Yo, Mr TWeed

Thanks for that software suggestion and it does look interesting. Only problem is that I don't have either of my two computers running Windows XP. Shame cos I'd try it out if I could run it.

"bass synth arp that introduces itself around 0:20...has a bit of a walking bass style"

Yes, it's pretty unusual in a rock track like this. I think it's quite behind the beat which is maybe why it seems like it's walking.

" extra fat distortion on the rhythm guitar (1:00)"

Yes - most of the track's guitar playing is actually recycled leftover resonator parts originally played with no distortion and then stuck through software amps. I'm quite proud of how I managed to use leftover stuff and layer it up and get it to work. So, I didn't do much actual rocking out on guitar here - it's very much a cut-up sampled job.

"1:45 I`m thinking the cool resonator guitar lines are more for effect than to relay a particular melody line"

I can hear quite a bit of melody there but maybe it takes a few listens to spot it. Again: more recycled old parts. I actually only have a cheap/mid-range resonator though have always wanted a proper ie expensive one. But they are really expensive so I just make do with a poorer tone and then put it through FX.

"3:45..I`m still enjoying this in spite of the fact that I want to hear some key changes or a progression"

There's lots of progression and changes in my music (maybe too many) but I'm sure you're talking about a key change, which I know you particularly love and do in every track. I'm still really bad at it and so don't do it too often.

"cleaner sounding guitar (5:45) that I like..perhaps because it seems more melodic."

Yeah, clean, funky little guitar part there that isn't necessarily in perfect time. Bass and drums underneath are nice too. A chillout, funky middle section before another onslaught of hard rocking returns, adding new riffs and progressions.

"the wav doesn`t have those flat ruler edges that symbolize death of dynamics"

I'm often quite happy with the look of my waveforms (I only really see them when uploading to Looperman) as I try to always have an interesting dynamic mix that is loud but not too loud. Lots of those dynamics are of course in the variations in playing and synth/drum programming. It's not just a mastering thing, as you know.

Thanks for the detailed thoughts.

Indeed - a fantastic song and a surprising collaboration. I think she is the only other singer to feature on a Son Of Dave track.

They should do a whole album together.

If you don't know who Martina Topley Bird is, she was the 15-year-old singer who featured on Tricky's breakthrough album Maxinquaye back in about 1995.

Here's an example track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm_q_JQZbBc

No problem. He's a real force of nature and I'm not sure there's anyone out there making music quite like his. He's surprisingly good live considering he has a very minimal setup. I've met him a couple of times as well though he was a bit odd and unresponsive.

He can also come up with some pretty damn cool catchy songs, such as this one, featuring the rather good Martina Topley Bird:

Son of Dave - Devil Take My Soul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0bLlRx7b_M

In an alternative universe, that could easily be a No 1 hit.

Damn, this guy knows how to groove:

SON OF DAVE - Old Times Were Good Times

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEYm9OoOD4U&list=PLWf5KX9HxkuuiCcjBraKxS2lL7yDbPGBm

Take care as well...

Yo, RoadMan.

Good to hear you grooved to this distorted beast.

Yeah, some of the slide might be a little like Seasick Steve. I actually went to a gig and hung out with him about 8 years ago before he hit the bigtime (still very surprising for an old blues artist). He was the support act but is now way more popular than the guy he was supporting, who is actually much better. A looping, beatboxing harmonica one man band called Son Of Dave. Check him out:

Son of Dave - Hellhound (Live on Later with Jools Holland)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BeTZihJTus

"It loses me a bit around the 4:00 mark"

I think it might be that you're a little bored by then as I'm continuing a vibe that's been going on for a while. Fair enough but I found things didn't feel right if I ended them 8 or so bars earlier.

"drop afterwards 4:48 brings it back nicely"

Yes, that's when I bring in the only proper bass guitar riff in the whole track. Otherwise, its all sub bass synth.

Thanks again.

Yo.

The reso-magician reporting for replying duties, sir.

Rocking is certainly the aim here though I also just can't help adding some chillout vibes to pretty much everything I do. I think that's partly because I always strip every track down to its simple, core, sparse elements (and then, clearly, build it the fuck back up) which tends to lend itself to nice chilling and beauty.

"apaco-tars"

Dunno what that is but I know you're talking about the timestretched guit fiddle, which is a wonderful sound. Here's the free software I use for that (sadly, not a plugin):

http://hypermammut.sourceforge.net/paulstretch/

Download that and have a go as you could make great use of that vibe in your music. So, take any part (eg Shreddage guitar) and try slowing it down by 4, 8 or 16 times. You'll lose the groove (cos the notes are so far apart) but what you get will definitely work in some way when you stick it back in the track as it's all the right notes.

I had leftover parts of this track which I'm currently fairly successfully chainsmoking into a new, mega heavy, beautiful epic. Might be the greatest heavy track I've ever made if I get it right. I've done the unusual thing of sticking beautiful, chillout guitar parts over the top of dirty, low, chugging guit fiddle riffage. And the timestretched guitars also add a real choir-like effect in the background. Metal Machine is the main kit, as is the case here (for the heavy parts eg starting 0:37)

I agree that the stretchy gs should perhaps be extended (stretched further?) and I'm tempted to go back and do just that.

Yes, this might be Texas Roadhouse blues in the intro, not that I'm quite sure what that is. Maybe ZZ Top? That Texan Neomporhin' Bro would surely have an opinion as I know he's a big fan of theirs.

"The guit-fiddle lead starting at 6:13 is very pleasing"

Yeah, that's total killer and works so well with the synth bass arp underneath. I'm so pleased that simply adding distortion to a guitar part that had been playing for a while completely transformed it.

"my brain is only firing on 7 cylinders"

Try applying some valve oil. It's not only useful for applying to The Evanator's Bass Hole.

As always, return and leave other thoughts if you feel like it (after lubricating your neurocylinders).

Over and temporarily out.

OK, I see what you mean about Keith Jarrett and country music. Definitely not my preferred type of music.

I understand now what you meant about the volume problem you had. I guess you always have to be prepared for totally different types of music when clicking on different tracks on Looperman and have to adjust how you listen.

Take care.

Hi.

I have no idea what "Bum bum da dum bum bum da dummmmmmmm" means. Probably something, I guess. Maybe that's you singing one of the riffs. If not, I really don't know.

"Quite a long song, but deserving of the length."

I have many longer tracks though I have had a lot of success in the last year or so of making them a bit shorter than I used to. My average track length in 2015 is just under 9 mins.

"deserving of the length"

is absolutely the most important thing. I've heard loads of short-medium tracks that were just too short.

I could have added a shitload more riffs and parts to this one but have saved some of them for a much heavier track I'm working on right now.

Glad you liked it.

Hi.

I know this sort of music is a bit "alien" and unfamiliar to you as you have said before that you don't really listen to hard rock music, in any of its many forms.

"most chords here are major chords"

That was not intentional. Maybe I usually go for minor chords because I like things to be deeper and a little bit sadder and darker. I'm clearly not trying to make happy, catchy pop music.

"I can hear very prominent country roots"

Good point and I wondered if anyone would notice that. I don't know why that is but the country vibe is just coming from some particular slide guitar parts. I could feel the country in that collection of notes when playing them. But I do a lot of slide playing and it rarely sounds like county - usually more like blues (which I much prefer).

I though Keith Jarrett was mostly a jazz/fusion guy. Didn't know he had anything to do with country music.

I had a listen to Purcell's Trumpet Tune and I think I know what you mean. My track also has quite a triumphant, bright sound to it.

"there are too many levels and visions on music on Looperman and I am getting easily confused sometimes."

I'm not really sure what that means but not to worry.

Thanks for the feedback.

Mothafuckin' word up, my Caucasian-plated N word.

You were the first commenter to not make this a favourite. For that I damn you for all eternity. No, not really - "just sayin'", as the trendy phrase goes.

I did indeed get myself a Roar Stone. A Roaratorium would be nice and I would put in it a death metal singer and a lion and let them have a roar off, see who comes out on top. Actually, I'm not happy with this title. Too much like meaningless pun-based wordplay, even if it is an anagram of the main instrument in the track.

Serious sneer intro riffage was just what seemed like a bit of a weedy riff left sitting on my Cubase timeline from another track a few years ago. Adding distortion really brought it to life and then things developed when I added the unusual bass arp underneath. I know that's not really your sort of thing. I appreciate Led Zep but have never been an actual, regular listener. However, Black Dog, Kashmir and Immigrant Song are awesome songs.

"Slight riff change, same feel"

Yes, lots of little changes and edits because I'm just stretching out old resonator parts played in very different tracks. None of the original resonator playing is balls out rocking - that vibe has all been added using plugin distortion. Very pleased to give old, unused material a new purpose.

" Nice squalling in this part"

That's the end little bit of guitar with the delay turned up loads to make that part ease us into the pretty mean distorted bass synth riff.

3:12 I thought you might love that thick distortion.

"4:16 - Change of cymbalage"

Yes, moving from open hat to closed and adding a new "trash" drum kit. Also synth bass changes.

"4:48 to 5:09 - A needed transition"

Everyone else seems to love it but I appreciate your criticism as I'm not sure I've got the transition into it quite right. Nice, timestretched guitars though. Would be interesting if you liked them at the end but not in that breakdown.

"5:09 has a very "Hot Air Balloon" feel"

No idea what that means. That section has the only proper bass g riff in this.

I expected your fave riffage to be the 6:15 riff. That's the previous happy triplet guitar of merriment, now with added HyperNomadDrive.

"It's fuckin nice, man."

A bit of fuckin' niceness is an essential ingredient in a nice track bro. Glad you felt it, though I expected you might.

Hypnoculars is a cool title, even if it is just a bit of wordplay. Should be a hypnotic track enabling the listener to see for miles.

Get on that slide and unlock your inner Sliderman. He's in all of us, if we look hard enough.

Nomad, surprised to find himself reading out a tearful eulogy at The Evanator's funeral, following a tragic brush hogging accident.

Later, monkey masturbator.

Godly greetings, BS.

No idea if/why you're feeling trepidation but not to worry.

You've become a fine reviewer. It helps when you say more. I'm not just looking to hear whether someone liked a track or not. Detail helps me understand what I've made from other people's perspectives.

I do get some pretty realistic drum parts and they come, in every track, from Superior Drummer, which also loads all EZ Drummer kits (most of which I have steadily collected in the last couple of years).

I also use lots of drum loops (though none here) but that's more for particular flavour and feel. Drum loops tend to still be combined with more intricate and realistic programmed Superior kits.

All guitar in my tracks I play myself though I'm a massive cheat as I do shitloads of editing to get to the best bits. I'm a pretty lazy player and don't practise much so there are lots of mistakes and average bits in most recorded takes. Also unexpected moments of improvisational magic/luck.

1:30 lead is another recycled bit of lead, delayed slide playing.

" I feel like the beauty of the solo gets lost in the other sounds"

That would be because I've got a rhythm guitar part underneath. I tried not to make it clash with the lead but it's a heavily edited track so some things may be a little loose and messy.

2:25 synth seems to stand out to everyone so far. Good to know.

"syrupy feeling you achieved with the distorted guitar at 3:12."

Totally agree. Just plugin distortion that feels really warm. And the loud synth sub bass helps too.

"wide pads"

are timestretched resonator parts as there are no synth pads at all. You're in luck as you too can very soon make this sort of sound. Here's the free software I use (sadly, not a plugin):

http://hypermammut.sourceforge.net/paulstretch/

Stretched guitars at the end also done using Paul. Lovely sound that works especially well on slide guitar parts. Slide is already kind of stretching the notes.

Good to hear you liked the little funky triplet chill guitar at 5:31. Playing is a bit off in places but I couldn't replay it cos I've forgotten how.

I would make 3 min tracks but that length feels too short for my mind expanding style. If it's good, deep and interesting, I want it to go on for longer.

Congrats on your new BS track rating system and thanks again for your interesting and accurate detail.

Greetings, Mr Shuckers.

It has been quite a while. You may even be a teenager by now!

Good to hear you enjoyed this one so much. Perhaps the dance elements make it stand out a bit for you from other rock tracks. That was my aim. You know I make dance tracks as well as rock so good fun to combine the two.

"I really like that fat bass around 2:24"

Yeah, that's pretty cool and a nice way of breaking up all the guitar playing. Unless someone's a real virtuoso, I tend not to like instrumental tracks with guitar from start to finish. Good to let some other sounds take over, if only for a bit.

4:51 breakdown is another good example of that, even though it's all timestretched guitar parts in that section. But they sound so different and much more like some of ambient string/synth sound.

I never saw Firefly though I seem to recall people really liked it but it got cancelled after just one season. No idea if this track would suit it but thanks for the thought anyway.

Take good care of yourself, Mr S.

Hi Danke.

Yes, I am enjoying rocking hard here. I had a lot of extra riffs that I could have put in this one. But I am instead right now turning those riffs into a new, much heavier and darker track.

Opening riff sounded quite weak until I put it through some distortion. That was the beginning of the whole track. And then I just kept adding more and more recycled guitar parts - some probably played and recorded 5 years ago, or more.

"0.27: that high noted guitar"

That's me doing harmonics on my resonator guitar. A cool sound that is difficult to get right.

I'm really pleased with "6.15: solo" as that is not a new part. It's just the same triplet guitar playing from the section before but now through distortion to make it sound so powerful and interesting.

"6.45: riff"

is more triplet guitar playing. Not a bad riff but I prefer the one at 7:05.

Thanks for the thoughts and a handshake to you too.

Yo.

It has been quite a while since your Crumagnificence has graced the comments section of one of my tracks. So Crudos to you for stopping by.

"the synth bass gives us something else"

Yes, exactly. I'm not totally sure it fits but it is interesting and unusual and that's exactly what I pretty much demand from myself in every track I make. How many stoner rock bands would incorporate dance/dancey synth elements in one of their tracks? I can only think of one and they're a brilliant, obscure Dutch band called Astrosoniq. Check this shit out:

Astrosoniq - Quadrant(2009)[Full Album]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlMDF4zasH4

Anyway, that synth bass arp is used quite a bit in this track, most prominently at 2:14 plus some distortion etc. 6:14-6:47 it also adds something a bit different as it backs up the lead distorted resonator playing.

Drums are indeed a bangin' most of the time though 5:10 for a while they seem more laidback and funky. I thought that might be your fave section, with the triplet, clean guitar on top.

Always nice to upset your wife with some banging riffage. But you can calm her down with one of my chillout tracks if she can't take the intensity of these riffs of glory.

"4:50 you get all apocalyptic with your of sounds."

Yes, a little apocalyptic, with that huge sound. What you're hearing there is slide guitar parts 800% slower, which often adds a vocal-like quality to the sound. A bit incongruous having deep ambient in this banging track but I like to think it gives some unusual character.

No, the ambient end doesn't feature any synth - that's all guitar, even that 7:47 female sort of voice. That's just timestretched slide. Weird end result, eh? I'm half considering extending that ambient ending by 30 or so seconds as it seems too short and I could happily listen to it for much longer. It will be Promenade's favourite section and favourite sound in the track.

In terms of instrument playing, this wasn't really "balls out emotional release" but much more of a contrived sampling and processing job. Most of the guitar parts are clean (undistorted) resonator parts played whilst making other tracks, so not really rocking out at all. I just recycled these leftover parts and totally changed their vibe by adding dirty, yet smooth distortion.

See 6:15 as that killer distorted lead is just the gentle triplet playing from the previous section plus distortion, turning it into something wildly different.

"So what is the message here"

As always - nothing at all! It's just me having fun and trying to layer things up in interesting ways that I hope no one else has done before.

See you around, Mr Cru Dawg, and thanks for the thoughts.