I didn’t read any of your submission details. So, with mere listening I may have missed some relevant points.
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ESTEVE CORBERA
Sounds great. This is actually very beautiful. And it can be listened several times in a row without problems.
But I would take that water sample away, especially as the theme of this competition is water.
Nicely the leading instrument changes in every verse. Very well done. And I love that bass sound. It reminds me of bass sounds used in many Leonardo Cohen’s songs. For example ”A Thousand Kisses Deep”.
Actually, this track could be a cool backing track for some Leonard Cohen style song. Having said that I start to miss a catchy melody lines. Now its arpeggios all through the song. Arpeggio is something that normally cannot be sung, but fits perfectly behind the solo line or singing.
If I remember correctly, also in your previous submission you have avoided using clear melody lines. Maybe next months competition could be: add melody line to this track.
Water theme: surely there, also without samples.
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GAMAGAMA
It starts very nicely. The melody line in the opening has the same insightfulness that you have shown before. Very catchy.
All goes very well, but then something happens around 1.05. I was expecting totally different chorus to come in, but instead it comes a new variation of the same main theme. I start to lose the song as it gets somehow imprisoned to that one theme. So, although each part works perfectly as such, the bigger view of the melodic movement stagnates. I miss that wild melodic freedom and surprising elements that you have shown in your previous submissions. They aren’t here the same way.
Sonically I like the band part very much but that main trumpet isn’t very expressive. And it feels too dry and a bit shy. I guess that trumpet is a loud and extremely dynamic instrument that should be listened for safety reason from longer distance. That is to say, trumpet and reverb fit together very well. Also, I think you could have given lead playing role also to other instruments.
The band part is very well done. But to me the problem is that the band plays with full dynamics all the time. It would be nice to have some breathing moments, and after that it would be nice to experience again the moment the band turns the full speed on.
Water theme: Unfortunately, I didn’t find the Water theme in your submission.
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KUKOBASS
You surely knowhow to make drums and bass play together as a one hypnotic unit. Both the sounds and the playing of them are glued very well together.
I like that hypnotic minimalistic sound. On the first verse there could be one or two points where arpeggio could step out of the chord notes and anticipate the next chord.
On the second verse the arpeggios start nicely to carry melodic lines within it. Cool!
When we enter the third verse development of the song stops, and it dies away. In third verse you might give the melodic role for example to the cello, and also maybe change a bit the drum-bass-groove.
Piano arpeggios might need a tad short reverb to glue the notes together.
Melody lines are beautiful, but I guess its a bit too repetitive rhythmically. If you could bring in some melodic surprise moments or some stronger chord change or something that breaks a bit monotonous progression.
Overall, you managed again to create a strong, coherent and compelling mood, but the song dies away before it reaches the end. I’m sure that after a couple of songs you’ll be able to put out a song that ends up into top positions.
Water theme: maybe there, but I’m not sure.
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ARELEM
Very convincing. It was difficult to analyze what’s happening musically, because I switched the listening mode to message listener. So I was mainly listening to you, not the musical nuances. And that’s what should happen with music.
Vocals could have been a bit louder. I guess that in the rap part you should be fully exposed without makeup, just you in direct contact with the listener. But when chorus part starts, then it’s ok to have all the powders on.
Nice arrangement in chorus, especially that low-synth.
In rap part the sub could go away here and there so that it could come back again, and that way offer that moment more often.
Water theme: surely there.
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FUTURE IN NOISE
It’s like a music from my playlists. Well done. Sounds like a band that’s been together several years, You should make a tour and a record with this group.
With first listening I didn’t find anything to improve. Everything felt coherent. I like the idea that drums let wait for them to come in with full force. And sonically it’s focused.
But with further listenings I started to feel some sort of attitude change during the song. It’s a minor thing, but I take it up as it started to bother me a bit. The song starts strongly in a bitter mood with a full focus on lyrics and singing, and it feels like Red Hot Chilly Peppers. But later I feel the focus changes to show some musical tricks, and the words and singing become just another instrument among others, in The Beatles style. And finally comes the musically best part, the saxophone outro, and at the same time it takes me to totally opposite mood. It feels like saxophone is saying: ”I’m coming home back to your sweet arms”. As the song was so strong and expressive, I guess I would have preferred it to stay in one original mood.
Water theme: sadly I didn’t find any musical water reference, mainly a word ”the tide” from lyrics. You should have been among the top ones.
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BECSEI GYORGY
Wow! You surely are on you way to professional career. Your musical skill grows day by day. I like each and every part. The carrier of the main melody flows nicely from one instrument to another. Counter melodies work nicely, etc. So, on that level I feel I’m not in position to give any improvement tips. (Except take that water sample away. I feel that now, as the music does it’s job, you’re saying the same thing twice.)
But as an average listener somehow it’s difficult later to remember any details. I mainly remember that it was that ”cool symphony thing with the harpsichord”. So I guess, it’s missing some strong melody hooks, musical elements that could survive and dominate among the superb small nuances and details you’ve created. Actually, those hooks are there probably already, but maybe the focus is not on them properly. But that’s something you’ll be solving soon.
With your current learning curve you’ll be soon hitting the big time with your forthcoming masterpieces. I know you’ll be busy, but remember visit us every now and then.
Water theme: surely there.
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VCA-089
First listening:
Opening is superb. It’s showing your supreme sonic skills. Also plenty of well-done variations of the same theme.
With new listenings:
After about one minute I start to wait a bigger change. But instead of it then comes in that buzzing and sliding synth. For some reason to me it’s sound and music lines you do with it don’t add to the song.
1.45 comes the change I was waiting: bass, drums and guitar come in. But then I notice that it wasn’t musical change for the chord progression remains the same. Around that time I start to notice no matter what instrumentations changes you bring in I hear only that constant chord progression loop.
Although this is more ambient music, I still think it would highlight your skills more if you had also B-part with rhythmically and chordwise differentiations structure. But it doesn’t have to be a verse-chorus thing, but still something that gives you more room to use different movements.
Water theme: surely there.
► Show Spoiler
01 (10 pts) Arelem
02 (9 pts) Esteve Corbera
03 (8 pts) Becsei Gyorgy
04 (7 pts) VCA-089
05 (6 pts) Future in Nose
06 (5 pts) Kukobass
07 (4 pts) GamaGama
GAME MECHANIC SUMMARY:
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) impressions:
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- Just kidding