WaterDamageScoreWIP (alternative i think)

[JellyAdotMeyer]

this should probably be under the work in progress thread but i find that thread to be a bit convoluted so here's what i've been doing for the past couple weeks. while i don't consider this finished i've been itching to share it with you guys. tell me what cha think. i want to change stuff and improve on what i have but i don't quite know where to take it. BTW the movie itself is by mdotstrange, called heart string marionette check it out, its awesome. my goal was to try and fit the mood of whats happening visually and use it as an excuse to get better at writing a bit more structurally or at least trying to plus trying to make harmonicas cool

[wipethatsound]

this is really cool! you listen to any flying lotus?
great production!

I cant really think of any criticisms or suggestions for this track, the harmonica idea is cool - I wonder what it would sound like pitch shifted down many octaves, filtered and used as a bro-step style bass (think of the modulation effects and stuff you can get just by bending/overblowing!)... are you playing the harp or sampling?

[JellyAdotMeyer]

i play the harp first and run it through some effects to sweeten the sound(eq to bring out the highs, chorus and then delay), the raw sound of the harp's kind of unlistenable. i usually look for part to sample out as well but i didn't do so that much in this track. i like the idea of using the harp as a bass, i'm gonna try it. strangely a pitch shifted harp sounds a lot like an oboe for some reason.

i see people tend to have a hard time critiquing my stuff since i'm not really following any genre but how does the drumming sound to everyone, im always afraid that they fall flat or the beats too repeditive/ are there any parts where you find yourself bored? does the track induce a sense of 'oh shit something bad is about to happen' ect. do the desperate elements work together?

[wipethatsound]

I guess they are both double reed instruments so it makes sense they sound similar...

I dont think the beats are too repetitive - probably the opposite - there is a lot going on and it sounds great! you have capture a pretty ominous vibe

[drmoody]

I was already under the impression that harmonicas were cool. Interesting work here. Makes me think of Mike Patton; you ever check out his work with Fantômas?

[JellyAdotMeyer]

Makes me think of Mike Patton; you ever check out his work with Fantômas?

not til now, i could get into his stuff tho, i was checking out the fantomas tracks, they're very creepy

[Darcey]

Alternative indeed... Creepy as hell, but I like it. I found the song to be rather slow (to interest me) at the beginning but when the harmonica jumped in I was hooked.... then the track just got freaky, video or no.

[JellyAdotMeyer]

then the track just got freaky, video or no.

=P

[kromodynamik]

I really like the intro. Subdued and creepy. Interesting build up... I like the phase/chop effect. Scream at :50 is nice. I really like how the track is building. Breakdown at 1:20... solid. Weird pianos coming in. Not a fan of the harmonica. Maybe it if were more detuned from everything else? Or maybe this is the effect you want...

Okay by 2:10 the harmonica is pretty cool... but I don't feel it goes with the beginning of the song. Maybe that's just me. 2:30 is nice and menacing again. Fighting with the harmonica is interesting. 3:00 feels slightly repetitive, but maybe only because the song has been so active until now. Nice at 3:26 with the bass dropping in. 3:35 drums are great. Harmonica seems out of place entirely by now to me. Breakdown-outro is cool. I thought the ending worked well with the song.

I don't know... it's a very well-put together song. The harmonica issue just might be my personal preference—maybe others will really dig it. I think it might be worthwhile to cut a second version with the harmonica replaced with something else, just to see how it fits. Otherwise, I don't have much I find wrong with the song. I also might do a little more with the scream vocals at the end... but I dunno maybe that's just nitpicky.

[JellyAdotMeyer]

here's the next iteration of this track, i'm really happy with the way its turning out, i might put a few more bells and whistles on it but next is the mastering, p.s. if anyone has any suggestions for how to even begin with mastering something like this i'd really appreciate it.

http://soundcloud.com/jellyadotmeyer/waterdamagescore
heres the audio only for anyone not interested in the vid

The harmonica issue just might be my personal preference—maybe others will really dig it

people seem to be kinda split on the harmonica thing, some seem to really like it and others hate which has me intrigued, it makes me think i should focus on it more in future tracks =)