Dad3353 Posted August 24, 2017 Share Posted August 24, 2017 (edited) I've got Stuff happening right now, and for the next week or so at least, so I'll get this in whilst I can. Here, then, is... [color=#800080][b]The Return Of 'Play Of The Day'..![/b][/color] In order of appearance... [quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1501782636' post='3347365'] I'm in... [url="https://soundcloud.com/gxmix/pyramids"]https://soundcloud.com/gxmix/pyramids[/url] Found inspiration from it quite easily & tried to take it from a camel rider's perspective. [/quote] [color=#800080][b]'Pyramids ', from xgsjx ...[/b][/color] Straight in with an oriental feel. The plaintif voice wails over a drone, until a 'wah' rhythm establishes a tempo, to be joined by a 'big beat' tub-thumping bass drum. There's a menacing grumble of bass in the background, and various arial pads floating around. The 'big beat' retires, leaving space for a soft, rocking bass riff and distant percussion; a sanctuary of calm. It couldn't last, the thumping resumes, the voice is more to the fore than ever. A joyous fiddle steps forward with authentic-sounding licks, bringing a touch of humanity into the electronica swirling around. A climax is built up, but cuts off, leaving simply the drone, the wah and, of course, the wailing chant reaching resolution just in time to fade into distant reverberation. A mix of cultures here, with the picture ably represented by the forceful vocals. There is modernism in the use of heavy disco, and an almost Gregorian, monochordal feel to the underlying harmonies. There is relief from the relentless, insistant pressure when the break arrives, with a more tunefully -present bass line, but it's back to the grind when the thumping picks up again. The fiddle is a nice touch, giving the ear welcome distraction from the unrelenting lamentation. It all ends neatly, almost tied with a bow. Good contruction, aptly fitted to the theme, and cleanly, faultlessly executed . Good Stuff. [quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1501813017' post='3347528'] Here's mine, too, equally inspired by the beast's progression ... [url="https://soundcloud.com/dad3353/inexorable-what-goes-up-must-come-down"]Inexorable (What goes up must come down...) ...[/url] Something of a tone poem, really, or atmospheric piece, rather than EDM. I was looking to create a sense of both the immediate and yet the eternal; the ephemera and the timeless. A touch of human in an insentient landscape, an incongruous passage past the immobile monuments. There's a couple of 'jokes' in there, too, in both the form (a pyramid waveform...) and the repeated rising and falling of both the 'melody' and the key; some may recognise the Circle of Fifths being once again abused. Incidentally, the scale used is not authentic Egyptian, despite its familiarity; it's really the Hungarian scale, which better serves my purposes, being symmetrical (the twelve semi-tones are spaced 1-3-1-2-1-3-1...), as is a pyramid..! Kontakt 'World Percussion' for the darbukas (playing in 7/4 and 4/4 time...), a Ruby acoustic bass, Kontakt Pearl piano, a snatch of Desert Song and some home-generated samples of oud snippets, all sanded down with some slightly complex desert winds, made up of three instances of the Wind module by Xoxos (Sounds Of Nature...). Thanks for listening, if you already have; if you're about to, enjoy. [/quote] [color=#800080][b]'Inexorable (What goes up must come down...) …', from Dad3353 ...[/b][/color] Wind (or is that water..? No, surely wind...), through which penetrates a plodding string bass and a derbuka. There's a rising and falling scale from a piano, and occasional interspersed phrases from an oud. As the scales themselves rise and fall, a plaintiff song wafts across the plain. The solid gait of the bass continues imperturbably, punctuated by the oud. The music plays, the caravan of one passes. The picture is complete. The few moments are glimpsed, then lost in the wind as eternity reclaims its space. As things ever were, so they ever shall be. [quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1502569714' post='3352283'] I went for what I think is quite an appropriate feel to match this month's pic. I approached it by thinking of a middle-eastern feel, which immediately made me think of The Fifth Element. I never got my Doom array into this one (aww shucks you all cry!) but I think the Epic Tech kit from Damage gave it a little bit of the feeling from the Diva Dance from the film. Feyron's Flute (a freebie instrument from here - [url="http://vstbuzz.com/freebies/feroyns-flute/"]http://vstbuzz.com/f.../feroyns-flute/[/url]) provides the melody. Synths are from Massive mostly and vocals from Ethera 2 and Ethera Soundscapes. The calabash and djembe percussion instruments come from West Africa from Komplete. [url="https://soundcloud.com/mornats/ta-seti"]https://soundcloud.com/mornats/ta-seti[/url] [/quote] [color=#800080][b]'Ta-Seti', from Mornats ...[/b][/color] A drone, a lone flute, suspense... A patter starts up with a splutter, with a grunting didgeridoo, followed by a haunting voice, playing against the flute. The pace seems to quicken, become more urgent... A solid shuffling beat imposes its presence, introducing slicing violins to join th growing throng... The heat wavers; a short pause. No respite, the beat comes back all the stronger, the flute is twinned in disonant harmony, complaining shrilly to no-one's ears in the wilderness. The throbbing violins bring the piece to the boil, only to relinquish hold and allow the flute and low percussion to have the final word. A fine evocation, taking us on a journey beyond the frame of the picture, landing us gently back to where we left, slightly wiser. [quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1503169883' post='3356239'] Ok then, for my sins I am in, there is a schpeil and the lyrics on the soundcloud , and when I get my new credit card through I will pay the subs on there , it seems only fair [url="https://soundcloud.com/lurksalot/es-a-giza-master"]https://soundcloud.c...s-a-giza-master[/url] enjoy [/quote] [color=#800080][b]'E's A Giza', from lurksalot ...[/b][/color] A slightly swung drum intro, an enthusiastic squeal and we're off at a modest rolling, hopping gait. Funky 'chic' guitars riff cleanly back and forth as the song proper starts up. Spoken, more than sung, the tale unfolds, and the band plays on. A decent rollicking bass line, sometimes less, sometimes more, underpinning the relentless rhythm guitar stoicly strumming away as the lead wails away, the drums plodding along. Altogether an honest backing to a well-constructed storyline, perfectly in harmony with this month's theme, culminating in one of the most darned-awful puns I've heard in many a Basschat Challenge. Full marks even for considering such a thing, let alone pulling it off. Horrendous; well done. To be continued... Edited August 25, 2017 by Dad3353 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted August 24, 2017 Author Share Posted August 24, 2017 (edited) Now then, where was I..? Ah yes ... [quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1503237733' post='3356598'] I'm in! Still all done in the box on the R24, not had the time to do the music AND learn how to use Reaper... [url="https://soundcloud.com/julian-moss-511168525/structure-devine"]https://soundcloud.c...tructure-devine[/url] [/quote] [color=#800080][b]'Structure Devine ', from MoonBaseAlpha ...[/b][/color] The clash of an authentic oriental cymbal announces the arrival of a complex effervescence bubbling away over a dramatic bass and strummed guitars, melting into a solid stride. A gentle slow drum beat marks the time for a guitar to solo over, while the bass takes on its more traditional role, accompanied by the strummed guitar. Another dose of the 'ol' bubbly', this time with the 'lead' guitar joining in, then back to the more sedate tones of the nylon guitar taking the fore. A break, or lull, returning us to the introductory 'clash' and a re-affirmation of the theme just in time to allow the bubbles to subside, and silence is restored. We're transported for these few brief minutes into a mysterious world, combining torment with calm, an opposite of sentiments quite in keeping with the contrasts of the picture. A good listen, soundly fashioned, well played with deceptively simple elegance. Nice; very nice. [quote name='alittlebitrobot' timestamp='1503409641' post='3357988'] Submitting as an also-ran [url="https://soundcloud.com/alittlebitrobot/senusret"]https://soundcloud.c...trobot/senusret[/url] I've been away from this site, among others, for a while. It's two years since I took part in the composition challenge. I'm happy to see it's still going strong but I. AM. RUSTY. I've named my track Senusret because if you've seen the pyramid of Senusret I, it's a good indicator of my attempt at building a pyramid here. My tracks always seem to come out so quiet. I really need to do some research on compression/limiting or something. If I set the waveform to [i]just [/i]below the point where it's clipping, it comes out quiet. Very frustrating. So this track is of no use to anybody listening on laptop speakers. [/quote] [color=#800080][b]'Senusret', from alittlebitrobot...[/b][/color] There's a very low background noise from the outset; was this recorded in a London Underground station..? An echoey guitar introduces the theme with a strong oriental perfume. A bass doubles the riff, but only for a second; the percussion starts up, the bass taking on a 'dubster' role as the guitar becomes bolder, swaying to each side rhythmically. A distant flute floats behind as the bass is left to fend (admirably...) for itself for a short while. The percussion creeps back in, along with the plaintiff guitar, until all share a protracted fadeout into the desert quiet, with not even a passing camel train to disturb the hush. Eminently expressive, the theme sits well with the picture. The execution is faultless, as is the mix; slightly puzzled by the into; is that an effect, a recording 'glitch' or my ears playing up again (the most likely scenario, I fear...)..? Jolly good, in any case; a worthy entry. [quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1503498487' post='3358739'] My ramblings. [url="https://soundcloud.com/garrycribb/nomadic-adventures"]https://soundcloud.c...adic-adventures[/url] [/quote] [color=#800080][b]'Nomadic Adventures', from lowdown ...[/b][/color] We're straight in to the Arabian Nights, with a wistful oriental clarinet and evocative strings. A discreet soft pattering of percussion adds another layer of Eastern promise. A drum kit brings a touch of modernity, but only a touch; the authenticity remains; the soft drums serve only to push the beat's pulse along. The clarinet holds the limelight with its slightly mournful melody, then retires, along with the rhythm, leaving space for a solo string spot; a calm oasis before the theme returns, shuffling forward, calling upon the desert air, with no reply. A thoughtful, deftly-constructed piece which does well in its short span to cover such wide ground. Bang on target for the theme, of course, with high quality execution and subtle choice of tones to convey the sentiments portrayed. Good Stuff is not high enough praise. If there are any late entries, I'll try to catch 'em as they fall; other than that... Give 'em all a listen, and vote for your choice once the voting's put up. Edited August 24, 2017 by Dad3353 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted August 24, 2017 Share Posted August 24, 2017 Good work Douglas, I've missed these pithy reviews. Just for clarification, the "nylon guitar" is my steel-strung Ami parlour guitar The authentic crashes are Paiste 18" thin China, 10 and 6" splash, all Sig series. Well spotted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted August 24, 2017 Author Share Posted August 24, 2017 [quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1503613985' post='3359776'] Good work Douglas, I've missed these pithy reviews. [color=#800080]Cheers; I've missed doin' 'em, too. Here's hoping I can keep it up. [/color] Just for clarification, the "nylon guitar" is my steel-strung Ami parlour guitar [color=#800080]Rats..! Cheated by the style of play again..! Darn these old ears..![/color] The authentic crashes are Paiste 18" thin China, 10 and 6" splash, all Sig series. Well spotted! [color=#800080]Well, I am a drummer (and long-time Paiste player/enthusiast, too..![/color] ). [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted August 28, 2017 Share Posted August 28, 2017 Nice work! Wasn't that keen on E's A Giza but I didn't dislike any of them, and as usual I'm astonished by how well-constructed they are. Evidently mellowing in my old age... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted August 28, 2017 Author Share Posted August 28, 2017 [quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1503951348' post='3361820']...mellowing in my old age... [/quote] Yes, I get that feeling, too. Thanks for reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurksalot Posted August 28, 2017 Share Posted August 28, 2017 Fantastic Dad , I really love your reviews, but more importantly, absolutely chuffed to bits that you are up to the job of doing them ......... .......even if you did use the word 'horrendous' about mine .......top review, I proper LOL'd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted August 28, 2017 Author Share Posted August 28, 2017 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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