may contest - GOSSIP

[jens]

Overall I like the track ... it has a nice early summer/fresh cotton dresses feel, like "the weather's nice, let's have a picnic"

that's exactly what it was intended to sound like

Then success! Cos that's exactly what it sounds like to me too, although summer and cotton dresses suggest to me something other than a picnic.

Ah, the sun on yer arse...

- picnic or whatever - just having fun (in the sun (- what a poet I am))without caring about anything else and postponing all worries&sorrows to a more fitting date - that's what I had in mind actually (I hope the lyrics tell )

[visa tapani]

Those who were having problems with downloading my track, it should be sorted out now. The url has changed, and the new url is http://www.experimentfour.dsl.pipex.com ... kierre.mp3. Sorry for the hassle.

Anyhow, here is my feedback bundle 3/4:

Codacoda – Whappen
I don’t like the dsp trickery with the vocal sample that plays throughout the piece - it is especially riling in the very beginning. The compressed drums are nice though, as is the break in the middle.

T-Willy – Far Away
The biggest problem here is imo the choice of genre: it goes dangerously close to the über-cheesy europop-dancemusic of the early-90’s. I especially dislike the break at 1:08-1:28, it sounds like it could come straight from a Dj Bobo record. Sorry, I don’t like this at all.

Scuzzphut – Discussions
Nice track, sounds good and balanced. Especially the chorus-y phases starting at 0:34 and 1:32 are terrific. I’m not sure about those vocal samples in the end but I agree that it needs a break at that point. Also some 16th notes at some point would have been refreshing, the rhythm goes from the beginning to the end a bit too TA-ta-TA-ta-TA-ta-TA-ta-TA-ta-TA-ta-TA-ta-TA-ta…

Andreas Ehrhardt – Chamber
It has its pretty moments but it feels a bit directionless. As someone pointed out, some discernable themes and motifs would make it more memorable.

Barnadine – New Injuns
Refreshing. You voice doesn’t sound all effortless when you go high (uhm, no, not talking about drugs here) though, so I have some issues with the yodelling parts. I think I’m alone in this, but I really can’t swallow the dfx trickery ending. I’ve heard so many insubstantial buffer override exercises that nowadays I feel that any use of the plugin needs to be damn well justified, and I can’t see it contributing a lot into this piece. But overall, a totally fun and original entry.

Beardedone - Solaz
Lovely, but I too get the feeling that it sounds a bit too much like an exercise, more than a fully realized composition. The beginning sounds very good, but I’m a bit disappointed when its promise of a bleak and gloomy jazzy piece isn’t quite provided, and the track gets all light. Might have been really fantastic if the intro had led into a more coherent, darker and a more understated piece. Still, impressive it is, and the drum programming is indeed top notch.

Donkey Tugger – Wrong
The vox is somewhat unpolished, which I think suits the song fine. Sometimes rough edges are what is needed. Really beautiful when it reaches its climax at 1:29. Totally nice song.

Duncan Parson – Indecision
Haha, those electric toms are really cheesy. But seriously, it’s well arranged and the structure is very satisfying.

Fitch – Cell
The first time I listened through the (first bunch of) entries this song really stood out. Unfortunately, its shine has dimmed a bit with repeated listens, perhaps due to its lack of powerful hook(s). The beat that sounded good in the beginning has started to sound a bit vexing to me. But still, it’s a beautiful and well-arranged piece of music. The superb cello playing makes it sound very alive and conveys a lot of emotion. A very good and professional-sounding song, no doubt.

Guitarcomputer – Shove me into
Disclaimer: I am really fed up with this kind of indie-rock right now. True, something like this could easily be playing on an indie-rock radio station, but for my tastes it’s too indiscernible from the majority of its genre. You know, a lot of music like this is made right now. Also, the lyrics seem a bit insubstantial to me. But let me stress again that currently I’m very tired of the whole genre, and am thus quite unqualified to give proper feedback on a song like this. Others might be better in stepping outside of their bias, but I’m unable to un-prejudice myself, sorry.

Ixox – Those Days
Hmm… some nice hooks here… the heavy accent is a bit distracting at first, but only at first… yeah it starts a bit too loud at 0:48…the rocking chair sound is too fast, it’s as if the swinger was all excited… It’s a nice composition, but it doesn’t really educe a response from me, sorry.

[hao nao]

Overall I like the track ... it has a nice early summer/fresh cotton dresses feel, like "the weather's nice, let's have a picnic"

that's exactly what it was intended to sound like

Then success! Cos that's exactly what it sounds like to me too, although summer and cotton dresses suggest to me something other than a picnic.

Ah, the sun on yer arse...

heck! and we were tryin to be all indirect and not even suggestive for the sake of the island nations

[rsmus7]

More generally, your beats this month were almost entirely built around 1/8ths and throwing in the odd 16th on the snare or even a 16th roll on the hats every now and again is a nice way to add variation and add a more syncopated feel.

Yes that is what I really want (need) to learn, how to make a lively and fitting and interesting beat.
thanks for your hints.

[Beardedone]

Beardedone - Solaz
Lovely, but I too get the feeling that it sounds a bit too much like an exercise, more than a fully realized composition. The beginning sounds very good, but I’m a bit disappointed when its promise of a bleak and gloomy jazzy piece isn’t quite provided, and the track gets all light. Might have been really fantastic if the intro had led into a more coherent, darker and a more understated piece. Still, impressive it is, and the drum programming is indeed top notch.

Thanks for the thoughtful review, Visa Tapani So you like dark eh? I can do dark. just need a bit more time and thought.

Best,
Gordon

[duncanparsons]

Duncan Parsons
The drums are somehow weak. The organ and sax work better. Love the 80’ toms and the cello. Wasn’t really caught by the music but that’s quite a fairly good work.

The drums were the only part of the track I was ever certain about!! (I'm a drummer, was professionally). I just wanted them to be solid, but it was still fairly thrown together.. Thx for listening, and thx for avoiding the 'Not My Cup of Tea' cliche!!

Duncan Parsons – Indecision
Haha, those electric toms are really cheesy. But seriously, it’s well arranged and the structure is very satisfying.

I liked the toms sound too.. took me back to Marshall Hains 'Dancing in the City' when I first heard them in the CM505 and had to use them somewhere. Glad the structure worked for you.

Busy month, lot of entries...!

DSP

[codacoda]

Some more reviews, with the same caveats…

Duncan Parsons – InDecision. Seems to have taken something of a critical mauling but I don’t think that’s entirely fair. Mostly the problems revolve around sound choice, that dance drum kit must go, just an idea that doesn’t sit right. The Tubile Le Sax is playing a great line but it can’t stand up to the scrutiny it’s lead spot gives it because it’s inescapably synthetic. There was a great article in Computer Music on making sax sounds more believable that would help this out of sight. Sax players don’t just hit notes, they slide around them and growl and hoot…

So as an exercise, there is a good tune here and it’s put together well but it needs more time spent on the sounds.

Vistapani – kierre. Some lovely sounds in here. Particularly the diced and panned guitar(?) that comes in around 0:25. If it’s not rude to ask… how did you do that? I really like the way the various elements are seamlessly introduced and blended throughout the first section. Nice dreamy breakdown disturbed by a stray pitch… but it could be jazz WTF do I know. The crashes seem to get a bit splashy towards the end and I think the congas could do with a bit more variation. Good work though.

Scuzphutt – Discussion. Nicely played and generally well constructed. The E-Bow and drum section rools I think there should have been more variation in the acoustic fingerpicked guitar and I’m not sure the very highest notes are totally in tune with the E_Bow but that could just be me. There’s got to be a better way to sit the vocal section in the tune, it just comes as too much of a surprise and then vanishes and then there’s the ending……

[You™]

Is there still someone complaining about organs? What about "96 Teardrops?"

[duncanparsons]

Duncan Parsons – InDecision. Seems to have taken something of a critical mauling but I don’t think that’s entirely fair. Mostly the problems revolve around sound choice, that dance drum kit must go, just an idea that doesn’t sit right. The Tubile Le Sax is playing a great line but it can’t stand up to the scrutiny it’s lead spot gives it because it’s inescapably synthetic. There was a great article in Computer Music on making sax sounds more believable that would help this out of sight. Sax players don’t just hit notes, they slide around them and growl and hoot…

So as an exercise, there is a good tune here and it’s put together well but it needs more time spent on the sounds.

o. Thank you sir.. I read that article in CM, it was some time ago wasn't it. I did wonder about using an SF2 and making it move with some PB, but in the end time got the better of me (well, I completed the tune within 36 hours of our 3rd child being born..)

I will be reviewing some of my sound choices. Generally each month I try to look at something different, whether a synth, an effect bundle, a technique.. This month I was actually focussing more on the mastering and learning more about that. Next time I'll concentrate on sound selexion..

thx again
DSP

[Wopelka]

AndreasEhrhardt
I’m a fan of classical chamber music. I don’t think your track belongs to this category, tho. The strings are not the most convincing i’ve ever heard. You should maybe vary attacks, velocities, and other values a bit more to give more life to the instruments.

Thanks for your critical comment, Wopelka. As you see, the ape is shocked.

sorry, i didn't realize i wrote such a negative comment... you might think i hate your work, but that's not true at all. actually, notwithstanting the static strings, i quite liked your track.

[codacoda]

Thank you sir.. I read that article in CM, it was some time ago wasn't it. I did wonder about using an SF2 and making it move with some PB, but in the end time got the better of me (well, I completed the tune within 36 hours of our 3rd child being born..)

I will be reviewing some of my sound choices. Generally each month I try to look at something different, whether a synth, an effect bundle, a technique.. This month I was actually focussing more on the mastering and learning more about that. Next time I'll concentrate on sound selexion..

Yeah, the CM article was a while ago and I can't find it at the moment. Tubi takes pitch bend though and perhaps there's a better preset that you could massage to suit.

Should be a simple matter to change the dance drum sound because the basic percussions good.

I can appreciate the pressures of time. In fact it's a miracle you managed to get away with it considering your circumstances. Still doesn't excuse the sax sound in the breakdown

[Miro]

... a little - karaoke-style, if you will.

Thanks for the hint, Miro - I wanted to mix the vocals really loud this time - it was probably a bit too much
I've turned them down a few db now and added a bit more reverb. but karaoke-style?

karaoke as in the vocals sound like they've been "plonked" on top of a backing track rather than being part of the whole. Another thing that might help the vocals is a bit more dynamic variation. They seem to maintain a similar level and tone regardless of the lyrics or song structure, there are no highs and lows.

Scuzzphut - "flat" just got what you meant

Thanks, Scuzzphut. Exactly what I was trying to say . Just relistening to the track now. She certainly gets more confident/relaxed as the track goes on. Listen again to the lyric at the start "If I felt sad about all those bad things in life". That bare vocal sounds a little flat to me, though it could just be the lack of space for expression to work with (as others have said)

Maybe doubling the vox in more places would add some depth

She certainly shouldn't be disheartened by the criticism here. This so nearly works, Jens Is this the first time you worked together? Looking forward to hearing more.

[Miro]

hi Pheeleep: You vote for five tracks:
So you vote like this:

1.: TorpedoTorpedo
2.: .....

etc.

cheeky

[liqih]

8 users raped here

guess who they are and win a plugin,



(sorry I can't resist to play)

[Wopelka]

with these ones i think i've covered the whole bunch so far. Don't forget: just some useless, IMHO labelled comments.

Col.G
i like the spirit of this crazy party. The banjo and the piano are very good. I’m less impressed by the synth sounds. I enjoy it.

freeztar
nice play with the sounds. The drum part, especially the snare, is quite static and comes to my nerves quite fast. I taste it.

visa tapani
pretty good mix. The sounds are well defined, the music evolves nicely. I like it.

Bernardine
very subtle song – the slight genre distortion you introduce gives a sweat irony that i taste with delight. Very well produced, i love it.

Emil-A-Man
Great guitars riff ! The best entry i’ve heard from you. Nice effects on the voice. I dig it.

jens
very upfront, compressed vocals that gives an odd feel to the track. She’s got a nice voice. The music is fresh and cheerful.

may bee (vurt?)
how many vurt boxes in this one? vurtypical, with some nice weird sounds. Not liking the harsh, delayed snares. On the other hand i love the clesta/vibraphone kind of sound.

rsmus7
very distorted mix. Too much for my delicate ears watch your compressors and also your EQ settings: there’s more than enough bass-end. Apart from this, i enjoy the music: i can perceive some good guitar playing. Once again the ending is really abrupt.

cheers everybody