Enceladus

Originally planned as a mix between 70's J.M. Jarre and Steve Reich. Turns out to be more like Giorgio Moroder teaming with Tangerine Dream, on a bad day.

This is my first submission to MeFi Music but I'm ready to take any constructive criticism! I'm particularly proud of the fact that I created most of the sounds.

(Get Flash to see the track player.)
posted by surrendering monkey (4 comments total)

Some of these sounds are really awesome, what did you use to make them? I particularly like the arpeggio-type synth that runs throughout.

I'm not familiar with the artists you mentioned in your description, so this constructive crit might be way off base, but if I had to single out something here it would be the structure of the song. I'm not feeling a natural arc from beginning to middle to end. Part of the problem (for me) is that there's no real melody to speak of. Also I think it needs to pick up more quickly, like having those funkier drums come in a minute or two earlier. But these may just be taste issues on my part, and not the kind of critique you were looking for!

Also, welcome to MeFi Music!
posted by abc123xyzinfinity at 8:15 PM on July 19

Thanks for the comment! All the sounds were created with Reason's Subtractor module, apart from the "acoustic" drums.

All the points you are making are valid. The track is divided in four pieces which have no real relation to each other apart from the fact that they all use the same instruments. Maybe if would have made more sense if the track was much longer so each piece could be judged independently but I quickly ran out of energy! I did get my inspiration from Mike Oldfied's Crises and Jarre's Ethnicolor, two favourite instrumental pieces of mine, which both feature a long intro before the percussions are introduced and prominent use of arpeggio in the former.
posted by surrendering monkey at 5:37 AM on July 20

This reminded me very much of Vangelis' work - particularly late '70's collaboration with Jon Anderson (I Hear You Now). I love the synth textures - what are you using? Have to agree with abc's const.crit. that the weakess here is that there's no top line, no real melody. Which is a pity because this is very enjoyable. Well done! Look forward to more from you.
posted by MajorDundee at 1:41 PM on July 24

Thanks for the encouragement Major!

It's funny you mention Vangelis because I named one of the pads after him. This was all made on Propellerhead's Reason version 3.0.
As for the lack of melody, the arpeggio IS the melody. I thought I'd shatter all the conventional rules of music composition! I guess it's too early still. :-)
posted by surrendering monkey at 3:24 PM on July 26