ValveDriver

Cool man, cool.

WesterlyGroove, hello.
I know nothing about Jungle so I couldn't tell you if this is good or not by the genre's standards. But, as a listener with no preconceived notions as to what it should sound like, I like it. I'm just curious though, what makes it Jungle as opposed to D-n-B, or something to that effect?
I fully understand the creating "something atmospheric and nighttime". Most of my best work has come from the middle of the night, and it sounded like it.
Good work. Keep it up.
Take care.
V

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say you're a fellow Gen-X'r. Not only does it have a Satch vibe, but there's a lot of Billy Gibbons, EVH, Angus, and a little Vai in there too.
Excellent work. It sounds a lot like some of the stuff I was listening to back in the early 80's. Keep it up.
Take care.
V.

It does have an 80s feel. I noticed a couple people compared it to A-Ha. I can agree with that. I can also hear just a touch of Depeche Mode in a few spots.

Having been around in the 80s, and listening to ALL of the music back then, here are a couple of suggestions to consider for a more authentic 80s sound:

Brassy stabs. For whatever reason we thought the brassy stabs were gods gift to synth pop back then. In some songs they were very prevalent, in others, just an accent here and there. In this track, they'd be better as a here and there accent type.

Super synth tom rolls, Try throwing in a few tom fills that are very obviously synth toms. Another thing we thought was a good idea.

Just a couple of ideas that you can either use, or toss out. Either way, you've done a good job with your recreation.
Take care.
V.

Funny thing is, man, everyone is always spouting off some regurgitated Hallmark, inspirational poster type shit whenever you're in a bad place, as if you have to escape immediately. And for most, it's something that needs to be heard in that time. But for artists, poets, musicians, nah...F off with that. Let me lean into that pain. Let me submerge myself. Don't stand there trying to pull me out. Don't throw me a lifeline because YOU think I've been in too long. Art is catharsis and I'll stay in it as long as I need.
People ask me why my art is so dark. I just tell them, it's how I bleed.
In otherwords, I get it. It's a price we artists must pay. Pain in exchange for greatness. I'm sorry you had to endure whatever it was that you did, but this piece that came from it is by far one of your best. If I could suggest anything, it would be to remember the avenues within yourself that you took in this creative process so that you can tap into it again without the need for pain's presence.
With that being said, I do hope things are better for you now.
Take care.
Aaron

Hello Frenz.
Almost every track I do has no plan. I just build as I go. So, I can fully respect the creative process here.
Kayos had mentioned that it's futuristic. I'd like to add to that. To me, it sounds retro-futuristic. I imagine that if Mark Mothersbaugh, Gary Neuman, and Ray Lynch were to collaborate, it would sound a lot like this. So to that, I say excellent work.
I really enjoy the bridge. The minimalist build is very effective. To me, this whole thing sounds like it could be in an 80s sci-fi thriller.
Again, excellent work.
Take care.
V.

Hello.
You have a good foundation here. However, adding a few more instruments, a bassline, and some breaks or transitions would really help knock it out of the park. Keep up the good work.
Take care.
V.
.

Everything sounds good. The mix is clear, everything is spread out nicely. Good work. The only complaint I have is the super abrupt ending.
Other than that....cool.
Take care.
V.

After listening again, I have to wonder if Billy Gibbons is a big influence on your playing style? I swear I can hear a little ZZ Top in the lead. Maybe a little Robert Cray in there, too?
Again, sounds good!
Take care.
V.

Hello StratOli.
I'm very much a metal head. The heavier the better. But, I'm a sucker for some blues. I can't pass a track labeled as such. I'm glad I stopped for a listen. It sounds good, man.

Zoot, I like it. It sounds like it could be something from a Mark Lanegan project circa mid 1990s. The chorus (?) effects on the guitars, I think, are what does it. It could easily fit in a play list with Blind Melon, Screaming Trees, Soundgarden, etc.

Micky's bass is a great addition. It sounds much fuller and warmer now. Kudos to Micky.

Honestly, I don't think the 2-3 minute mark needs anything at all. I think the synths you have in there are exactly as it should be. It's such a mellow tune that anything more would be distracting, or maybe even ruin the flow.

Yeah, man. I totally dig this.

I sent you an email a few minutes ago with an idea or two. If you like them, get a hold of me.

Take care.
V.

Hello Anthony. It reminded me a little bit of The Art Of Noise. That's a compliment.
In my ears, the mixing was done well. The structure was done in a way that kept me listening, so....
Good work, man. Keep it up.
Take care.
V.

Kay, this is really good. Not only the music and vocals, but the lyrical concept. You've managed to express the feeling that perfectly fits the idea. Excellent work to the both of you.
Take care.
V.

This is good. You've done a good job on the mixing for sure. I'm just curious, do you use loops, or do you create from Default, or a little of both?
Excellent work either way. Keep it up.
Take care.
V

You know what, man? Greatest voice or not, you're not afraid to put it out there because that's what YOU want to do. I'm sure you've noticed that there isn't a Valvedriver track on here with my voice in it. (There is one that exists, just not here.) So, there's that.
Tell ya what, though, you might do well to try Reggae. I mean, if you like Reggae, that is. Doesn't make much sense to do something you don't enjoy.
Either way, kudos to you, man. Keep it up!
Take care.
Aaron

Marco, I would have loved to hear you and Spivkurl put something together back in the day. It could have been a very interesting collaboration, to say the least.
Either way, I like this one. The swirling arps kind of grab you and don't let go until it's completely faded out.
I hope to hear more from you someday!
Take care.
V.

Kay, hello.

After reading the previous comments, it seems clear that you all have a hit on your handsand with good reason.

It feels as though youve truly found your voice, both literally and figuratively. These last few tracks youve released have been a noticeable step above. Your delivery now comes across as far more relaxed and confident.

In my opinion, you and Oli share excellent chemistry. It reminds me of artists like Lords of Acid, Goldfrapp, and even Garbagewhere a powerhouse producer lays down strong, masculine foundations that are perfectly complemented by delicate yet powerful feminine vocals. Its such a compelling combination.

Excellent work, Kay. Im looking forward to hearing what you create next.

Take care,
V.

Micky, hello.

I really enjoyed this. Ill admit, I was a little hesitant to hit play when I saw the RnB tag, but knowing you consistently put out quality music, I gave it a chanceand this is no exception.

The structure is fascinating. At first, it feels like a collection of individual parts, each doing its own thing. Everything is cohesive, yet distinct. As the track progresses, the elements begin to blend more and more. By the time it reaches the 3:20 mark, the sounds merge so seamlessly that it becomes a rich, enveloping groove you cant help but get drawn intoand dont want to leave.

The overall energy is fantastic. It has this acid-jazz, funk, disco hybrid vibe that feels very Jamiroquai-esqueand that is definitely.....A good thing.

Take care,
V.

Quality, as always. To me, and I mean this as a compliment, it sounds like the soundtrack to a killer cyber-logic, fever dream type game. I could totally get lost in this while figuring out some F'd up puzzles in a cyberpunk town full of crime and chaos.
I like it, man.

This is pretty good. It's kind of all over the place, but it works here. I think the only thing I noticed that didn't sit quite right was the section starting at 1:45. The kick and synth levels were a bit higher than the rest of the track. I think a minor adjustment there and it would be spot on.
Either way. Cool track.
Take care.
V.

Welcome back, Paul. I hope everything is looking up for you, brother. Good to hear you're still at it.
Take care, bud.
Aaron.

Well man, I've been listening to industrial since the early days of Wax Trax, and I gotta say, you did a fine job with this one. The high-gain guitar work definitely has that KMFDM ring to it, and yeah...there's a lot of synth work in here. Good job on that. Did you create all the patches yourself, or are you using presets/loops?
Excellent work, man. Keep it up.
Take care.
V.

Paul, how are ya now?
Considering you just picked up a DAW in January, I'd say you're doing alright. There are definitely some improvements that could be made, but you're off to a good start.
One thing I suggest is that when you decide which key you're going to work in, figure out which notes/chords correlate with that key. Then when you're composing, you can make sure that everything sits in the right place. I bring this up because there are parts where your instruments don't quite sit comfortably together, creating a dissonance that leaves it sounding "off". Because it is. That doesn't only apply to your synths, bass, and other instruments, but, your kick drum as well. Any time you have a drum with any sort of a decay or sustain, like most electronic drums do, you'll want to make sure they're tuned to the key as well.
But, I have to say, for a beginner, job well done. You'll learn as you go. I've been doing it for almost 20 years and I'm still learning new things all the time. As long as you enjoy it, you'll keep improving.
Keep it up.
Take care.
V.

I must be showing my age, dude. You said "old school vibe" meaning Dre, Cube, Easy E, or Tupac. I read "old school vibe" and I was thinking some DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, or Grandmaster Flash type shit.
Either way, it sounds good. A nice return. I think the intro is fine. I'm going to mention this, but take it with a grain, because it may just be my earbuds, but it sounds like the vocals could come up just a C hair in the mix.
Other than that, damn near perfection.
Good work.
Take care.
V.

Well that was unexpected. I love the New Orleans jazz cabaret sound here. Honestly, I think this is your best by way of vocals. They fit right in the mix, and they sound good. If you were to do more of this, I would not complain, one bit.
As far as Mercury being in retrograde, I think that's every day in my camp!
Take care.
V.