Dirty Compilation 2008: "Evidence of Autumn"

[holden]

Again, thanks so much to everyone who took part - i can appreciate how much work you put into your tracks, and i think it shows. Below is my subjective "review" - i've no criticisms, i'd rather just lavish on the praise and enjoy them for what they are: 11 really great tracks (and 2 clunkers by AViD tossed in to make the others look even better ) keep in mind also that i've heard many of these for several weeks, so i'm quite attached to them!

Holden/AViD's random thoughts -

• AViD – “Be Home by Dark” – I’ll just say this was a lot of fun to make, maybe a bit thick in the mix, but hopefully it sounds integrated.
• Bitten Turtle – “To Where the Sun Shines” – Laid-back groove, crisp and breezy, like an autumn day should be! You created a nice atmosphere with comparatively few parts – kudos!
• Easydelic – “Caught on Film” – for starters, I really like the enveloping or whatever on the piano chords, the sort of reverse reverb leading into the note. Fine bubbling bassline. The glitchy effect on the drums at ~1:55 is awesome, too!
• GRANDbrother –“Packaging Solutions for Life” – This has a fine swagger to it, thanks to the percussion and the tropical feel of the harmony and gently-strummed guitar. Very warm track, and Leary’s conceptualization of “every living thing” was a cool idea to base the track on. Groovy wah-wah guitar at the end, as well.
• LX Nen – “Diversion” – This is one of my favorites. Just so many interesting sounds and changes in atmosphere. It starts as a programmed-sounding, almost automatic MIDI sort of track, but becomes very emotional and human with the inclusion of som twinkly melody lines string pads, some extra percussion. The hard turn it takes ~3:30 with the distorted guitar is great! And some bizarre key sounds out of the latter-day Orbital playbook (at least to my ears) make this into a monster, before chilling out with lovely piano lines. I love it!
• Marshall Watson – “I l s Dry” – A gorgeous downtempo track, with lots of fun effects for headphone enjoyment. But I like playing this (and other MW tracks) on the stereo, so the mood sort of fills the house. This is another track that I feel fits the autumnal theme.
• Matt Parra – “Trance de Muerte (megamix)” - the back story on this one was, when collecting submissions, Viddy sent me his whole original score, and told me to “pick what you want”. It’s such a great piece of composition, I couldn’t choose, and also many of the themes are brief, just choosing a couple might not do them justice alongside longer tracks. So, Viddy agreed to make a mix of several tracks, and what can I say, it’s beautiful – From the energetic, pounding opener to the moody piano and string melody (which builds to orchestral heights) and another pounding guitar-based track, you get a feel for the sorts of scenes that may have inspired the music, or alternatively, how this emotional music can propel a film. Thanks, Matt, for collating your favorites from the ST, giving the rest of us a sense of the breadth of your composing talents!
• Maus – “Soldat” – Incredible skippy d-n-b beats and swelling sounds, every time I listen, I hear more wonderful effects. There is a nice contrast between the warm intonations and the barrage of drums, a contrast that holds interest and evokes a rawer sort of Fall weather!
• Sputnikk – “Gateway” – KoS’s track takes me on a journey. Great pace introducing the various loops, changing the effects added to them, and generally building an epic energy. Production’s top-notch and you definitely have a unique style – certain lead lines emerge and I think, “yeah, that’s classic Sputnikk!” (keep in mind I remember hearing your tracks in 2004 and onward –they were good, this is even better!)
• Tin Foil Hats – “But Tonight” – Wonderful synth-rock sounds to this, from the analog whirring synth lead to the arpy bassline, and especially the great vocal! You love those treated vocals, don’t you? This one is a bit goth, a bit glam, certainly somewhere between new-wave and new-romantic. Very enjoyable!
• AViD – “Chimera” –one of the creepier tracks I’ve ever made!
• Easydelic – “Mizzle” – Everything seems to have a buzzy edge in this track, which I like! So many great counter-melodies on interesting-sounding instruments. This is another track that really gets me grooving when its in my earphones and I hear the interplay of the various loops.
• Tin Foil Hats – Plaisir d’amour” – there are those spooky treated vocals again! Camiel Toe was going with “But Tonight” over this, but I suggested he keep this in, as well, as it also has that analog goodness. I can’t tell what the voice is saying, but I don’t mind! It’s a nice melody in itself.

[Camiel]

Heh, actually, the vocals in 'But tonight' aren't really treated that much (apart from some reverb and tuning, because I can't sing well). I guess I just have a freaky voice?

Plaisir d'amour is a French poem from the 18th century:

J'ai tout quitté pour l'ingrate Sylvie
Elle me quitte et prend un autre amant

Plaisir d'amour ne dure qu'un moment
Chagrin d'amour dure toute la vie

Tant que cette eau coulera doucement
Vers-ce ruisseau qui borde la prairie
Je t'aimerai me répétait Sylvie
L'eau coule encore elle a changé pourtant.

Which translates into something like this:

I left everything for the ungrateful Sylvie
She leave me and take an other lover

Pleasure of love lasts only one moment
Sorrow of love lasts all the life

As long as this water will be running slowly
To this stream which lines the prairie
I wil love you, repeated Sylvie to me
The water is still running, she has changed yet.

Hopefully I will be able to comment on each track later on. Back to work now.

[viddy]

Still absorbing all of these tracks, as it usually does for all music. I'll write up soon.

[nosajmunson]

As long as it is cool with you guys, I posted a link to it on my website to try and get it some more exposure.

here's a link:

http://www.ihatepeacocks.com/WeAreListening.html

If anyone is not happy about this, please let me know and I will take it down.

-Jason

[Camiel]

Not at all. The more exposure the better.

[Sean]

Absolutely. Link it everywhere!

[Leon]

I'm going to give a good review, but expect this after the second week of January, I'm kinda busy right now.

[holden]

(bump!)
For those that missed this in the holiday rush, or just never got around to downloading it... now's the time!

http://www.darksounds.org/

[Sean]

Hey. Been listening to this a good deal, and wanted to thank everyone who contributed to the awesome, free music. All great stuff!

[Leon]

I keep forgetting to give this a good listen. I will play it right now and give a review later