I guess it’s also an unintentional reference to time travel, where you’re in the right place but you’ve moved through the centuries – a bit like what happens quite a few times in the excellent Back To The Future trilogy of films.
Thanks for checking it out and leaving some thoughts.
on Who I Are by VicaMOOR
Love it
Simon
on Only Lovers Left Alive by Axel St Patience by musiclover38
Great piece of very professional work.
Simon
-Søren
on IMAGINE by PRINCELECTRO
Nice one
Simon
all the best
on Voice of Violin by GalaXProject
Simon
on Waiting for the end feat Steklo prod by yungWill by benjizo
Simon
on In Between feat Minette by brotbackautomat
Nothing else to add, just superb work
Simon
on Aint Nobody Lovin Me But U feat Patricia Edwards by brotbackautomat
Wonderful use of Patricia's vocals. Mixed beautifully.
A class production :)
Simon
on Streets of Manhattan by jarre
I didn't find the sax too loud, it felt right with a nice clean mix of the accompanying instruments. Would love to hear more.
Simon