Latest one out the door, after 100 different versions saved to my computer, I settled on this:

http://soundcloud.com/sendy/hypnagogic-treadmill-finished

This was quite a big project for me, I've tried to do a lot more with the mixing than I usually do. This is also the first track I've mixed using actual monitors - not super high end ones, but I like them over what I had before. So now I don't have that as an excuse for mixing mistakes :p

In terms of the actual composition this was a track that had it's own life. I tried to reign it in, make it more symmetrical, steer it here and there, but it just wasn't having it. That's actually how I prefer it. You have to mould things to certain expectations otherwise you get a mess, but if the music can sidestep this will in a way that pleases me, that's 10x better to me.

Nice groovy track, filled with lots of lovely synthy bits. Great music to wake up to.

Good work

Thanks for listening, seismic1. Glad you enjoyed it

Any more takers? FREE MUSIC! GET YOUR FREE MUSIC 'ERE!

I can hear a lot of work and creativity went into this.



Herein lies the difficulty. The first 90 seconds follow a completely standard dance music template: funky beats, octave bass moving through a chord progression with chord pads. Since I have heard hundreds if not thousands of tracks that start just like this, my expectations are you are going to follow the same roadmap used by other similar tracks.

However, soon after we are off the map into SendyLand. Endless keyboad solos. The octave bass disappears never to return. Lots of wild synth modulations. The only thing that ties it together is the bass line which, although it has mutated several times, usually follows the same chord progression.

All of it, while technically impressive, will not be easy for the average listener to get into.

Thanks for listening and taking the time to critique. I can't argue with any of it as I picked up on the lack of symmetry and curve balls too, but in all honesty I think I left the average listener alone a long time ago

Establishing a boundary and then breaking through it is something that I do try to do in a lot of music, but here it was completely unplanned and intellectually felt somewhat messy. I fretted over bringing the octave bass and the chords from the guitar solo section back but whatever I tried just didn't work. Sometimes I'm happy to accept that the music did that and that it's O.K and not every song will be logical or appeal to everyone. I realize this may sound defensive but I don't mean it that way.

"Off the map into Sendyland" I like it

Anyone else find it hard to get into?

Yes, one reason the piece may not be very accessible is that it never returned to earlier sections. Another potential issue is that you started soloing before you stated a basic melodic theme. Even very accomplished jazz soloists tend to play a basic theme as a starting point before launching into solos. Later they typically bring the listener "home" by returning to the theme. I suggest listening to other music you admire and concentrating on its form.



I think you'll get more feedback if you give feedback to others here. Those that drop in only to promote their own stuff tend to get fewer comments.

You're right, this probably looks a bit spammy, I'm just used to concentrating on helping others in ways I feel I'm actually good at (reviewing music is not one of them, lol), but that's probably a bad habit so I'll try commenting more when I listen, even if it's just to say I listened and/or enjoyed it.