March Contest: Gossip

[pljones]

Does this mean you couldnt listen to the track or it didn't fit the theme in your opinion?

Oh, I listened but it didn't really do anything for me. Which is quite odd, in itself. It's hard to have a "hook" with a theme like this, so there has to be something more subtle. And maybe you went too subtle for me?

[D.H. Miltz]

Ummm.... you do know that the top 10 should have only 10 entries, right? :hihi:

See, that's what I get for going over them so many times..!! Gah! Sorry yevster.

D.H. Miltz, can you just ignore yevster or should I edit my vote entry? :oops:

It's fine. I'll just ignore the vote for yevster.

Thanks for the comments.

Thanks also to forw for the comments.

[slartibartfast]

Comments on the submissions below. As always, these are just one person's opinion. I hope you find any criticism to be constructive. Reviews are in the order that my mp3 player played them - apparently in alphabetical order by track title....

kryptonaut - Altered State
I am a bit of a lover of polyrhythms, so you have captured me right from the start. The production on this is excellent - a wonderfully clear mix, and the little touches, such as the periodic bell sound, add interest to avoid boredom. I wonder if a layered pad over the top in the second half might have added just a little more variation, without being intrusive.

Inbox Zero - ante oculos circum inspice
Very promising opening, although the echos are perhaps a little up tempo to be hypnotic. Love those analogue sounding strings when they come in. But then the drums come in, and I found myself grooving with the beat rather than being hypnotised. Some interesting little sound effects dotted about, but again these tend to rather draw attention to themselves rather than meld into the background. Great track, but not as much "on theme" as some of the others.

Peterhud - Brainwave
Perhaps it is a personal bias, but when I think of music to hypnotise, I tend to imagine that the intent is to relax the listener to a point where they are open to external suggestion. The opening part of this track is in a minor key, which to me tends to suggest sadness (and in your case, perhaps a little bit of tension). The overall tempo is also a little quick to be truly hypnotic - the bass would have been better at half or a quarter of the speed. I like the way that the chords progress in the later part of the track without losing the overall feel, and I did start to "lose myself" in the later part of the track - so perhaps I am being over critical here.

Mister Natural - Conversation with Dali
Some absolutely fascinating sounds in here, particularly in the mid section of the track. As a whole, however, the differences in the three sections of the track are too great to be truly hypnotic. The rhythms are a little too insistent in parts. I really like what you have done here - very creative and original - but isn't quite "on theme", IMHO.

Farlukar - Credulity
One of the keys to hypnotism is regular repetition. After a promising start, the bell tones, which the track is based around, initially are too irregular, but they soon settle into a regular repetitive rhythm, and become much more hypnotic. I like the shimmering noise behind the main bell sound - very effective. The track ends all too soon. A somewhat simple, but effective track.

Emerald Tablet - Deeper
Oh to have a voice like yours. I couldn't have imagined that a track with lyrics could be hypnotic, but you just about pull it off in this one. If I have a quibble it is that the vocal is a little too prominent in the mix. When it first kicks in, it definitely disturbs the hypnotic feel that you have spent the first minute or so building up. The ending is a little too "definite" for the theme also - if ever there is a case for a fade-out ending, or a long reverb tail, it is with this theme....

D.H. Miltz - Disconnect is Not a Noun
Just a few too many sounds in this which have sharp attacks, all of which are fighting for the rhythm, which reduces the hypnotic factor. I love some of the sounds in here, particularly the "chord" sound which slides from note to note early in the track - I have no idea how you did that, but it is particularly effective. The guitar gives the track a nice organic human touch. Nice fadeout....

Interferon - Dreaming on the Couch
Initially, this is great. Lush rich pads which evolve and hold interest. High frequency rhythmic beats which don't overbear on the track. It seems like the track is mixed a bit "hot" though, there is distinctive ducking happening when the kick drum comes in in the early-mid part of the track. The percussion disappears part way through the track though, which disturbs the hypnotic feel - this was the glue that was holding the track together. Overall good work, though.

rockstarnot - elchemisti
I like the drum beat - great groove. Some wonderful surging pad sounds, but the lead synth is a little too insistent (and inconsistently part of the track) to be hypnotic, and the "crunchy" sound effects throughout (sorry, don't know how else to describe them) are also a little too distracting. I think this could have been a truly hypnotic track with the drum groove used as the most prominent part of the track, and pads and other more subtle sounds somewhat in the background?

folderol - Hours and Hours
Wonderful lush and smooth synth sounds. The drums are a little too dry and prominent though (the track may actually have been better without them - or at least played at double time), and the tempo a little fast to be hypnotic. The chords and melody show nice progression while remaining within the general flow and feel of the track. As a really minor, picky point, there is a synth sound that kicks in (panned hard left) at about 1:55 which is a little too prominent in the mix (at least on headphones) and which proves to be slightly distracting. Very enjoyable.

rachMiel - hypnotiQue
What is it with the capiTalisation? Somehow I knew this track would be right up your alley. Slightly spooky and space-y interpretation of hypnotic. Very dream-like, and it conjures up all sorts of possible visions and scenarios in one's mind. Definitely music to get lost in, and possibly lose your mind in. One of the very best this month, for sure. As an aside, when I play this on speakers, it just about blows the woofers - that bass drum sure has some sub-bass in it...

Patrick9 - Hypno
Simple but effective. I like the tone you used at the start, the arpeggiated accompaniment to the melody keeps the beat nicely. The percussion, when it kicks in, complements things nicely. Not so sure about the cello tone, though, nor the choir, once they kick in. I think it needed something other than octaved unison, but not sure what, and the cello in particular is a bit too "dry" in the mix to create a dreamy hypnotic state.

Liqih - hypnopipes
This is head-nodding, foot-tapping stuff. Not sure if this is what was intended in a hypnotic theme month, however. I kept finding my body wanting to move to the insistent beat of the kick drum, and the funky groove of the percussion. The breaks where the delay is introduced tended to break whatever hypnotic feel was being built. As a foundation for a non-hypnotic track, this track is great, but at least for me, not really on-theme.

yevster - Hypnotherapy
A slow moving track with some great chord progressions and wonderful orchestration - particularly the strings. I would love to hear this track without the drums, as I think they tend to spoil the mood of this track. Perhaps not quite repetitive enough in terms of melody or chord sequence to be truly hypnotic, but a track with great potential.

satYatunes - LightPath
Lovely evocative piano and bells at the start. Definitely too up tempo to be hypnotic once the drums kick in. And too much variation also. A wonderfully constructed track however, with just the occasional minor quibble in the mix (the guitar solo is too loud and aggresive for the rest of the track). Most other months, this would be right up in the top ten.

beanpole - Look Into My Eyes
That kick drum is way too aggressive in the mix, and the pumping/ducking that it generates is to me, at least, rather distracting. I think I understand what you were trying to achieve with the vocoded vocal, but it possibly would have been a little more hypnotic with some heavier delay and reverb so it tended to wash over the listener more. I do like the break at about 1:36.

bzur - Mesmerized
Lovely washy opening. When the acoustic piano kicks in, I could swear you are channeling Bruce Hornsby - it rather reminds me of one of his tracks off Harbor Lights. This is a beautifully composed and crafted track, with lots of little touches that add variety without distracting too much. If I have a quibble, it is that it is such a good track that it had me paying attention throughout. Lovely.

nikp2000 - mim
Sitar-like sounds set the listener up to expect something a bit more traditionally Indian, but this moves in a different, more interesting direction. The percussion and sitar give the track that repetitive hypnotic feeling without being intrusive. Great use of delay and reverb, and when the poppy synth enters it fits perfectly without intruding. This is most definitely "on theme". Great work.

knockman - murmur
Channeling the psychadelic 60's, clearly - and you have done a great job of it - the guitar is spot on. I really like what you have done with this track, although I suspect that one might need the assistance of some illegal substances before being hypnotised by this.

forw - No Lightt
A very atmospheric track in all. However the spoken words tended to wake me up when they came in - I think the track would have been better without them, or perhaps a lot more backwards in the mix. The percussion, slow and steady, fits the hypnotic feel very well, and the slightly atonal synth right at the end adds a nice touch of tension.

evo2slo - Paint the Water Clear
An excellent pop song, which in any other month would rate very highly, but the strong structure, with all the variations, which are the hallmarks of an excellent pop song unfortunately make this not very hypnotic. I would like to hear this remixed, without the lashings of delay and reverb, as a regular pop song - perhaps post this elsewhere in the Music Cafe?

mrblitz ft. formware - Prayer Wheel 12
Heavy Metal Hypno? Why not?. 10 out of 10 for giving us something totally different to all the other tracks. Nice jamming, but overall it doesn't quite hypnotise me - the sounds are rather too aggressive.

GMoneh - Road to Nowhere
Another nice instrumental pop song. And like many of the others, I find this to be a track to groove along to, rather than be hypnotised by. There is not enough repetition to be truly hypnotic - it is hard to be boringly repetitive, I know! It is a well-constructed and varied track, however, with a nice combination of instruments, well mixed.

Walt Lawton - Sands of Time
Rock guitar with a slightly Middle Eastern flavour, and it works well. Lovely multi tracked guitars at about 0:48. You just about carry off the hypnosis with the steady repetive percussion throughout, although the changes in the guitar work kept bringing my attention back to the music. The subtle atmospheric pad going on in the background really adds something to the track. This is one that grows on me the more that I listen to it.

Jerru - Seduction of Hypnotica
This has a really interesting lead guitar tone in it. A wonderfully relaxing chillout piece, with a great mix of excellent electric and acoustic guitar work. Is it truly hypnotic? Not sure.

Bjulin - Special Lullaby
Great piece of electronic pop. Once again, I found myself grooving along to this, rather than being hypnotised by it. Wonderful toe-tapping stuff, and the vocal effects work really well. I don't think this track is really true to the theme - but I still want to hear more of this type of music from you. Great stuff.

oddbod - The Waiting Room
This is one of the tracks this month that just begs to be listened to on headphones, where you can give it all your attention. The subtle ticking clocks, and other rhythmic background interplay wonderfully, and I love the way the track also has a much slower rhythmic ebb and flow, driven by the acoustic guitar. Very evocative mouth organ, placed beautifully in the mix. Vocal ohs and ahs add to the atmosphere. This has all the hallmarks of your usual excellence, and mastery of a variety of genres and themes. Wonderful

offthewall - Watch the Watch
Lazy rhythms evoke late summer evenings relaxing with nature. I like the countdown (with effects) at the end particularly. If I weren't one to have my focus drawn to lyrics when they are sung, then I would have found this much more hypnotic, I feel.

Doc Jon - While I Was Sleeping
Great recording of the clock. I really like the impact of the rain effect - particularly at the beginning, although when it gets "heavy" towards the end it does sound rather artificial. The way the piano builds and falls in strength adds subtle variety without distracting, and the whispers - particularly the indistinct ones - add a nice atmosphere. Good work.

Laguna Rising - Winter of the Senses
This track creates an image in my mind of a slightly deranged and warped circus, with clowns from some horror movie or other, and a merry go round that is neither merry, nor goes round. Weirdly disturbing stuff. I think I shall have nightmares tonight. If that was the intent - great job!

I hope I didn't miss anyone. Voting is going to be hard.....

[satYatunes]

satYatunes - LightPath
Lovely evocative piano and bells at the start. Definitely too up tempo to be hypnotic once the drums kick in. And too much variation also. A wonderfully constructed track however, with just the occasional minor quibble in the mix (the guitar solo is too loud and aggresive for the rest of the track). Most other months, this would be right up in the top ten.

Thanks a lot for the review. Your comments are spot on with my own assessment especially after seeing no reaction to my track. I should have listened to my wife (who is the first and most important critic) and dropped the drums. The plan was to release it without any percussion at all, which could have fit the theme nicely. Nevertheless, another lesson learnt. On the variation, Yes, I agree, the original composition was over 6 mins long before I realized that the limit is 3 mins so it was not easy to squeeze in all the parts, as a result some parts were dropped entirely. I am still working on the longer version and cause I love the composition a lot especially the piano part. I will surely work on the mix and guitar parts. Thanks again for your comments, very valuable and important for me.

[Vulcandj]

Walt Lawton - Sands of Time
Rock guitar with a slightly Middle Eastern flavour, and it works well. Lovely multi tracked guitars at about 0:48. You just about carry off the hypnosis with the steady repetive percussion throughout, although the changes in the guitar work kept bringing my attention back to the music. The subtle atmospheric pad going on in the background really adds something to the track. This is one that grows on me the more that I listen to it.

Thanks for the comments. This was my first contest entry, so any critiques that I get are great. My pieces will tend to be more guitar and bass driven (with synth accents) so it will be interesting to see how that flavor works.

Has there ever been a "progressive" theme? I would love that.

[Interferon]

Thanks everyone for the reviews!

[farlukar]

Has there ever been a "progressive" theme? I would love that.

That's about as nondescriptive as themes can get...

Progressive in volume? Note frequency? Note density? Annoyance? Encoding bitrate?

No offense, but inquiring minds want to know

[Vulcandj]

That's about as nondescriptive as themes can get...

Progressive in volume? Note frequency? Note density? Annoyance? Encoding bitrate?

No offense, but inquiring minds want to know

No offense taken. Actually, I meant the style of music. I enjoy quite a few progressive bands, so thats where I was coming from. Being new, I'm not sure how the themes work, so I could be way off base with that thought.

This is taking me back to my college days, when you had various musical assignments that stretched you. I haven't been stretched like this in a long time. But I'm up for the challenges that lie ahead.

[farlukar]

Actually, I meant the style of music.

Just "progressive" still isn't very useful. Progressive rock? Funny thing that it's still called progressive as it hasn't changed all that much since the early 70s; also: been there, done that... Other than that, progressive house? Progressive techno? Progressive DnB?

[folderol]

Sorry for the short comments this month: I'm rather distracted by uni work. No offence intended: this is capturing my immediate reactions mostly for the purposes of voting.

First, the top ten (as it was at the time - the order will have changed by now)
forw - Yes. This. Does it. Oh yes. Challenge to stay awake here - that's good!
Patrick9 - Worked. Very nice.
Emerald Tablet - Like that, yes...
kryptonaut - Ahhh... Tick that tock. I can get into this.
inboxzero - Kept waking me up with the odd rhytmic jumps but otherwise pretty hypnotic.
knockman - Mmm, very mesmerising. Nice tune, too.
liqih - Ah, I can see this one's goal but it's n.... ot going to work (that middle bit does better).
offthewall - This simply has to score some points. Nicely done as ever!
D.H. Miltz - Mmmmm.... relaxing
nikp2000 - Well, it's trying to hypnotise someone. It needs to try hard but it's got the idea right.

And the rest as they came (of course, if I listened to them all again, some of these could be promoted into the upper division)...
Folderol -

[folderol]

folderol - Hours and Hours
Wonderful lush and smooth synth sounds. The drums are a little too dry and prominent though (the track may actually have been better without them - or at least played at double time), and the tempo a little fast to be hypnotic. The chords and melody show nice progression while remaining within the general flow and feel of the track. As a really minor, picky point, there is a synth sound that kicks in (panned hard left) at about 1:55 which is a little too prominent in the mix (at least on headphones) and which proves to be slightly distracting. Very enjoyable.

Thanks for such a detailed review. I had intended the percussion to represent a ticking clock - fading in and out - but it didn't really work did it? Having just listened again, I completely agree that last synth part is too prominent.

[Vulcandj]

The 70's flashback progressive thing is about what I was thinking was. Something along the lines of that, be it the 70's, or the 80's or a type of genre. When I think progressive, I'm thinking of odd time signatures and themes within themes and long songs. A 3:00 proggy piece would be a challenge.

[folderol]

Last thoughts before I try to vote on all these entries.

oddbod thewaitingroom
Well this certainly drew me in right from the start. Oddly enough I think this would make a magnificent intro to a much longer song.

rockstarnot elchemisti
I enjoyed this but found it a bit too aggressive for the steal-your-mind bit. It sounds more like the theme to a monster movie.

slartibartfast Hip No Sis
Seems a very long time since we heard from you! Some lovely sounds here just wash over and over. Nice to simply sink into. Hmmm, I wonder if it can loop?

Peterhud Brainwave
This doesn't work for me, the sounds are too sharp and percussive, and on phones that bass shifting from side to side is distracting.

GMoneh RoadToNowhere
In a different theme this would be fantastic, but it simply doesn't fit here I'm afraid - might keep it for my car stereo anyway

satYatune LightPath
Another very enjoyable entry, but one that wakes me up and makes me want to listen to it!

DHMiltz DisconnectIsNotaNoun
Images of robots, zombies, vampires. For me, this is more a horror track than anything else.

[satYatunes]

satYatune LightPath
Another very enjoyable entry, but one that wakes me up and makes me want to listen to it!

you need that when someone else's song hypnotize you and makes you sleep. Thanks for the comment. It has a very deep meaning, which I really appreciate.

[pljones]

Folderol -

You know, looking through my comments, something went horribly wrong... I think I got your track confused with rockstar_not... It's generally not been a good week... sorry

(I'm just hoping I didn't make too many other mistakes now... )