Forum EP01 - VA [TF Recordings]

[Narel]

Decent release, can put any of these on and have a good time. Sunda has a good feel to it, like the darker mood. Narel's I like but would have preferred if the main hook was just for build and climax, but disappeared for the drop as its a very forward melody that can feel a smidge repetitive. But the groove of that track is very welcomed. More high energy Narel please, I love the groove you have. Trancefixed sound wise is fantastic but I was never into this kind of happy whimsical trance so have to be in the mood. Midian track has great energy, I am undecided about the melody, but could easily grow.

Noted. Thanks man, this is a considered review. The genesis of this track is principally that I'm 42 . I miss the trance I first found in 95-96 that had relatively simple, clear and memorable melodies and hooks. I didn’t intentionally set out to make exactly that but my brain leans that with trance, so that’s what eventuated. In that vein, majority of the track is built on an Access Virus B (1999) (bassline & the controversial hook), Roland JP8000 (1996/7) (pads and FX) and a Nord Lead 3 (2001) (lead riff). This meant it was a pain in the tw@t to make. Though I do feature these old machines on many of my tracks.
I am personally very proud of this track. Solarstone playing it is a high point, but in demo form it also led to me signing a subsequent track to Borderline, even though Rob didn’t want this one. Then there’s the love for it on this forum.
I honestly can’t see me making anything like it for a while though.
I would like to revisit my original version of ‘Facing South’ which Facade and I turned into a collab years back. The original lends itself towards this style and, importantly, Proxoz records who released the collab shut down so Ad and I have all the rights back.

 

[HTY]

First run through is good. Might share my thoughts after some further listens.

 

[Exodom]

Transfixed is a superb. Reminds me of a track from Airscape that I can’t remember the name of right now. Requiem is really good too. Love this.

 

[Dmoore]

Dope music dudes, all of them. We need more music like this flowing about the scene. Dig what you guys have done so far with your label. I would like to see Enigma State appear one of these days, also The Digital Blonde.

 

[Contraband]

Trancefixed is a nice nostalgic summer choon, I could do without the extra cheese inclusions, but whatever it's still sick. Sunda remix is a good one, was expecting more of a developed melody to appear, more akin to the original, but again it's decent.

 

[Sleepy Robot]

Enjoying all tracks here. Congrats with this new release!

Honoured to be a part of this amongst these 3 other very talented artists! Definately worth dusting off the 'Midian' project for!

I like how it gives of a darker vibe yet stays uplifting.

 

[Motion]

Good work, from everyone involved in this release. Each track has something nice to offer, although Trancefixed is my favorite.

 

[Archon]

Seems as if every track is someone's favourite here, that's great to hear. It's the magic of this kind of EPs. On the one hand, it's always harder to compile the tracks and package them into one release, plus we could've just as easily "pumped" out 3-4 singles in the space of a few weeks to appear more consistent with the release schedule. But it's all worth it for me, to see the support the entire release gets.

Enjoy it, everyone. It's made by you, for you. We just do the administrative, boring stuff 'round here.

 

[No Return]

There not going to make my top 10, but I put this at the same standard as a borderline release, but with more diversity in the sounds - that's a big plus for me. I miss releases from back in the day where you got a mixed bag of sounds. Its more exciting. All solid tracks for what they are.

 

[Bobby Summa]

Fantastic E.P. So good to have Narel & Sunda releasing with TF-R along with our renowned household talents. The future’s looking bright.

 

[sszecret]

Played them from first to last, from last to first, and some other ways in-between. I like all of them, but each for different reasons.

Really like @Narel 's Cut My Dreams, and glad to see it's finally released. Mustn't forget to mention the music-making phantom too ofc, @facade1984 . Don't want to risk getting haunted.

The rain / thunder sounds in Requiem are a very nice touch. Probably the track I like most off the EP. Surprisingly so, as it didn't click with me for the first few listens.

Trancefixed I like, though perhaps not as much as everybody else. That sample at around 1:50 I know I've heard before, but I'm having a senior moment and can't for the life of me remember where. Señor cltr+alt+ @Julian Del Agranda care to point me in the right direction?

The Sunda remix I also like, thought I'm not the biggest fan of the way the build resolves (for lack of a better phrasing coming to mind right now).

Finally, the mostly monochrome cover works very well for this. Similar tones to Echoes of You (TF.R02), though higher contrast. Kept trying to see a logo of some sort in the middle - still unsure if I'm supposed to -, but that aside, the kind of color halftone pattern breaks up the image nicely.

 

[facade1984]

Thank you. You know it wouldn't hurt you people to acknowledge my efforts every once in a while

 

[Julian Del Agranda]

care to point me in the right direction?

Binary finary?

 

[sszecret]

Binary finary?

Of course it had to be something obvious, lol. Cheers, can finally sleep at night.

 

[SaltAcidFatHeatAcid]

Great EP, hit it a few times, this mornin's listen reminded me to comment on here. For me @Narel 's Cut My Dreams is the tops for sure. It has such a killer slow build, up to a main melody that I can't get out my head right now. I've seen some comments on here that it can be seen as repetitive, but to me the synth lines are developing and changing subtly the whole time, like a flower opening. That's something that I don't see too often in tracks like this, and it adds to how much a dive in to a track noticing those subtle changes. Still hard to believe this one didn't get signed to Pure, but stoked to see it here (it's better than anything I've heard on Pure in ages).

 

[Jetflag]

Thank you. You know it wouldn't hurt you people to acknowledge my efforts every once in a while

 

[Narel]

Great EP, hit it a few times, this mornin's listen reminded me to comment on here. For me @Narel 's Cut My Dreams is the tops for sure. It has such a killer slow build, up to a main melody that I can't get out my head right now. I've seen some comments on here that it can be seen as repetitive, but to me the synth lines are developing and changing subtly the whole time, like a flower opening. That's something that I don't see too often in tracks like this, and it adds to how much a dive in to a track noticing those subtle changes. Still hard to believe this one didn't get signed to Pure, but stoked to see it here (it's better than anything I've heard on Pure in ages).

Thanks man : )
There are indeed modulations all over the lead and the twangy hook. The lead melody came out of nowhere really but it did take me a few weeks to build it into what it became, but on the day it came together I reckon it was done in about 10 mins. Then the challenge was getting the Nord Lead 3 to behave itself while it played through. Initially the slight portamento was dialled in using pitch mod, but that kept getting tourettes, so I re-did it using the global porta and then setting the overlap on the midi notes - with quantize off to get it right. That was as painful as it sounds, but that lead was worth it. Screenshot of the lead midi is below.

 

[Sleepy Robot]

When will it come to Spotify e.a.?

 

[facade1984]

Thanks man : )
There are indeed modulations all over the lead and the twangy hook. The lead melody came out of nowhere really but it did take me a few weeks to build it into what it became, but on the day it came together I reckon it was done in about 10 mins. Then the challenge was getting the Nord Lead 3 to behave itself while it played through. Initially the slight portamento was dialled in using pitch mod, but that kept getting tourettes, so I re-did it using the global porta and then setting the overlap on the midi notes - with quantize off to get it right. That was as painful as it sounds, but that lead was worth it. Screenshot of the lead midi is below.View attachment 2154

nobody would ever believe you made that yourself. idiot

 

[Narel]

nobody would ever believe you made that yourself. idiot

Your mum did when I played it to her after giving her one up the wrongun