This is my first foray into the Ambient genre, and it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Over the weekend, I recorded six songs, all ‘live’ (no overdubs, pre-programmed sequences, etc). I just fired up some sounds, and tweaked knobs and switches here and there…it’s pretty much your average synth soundscape record. Everything captured here is the first take, there were no ‘do-overs’. I’m pleased with the final result, but definitely want to venture into more complex (and melodic) recordings down the road. My influences include Steve Roach, Thom Brennan, Brian Eno, Vidna Obmana, IXOHOXI, Vangelis (Blade Runner), and Tangerine Dream.[/font]
The download pack includes printable art (slimline), and the mp3s are encoded at 320 kbps (lossless available by request). As always, I appreciate the feedback here, good or bad. Hope you enjoy it…
Listened to first two tracks, will finish the rest and leave
feedback on that later. Excellent work first of all, Final Sunrise is a great opening track that perfectly captures the mood of people watching the sun rise for the final time in a violent haze of reds and yellows as they wonder how the final day on earth will be. Reflections is an awesome second track as the people ponder how this happened, their regrets, things left unsaid, etc. and how time is coming to an end. This music is perfect ‘escape’ music when reality needs to be put on hold for a while. I could fall into a trance and dream away here easily. The album title fits perfectly, as everything and everyone is slipping away. Anyway, that’s my visual interpretation so far. In short, awesome work.
Downloaded it, I’ll throw it on the next time I’m in the mood for ambient and give you some feedback… gotta be in the mood for ambient though to appreciate it.
I could be ‘wow, this is amazing’ and full of shit. I know some people do this in the hope they get people saying the same thing about their crap. But, I’d rather give you an honest opinion, and constructive criticism if you have time for it.
It definitely had it’s moments. I liked a lot of the synth textures. This is the sort of stuff I’d smoke a lot of weed to, or better yet, study to.
I’d be interested to know what synth you were using.
What it could use are more lower tones. A lot of ambient doesn’t do this, and admittedly, I am a sucker for all things low and slow, but some more of it would be ideal. There were flashes of it, and I dug it when it happened.
I think it could also use a little more space in the music. I can’t recall one part where there was a little bit of silence, or ‘quietness’. This would be a good way of breaking it up a little. I found it got a little repetitive at times without it.
Overall, it was generally good. Relaxing, and great ‘bong out’ music… whether or not you intended it for that. Will certainly sample it and tell you how I go when I get a spare minute!
This might interest you; being synaesthetic, I saw a shitload of light and deep pinks, pale purples, oranges and some blue and yellow occasionally. On account of this, I reiterate, it was good.
Thanks for the feedback, everyone, I really do appreciate it.
Evil Dildo, I actually agree with everything you said. I think the constant sounds and lack of variation mostly stemmed from me just winging it on the live recordings, and trying to keep the composition moving. I would definitely like to create some new material that has more a little more space in the ‘melodies’, and more dynamic changes. Same goes for the low freq’s, I think it’s Vapor Dream that has some decent lows in it, but the others are definitely lacking in that department. I’m going to spend a little more time on the next one, flesh out some ideas before recording, and do a little ‘addition by subtraction’. I’m still really happy with how this came out, for what it is. It’s actually a little on the ‘intense’ side (Destroy Light) for what should be a ‘relaxing’ album. …but thank you, I do value your feedback.
Ah, I had a feeling it was a Korg. I’ve got a Korg O1/W from waaaay back, yet it would seem they’ve kept some of their patches… I don’t know, some of those sounds were pleasantly familiar. I don’t know about anyone else out there, but I’m pretty adamant every brand of synth has it’s own ‘sound’. If you know yer shit, you’ll pick up on the difference between Korg and Roland patches, etc.
I listened to this about three times over, and you’re right. It IS intense for a “chill-out” project. Especially “Destroy Light,” my personal favorite of the bunch. It’s always walking this line between calming and outright threatening that makes me… I dunno, TINGLE.
MOTIV is like the most bipolar lover ever. It calms, soothes, caresses, and then whispers into your ear that it’s going to strangle you in your sleep.
Ah, I had a feeling it was a Korg. I’ve got a Korg O1/W from waaaay back, yet it would seem they’ve kept some of their patches… I don’t know, some of those sounds were pleasantly familiar. I don’t know about anyone else out there, but I’m pretty adamant every brand of synth has it’s own ‘sound’. If you know yer shit, you’ll pick up on the difference between Korg and Roland patches, etc.
O1/W - nice. Yeah, the Triton Ex does sport some sounds from the M1’s synth engine, like the Universe Chorus and M1 Piano, among others. That said, I’d like to eventually own an actual M1. I passed on one back in 1991, and purchased an Ensoniq EPS16+. Not a smart decision at the time. I know what you mean about hearing the differences in sounds between brands. I actually hear Roland’s popular breathy pad on a few of my Triton sounds, but it must be a clone. I owned a DX-7 FDII for a while, but that synth was a bitch to edit. I think the most fun I had on that was playing around with the familiar sounds that 242 used back on their 80’s albums (namely the Until Death lead, and a bass sound they used many times). I’ve since sold the DX-7 and the EPS16, I’m not the type to build up a huge collection of gear. Erm, I’m rambling now.
I like it… very chill ambient with a very retro-analog synth feel, can definitely hear the Vangelis and Tangerine influence. Very impressive for it all being first-take material.
As dildo said, kind of lacking in the low end. I feel as if some of the material, especially “destroy light” could benefit from some low end rumbling. Right now it’s barely kicking my sub-woofer at all. Still an overall enjoyable effort.
O1/W - nice. Yeah, the Triton Ex does sport some sounds from the M1’s synth engine, like the Universe Chorus and M1 Piano, among others. That said, I’d like to eventually own an actual M1. I passed on one back in 1991, and purchased an Ensoniq EPS16+. Not a smart decision at the time. I know what you mean about hearing the differences in sounds between brands. I actually hear Roland’s popular breathy pad on a few of my Triton sounds, but it must be a clone. I owned a DX-7 FDII for a while, but that synth was a bitch to edit. I think the most fun I had on that was playing around with the familiar sounds that 242 used back on their 80’s albums (namely the Until Death lead, and a bass sound they used many times). I’ve since sold the DX-7 and the EPS16, I’m not the type to build up a huge collection of gear. Erm, I’m rambling now.
I think that’s what I’ve always liked about Korg’s in comparison to the Roland’s; they seem to be a little more user friendly in general. I’m not one who’s inclined to spend hours pressing buttons and changing values when I could just go and do it without fucking about. Roland’s are perfectly nice though, but they just seem to entail more fucking about.
Personally, I’d skip the M1 for an 01/Wfd if I were you… those floppy drives are surprisingly useful. Though, I can’t say I’m a synth expert to be honest.
Speaking of such things, I recently ran into a problem with mine; all of a sudden, it’s popping up saying ‘internal battery low’ and wipes everything, so I have to keep reloading the floppy drive. Any idea what gives? [:(]
Yep, it’s time to change the internal battery! You got a very good life out of it, if it’s the original. I’ve been told that synth batteries usually make it 10-15 years, depending on frequency of usage. My EPS16 made it 15 before I sold it, and was still doing fine.
