Polyslax - Any Road

[tehlord]

It's a beautifully crafted track that left me oddly unmoved. To me it was like framework for something that wasn't there. I think it needs an abstract vocal performance of some sort....perhaps in a similar veign to Goldfrapps 'Lovely Head' MS-20/vocal combo ir mUSERs 'So Very Far Away'.

The melody and production are first class but allied to an adlib or free roaming human wail I think it would be something of a masterpiece.

[MWSOS]

To me it was like framework for something that wasn't there. I think it needs an abstract vocal performance of some sort....perhaps in a similar veign to Goldfrapps 'Lovely Head'

It's a good we're all different tehlord

For me the beauty is in the space that polyslax has left for the listener to occupy - I think adding a vocal performance would spoil this track.

Remix anyone?


Martin

[polyslax]

It's a beautifully crafted track that left me oddly unmoved. To me it was like framework for something that wasn't there. I think it needs an abstract vocal performance of some sort....perhaps in a similar veign to Goldfrapps 'Lovely Head' MS-20/vocal combo ir mUSERs 'So Very Far Away'.

The melody and production are first class but allied to an adlib or free roaming human wail I think it would be something of a masterpiece.

Thanks for the listen and comments tehlord... sorry it didn't take things to the next level for you.

While I can't sing very well, I may be able to pull off a free roaming human wail. Nah, for now I'm afraid it'll have to stay voiceless.

[polyslax]

To me it was like framework for something that wasn't there. I think it needs an abstract vocal performance of some sort....perhaps in a similar veign to Goldfrapps 'Lovely Head'

It's a good we're all different tehlord

For me the beauty is in the space that polyslax has left for the listener to occupy - I think adding a vocal performance would spoil this track.

Remix anyone?


Martin

Thanks Martin... I happen to like space myself!

Do you really want to remix, or were you just kinda throwing that out there? If anyone's interested just let me know and I'll see what I can get together in the way of stems.

[jancivil]

Very attractive sounding mix. As usual. The drums sound great. Nice airy space all round.

I have to tell you, I've been holding my tounge on this for a long time, I really do not go for this sort of pandiatonic piano, where (in technical terms) things like: the vii chord hangs against the I. (eg., when you have combos of 'b d f' against a 'c major'.) It's a rich thing, a tonic chord, all by itself. A piano, in the most well thought out situations, has a whole lot of things happening 'harmonically', by which I mean the overtones clashing. So, for me, when you have this sort of relaxed vibe, these sorts of things irritate the heck out of me, it just isn't pretty. When you go for 'presence' in a mix like this, especially harsh.

Now, 'beautiful' can mean many things to many people, and 'pretty' doesn't have to figure into it, but the overall vibe of such a song really does point to 'pretty', and that piano arrangement is the opposite of that, to my ear.

But a lot of people go for this, so kind of, who cares what I say. It's similar to culinary taste I guess... This is like garlic ice cream to me. I expect it to be sweet, and it has this bitter taste.

[polyslax]

What can I say Jan?... I'm glad your ears survived my aural assault.

Seriously, it's interesting to hear a technician's take on my admittedly non-technical noodlings, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[jancivil]

my ears will survive. It kind of takes me to a place with an attractive pool, but the water chafes my skin. It says here is a nice ice cream cone, and then it isn't cream, it's just creamy looking ice.

I know that it can be prettier, just in terms of a physically beautiful decoration of time.

It's like you say 'all opinions are welcome', does that ask for a critique or no. You are a very skilled mixer of audio and a perfectly apt manipulator of some instruments. That's somebody who's learned to be a technician. I doubt you learned technique qua technique, but to make a more attractive, or even beautiful object, in order to decorate some time.

So, it's odd to see a seemingly dismissive take on 'technician' in terms of musicianship. I learned some things about how harmony works, and sometimes doesn't work. Same as an audio person learns about frequency response.

You're in the ballpark of 'beautiful music' in my book. My comment is akin to a seasoned mixer hipping someone to... hmmmm, here's one you can relate to: telling someone their bass compression kind of seems to pump or breathe too much to seem like a real professional mix, if you can appreciate the analogy. Someone might choose not to think too much about that artifact since those chops aren't their forte. Or they just didn't hear it till someone else said, 'hey!'

Donno. Maybe just the comment: 'the piano might be too loud' is easier to see.

[tehlord]

Donno. Maybe just the comment: 'the piano might be too loud' is easier to see.

Or, a Lexus is a beautifully made car. I still don't want one though.

[polyslax]

Donno. Maybe just the comment: 'the piano might be too loud' is easier to see.

Or, a Lexus is a beautifully made car. I still don't want one though.

LMAO - pretty funny stuff there tehlord, thanks for jumping in!

Listen, as I've tried to explain to Jan in a pm, she can lay technical advice down, but I'm a layman in this field. I write and play completely by ear/feel, so I wasn't trying to dismiss her critique, I just don't have the knowledge to respond in kind.

[tehlord]

Donno. Maybe just the comment: 'the piano might be too loud' is easier to see.

Or, a Lexus is a beautifully made car. I still don't want one though.

LMAO - pretty funny stuff there tehlord, thanks for jumping in!

Listen, as I've tried to explain to Jan in a pm, she can lay technical advice down, but I'm a layman in this field. I write and play completely by ear/feel, so I wasn't trying to dismiss her critique, I just don't have the knowledge to respond in kind.

I've always been impressed by what you do, especially from a production point of view.

The music contained within the production is, and always will be a completely subjective matter on the other hand. I don't think you really need knowledge to be able to create music, it is as you say a matter of feel. It should be that way.

To have a difference of opinion and healthy and friendly debate is a positive side to music too

[22tape]

poly, this is f**king gorgeous. there are moments when certain pieces of music hit you at the right time/place/mood....and its results can give you goosebumps at every turn....and that's what this piece did to me...thank you for that!

and speaking of technicians/non-technicians-- some people get pissed off when those who don't know the rules, break the rules, yet it still 'works'.

not talking about you tehlord (obviously, cause this piece didn't 'work' for you), i've had this discussion several times with friends who are clasically trained or well versed in piano/harmony

[themethodmostused]

I liked it. I would play this on a rainy day or on a early weekend morning on the back porch looking out onto the countryside. Very nice.

[jancivil]

@22 tape: I could care less about a rule. That had a piano thing which I dislike thoroughly in general, AND I can tell you why it has the qualities which don't tickle *my* ear. That's a mix of subjective and objective. Didn't work for me/not pissed.

what you just said bears out: 'piano could be less loud' is something people at your level can relate to better.

[22tape]

@22 tape: I could care less about a rule. That had a piano thing which I dislike thoroughly in general, AND I can tell you why it has the qualities which don't tickle *my* ear. That's a mix of subjective and objective. Didn't work for me/not pissed.

what you just said bears out: 'piano could be less loud' is something people at your level can relate to better.

?????

i wasn't talking about you either...i didn't even read your post if you read my post you'd see that i was referring to friends of mine...


the over-sensitivity here is fricken laughable

is something people at your level can relate to better.

what the hell is that supposed to mean?

you're not being very civil, jan

[polyslax]

22t - thanks bro, glad it caught you at the right time!

Mood lightening random quote: Squeeze me like you do.

Damn, I may have to get another banjo!