Sebastian Brandt & Peter Steele - Singularity [RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT]

Mikey

Senior Member
Jul 15, 2020
323 Posts
195 Thanked
Grown on me this. Also agree that it sounds Activa-ish, but I'm liking it :)
 

Freezer

Elite Member
Sep 13, 2020
1,194 Posts
593 Thanked
Yeah still groving, definitely one of the better productions lately :)
 

Daysleeper

Lost in Trancelation
Jul 13, 2020
2,495 Posts
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Sweden
I feel like i have to take back SOME of my critique against this becaue its a tune i would come back to, yes.

The pluck isnt too explorative or so, but I like the rest of the tune. It just has a good approach with a bit of class and subtle qualites so I have to chime in with what TranceClassics said.
 
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aSeb

Senior Member
Jul 13, 2020
589 Posts
312 Thanked
Very cool tune. Love this style. Definitely reminds of Activa.
 

Tievb21

Member
Jul 14, 2020
170 Posts
143 Thanked
I really realy like it and as said above it's one of the tracks that grown on me. I supported it on bandcamp. (great to see more labels choosing Bandcamp as well)
 

Exodom

Senior Member
Oct 17, 2020
560 Posts
293 Thanked
Great melody and the operatic vocal is a nice touch. Hyper clean, maybe too much so? Nice track overall.
 

Manofearth

Senior Member
Sep 24, 2020
436 Posts
242 Thanked
Very modern crisp production, and for the style it does it nicely. Some warmth and floating aspects alongside the very clinical execution would have been a nice to hear.
 

Hensmon

Admin
TranceFix Crew
Jun 27, 2020
3,109 Posts
2,606 Thanked
UK
Sounds great. R&D label could be a nice addition to the scene.
 

A.Brindiss

Member
Jul 14, 2020
107 Posts
30 Thanked
MX
Really like It, was a nice journey with some quality production, one of my favs of the year
 

Daysleeper

Lost in Trancelation
Jul 13, 2020
2,495 Posts
1,713 Thanked
Sweden
This slowly got to be my tune of the year so far I think. Toooooooo bad the mainlead is a bit thin with pretty basic chord progression, but everything else is top really. Wouldnt say its a stunner though.

It really reminds me of some old tune (could it be cygnus x?) right from the bat with that bassline/subtle 303 rhytm. Anyone???
 
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dmgtz96

Elite Member
Jul 13, 2020
2,640 Posts
1,499 Thanked
Just realied I haven't commented on this, definitely going to check it out given the positive feedback.
R&D is a nice name for a trance label. Hopefully they can do some nice research & development to make good trance.
 

Archon

Gagi
TranceFix Crew
Jun 27, 2020
3,912 Posts
2,807 Thanked
Listened to this carefully on the earphones just to make sure I wasn't hating on this without purpose.

The verdict is...it's complicated.

It does have some degree of niceness and smoothness to it, I mean it is a quality production. There's no denying that. I can't even say it lacks something anymore, because I don't feel it was necessary to add more things to this particular production without changing what it is. That said, musically it's completely uninteresting and really goes nowhere in particular. It's just one of those tracks that sound nice but you won't ever remember them.

I just don't like the fact that we're judging a TOTY based on how polished it sounds, rather than what emotions it provokes in a listener. Because what really does these days?
 
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dmgtz96

Elite Member
Jul 13, 2020
2,640 Posts
1,499 Thanked
It's fine, but like @Gagi mentioned it really doesn't do much. I think it would sound better as part of a trance DJ set, like in Transmission
 

Daysleeper

Lost in Trancelation
Jul 13, 2020
2,495 Posts
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Sweden
I just don't like the fact that we're judging a TOTY based on how polished it sounds, rather than what emotions it provokes in a listener. Because what really does these days?
Thats how bad/good the scene is these days. I agree its not a good fit for TOTY really. Although this is a typical grower tune, I can sense it. Its not a tear-jerker or gettings-shivers trancer.

I actually like this one more than the Activa one as a whole.
 
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Daysleeper

Lost in Trancelation
Jul 13, 2020
2,495 Posts
1,713 Thanked
Sweden
bass line which sort of reminded me of VDM's Remix of Rising Star - Touch Me
Good call. Is this a VDM bassline ? because I recall ive heard almost the exact same pattern in another track. Just cant come up with it now!

It also remind me of the bassline in LN Movement - Golden Dessert, but theres ANOTHER one aswell that migt be even closer ;)
 
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Archon

Gagi
TranceFix Crew
Jun 27, 2020
3,912 Posts
2,807 Thanked
Thats how bad/good the scene is these days. I agree its not a good fit for TOTY really. Although this is a typical grower tune, I can sense it. Its not a tear-jerker or gettings-shivers trancer.

I actually like this one more than the Activa one as a whole.
That's why I sort of disagree with Activa's preferences for clean/polished tracks in the interview - I don't want to be looking for small details if the music itself doesn't resonate with me or makes me want to play it again at the very least. This one might be better than most though, I kinda feel like I'm being unfair, but I've listened to it an hour and a half ago, and I've completely forgotten what it sounds like. And for that very fact, it can't be a tune of the year for me...now.

On a side note, I don't really think you can judge a TOTY these days in the same year it was released. A year or more needs to pass before you can do that. Of all the tracks you consider for the prestigious title, there are some you will come back to, and others you won't.
 
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