electronic downbeat with guitar (preview)

JoeKa · Post by **JoeKa** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 4:48 am

Heya!

I haven't put anything new in this forum category for a loooong time. But working on new stuff in the shape of a new project with a friend (Blacky, blues influenced guitarist) it was about time to ask you fellow pulsarians for your two (or more) cents on the musical direction we're currently heading to.

This one is sorta downbeat/chillout whatever you may like to call it. I prefer not to contribute to any style that's already been given a more or less sensible name but just to make music the way we feel like, regardless the outcome.

Gear used:
Microkorg (bass accent)
Novation KS R (lead)
Waldorf MicroQ phoenix (arpeggio)
Waldorf RackAttack (noise perc)
Alesis DMpro (all the other drums+perc)
GEM Equinox (organ)
Yamaha SY77 (ep)
OLP Bass
Gibson Les Paul
Tech21 PSA1.1
Sony DPS V55
Roland SRV3030
Lexicon M350
Dunlop vintage crybaby
Mixed on Tascam 2600mk2
Recorded on Pulsar+A16 (non ultra) in VST5.1

note that this version is not final. I'm not sure of what to make from it yet. It might get added minimalistic rap lyrics or female vocals, but it might also remain without any vocals. That's why I would like your opinions about this. It might just as well stay like it is and just undergo final mix+master processing.

I'll be happily looking forward to your comments, enjoy the music!

JoeKa · Post by **JoeKa** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:00 am

indeed, that's a tribute to the rather quickshot mixdown. I found it to peak out badly on my car speakers, too, while at home and in the studio, it is quite present as wanted, but not yet disturbing.
noted. thanks for the comment

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 6:51 am

as a lounge chill out type tune, it's great. Love the guitar playing.. personally, I'd prefer more bluesy "attitude", like diverting from the rhythm a bit more, but I guess that'll make it stand out too much and make it a "solo" tune, rather than a chill track. Also, personally I'd layer another drum track (samples) to give it a more defined funkier groove, but with light sounds so as not to make it thump.

Vocals, hmm, could work both ways I think. Without vocals, the guitar needs to be featured a bit more in mixing, and also the playing can be a little more motif based. It might be nice to give it a short 16 bar "head" or main motif that comes in once every so often to tie the solo together. Structure would give the tune a more defined directionality, if that's what you want. With vocals the vocals lay down motif and guitars do over lay licks or call and response licks, and maybe a solo here and there. With rap, I don't think it really interacts with the guitar, so i'd make it just the rapper+bass+drum for that section. I don't think it needs any rapping though... hard to rap about chilling out without sounding boring.

Also, the overall groove can switch from 8ths to 16ths since the guitar pretty much shifts back and forth. Seems everything else is constantly in 8ths.

JoeKa · Post by **JoeKa** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:08 pm

Thanks a bunch for taking the time to type out some of your ideas and thoughts about it, kensuguro. I'm going to think about these and discuss it with Blacky, too. I guess you have inspired a couple of useable ideas over here.

Don't forget though, I didn't want to submit to any already defined style. It's music, and music doesn't need definitions to contain and transport emotion. Just like life, you can never really plan your mood in advance of the events that will trigger them.
cheers,
joe

Post by **hubird** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:32 pm

nice feel

jimmy goes chilly

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:10 am

well, I think style, form, and structure are all part of the vocabulary that you tell your story with. I personally don't think using or implying a pre-existing style is a bad thing. Of course just to emulate something 100% is a little pointless, but anyway.. Glad to have spurred up some new ideas.

Leper · Post by **Leper** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 5:27 pm

JoeKa,

I very much enjoyed listening to this track. It has a fantastic atmosphere and much potential. I love the bass and the synthy 'edge' to it. The only things I can comment on, past kensuguro's suggestions, is that I felt like some elements of the track could be a bit more refined. In this type of track, I feel every tiny detail matters. The organ, for example, sounded a bit off to me.. maybe a note or two slightly off in there - seemed to interfere with the vibe. It also stood out a bit roughly in the mix, but I understand that it's a quick mix.

I think with a bit of work and refinement this could be an amazing musical direction you are going for. Can't wait to hear more from you. Are you planning to make an album?

JoeKa · Post by **JoeKa** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 2:22 am

Thanks a lot for the flowers, Leper! You're right about the notes in the organ part, but that was intentionally edited.

The conceptual guidance I came up with for that project was "the harmony that should not be", meaning all of the tracks would ignore or reverse at least one or more established standards in music, be it in matters of composition, instrumentation, arrangement, mixing, or whatever else is in the way of creativity.
I didn't get to work much on the track since this preview, mainly because Blacky has been awfully short on time and practically not available at all due to his programmer job, and my bread and butter job has kept me on my toes, too. We planned to gather enough tracks for an album though, but as things are going, I have no idea when or even if we will get that far.
However, this track turned out with only few edges to the common ear, while the first one we made is a lot harsher, with heavily processed lines, screaming distortions and much darker. So, it would definitely not become a "lounge" or "easy listening" type album, but something to chew on. In the end it may be one of those things that people say about, there'd just be one or two good tracks on it, but in fact, everyone talks about a different one... hopefully.