DRIFT Episode 5 "GAME"

[TheBang]

Surrounded by stars, GAME is a road sign that points to the future.

We messed up. We’re late. Later than usual. And so… here is Episode 5 in its entirety as a free download, for you, available until it goes up on streaming services in the coming days… until then:

https://i.imgur.com/1k9jcUT.jpg

[domsgotsideburns]

Are there any similarities and differences to the previously released singles? I’m on holiday right now without a PC so I’m unable to download the EP

[invisibleplan]

Are there any similarities and differences to the previously released singles? I’m on holiday right now without a PC so I’m unable to download the EP

Outside of 'Mile Bush Pride' now being cut in half the only difference I've noticed is slight mastering differences with the previous 'singles'. Most are slightly increased in volume, but I did notice that compared to the rest of Drift the volume was a bit quieter on the newer tracks as they came out each week, these now fit the series as a whole volume wise.

[WhiteNoise]

Toluca Stars changed its ending a bit. After 7:15 the periodic low piano note is removed and the song lasts about 10 seconds longer before fading out.

[Dino3D]

Mile Bush is 1:35 like the album version?? But why? The video version is nearly 3 mins. So the video version will be unreleased?

[negative1]

I wonder how many more changes will be made on the final released versions.

I'm not actually keeping track of all the changes, and probably won't just to
make it manageable when adding it to the list.

later
-1

[TheBang]

Mile Bush is 1:35 like the album version?? But why? The video version is nearly 3 mins. So the video version will be unreleased?
The 2:51 film edit was released a free download that week. We also don't know the timings on the box set yet, so it could be the film edit on CD5 and the shorter edit on the Sampler.

[undarrenworld]

Episode 5 was really best for me. What a great time to be UW fan.

Also I did CD friendly version of Drift and it clocks at 1:19:59.

[TheBang]

Toluca Stars changed its ending a bit. After 7:15 the periodic low piano note is removed and the song lasts about 10 seconds longer before fading out.
Wow, nice catch on the piano chord. I probably wouldn't have noticed that.

As to the fade-out, the YouTube video fades out earlier, but the digital single that was released that week actually faded out later at 10:18, same as this EP version.

[TheBang]

Are there any similarities and differences to the previously released singles?
One more change I noticed is the end of Give Me the Room. There are some stereo differences, and it's deliberate because the stereo imaging is the same in the rest of the song.

In the film version, starting at about 6:30, the high bleeping line that comes in has a strong left channel presence through the end of the song. On the EP version, it's been centered much more. Also, Karl's looped vocal fragment that comes in at about 8:00 also has a strong left channel bias in the video version. In the EP that's been moved to a mild right channel bias.

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

Mile Bush is 1:35 like the album version?? But why? The video version is nearly 3 mins. So the video version will be unreleased?
maybe they just ran out of time on this one? it seems clear that the 3 min version was pointing in some direction but just fades out as though it was never completed. perhaps they haven't gone back to 'finish' the track so they figured they'd just cut it off before it starts developing into something else. that said if that's the game then its inclusion on the sampler is a bit odd.

[dubman]

orrrrrr
enough people around them asked where it was going after that so they/rick decided that it needed trimming to emphasize that it was an interlude rather than a proper bang.

pretty irritated that I spent this long complaining about/insulting EP5 as it was coming out track by track only to have it be my second favorite EP of the lot once it's all together. that's me shown up.

[TheBang]

I found a difference with S T A R. I think it must be a mistake. At the 2:43 mark, in both the digital single and EP version, the "Each peach" vocals come in one beat too late, and so all the vocals sound off after that. On the YouTube version, "each peach" starts correctly on the downbeat, and it sounds much better.

[holden]

I found a difference with S T A R. I think it must be a mistake. At the 2:43 mark, in both the digital single and EP version, the "Each peach" vocals come in one beat too late, and so all the vocals sound off after that. On the YouTube version, "each peach" starts correctly on the downbeat, and it sounds much better.

Yes, i heard that on the digital as well, and someone else commented on youtube about it.
Hoped it was a deliberate syncopation, but guess it was a mistake?

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

that would be pretty odd though. it's not like they remixed this from scratch. unless they accidentally put an old version on?


tbh it does feel like it could be a stylistic choice. I kinda like the little lag

[dubman]

I found a difference with S T A R. I think it must be a mistake. At the 2:43 mark, in both the digital single and EP version, the "Each peach" vocals come in one beat too late, and so all the vocals sound off after that. On the YouTube version, "each peach" starts correctly on the downbeat, and it sounds much better.


i truly, vehemently do not want to believe it's a mistake.
i noticed it about a day after the youtube premier and loved it. it's not incorrect.

[khouri]

I found a difference with S T A R. I think it must be a mistake. At the 2:43 mark, in both the digital single and EP version, the "Each peach" vocals come in one beat too late, and so all the vocals sound off after that. On the YouTube version, "each peach" starts correctly on the downbeat, and it sounds much better.

I'm not sure if it's a mistake or not but I agree the YouTube version sounds way better.

[dubman]

you guys nooooooo


the track is better for it ( ._.)

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

this one and episode 3 feel like companion EPs to me. which is good because #3 is my favorite

[potatobroth]

i noticed it right away as well. blah.

[domsgotsideburns]

I don’t know if anyone has pointed it out yet, but Tree and Two Chairs— they entirely removed the piano that runs through the whole track. I’m gutted. The interplay between the piano, minimal techno sounds and percussion put this track to a very high spot for me, personally being close to one of the best DRIFT tracks. Yet one of these integral layers have been removed. It hurts to know that the definitive version of this track has ended for the worse, in that it’s much more monotonous. I guess that’s the beauty of DRIFT— right?

[Dino3D]

I don’t know if anyone has pointed it out yet, but Tree and Two Chairs— they entirely removed the piano that runs through the whole track. I’m gutted. The interplay between the piano, minimal techno sounds and percussion put this track to a very high spot for me, personally being close to one of the best DRIFT tracks. Yet one of these integral layers have been removed. It hurts to know that the definitive version of this track has ended for the worse, in that it’s much more monotonous. I guess that’s the beauty of DRIFT— right?


Where is the piano? In which version? I can't hear it on the film version and on the EP version.

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

yeah I'm not sure what you're referring to there either

[domsgotsideburns]

Compare 0:46 on the single (video film edit) and GAME versions. The former starts with a piano chord that continues for practically the rest of the track, whereas the latter doesn’t include it at all. Side by side, it’s pretty jarring.

[invisibleplan]

Compare 0:46 on the single (video film edit) and GAME versions. The former starts with a piano chord that continues for practically the rest of the track, whereas the latter doesn’t include it at all. Side by side, it’s pretty jarring.

Oh yeah! I hadn't noticed initially but it's now missing the jazzy keyboard bits all the way through... wonder why they took it off?? I guess at least still have the other version available as a 'single' track...

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

yeah - calling it the 'piano' confused me. I hear what you're talking about now

[khouri]

I agree the video version is much stronger. How weird.

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

the good news the tracks are otherwise identical so you can easily just swap 'em out

[domsgotsideburns]

My bad for the confusion, but yeah I had to swap it out once I noticed. The change left me dumbfounded, thinking “when will the keyboard come in???” only to realise it wouldn’t...

Regardless of this unfortunate change, I’ve found episode 5 to be the most odd one yet. Toluca Stars is growing on me still (it’s one of the first that hasn’t clicked with me immediately), Mile Bush Pride is very sleek and OwB-esque but as the weekly release it seems oddly short. Imagine a Box is amazing in my opinion— I don’t think Underworld have really made anything like it. The psychedelic sounds clash with Karl’s dissonant vocals to create a very intriguing contrast between the two. It’s peculiar but mesmerising. I’m wondering how it’ll be reimagined for the sampler. Tree and Two Chairs is sadly barebones in its “definitive” form but the original holds up as one of the most creative DRIFT works. The lounge influence may be cheesy to some, sure, but listen to it on high quality headphones and the subtle interplaying with every layer requires further notice. It’s brilliant. Give Me the Room is techno by the numbers, not so sure about it yet— and S T A R. S T A R! Karl’s spoken word doesn’t get any better than that. It’s satisfyingly short, addictive and has high replay value.

I eagerly look forward to the box set and maybe there might even be some more changes with the definitive versions on there (I’m looking at you, Tree and Two Chairs!).

[TheBang]

Digital purchase and streaming versions of Ep 5 came out yesterday, and it's identical to the free download last week.

So, to recap:

Toluca Stars and Tree and Two Chairs with the missing piano parts are available to stream or purchase (up to 24-bit lossless) in the digital single versions.

The long version of Mile Bush Pride is available (in 320 Kbps MP3) as the free download.

Give Me the Room with the wonky stereo imaging, and S T A R with the last verse aligned to the downbeat are only available on the YouTube videos.

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

one other thing, the drums on the EP version of Tree & Two Chairs are crisper and more in the front of the mix

[dubman]

i thought it sounded a little more spare than i remember but i couldn't place it.
tbh i don't know if i miss it. it takes some of the floating points jazz out of it and makes it more ambiguous to me.


i've really fallen for toluca stars in a big way. could've still workshopped that beat a bit more but what surrounds it is just gorgeous.

[domsgotsideburns]

admittedly my astonished first impressions got the best of me- Tree and Two Chairs is just as excellent without the keyboard. that's what being fanatical about this band does to you 😅

[stimpee]

Thanks for th recap. I was just reading this thread and thought, "someone should compile these differences"

Digital purchase and streaming versions of Ep 5 came out yesterday, and it's identical to the free download last week.

So, to recap:

Toluca Stars and Tree and Two Chairs with the missing piano parts are available to stream or purchase (up to 24-bit lossless) in the digital single versions.

The long version of Mile Bush Pride is available (in 320 Kbps MP3) as the free download.

Give Me the Room with the wonky stereo imaging, and S T A R with the last verse aligned to the downbeat are only available on the YouTube videos.

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

Toluca Stars and Tree and Two Chairs with the missing piano parts are available to stream or purchase (up to 24-bit lossless) in the digital single versions.

.

what's the bit missing on Toluca Stars? does anyone have a timestamp?

[domsgotsideburns]

what's the bit missing on Toluca Stars? does anyone have a timestamp?

It’s missing from 7:15

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

aha - that's pretty subtle

[holden]

A fine episode, indeed!

What I'm really enjoying about the Drift EPs is the unique vibe. Despite disparate tracks, each episode has a distinct feel, like any curated album, like the awesome RiverRun series.

Am I applying coherence where none was intended? Maybe. Some albums and EPs just have a good flow and evoke a certain response collectively that the singles goes cannot. Hearing individual tracks, we have favorites and those we're not fond of. Put them together, and sometimes the sum of the parts is stronger.

That's what I've got from Drift. Not just 5 or 6 random tracks grouped for a release, but a consciously selected, thematically/emotionally linked (?) Collection. Mini albums in the classic album style. I give R&K all the credit for this genious. It could very well be that they just scrabled to get a new track each week, and the conceptualization is my own bias to love the band!

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

I'm guessing that's mostly planned. We know these tracks weren't just put out as they were completed. I agree with you, they mostly flow really well, although #4 still feels like a kind of random selection of tracks to me

[TheBang]

One more change I noticed is the end of Give Me the Room. There are some stereo differences, and it's deliberate because the stereo imaging is the same in the rest of the song.

In the film version, starting at about 6:30, the high bleeping line that comes in has a strong left channel presence through the end of the song. On the EP version, it's been centered much more. Also, Karl's looped vocal fragment that comes in at about 8:00 also has a strong left channel bias in the video version. In the EP that's been moved to a mild right channel bias.
So, I A-B'd this track a little more carefully, and I noticed several additional subtle differences. The chirping noise that comes in at 0:50 has a different pattern throughout its appearances between the YouTube version and the EP/album version. It's really easy to miss, and I almost had to map out the pattern to realize it was different in a lot of places.

On the EP version, the kick drum takes a two measure break at 1:53, while the YouTube version powers through.

On the EP version, a chuffing sound begins gradually fading out at around 6:35. On the YouTube version, it continues full strength until the string comes in at 6:51.

On the EP version, the string sound at 6:51 fades out much sooner at about 7:02. On the YouTube version, it continues until about 7:45.

I think the YouTube version must be an earlier version with the EP being a later, more refined version.