september theme ... REVIEWS

[slartibartfast]

Reviews part 2

patrick9 - In the Moog
You certainly managed to make an original version of this track. I did find, after a while, though, that the detuned dissonance detracted from the track. Perhaps if this had been used more sparingly, as a "surprise" element, it might have worked better - for me at least. But the sounds, and the feel of the track are certainly in keeping with the theme.

Wopelka - Emoogation
Another inventive and creative track from you. The sounds all work well together in the mix. However, like many other tracks this month, it sounds rather as though a 2 minute track has been extended to 4 minutes in order to fill up the available time - but would probably have been better left as a 2 minute track.

Marc JX8P - The Great Modular In The Sky
The last third of this track is the standout for me - a pity that it fades out, rather than continues to build to a climax, especially as the track is well short of the 4 minute limit. This has the makings of an outstanding track with a little more development.

Barnadine - Flown
Your usual plaintive vocals, and excellent lyrics. The synth sounds are effective - but a minor suggestion would be to have brought the vocals a little forward in the mix - in places in the second half of the track they are almost buried by the synth.

Diek - The Call of the Universe
This is a very interesting, symphonic style piece. Very original and creative, although I would have thought that the "Infinite Universal Room" would have been a rather more dramatic climax to the piece, which could have placed an emphatic "full-stop" at the conclusion.

farlukar - Fooger
This is excellent mellow, chill-out stuff with a really cool groove. The vocal samples work well in the context of the song, the track is well constructed. Probably the best of the tracks I have listened to so far. A superb tribute to the great man.

Glassback - Moog In Brogues
Some very interesting and original sounds in this, and very well produced indeed, with an excellent mix. Plenty of variety, and overall an excellent track. If there is a weakness in this, it is the vocal samples - particularly the first - but I guess you needed to put in something to link this track to the theme.

Griels - A Slice of Moog
Very enjoyable indeed. A great groove, the vocal samples work well, and musically plenty of interest in this. Top track, and worthy of much repeated listening.

knockman - The Moog KookBook
Delightful to hear your comedy again. Excellent lyrics and your usual, excellent performance.

oddbods finger - Music For The Computer Age
This is a superb, standout track. I have to admit I am slightly partial to music that actually has a melody, and yours is simple, but catchy. I like the choice of patches, and the mix. The vocoded vocal is good, but perhaps could have been balanced with one or two unvocoded vocal lines. But now I am just being picky. Thanks for this track - it is definitely one for keeping.

[slartibartfast]

....part 3

petrudamsa - Requiem for Bob Moog
Boy, you sure know how to play those keys. And you also know how to construct a great track. Some great change-ups in here, and very reminiscent of the "symphonic rock" bands of the past. I like this one a lot.

scamme - Now you can rest
The title of this track doesn't seem to quite fit with its mood. But that aside, this is a good track. The ethnic sounds are peculiar choices, and I can't quite decide whether using them is a stroke of brilliance, or insanity. Pleasant listening.

Techbot - Age of the Gross
While I like the music, I am afraid that the vocal sample leaves me absolutely cold - I don't like being "preached at" at the best of times, and even less so in a medium such as music, where lyricism and subtlety can get the same message across equally, if not more, effectively. Redo this without the vocal, and I would enjoy it much much more. Sorry.

aldred - Gentlemen Don't Die
Quirky and excellently done. Excellent piano playing, with some very interesting and unusual chords, but which ultimately always resolve to a satisfactory conclusion. This track never fails to interest and excite the senses.

Benedict - Time Returns All Legends To Glory
A rather rambling track with assorted sonic mutations, but which ultimately fails to satisfy either as being emotionally evocative, or with a firm purpose and message in mind. Shows individual signs of promise, though.

emdot_ambient - Cybernaut
I can't say I have heard of this track, or Tonto's Expanding Head Band. I am glad that it inspired you, but have to admit that it doesn't do a lot for me as a track. Still this appears to be a very well created cover version. There are times, particularly later in the track, where it is clearly building to a climax, that I wish this track had a slightly thicker, beefier sound, and a little more variation in dynamics may have added a little extra also. But this may well have been playing with the original a little too freely?

Ezy Ryder - And then there was Moog
You may not have achieved a progressive sound from the 70's, but I think you have created something uniquely your own. The opening is stoically solemn, and the track really lifts when the lovely the lush pad sound comes in mid track. The progressive sound you were perhaps seeking becomes closer in the last part of the track. Enjoyable overall.

Khepira - Spirals for an Inventor
I like the rise and fall of the volume on this track, and there are some wonderful lush chord sounds in here too. This could be a good "last thing at night" chill out track.

kovacs - Bob's Funky Friday
I am afraid that that opening motif, with its regular quarter note rhythm soon wears thin. Mid-track we get some relief, and this section of the track is much better than the remainder. That lead sound is extremely piercing, howver.

Jongleur/mchlwlsn - Allegro Assai
Nicely chosen patches for this one. I guess you have gone for a fairly traditional cover of this track. Applying a little creativity may have seen you change patches for some of the instruments for some sections, for added variety - plus a little variation in dynamics may have added a little extra also. But I like this track a lot.

[slartibartfast]

....and the final batch.

Respirator - Moog has left the Building
This is a masterpiece of atmospheric ambience. Constantly evolving, and eerily evocative. I particularly liked the crescendo part way in. Great stuff.

Sepheritoh - Shadows in Our Minds
This is a lovely sensitive track - I particularly like the choir sounds which add an extra dimension. But I would have suggested losing the electric guitar - it seems completely out of place in what is otherwise a very good track.

Thomekk - Bob has gone
With that singing voice, this could have been misinterpreted as a tribute to Dylan, not Moog I really like the guitar groove, but to me the track just feels as though it wants to "bust out" into something altogether much heavier - complete with drums and bass. But you have done what you set out to do very well indeed.

Sttjelle - I don't know
While this is a very smooth, well produced track, ultimately it ends up being something less than satisfying. Perhaps it is the lack of variation in chord sequence - perhaps it is the barely understandable vocoded vocal - I don't know. There is something missing to stop this track being something other than rather bland and "nice".

Beardedone - Mood for Bob Moog
You have certainly created an excellent moody piece indeed. This track cries out to be listened to and absorbed in detail. The production and mix is excellent. Lovely.

rsmus7 - moogerrobber
Love that rhythmic motif, which keeps things moving (and toes tapping). The mid section of the track, where this motif drops out, is probably the weakest part of the track, but is still enjoyable. The heavily reverbed drums work really well in the context of this track too.

nikp2000 - A Sailor on Strange Seas
This is a very pleasant, inoffensive track. Sweet enough, but never seems to rise much above "background music" status. The guitars come through beautifully in the mix, and are the standout in this track for me.

vurt - beloogamoogfishsundae
This is an interesting soundscape and well put together, but doesn't really grab me by the throat and make me go "WOW!".

Glooper & Remco - Hope is a Bird with Feathers
Can't quite see the connection with the theme on this one. This is an excellently made "pop" tune. Not sure about the lyrics though. Great vocal, and nice instrumental work.

Hovmod - In a Blue Moog
Nice guitar tone, and a very pensive track. Simple, but effective.

Yagushi - Sleepwalk
Short and sweet. I like the lead tone, but the bass tone is a little overpowering, and the drums don't quite sit correctly in the mix. Nice track though.

utm - europa and pirate twins
Last but not least. Wonderfully created and produced. As usual, your musicianship comes to the fore. I am not familiar with the original, but enjoyed listening to this a lot, The horns, in particular, are great. My only minor quibble was with the introduction, which didn't add much to the track, IMHO.

....did I miss anyone?

[emdot_ambient]

Stodgy, he says. Lemme see, "heavy, dull or uninteresting: boring...unduly formal and traditional. Dull; graceless or inelegant...

Hey, I said "ever so slightly stodgy" and I also said it had "nice sonic details and [a great] mix." I didn't mean to come off so boorish.

I get lazy and don't add a lot of emotives to my notes My whole comment there was really a joke I wouldn't have taken offense even if you had said the song was completely, utterly and totally stodgy. And I did notice the good comments as well but it's harder to joke about them I really did have to look up stodgy to make sure it meant what I thought it did Am I emotting enough now

I like what you entered and I can tell that you really respect the original - I probably would too. But since there is at least one definitive version around, I thought you could take this somewhere else and inject a bit more of your personality into it as well as update it for us ADHD-inflicted philistines.

Well, see thing is, that song has become part of my personality. That's why I am so reverent about it. It's one of those songs that when I heard it just seemed to go, "Hey, this is ME!"

[soapbox]Having ADHD doesn't make one a philistine. My wife's got adult ADD and it ain't her fault[/soapbox] P.S. I know that was a joke and didn't really take offense.

[Marc JX8P]

Marc JX8P - The Great Modular In The Sky
The last third of this track is the standout for me - a pity that it fades out, rather than continues to build to a climax, especially as the track is well short of the 4 minute limit. This has the makings of an outstanding track with a little more development.

Thanks! Like I have said before, it was really fun working with my old gear and sounds again and I think I will try to do so more in the future. And it's very probable that the ending part in one form or another will reappear then.

On another note - I want to thank all of those that reviewed my track. I haven't replied in all cases but be sure that your feedback is appreciated!

[emdot_ambient]

emdot_ambient - Cybernaut
I can't say I have heard of this track, or Tonto's Expanding Head Band. I am glad that it inspired you, but have to admit that it doesn't do a lot for me as a track.

(The following is not aimed at you personally, Slarti)

Everyone who spoke out against covers should be making note of this. See, covers are rough. If everyone knows the original, they either hate it 'cause you took too many liberties with precious material, or hate it 'cause you did an accurate version and didn't put enough of yourself in it. AND if they don't know the original, they criticize you for things like the song's arrangement--when in your own mind the song's arrangement isn't your fault, only which sonng you selected to cover

...I wish this track had a slightly thicker, beefier sound, and a little more variation in dynamics may have added a little extra also. But this may well have been playing with the original a little too freely?

I think that came from a little too much embellishment on my part. The original son was really much simpler in the mix, having only the bass, one melody and harmony, white noise crashes and synth percussion parts. Later in the original they added a few more interweaving parts, layers of synth brass sounds . . . but it was essentially as presented here only a bit longer.

Thanks for the review!

[Diek]

It seems to be the last ones:

Vurt Belugamoogfishsundae
This kind of fish live in the abysal deeps of the sonic oceans. Surprisingly, it seems to me this song is the most clear (more light in it) I've heard from you.

Aldred Gentelmen Don´t Die
This is one of my favs this month. Original and very well done. Walks between acoustic instruments and Moog sounds, been th Theremin the axis (like Bob himself). Good piano play and orchestration.

Glooper Hope Is A Bird With Feathers
Good minor blues feel. I like the voice and the guitars, but the bass loops arranging could be more variate. Anyway I like this song.

Techbot Age Of De Gross
You-re a master in this kind of groove. The song walks full of energy. The voice absolutely don-t disturb the flow and contributes to the ambient. Very good one

Markleford Chameleon
I-ve writen respect to covers in the previous batch. Just in this case I don-t know wich part goes to Herbie and wich to you. If I don`t knew it´s a cover (like when I heard first time? I would say that´s quiet a funny piece. You can see the singing and dancing chameleon.

Yagushi Sleepwalk
One more cover. In this case I hate the original song. It´s a pity ´cause it seems you can do much better songs.

Voynich The Release
Good Intro. Intrigating and groovy. It delays resolution a bit too much. Good synth sounds though. I like the strings in the second half.

...That´s all, folks!

[knockman]

partVII

nikp2000 riddled as the tide, lines cast through plasma in everywhich way, weaving a complexity - enmeshed. starboard we greet the phosphourescence, aft we glimpse the cathedral sky curving into eternity - we arrive at an endless voyage.

rsmus7 the fly-by convolutions of the inter-stellar intersection, traffic shifting gear and tilting over and out. juggernauts, meganauts, micronauts zipping in between, blurring til finally a vast space folk dance of whirling cavorts and skipping side steps ensues.

liqih a full head of steam, pistons, valves, pipes and levers shimmer in exotic motions, as those cascading down a futurist canvas celebrating the 'beauty of speed'.

slartibartfast the solemn splendour of souls in extremis, carried beyond the physical frame til they commune in some higher order, a moment of the continuum unlocked.

vurt the original space sound, pure and unadulterated, invoking the mesmeric fascinations of earth locked dreamers, providing safe passage among the stars - our noses pressed against the glass, aghast, on a space safari witnessing the green juvian terrors mere inches away.

aldred arcing poignantly the emotions contort the heart into endlessly permeable dimensions - realms of infinite temporal and physical possibilty. the antennae in ceaseless quivering, feelers sent amid the ether, like filter feeders of mystery seeking meaning.

glooper elevation carries the passenger aloft on gliding planes through the clouds over and beyond the tug of sorrow's dull gravity, and affords a moment's soaring on some great plateau.

techbot the universal pull, the dense centre about which energy oscillates in a dark force like a cosmic swamp of fascination - entrapment can induce a heady intoxication played out in a revelry of hypgnotic surrender - like the cerebral equivalent of atomic valency.

markleford brain and body fusion, new connections established, the hard wiring melts and asumes a cosmic plasticity - bending, flexing, leading a procession of body/mind free-associates through a landscape of psyche material.

yagushi the pleasure principal ordains a grin to stretch across the face, a state of levity is declared - concerns of a worrying nature are deemed, if only momentarily, obsolete. the happy subjects are enlivened in this frivolity and their burdens ease.

well, assuming no more entries arrive, that's it, and what a pleasant light hearted end with yagushi's piece. hope my reviews have communicated something, though 've probably used the word 'cosmic' too often.

time for me to study the other reviews and thank people in person.

regards

[petrudamsa]

Now that the month is over, I'd like to thank everyboby who had the patience to listen and review my entry. I learned some new things I have to do and others I have to avoid in my future tracks. Most important thing I learned is that it's OK to post your music in front of the critiques. I've been a member on KVR and watching diferent topics for over an year now, yet this was my first attempt to participate actively at it. It was a very good experience for me and I think I'm gonna keep on with it.
One more time, thanks guys.

petrudamsa