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Ambition

Discussion in 'Critique & Feedback' started by Gary Williams, Jul 12, 2017.

  1. #1 Gary Williams, Jul 12, 2017
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2017
    Hello Everyone.

    First off, fantastic forum Mike and thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of it. A real privilege and an honour.

    This was a track that I was working on about 10 months ago but a few real life issues prevented me from doing any music work for a while. That being said I'm hopefully getting back to normal again in a couple of weeks and am hoping to continue to develop and complete this track.

    I already have a reasonable sized list of issues to be addressed with the track but really would like the track scrutinised by you fine people.

    I wanted to make my own quick attempt at piece based around a common chord progression at the time, which will be quite obvious, but just wanted to add my own flavour and see what come out.

    I did originally post it on VI Control at the time but made a real dogs dinner of the thread so I don't think many people got the chance to give it a good trashing.

    I hope you enjoy it and please, pull no punches.

     
    Claude Ruelle likes this.
  2. #2 Mike Verta, Jul 13, 2017
    This is what we call "vertical development," versus dramatic, horizontal development. To get a true understanding of this piece, run it through a low-pass filter with everything above 100hz cut off. Musically, this is taking a phrase like "Green Eggs and Ham," and just saying it 1000 times a row slightly differently - louder, more quietly, faster, slower, in a Chinese Accent, underwater... even if a listener thinks its interesting for awhile (usually because they suspect you're building to something), you haven't really said anything, so as soon as you're done talking, that's that. It's over and forgotten. The continual tension and release of developing chord progressions is precisely the antidote to this - they develop the (hopefully) inherently compelling thesis statement you begin your speech with.
     
    Gary Williams likes this.
  3. #3 Gary Williams, Jul 13, 2017
    Thank you for taking the time to critique this for me, Mike. It's extremely appreciated indeed.

    My first thought is to introduce a change at 2:26 but I wonder if the bass rhythn hasn't already become exaustive by that time. It may be that what is acting as the build up to main part of the track, the fully vertical scetion, has indeed become exausting even by 1:55. I could try leaving the main section of the track until later as a call back and concluuding section and add the fresh development at 1:55. It is also fortuitous that one of the videos I have just recently purchased from you is 'Mod Squad' so I'll be spending this evening with it.

    I think I roughly have the textures that I was hoping for but look forward to some experimentation for the new development. Could you perhaps point out some mixing errors that were obvious to you? Your ears are infinatley better attuned to even the most slightest of misplacements, conflicting textures, placement and levels. I am viewing this track as a happy and fortunate first mistake, the dissection of which offering me so many learning opportunites.

    Regarding the unexpected synths at the end; I had watched Scarface recently at the time and just wanted to see If I could generate a lovely warm synth section. Do not fear, it will not feature in this track :)

    Thanks again for your feedback, Mike.
     
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