Reflecting on Process
In terms of process, I think that for me the sequencing of the bed is the hardest part. I can handle the live session rendition and recording, no problem, and the process of sound design, while protracted, answers most of the mixing problems before they start. I follow Bob Johnston's approach of getting the headphone mix right first, and then just recording that correct sound. If it sounds good, it is good, and by preloading the mix in terms of thoughtful sound design most of my problems are solved. I know where I can push the faders and nudge the knobs without wrecking my soundscape, and I live within those limits. It's the progression and chord structure as captured in the performance sequencer that gives me the most pause for thought, because that reflects the structure of what I want to achieve and the more that I want to add in terms of complexity, the more precomposition I have to build into the sequencer configuration. If it's too complex, on the other hand, it can really wreak havoc with my ability to coherently improvise on top so there is an upper limit to how far I can take it.
Other than that the biggest hassle is warming up and tuning analogue synths. 'twas ever thus.
Next time, I might do it by using the Force as my sequencer, and presequencing and editing everything in a live take there, before recording the audio.
General review and discussion
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Havol - Make Love not War - distant battlefield sounds aren't bad. Transition to sad piano is a bit cliched, and for that matter so is the chord progression. Good build with bass added, then drumkit and rhythm guitar. Very competent, rather than creative. By 2:00 I was hoping for something more. OK, at 2:30 a bit of a change, but still just a change-up for a bridge that feels very ... '80s? Not a bad thing, but I'd hoped for more. The guitar wants to be more; it feels too clean, too measured. It needs to be freer in comparison to the basic, measured pace of the whole.
KukoBass - Clouds over Herrenhausen - A more literal rain-and-thunder start to it all, then going for more typical movie epic sound stuff. The lead guitar sounds a little out of place with respect to the drums. This sound design mismatch rather spoils it for me, because they sound as if they come from different musical sets.
VCA-089 - Dark Omen - OK, now we're talking about a more consistent musical world, a more consistent aesthetic. This is good. It comes out of the gate promising a sort of synthrock experience, and delivers. It does feel rather episodic in its structure, with predictable-feeling moves such as "now it's time for a drum break leading into the next section and we'll follow a similar chord progression". Still, a good sonic structure.
Arelem - Turbulence - Nice rap, decent lyrics, good flow. Clear lyrics. It's not a hackneyed take on hiphop either, so the sound is clearly its own and yet all the sounds belong together. This is a good thing, because the result stands on its own as a project. If I were to make a criticism, it would be that the rap could have more emotional punch in its delivery, but it works as it stands.
Crosshatched - Pulverized - This kind of singing, alas, demands better intonation. This has to count against the singer, more's the pity. The piano-and-singer model works well, but I think that the mix is off-balance, favouring the singer and leaving the piano in the background as if it were halfway out the door. Still, compositionally it's more interesting than the other offerings so far. I like that the ending feels incomplete; but is still a viable ending.
Doc Jon - Hey Kid - I actually like this. It has a sort of a funk to it that makes one move despite the fact that it plays into a somewhat hackneyed model. I think that the vocal delivery could have been a bit more heartfelt, but other than that it's really hard to find fault. I like the mix, and the vaguely mellotron-sounding flute seems as if it wants to be out of place, and yet it fits well in the mix. Good job of pulling it all together.
Esteve Corbera - La Tempesta JaSAllunya - Another literal opening, but a more synth meditation opening. This sounds very coherent, and feels like a synth demo inside while outside thunder rumbles. I like the sonic development, with layers coming in and a gradually adapting mix. Just peaceful, and coherent.
Satyatunes - Mysterious Cloud - I like the sense of mystery that comes with the riser-and-drop-to-thin-mix move around 0:48. The incomprehensible radio chatter also hints at a story of people investigating with this mysterious cloud. The change over at 1:35 suggests that the story is developing, and the movie score style of megadrums makes it feel as if it's the pilot to some weird TV show. It still feels coherent, in the sense of a scene being painted.
The Exponent - Fragments of Hope - There's a distinction between the clearly synthetic backdrop and the organic sounds in the foreground. Sure, it's all synthesised in the end, but it gives a tableau that tells a story. If would feel typically at home in a JRPG. In terms of chordal progression and development it's not very exciting, but for that style of music this isn't unexpected; game music rarely breaks much ground except in its own context. The riser and development at 2:30 still fits within this mould. I think that the drums are a bit overblown at this point, but that sort of approach to the epic sound is, again, typical of the form, as is the subsequent come-down. I really only ask a more coherent sonic approach, but in a specific context it could be ideal.
A Future in Noise - Get a Grip - I'm not sure that I think that this really captures the mission of the original theme. It does address upheaval in a more distant sense, without alternative reference to the sky or atmosphere or anything like that. Fair enough, I don't think that this is disqualifying. The sound really reminds me of the sort of thing that you'd hear on the BBC in the '70s, with the whole band backing what would otherwise have been a single singer and guitarist. It definitely captures the sound of an era, somehow. That said, the delivery was competent in every respect except that it could have used a better voice - even if a weaker voice is somehow right for this sort of scene. In the end, if that sound was the mission, then mission accomplished. But was it called for? I don't know.
Ranking
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1 - Arelem
2 - Doc Jon
3 - Satyatunes
4 - The Exponent
5 - EsteveCorbera
Additional Ranking (since only Top 5 is important)
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6 - VCA-089
7 - A Future in Noise
8 - Havol
9 - KukoBass
10 - Crosshatched
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