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Coop

748 Audio Reviews w/ Response

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This piece starts a little too quietly, but finished strongly, so while I find myself fiddling with the volume control throughout, to get the balance right, I found myself enjoying the piece of music wholeheartedly. It's more modern classical, than the traditional, with some of the electronica sounds and effects added as an afterthought. Did you play the piano yourself?

Lyrics would be nice - I'm trying to decide whether or not to have it as the backing for a poem, or whether someone should be singing.

This field of green,
It lies before me.
Stretching out and away,
Beyond my vision.

What lies behind,
It doesn't matter.
I cannot change that,
Any more than you.

All I know,
Is that one step.
Takes me somewhere better;
Put your best foot forward.

A little off the cuff poem for you. Probably not the best I've ever written, but it's got a little significance for me at the moment. Still, that said, this piece needs to have the early volume sorted, to give a better balance and perhaps a bit more impetus. I'd suggest adding some strings in the background, as that would work really well, complimenting the piano that you've created so far.

[Review Request Club]

lantaren responds:

Yes, I did play piano myself. The volume was supposed to be like that, and I did in fact only make the song in a few hours, but I might be able to add strings, I'll see what I can do.

This piece reminds me of System of a Down. Mind you, since they are Armenian, there is a little cultural influence from around that area of the world, I suppose.

A lovely blend of pace, with the various instruments. I may not be the world's biggest fan of the "metal" guitars over the top of the track, as it just seemed to detract from the qualities presented by the rest of the instruments and indeed the vocals altogether.

The piece is bossed by the Baglama saz and the way that the vocals blend nicely with that really sets the tone, leaving the bass and electric guitar to bring the piece a little modern twist. Perhaps a little light percussion could be encouraged into the piece, giving some other dynamic to the track, supporting the piece as a whole?

This is the sort of thing that contests are made for - something unusual, that can leap out of the website, for the viewing public and also the judging panel. I hope it does / did well.

[Review Request Club]

SoulSecure responds:

You're not the first one to say they don't like the distorted parts. Since my music is based in experimentalism you're going to find things that people think are weird or don't belong, like the scream at the end of The Pain. This being said, more than anything it is part of my vision as an artistic statement, contrasting the beauty we have these harsh things going on. It's influence was from Anatolian rock and Turkish metal bands. I actually couldn't write the vocals before I put that part in, because it puts in a dynamic that helps fill out the track and set the tone for that part. Plus, if you didn't notice, when that part ends the echoes of the distorted guitar are clean to show change. Some people want it to stay pretty, like you, but I want it to bare it's teeth a bit to show anger in sadness. So where you see detraction, I see compliment, depth and thought.

I'm not sure what you're talking about with the, "light percussion," bit. Send me a PM if you'd like to explain.

Thanks for the review!

A good entrance for a knight or feudal prince.

The celebrating crowds roar with approval, as the city gates are flung wide, the horse of the hero walking down the boulevard, taking in the plaudits on the approach to the palace and the Royal Reception, that will be bestowed. Colours are bright and airy, as the city and the surrounding territories know happiness and peace. But how long will it last?

The ending of the tune seems to bring with it darker portents, slowly and deliberately. Even those last few steps, when you fade out the fanfare and leave the kettle drums for a few beats seems as if something is not all well, just for that brief moment. I wonder...

The whole orchestra gets in on the act and it could have been longer, perhaps a minute or so, to that end. Given that there is so much of the orchestra packed into this, you need to consider fleshing out the length, to give each section a chance to shine through and strut their stuff. Scenes of this nature usually last longer than 2 minutes in the cinema, so why not throw caution to the wind and plug on for a little while longer?

[Review Request Club]

samulis responds:

You're completely right... I seriously need to try writing longer pieces again. Thanks for the review.

Seems unfinished.

I think that this piece sounds like a work in progress, as it's almost as if you're developing it to something else, but it's not quite there. I think that there is more to be done in the second half of the track through variation - the beat alone does not make a good track, particularly one as basic as this, so doing something to help would be nice.

Extend the track - go from this intro to the main track. Add some vocals and push the boundaries, making it more like a song,a s opposed to a bit of random backing music, which ends abruptly, without fulfilment.

[Review Request Club]

xxxZigZagxxx responds:

Thanks Coop for your review.

I see that you feel that my work seems unfinished. I'll try to improve on putting extra embellishments in there, especially in the melody side of things. This could probably be an intro to a main track, as you said. I like to keep things simple, however.

Thanks
ZigZag

A slow start, but something good comes of it. I think that once you've built up past the initial intro and it launches into the main fast paced combat style part of the track, it really does have a nice sound to it, particularly the xylophone sounding rolls and ripples in there.

Not having heard the original, I can't pass comment on that, but what I would say is that for a piece that sounds like it should be combat, due to the pace, it seemed a little short. Fading it out at the end was a nice touch and I feel that there is something else for the track to give, perhaps a little more in the variation, but also in the dramatic style - this could reflect upon there being something greater to come in the combat (sorry, I'm stuck to a theme now), or a second wind, where it calms down, as if at the end, before launching in for another tirade.

Keep up the good work.

[Review Request Club]

KrisKrosNL responds:

I know where you getting at.

I've been thinking lately about how to organise the extended version. Maybe your opinion could be used.

Thanks for the review.

Good driving beat and a nice selection of melody, but overall the piece is too short, with the variation obscured slightly by the overpowering bass beat.

I love the quiet, calm (yet pacy) intro. It gives some urgency to the piece, in a controlled way, that leaves a nice platform to progress with. From there, you build up the melody and then bring the bass back on top of it. Toning that down slightly would give the track more balance and allow the piece to have a much better sound, as the melody can be heard - complimented by the bass, not the other way around.

Making the piece longer and throwing in more variation would make it more worthy of being included in something like a WipEout game, as they use similar sounding tracks to accompany the racing.

[Review Request Club]

Hikari responds:

Coop your awesome. Im sorry I havent gotten to commenting back but thats because all I could say is thank you.

A good buildup, with some nice use of the variety of instruments. Sure, the piece could seem a little short, but I feel that you've got the key components in place. Just build on what you have and make it longer, perhaps adding bit more of a prominent bass beat, combined with a few other variations, to keep the punters interested.

Essentially, you want to do this, without giving the impression that you're dragging it out. The winter sound that you've used at the end of the track is fantastic and to hear it lead into something else would be great - you've given yourself the springboard to lead on with that, so carry on with what you have and improve from there.

Still a piece in development, I feel, but there is certainly something that you can take from this, to help you move on and create a much better piece from it all.

[Review Request Club]

tay2von responds:

Thanks Very much... I see exactly what youre saying,, Im working on the bass right now making it more crisp and blending.. And that sound you like at the end, im going to reverse that and put that at the beginning. Thanks bro

A good ambience, but something is missing.

I think that there is room for manoeuvre here and to make this piece all that it could be, you need to add some sort of a beat - use some of this as an intro and actually make the blast hit - the name does not seem to gel with the sound that you've produced. I can see various bits that can be done, like bringing in a more powerful melody, to this relatively dark and mysterious sound that comprises the track now. A little extra and it's in business, like a chick hatching from an egg, it needs a little more encouragement to come completely out of the shell, but it's on the right track.

A positive melody may not be the answer, but something more powerful and "singing" might be what you're looking for - this you could build on with the darker side of things and allow yourself to give us a little more.

[Review Request Club]

SerPounce responds:

Thanks Coop, I'll keep that in mind, and I'll add some vocals to my next work, as long as I can make them fit. I'll put some work into an intro, too.

Subtle blend of bass, piano, drums and synths, that seems to work very well together. I think that it builds up at a good speed and the combination of the instruments and balance of the piece overall is very good, satisfying the ear, without overpowering the listener.

The early salvos, dominated by the piano, leaves a fantastic feeling throughout and as the drums get added in, I was actually expecting a little more from this range, which can give a much more profound impression, though you reigned them in - perhaps a little too much, if I'm totally honest. The whole feel is initially light and airy, perhaps with a sense of urgency, due to the tempo and the additional synths, which make it sound a tad futuristic.

In the middle, when the piano builds back up (at around the 1.30 mark), there was a little sound of the notes "topping out" and giving a spot of static feedback, which needs attending to. After that part, the track takes a more futuristic turn, the synths becoming even more aggressive and leaving us with a sound that starts to drown out the piano ever so slightly. I'd combat that, by making the piano more powerful and singing above the choir, almost against it in triplicate contrasting harmony (piano, synth, percussion). This could provide a much more enjoyable experience, as the piano is a powerful instrument that can dominate, so it should be allowed to.

[Review Request Club]

Adjeye responds:

It was my purpose to let the piano get overthrown for the little chaos effect. I even replaced the piano for another instrument after 3:12. By overtrowing the piano before that with another instrument, I got a perfect transition :P. But yeah I still need to learn a lot :P

A little long-winded, but still decent work. I'm not sure that I can cope with this the way this drives like hardcore Techno from 1990s raves. Stopping in the middle, as if beginning a new track was a major hang-up for me and I felt that you should have either stopped the piece there, or reduced the pause to that, as opposed to a full-blown stop in the proceedings.

The pace is frantic and messing with the distorted sounds doesn't do anything for me, though I can see how this would appeal to the target audience, with the high pitched synths in the second part of the track. Work on that and perhaps add a little more variation in there, because as an old user having to deal with you kids and their tastes these days, I get kind of bored by it all.

Still, the overall presence demonstrated is pleasing to someone considering the target market, so I guess that means you've done a good job.

[Review Request Club]

Dj-GST responds:

Thanks for the review.

This track was actually highly influenced by the oldskool sound, so I am glad to hear it sounds like one. I don't hear where it stops, if you're talking about where the lead arp comes in, that was for effect.

Yeah, this style isn't for everybody. I'm going to be making something a little less out there with my next track.

Well, thanks then, hopefully you will like my next track more, I really appreciate your honesty!

3S

You know, I stopped shaving to think of something to write here. That worked out well.

Will Cooper @Coop

Age 40, Male

Author / NG Mod

Old Skool

Vancouver, CANADA

Joined on 4/28/04

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