This sounds fairly good, but there are a few things that feel like it would make it alot better to me.
Most of what I am talking about refers to the slower part of the song.
~Where it has the almost egyptian tune in the backround, I would bring that out over the drum loop, also, DEFINATELY add some stringed cords in behind the tune, it adds alot of effect if you know what I mean. Also, more instrumentation all together. There is a slight lack of just plain substance.
I really like when it mixes the previous Egyptian tune with the faster paced drum pattern, but like I said, it needs a few more instruments thrown into it. Strings definately for the first part, as for the rest of the song, just little backup melodies to help the song along.
I am a big fan for the Egyptian type beats ^^.~
~Don't quit, and keep working at it (I am trying to figure out how to work music compisition really well too)~
Boy oh boy, you like to harp on the fact I like to stick to certain instrument sets, don't you? Hahaha, it's cool. I did this a couple of years back, so don't bust my chops too much, besides, I'm proud of this one.
I agree with deflektors thoughts on the beat, being that maybe it needed to be slightly lower pitched, although I do not think it is toooo loud, maybe just a sliver less. I think it is good that it is kind of loud just because it sounds like the beat would make it very sutible for the game you are putting it in.
Also, I do think that maybe a little more violin wouldn't hurt, maybe to help counter the lower strings.
I still love all of the mixing, it sounds like a very in depth and epic piece. Well done.
The piece was requested to be a deep, dark, ruthless piece, and though normally I would fully agree with you, if I threw in any more high ended melodies it would begin to lose it's somewhat unstable chaotic core (by unstable I don't mean the song itself, but the image it's trying to portray), though I do realize that having so much bass may have ended up being played badly on some earphones and speakers, i'm still hopeless with equalizing.
I also wanted more violin, I love the violin... *drool*... not as much as the cello though... *drool x 2*
The next piece is coming, i'm feeling a tad uninspired at the moment, that will change soon I hope!
I can't help but to notice the repeating of the phrase "Kill Yourself"
Although it sounds great in the songs, I can't help but to worry just a smidgen = ).
Most of the music I listen to on NG is classical, but you are an exception, for this industrial is great. It's quite ironic actually, one minute I'm listening to a slow, peaceful, classical song, the next, a song the repeats "kill yourself" and makes a demonic screaming throughout the song.
Love it all the more!
Keep it up.
Yeah - I wish I could send you the full sample... Man where the hell did I find that one. :) It's even better when it's not chopped up. It might have been off of C-SPAN or something.
Where would one, if one were searching for them, find full versions of these songs, completely hypothetical of course = ).
Hey, I really love your songs, sorry to hear you are so busy lately, but I can't get enough of these songs! Also, I want to put them on my Ipod, but if I do, I want the full versions of them, you know, don't want to love a song so much that I get....2/3's of it.
If it wouldn't be too much trouble, I would like the full versions of like......all of your songs that aren't full on NG, don't hassle yourself over it, but i would especially appreciate it on this song.
I'm finally going to review this song, and as a Christmas present none the less = ). Also, I'm going to try to make it the first song I put on my BRAND NEW I-pod!
I really have always loved this song, i listened to it the day it came out, and was in complete awe. It is just so beautiful, and gives you that same peace at mind that I described the characters to have in "Gazing at the Sunset"
The entire thing is just so simple and beautiful, much the opposite of "These games we Play"
I also love the fire crackling and cricket effect that you have molded into the song...or moreso, molded the song into..
This song is just SO beautiful man, I have no idea where you got the insperation for the song, nor if it matters, because the song portrays the emotion flawlessly.
I can just see this group of friends, much like the group in "Gazing at the Sunset" except here, it is not the sunset that they are gazing at, and not even the fire, but they are gazing into the very emotion that is thick in the night sky itself, with the smoke of the fire, not skewing the emotion, but enhancing the very feeling which they have flowing through them.
I also see it, as a silent improvision, nothing planned, but something done. They are opening their complete selves to eachother without fear, and giving one another flawless understanding for eachother, since they are doing the same.
If I could somehow make a little spot on this review like a tear drop on a heart felt letter, one of joy, and unbreakable peace, I would, for it is the most perfected PEACE of beauty I have ever heard.
I feel that this means alot to you, and therefore means alot to me, for in it lies the brotherhood!
Thank you Magi. I'm glad you found the piece moving, in truth you are right, this piece was something that I really enjoyed making and care deeply for. To date I don't think i've ever attempted something of this nature.
The image for this piece is much more then what the measely description box has allowed me to write, allow me to briefely detail you the full image, which was actually formed to me on the Test client of an online game i'm part of the staff of called Escalation Online.
In any case I was running around in the map, the map consists of these hills, some small, some large, with great arcs and spans of water, small rivers, puddles, large lakes riddled the base. I then imagined it being nighttime, and starting a fire.
The feeling was one of a lonely nature. It was in fact too lonely for me, so I created a fire near the top of one of these hills, a fire, shrubs and trees surrounding the fire pit, and brought in some more characters into this strange world.
I formed these characters with the mindset they are true and loyal friends. Having lived through so much turmoil in this desolate and abandoned world, their bonds were incredibly tight.
So with this in mind, how would that emotion be portrayed? I gave them the one strings instrument I felt could deliver this sense of loss and unity at once, and that happened to be the cello.
After that the rest is history, and is left completely up to interpretation, I have my image, and others have generously donated their own version, as have you, which I would like to thank by the way.
Once again I am glad you liked the piece, I am also glad it was the first song on your new shiny iPod, enjoy it well ^^. Thanks for the review!
Btw I forgot to mention some programs that you had asked for in an earlier review. You said you wanted to do classical and techno/industrial. For the techno/industrial I would say go with Fruity Studio's,that is what I am using, and the program was built with techno and other electronic productions in mind. The classical instruments you'll have to acquire through VST's (i'll tell you about them if you are unsure of what they are). The library files for them can be quite large (East West Symphonic Gold Orchestra, what I use currently, it 14 gigs in size), so yeah. There are some small useful gems and many great soundfonts i'll share with you in time as well.
This is awesome, really gets your adreneline pumping man. I could very much so see a tribe in this music, a warlike one, but it still has culture, culture that reflects war though.
I REALLY LOVE those strings. Wow, they are beautifully done in this one. I especially like then towards the middle when the choir also kicks in, where they have the 2 sixteenth note plus 1 eighth note beat going (at least i think thats the beat).
I also like the strings role in building climax and suspense throughout the piece.
The chimes near the end were a nice way to start the falling action of the piece.
Also, as a percussionist, love that echoing bass drum sound. The snare is also skillfully incorporated, but I really like that bass drum sound, makes it sound more tribe-like and war-like.
All in all, this song builds ALOT of suspense within the strings, which are supplemented by other parts like the bass drum.
My only negative (ok, not negative, but no super-praising and super positive by any means) comment is the very end of the song. Kind of sounds like you ran out of space to work with, or needed to end it quick.
This is just my opinion on one song.
Keep it up! Once again, what is this Tribal Wars! I must know! = )
the end WAS a tad abrupt. I ran out of time, and during this time I had many more ideas I wanted to try out, and because I don't know how to read/write musical notes yet, I couldn't just... write them down and come back to it later. I also have this thing where if I leave a song, I very rarely return to it, especially if I already released it, as the changes are usually minor, and not really worth bothering with.
The song's very SPINE was built off those drums. I made the bass drums and with that segment I sat down and thought of some strings to compliment it's energy. What came, came to be.
Don't feel like you have to hide your real thoughts, if you feel a part is not right, or would have liked to hear it different I would only be too happy to read it. After all no song is perfect, and no composer can reach perfection, therefore there is always something that can and will be improved.
In any case i've already told you about Tribal wars in a previous example, but like I said it's a browser based game, I played it for the polotics mostly. The Warm Wind of Avalon was the anthem for my tribe in World 1, and this one is for the number 1 tribe of that world period.
In any case, thank you for the review, i'm glad you liked it ^^. There was some serious equalizing issues with this piece, but it did teach me a few things so it was worth it.
I could definately see this as music for a tribe, a more peaceful one obviously = ).
I really like the small parts that were added, like the chimes, they added some effect.
Nice choir usage again. I also like the tune that is almost ongoing throughout the peace (pun intended ;), up until the last (tambourine?) shake. Seems like whenever the tambourine played, it signified a break in the tune.
I also like how that ongoing beat seems to be kind of a counter-melody or something to the flute part.
Man, this is just so nice, all of the melodies in this song just coexist so well, and combine in perfect harmony creating something beautiful!
I really like that.
Can't wait to see more pieces, and also, what is this Tribal Wars? A game? Anyway, I must check it out.
ah yes you noticed the constant flute melody did you? I decided it would be fun if I tried to make a whole song with that as it's backbone. It served as the lead at the beginning, and then purely as a form of counter melody from then onward!
Tribal Wars is a browser based game where you control a village, build it, wage war, kill or be killed. An entertaining pass time, but nothing more then that. I met some cool people there, and made this as an anthem for that tribe.
I'm glad you liked the piece Magi, thank you for the review ^^.
FIRST OFF, I'd like to say GREAT singing Lady_Arsenic, my compliments to you, it added ALOT to the song.
But yeah, this one was very well put together, if you know what I mean. Where all the verse changes are, and where the climax's are put.
Once again, love the strings. Also, nice placements for timpani rolls + cymbal crashes. I also like that catchy tune the strings are playing at the very end, that was nice. I mean, I really liked that tune.
Can't wait to hear more, good luck with your current work (whatever it may be).
you know I asked LadyArsenic to sing me a melody, and I didn't ask her to sing to tempo, and she sang the melody how she saw fit, which was luckily enough much better then what I had imagined in the first place. So I TORE up the beginning and built the song around her voice, so my friend the voice does not ADD to the song, in this case, it MADE the song. The last half with the synthesized choir and the such was the part after the original beginning, it suited this case rather well so I kept it.
I probably should upload the full version of this sometime.
Thanks again for the review and ongoing support Magi, i'm glad you enjoyed the track.
I remember back when I listened to Sorrow's music, and was like, hey who's this Rage guy, he almost completely copied sorrow's name! So i checked it out, and what do you know, I remember this and like 1 or 2 other songs being the only ones posted at the time.
That explains why I nearly forgot this (PLATINUM!) album.
I very much like the intro with the (sticato?) strings, and the timpani roll leading into the song.
Once again, with the beautiful choir effect to supplement to song, nicely done.
I also like that last chime = ).
Everything is just so well incorporated in this song, good debut track.
P.S. I see you keep mentioning working on techno, I can't wait to see it = ).
Thanks Magi, this piece is actually one that is born from some strange origin. I had started it at first to try and show a friend how to make stealthy, secretive music. Which were the segment of the sticcato strings at the beginning. However about half an hour in I realized that I didn't really want to make anything stealthly, slapped on some of the instruments i've always wanted to use but never really got around to, and mixed 'n mixed :D.
It is also a piece I worked on quite a bit, I think it may be the longest ongoing project for me this one was, I forget how long exactly, but i'm pretty sure I didn't put that much effort into all the other pieces, though I should be, I simply can't stay at the same song without having another idea I simply must try out, or just plain don't see it going anywhere.
Thank you for the review and ongoing support, i'm glad you liked this piece. It's been a long while indeed, this was my first gold and first platinum on this account, my first song I made on my new computer, and first song to use East West.
I very much like the intro to this song. I am not sure what that drum is, sounds like some sort of an echoed muted bass drum, but I definatly like it's effect to the piece.
Other then that, I like the trumpet part as well, and the part after the trumpet intro with all the strings (the slow part, or so it sounds).
Although, to be honest, I don't think this is your best work, It is still way over what most artists give out.
P.S. I can't wait till your next song comes out. (still saving up creativity for "Brotherhood" review). And, what music programs do you suggest me getting, and how should I go about getting them. (I'm into classical, techno, and some industrial).
indeed this piece holds a great place in my heart for a few reasons.
1)This piece was not built with ANYBODY but myself in mind. I wanted to try out many things and melodies I was too afraid were not good enough, or descriptive enough to entertain other listeners. So whatever melody I thought was neat, and of course there was SOME form of filtering, I didn't want pure crap, I put on there.
2) Instruments I strayed from too often because I was unsure of their power, I PURPOSELLY put in without any exceptions. These are not muted bass snares, but a form of varied snares, and there is one heavily reverbed kick in the background.
The solo trumpet
The Bassoon
Solo Cello
All instruments I never bothered looking at, and now I know better.
Well okay 2 reasons mostly. But reasons none the less. So this piece wasn't meant to really fill anybody with any strong emotion, but I wanted to let everybody know that there is always room to experiment, there is room to fail. There are so many excellent artists around who are caught up with the fear that if they fail, or make something unsatisfactory they will be forgotten, turned away, and are generally afraid to be pointed out in their errors.
Well for them, here it is, my own personal set up, many claim it is my failure, but for me, I claim it my stepping stone to somewhere much bigger!
Sorry for the rant, thank you for the review, i'm glad you enjoyed it ^^.
Aramaic Rain