Daniel Eboli´s "Sapiens Ludens"

Monday, November 30, 2009

Artist: Jerzy Kulik

Title: The Colours of the Autumn
Genre Classical / Soundtrack

It is wonderfull to me to reaçize that there are orchestral composers hiding out there.

I love classical music and I am a big fan of soundtracks.

Mr. Kulik says in one his webpages: "...In my youth I studied the classical guitar, but I prefer to compose an illustrative or film music.

My achievements are at the moment modest - little of the music to documentary films..."

This piece of composition here fits like a glove as background music for a documentary, in my opinion.

The author uses only computer, nothing is really played here but the sound is very nice.

Strings sounds very close to real ones.

Overall sound is great.

I cannot put it under any classical style. It is different than any orchestral pieces I´ve heard before.

For sure an unique style of composing.

Sometimes reminds me Mozart´s pieces, sometimes Mendelssohn. Do not ask me why, no particular reason.

If you like soundtrack orchestral pieces, this is for you.

Very nice

Artist: D Dash Flow

Title: I Will Die 4 You
Genre: HipHop

The last review I made here (Colin´s future past) was a tough one for me.

Here with D Dash we have a good example about a song that is not my taste at all but I can see good things on it.

I am not here just to judge what fits to my taste but to provide a honest review in the musical and technical aspect.

Technically it is not bad. It is not particular fantastic but everything is there. The sound is nice, bright and clear. You can hear everything and everything is well put, so to speak. The sounds choice of the instruments are nice. Not spectacular but nice.

The song begins with a nice female voice and an ambiental/orchestral like enviroment.

Soon the beat enters along with the voice.

What to say about the vocal performance?

Well I do not like it. It appears to me that the vocalist is too shy, afraid of the microphone. This is my first impression.

Breeding is also something that I can perceive. It is bad. The vocalist is not breeding properly. First step to be a good singer is to know how to breed properly.

Also the message in the lyrics means nothing to me, makes not much sense.

Anyway, I Do not like death. I will die for noone. Never.

For my luck, the author post the lyrics in the artists page. That´s nice, I appreciate.

Well produced track but need serious improvement on vocal performance.

Artist: Colin

Title: Future Past
Genre: Pop

Oh god, sometimes I think if I am being too harsh.

I believe that to be a musician/singer/songwriter you have to study hard. Dedication is the key.

I Do not think I am better or worst than any other artist. I remember when I was a beginer and my songs sounded very bad.

My performances were poor and I noticed that.

I realize it was a gift, because many so called "artists" Do not have a clue about what are they doing.

I Do not want to flame anyone, I am learning how to see the good things first. The good is always there, it is said.

This song is, let me say, horrible.

Vocal performance is horrible. Lyrics are very poor, not much to say here.

Arrangements are boring and overall mix is bad.

It is not working for me in any aspect.

Needs a lot of work.

I am trying but I cannot find anything good in this song, sorry.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Artist: In Isolation

Title: The Wrong Girl
Genre: Rock

Another great track from In Isolation.

This is a great band, I love this song in all aspects.

Great UK sound, great musicians, great voice, great lyrics, great arrangements.

Tons of feeling and good taste in this piece.

I feel like I can start jumping around my living room while I am listening to this.

Excellent song performed by an excellent band with an excellent sound.

It is unique, easy listening and powerfull.

Very big 5 stars!

Artist: Necropolis JC

Title: Inner Sanctum
Genre: Metal

Powerfull riffs and raging guitars. Do we need more?

Nop, not really. If you are a guitar head, like me, you will enjy this one.

It is an instrumental piece. You will wait for the voice to come in at some point but it will not happend at all.

I think it is just perfect as it is. If a voice enters it would be another metal song with gutural vocals. Without the vocals the song become an unique genre: Instrumental Metal. This is great!

I hope that Necropolis continues to be a instrumental project.

The song got several different parts, excellent riffs, extremelly well played.

The kind of song that you want to play on the stage.

Solos are terrific. Great guitar work here.

At 2:40 a stop and clean guitars enters in a nice harmony. Very nice composition skills.

A must have metal song...

...without being bored by a vocalist.

Vocalists can be a pian in the ass some times.

The sound is perfect. Very well mixed/mastered.

5 stars!!

Artist: Brett Howe

Title: What do you got (If You don't got love)
Genre: Acoustic

A new singer/songwriter is borning here.

It appears that the author is in that stage when he is starting to explore the musical world. Making the first songs, recording the first ideas.

There is not much info at the artists page, so I really Do not know muuch about him.

What I know is : he have a nice voice, plays the acoustic guitar well and writes music from the heart.

I think he must be a young fellow by the photo. For a "kid" he is doing preety wel in my opinion.

I liked the song very much, the words wirten have a meaning, this is so rare:

"Well Yesterday I was just sittin, alone lone lone, thinking about life
And aint it funny we throws ourselves like skippin stones, just hoping we did things right
Cause yesterday I thought, what do we ever really got, even if we have lot what do we got if we dont got love, love love love, what do we got if we aint got love

And Everyone seems to be so tentative, scared to make mistakes,
Well Today I thought, im gonna live live live and love you, even if my heart breaks

Well Im gonna give you all of my heart, my dear friend
Just try not to tear it apart, cause I need it forever, and til the end"

This is a really good start.

Of course, the recording is bad. but you can have an idea of the song. Perhaps the author could study a bit more about recording. It will certainly not hurt.

I hope to hear more from MR. Howe soon.

Very nice.

Artist: henwrench

Title: The Flintlock, the Musket and the Dead Chicken
Genre: Alternative

Yup, it is really alternative.

Kinda weird and funny stuff.

It is pleasant, I like it.

The instruments are well record.

The overall sound is good. Perhaps the voice could be a bit louder.

Special mention to the voice at 2:30. Funny stuff.

This one get that kind of english humour.

Nice.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Artist: Bright Midnight

Title: Don't Eye Me Like A Child
Genre: Alternative Rock

I had a hard time to figure out how to classify this song. The author put it under "Alternative / Post punk". I cannot agree with him. I cannot see punk ements on it.

It is very musical and have a nice groove. I think it fits best in rock category.

Drum work here is excellent!! Performance and sound.

Everything here is just great, voices, guiatrs, keyboards, everything.

A great song in my opinion.

It got that 70´s flavour in the way it sounds. Reminds me a bit the lisergic progressive bands.

The lyrics are also great:

"...the years
they've gone by
they've gone the way of planes and trains
just wandering around from place to place

my statements they should dream
the colors that they see
should reflect who im supposed to be
because being friendly aint so easy anymore

dont eye me like a child
cant you see me in the wild
oh i've had enough of teasing
because being friendly aint so easy anymore

and the villains
they're calling
they're calling in the earliest of hours
just trying to save some face..."


Excellent work. A must have.

Really alternative stuff.

Artist: ashadowman

Title: Tribute to Jim Morrison (of the Doors)
Genre: Poetry music

A tribute song to the singer/songwriter of the band called The Doors.

This song is done in the "American Prayer" album style.

Well, what can I say about this song?

It is pleasant. It is easy listening.

The message on it is positive.

The music is not bad. Well mixed, sounds good and stuff.

It is a simple song with a positive message. This should be enough.

Ideal music for elevators and shopping centers.

Artist: Black Chamber

Title: Schism
Genre: Experimental

This is a noisy experimental song.

Dark and freaky, I must say.

As usual from Dark Chamber.

I respect very much those who are able to do something fresh and personal.

This is the case.

Blak Chamber have a unique style. He likes the sounds that makes you scary. This is his goal, frighten you. He is achieveing his goals obviously.

There is nothing here that indicates something scary but you can feel the fear and menace here only with eletronic sounds.

Very hard to achieve. Sounds great.

Well done.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Artist: André van Haren

Title: After Work, Late at Night
Genre: Classical

Absolute music, this is how I call this kind of piece.

Classical composers are very rare, at least good ones.

Mr. Van Haren is one of this rares composers that makes trully beatufull music.

This piece is complex but it is not dificult to listen. As a matter of fact it is very easy to listen.

It is a shame it is only 3 minutes. I hope it is just a part of a longer piece.

The pizzicato bass is just great.

The strings arrangement is just perfect.

A reat work from a true composer.

Obviously, not many composers have the oportunity to have their pieces played by a real orchestra. Mr. Van Haren is one of them.

Most of his pieces are made on computer with simulators and sounds very honest in my opinion.

I listened to one of his pieces with a choir and other instruments. Text from Edgar Allan Poe, very nice. It is real stuff.

After listening the piece a dozen times I am liking it even more.

A must have work from an excellent composer.

5 Stars!

Artist: Neanderpaul

Title: I'm gonna get you
Genre: Experimental

The author says that he calls this type of pice "freaky spoken word".

I Do not agree. It is so, so funny. Makes me laugh a lot when I was hearing.

The author here is obviously one of that kind that is a flood of creativity. He must be a very funny guy in a very weird way. I would like to know him.

This song is fresh. Very unexpected and unusual. I like it a lot.

It is simple. It appears that it was recorded in a 4 track machine.

Only a guitar, bass, neanderpaul´s voice and...a cell phone. Imagine that.

The lyrics is also very simple but great in my opinion.

Must be one of that pieces that you love or hate. I put myself in the part that loves it.

The images in this video are nonsense pictures in sequence.

Worth the listening.

Interesting stuff, very creative and unusual.

A must have werd piece.

5 stars.

Artist: Noisy Kung Fu

Title: You guide my way
Genre: Christian Pop Rock

One of the members of the band asked me to review this song. I wonder why.

I do not want to be offensive, rude or anything but I cannot lie as well.

This song is horrible in all aspects.

It is extreme badly played, all instruments.

It is badly sung too. If I could understand the words I could also form an opinion about the lyrics.

It is also very bad engineered, making it a bit worst than it really is.

I think that even that if it was well recorded it would be a bad song.

No good, no good.

Very bad musicians playing an horrible song.

Artist: Haleamano

Title: Love me 4 me
Genre: Reggae

This is usual reggae song. A good one. There is a lot of preety bad reggae songs around. I liked this one.

There is nothing too special or breakthrough here, it is a song to hear and enjoy. It is about love. Love is always nice in my opinion.

What got my attention is the fact that it begins with an excellent refrain. Very different from what you may expect. The format always makes you expect an intro, then a verse, then a refrain. I think is very nice to begin with the refrain in your face, so to speak. Of course it will only work if it is a good refrain. This one is very good. The vocal work is exceelent.

I liked also the hawaian guitar (what is the name of it?) playing along all the song. It fits like a glove.

Also the "wurlitzer-clavier-like" is very nice here. Not new but works well in this piece.

Overall I liked the song, the only thing is the quality of the streaming, wich is not good. Too lofi to my taste.

I would prefer a better sounding encoding.

Other than that it is just fine.

Artist: Jerry Santos

Title: Brainwasher
Genre: Metal

Here is a well engineered tune from a very nice Metal project.

It appears to be compositions produced by Mr. Santos mostly.

Also containing a little help from his fellows musicians from the band "Fear Itself".

I know that Mr. Santos is playing all guitars here. Great guitar work, I must say.

Excellent riffs with a powerfull sound. Everything you need in a metal guitar production. Very nice.

I enjoyed very much the guitar and drums work a lot. I cannot hear the bass. It is probably there but, as usual in the genre, you cannot hear it.

It is not clear to me if Jerry Santos is also singing here. I have to say this is the weak point of the song.

It is not particularly well sung, on the contrary, it is very bad vocal work.

It could be an excellent song but the voice is preety much jeopardizing what could be an excellent metal song.

That said, I have to say that the effects on the voice are not helping either.

It could be better if the voice was muted or the vocalist assassinated.

Jokes apart, perhaps Mr. Santos could find a decent rock singer for this piece.

Good metal song with a terrible voice.

Artist: beatbreaker18

Title: comin home
Genre: Hiphop instrumental

Well, what can I say about this track?

It is well produced yeah, Sounds good and everything. Obviously made to be a playback for a rap/hiphop song, wich appears to have an enourmous market hungry for the so called "beats"

This track is nothing that you never heard before. It is just like everything you hear all around. Do not get me wrong, it IS good if you like the style.

In therms of composition, I think it is weak. Two chords all the time is too boring in my opinion.

Thge author could be more creative in this aspect.

Could be better.

Artist: Karma Police (UK)

Title: Winters Child
Genre: Electronic / Ambient

Karma Police is one of those unique talents.

His music is fresh and beautifull.

This track have a special tone, a special flavour wich is different from the usual ambient tracks.

The sound of the pads used here are great. The curiosity is that the track got a beat but not a bass. This shows that the author is not bounded with formulas and concepts. Does this piece need a bass line? Not at all. The track is very complete as it is.

It is a somple track: a beat, some pads and synths and voices.

The voice is delivered beautifully by LisaT. Another curiosity is the voice in layers here. LisaT was recorded several times in order to make this track. It could be a bit "too much" but it is not. Very nice

A great track from a great project.

I am looking forward to hear more from Karma Police featuring LisaT.

Well done.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Artist: Charlie A

Title: R.L.D
Genre: Rock

Chalrlie A. is a great composer. His pieces are always good.

In his work you have always that sensation that he is very secure about what he is doing.

This song is simple. An acoustic guitar played by himself, his great voice as usual and some other acoustic instruments.

It is simple but it is not boring at all. The song passes great images and makes you fly out somewhere.

Rare is the music that makes you travel.

This one does!

Superb composition, it have it´s own life.

Makes me feel very good with myself.

I love it!

Special mention to Mr. Sptiz, who produced this piece beautifully.

Another great work from a great composer. I did not expect less.

5 stars!

Artist: Haleamano

Title: Roach in the Couch
Genre: Electronic

This one is tough to categorize. There is nothing like it around.

It have a reggae flavour but not too much. Also is not a rap, a beat. But it have a beat.

It is a very strange track in fact.

The vocals/lyrics are very weird. Perhaps this was very deliberate and it is just fine with message writen.

I can see it is a band but I cannot hear nothing else besides electronic drum (TR808 like) and voices.

An strange tune by a strange band in a strange format.

If you are looking for something very strange you just found it.

Weirdness factor here is 10/10

Artist: neanderpaul

Title: Nothing but wrong
Genre: Rock

The first song I review from Mr. neaderpaul (great nickname by the way) was something very pop, easy to listen.

Neanderpaul appears to be very ecletic. This song here is a more agressive rock type.

It is a coolaboration between neaderpaul and Jimmy Danger. I assume that Mr. Danger is a guitar player.

Excellent riffs and a very good sounding tune makes this piece a "must have".

I like everything in this song.

Neanderpaul´s voice is amazing here, reminds me a bit of Ozzy in old Black Sabbath songs. The doubled voices are just perfect.

Also the solo is just great!.

An excellent rock song.

5 stars!

Artist: Philip Montgomery

Title: Morons
Genre: Country

A funny song. Everything here was recorded in a 4 track machine by the author.

This song have an excellent vibe and this is great!

Mr. Montgomery appears to be a very nice and funny person.

I would like that I have have the lyrics writen, I cannot understand 100%.

It is about a stupid, stinky girl, If I am not mistaken. Funny as hell.

Everything is clear and bright. Obviouslly made with very few equipment.

But it reaches it´s goal. I am an admirer of this kind of country storytell.

The voices are very nice, specially the doubled part. Very well sung.

I am looking forward to hear more from Mr. Motgomery.

Well done.

Simple and direct. He is not trying to amuse the listener.

Very good.

Artist: Skeptic

Title: They Wont Win
Genre: Borrowing illegally

Oh god, this one is preeeeety bad.

For sure it is an illegal sample. I can remember the song name: " Hey now, hey now! The dream is over..."

This with a uncool beat with an uncool voice rapping.

Things of modernity.

Trash can

Artist: Jackie O'Grady

Title: Little Red Robin
Genre: Christmas song

I reviewed something from Jackie O'Grady a while ago. It was a 25 seconds acapella version of this one.

I remember I liked it. It was strange to review an 25 seconds sample.

This one is the full version of the song.

Yes, it is christmas time. This songs fits like a glove.

Very well produced piece. Arrangements are great. Also it was very well engineered.

Sounds very clear and bright.

Special mention to Jakie´s voice. Beautifull, beautifull and beautifull!

I like her voice a lot. The way she sings is just excellent to my taste. An unique timbre and accent makes this piece a christmas hit.

I like it a lot.

Well done.

Artist: JodyWillmanlyrics

Title: Thumpin' bibles (Back to the grind)
Genre: Christian Rock

This is a tough one to review.

The author kindly asked me to review this one. He says: "..I'm just a lyricist that really can't sing a lick but I do make a few little demos on my lap top and this is one. I'd like your opinion on the thing and your ideas on if it has any chance at anything?..."

Well, I agree with him, he cannot sing.

Chance at anything? Hummm, nop, not really.

Sounds very bad in my opinion. The voice is horribly recorded and terribly performed.

I believe that with the proper training and study anyone can sing well. It is not expensive and Do not requires any special behavior. If the author wants to sing he should find himself a good teacher.

The instrumenatls are nothing more than ok. It is not bad but it is not good either.

This one is not working for me.

Anyway I appreciate the kindness and politeness of Mr. Willman.

Needs a lot of work.

Artist: Karma Police (UK)

Title: Angels Breathe (feat LisaT)
Genre: Electronic : Ambient

As you know, I like smooth songs.

This one is very smooth yes.

It begins with a nice piano arpeggio over a nice choir.

The lyrics are excellent! True poetry:

"All this time we've been dancing in twilight
and we haven't seen the sun for years
the half light is falling
like tears

All this time we've been moving in shadow
maybe love is sweeter in the shade
and I would choose you
again

Beautiful Blue
Beauty is me and you ..."

LisaT delivers the voice beatifully.

I like the choir progression very much here.

Reminds me angels, the sky, high clouds.

Very nice piece.

Simple and effective.

Artist: Necropolis JC

Title: Outer Sanctum
Genre: Metal

The metal niche nowadays appears to me it is the only genre that is going well on the market.

Their listener give real support to the artists buying original CDs and merchandising. I respect very much the genre.

This piece of composition here is great.

It is an instrumental piece focused on guitars.

Excellent guitar work. Performance, composition and sound.

Ideal for guitar heroes.

I enjoyed this track a lot. It must be real fun to play it.

Obviously the guitar players (Culver Polley/ Jordan Miles) know what are they doing. amazing guitar skills.

The solo part is just breath taking, very nice.

A must have heavy meatl instrumental piece.

5 stars!

Artist: Artificial Wonders

Title: RISE Redux (AURA)
Genre: Electronic / Games Soundtrack / Experimental

This is a piece wich is part of a game soundtrack named AURA.

It is a very experimental piece, so to speak.

Several eletronic noises and synths goes along with ethereal choir and poetry.

I can see it playing along in a level end boss, as the author sugests here:

"...Leviathan, for all intents and purposes, is a badass. A very sick, evil, twisted, and maniacal badass, but nonetheless, a badass. This first fight is meant to be one of the most memorable bits of the earlier parts of the game, but I felt like the original version of RISE plays it off as any other boss fight. So, I gave Leviathan a different genre altogether - Industrial..."

The author post up a lot of info about how he done it and why, wich I think is very info for the gear/software heads, like me.

It is a noisy piece, agressive tone that mekes you feel uncorfortable but I think it is just what the author intended.

Very nice piece, makes me wonder about where and when I can found this game AURA.

Artist: Michael Vincent Fusco

Title: Artificial Intelligence!
Genre: Electronic / Fusion??

This track is harmonically very impressive in my opinion.

Unusual chords, unexpected flavour.

It is almost Jazz.

The bass line is very creative, harmonically and melodically. I like a lot. The piano is agressive. and impressive.

I like everything is this piece. The choice of the sounds, Drums, bass, piano, strings are awesome.

A perfect song.

I dont have much more to say.

It is bloody fresh, new, breqakthrough, you name it.

There is nothink like it around.

I hope Mr. Fusco keep developing more in this style.

A must have experimental electronic piece.

5 stars.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Artist: kennetheeckeman

Title: Floating on Images and Waves
Genre: Ambient

The ambient genre points to a kind of lounge/chill out type of track that is often missused and proeminently abused by the "Bhuda Bar" niche.

This is not the case here. kennetheeckeman is an excellent vanguardist composer wich is, at the same time, very melodic and very visual.

I can see this song ion a movie soundtrack, lot sof images can fit this amazing and powerfull composition.

Full of passion and greatness. Melodically wonderfull. Inteligent modulations, inusitated harmonic fields and more.

Reminds me a bit of Vangelis and some of Enya piano songs.

Sounds choices here are excellent!

It is a kind of piece wich is timeless.

It is music from the heart.

One of the best composers I have heard in many years.

A must have piece if you like true compositions from the heart.

Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!

Artist: neanderpaul

Title: Let it go
Genre: Pop Rock

This is an easy listening song.

No virtuosism or musical malabarism. The author is not trying to impress the listener. It appears to me that he just want make the listener fell confortable. Well, he is achieving his goal.

By the artist´s photo I was expecting a heavy metal/ Rock song. His iamge is somewhat agressive but the is so cute, so to speak.

Here is a piece of the lyrics:

"I only want want what is best for you.
If I seem to be confused. It is for you.
It is for you.
´Cause what I´ve got to say is so hard.
I don´t even know if I can put it out in a song...

...I just wanted you to know.

That you should let it go..."

The voice is great (neanderpaul himself?), very well sung.

I have just two minor observations:

1st: The mp3 quality is not too good (not too bad either) but could be better. I think it is a bit lofi to my taste.

2nd: Perhaps the voice could enter earlyer. A 50 seconds intro here is , in my opinion, unnecessary. Could be much more "to the point" so to speak. I have to say it is a personal opinion.

Anyway, this is a great easy listening pop rock song.

Could be listening it on the radio.

I love it.

Artist: Aleksandr Saltovskiy

Title: ABLove Is Not A Game
Genre: RnB

Here is something different, in my opinion.

It is a RnB song, yes, but also have a new age/classical flavour.

The song begins with a nice orchestral arrangement.

Soon a nice voice enters. Reminds me a bit of Enya´s songs. Very well sung. The lyrics are great as well.

Then a beat enters giving the song the pop/RnB colour.

Very melodic tune, beautifuuly arranged/performed.

Very different from the usual RnB.

The melody is stucked in my head.

I like it a lot.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Artist: André Van Haren

Title: The Lost Child
Genre: Orchestral

Mr. Van Haren is a kind of composer wich is very rare nowadays.

Orchestral music is very hard to find. At least good ones.

In this piece the author shows an enourmous talent.

This piece is complete. Arrangements are just perfect.

A great piece if you are looking for some great absolute music.

The theme are great. Instrument choices are also great.

Everything is great in this piece.

Everything is well dosed and beautifully placed.

A great work from a professional.

I am looking forward to hear more from this great unknown composer.

A must have orchestral piece.

Excellent!!

Artist: Craig Maxim

Title: Coming home
Genre: Rock Ballad

When lurking in the artists page, what I do often, I was immediatelly hipnotized by this song.

Such a beatifull piece.

Arrangements, sound, solos, voice, lyrics, everything is great here.

Mr. Maxim is an artist that got that country feeling. I have to say thta he is something more.

You can notice he an experienced composer/musician.

The vocal performance here is absolutelly outstanding. The notes choice are just perfect. I like it a lot.

I have just one thing to add. The drum sound is a bit...weak. Does this jeopardize the song? Not at all.

Keyboards here sounds great too.

Indeed a great piece of composition, full of passion.

A must have song.

Artist: Jackie O'Grady

Title: Little Red Robin acapella
Genre: Acapella

Jackie asked me to review this song and I will Do it, of course.

The thing is: It is only a sample. Only 25 seconds.

Nothing much to say.

It is an acapella. I think it is well sung.

Her accent is abit strange wich gives the sample a special scandinavian flavour, if you know what I mean.

After listening to it like 10 times in a row I am liking it.

Could be longer.

Artist: fisherman bob

Title: Hoochi Coochie Man
Genre: Blues

Here is a excellent song for those who appreciate (like me) real blues songs.

It is a conventional blues song. Drums, bass, guitar, harmonica and voice.

Everything is extremely well played. Vocals are great.

Everyone here seems to be experienced musicians.

The overall sound is good. Clean and bright.

All solo parts, harmonica and guitar, are very well performed.

I would like to know more about the band.

Is it a project for Mr. Fisherman Bob? What is he playing here?

On the artists page I got the impression that he is probably the bass player.

He said on "influences" section: "...All big-time blues legends:Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Clapton, Allman Brothers, Stevie Ray Vaughan"

Very cool song played by a very cool band.

Does the band have a name??

Monday, November 16, 2009

Artist: In Isolation

Title: Virus
Genre: Rock

Imagine the picture: an excellent band, with great musicians, excellent songs, very well arranged, well engineered, well sung, etc.

A rare finding? Yes I agree. There are not much rock bands with true cool songs and also wih that sensation that "this is just what I was looking for".

"In Isolation" is just thid kind of project. Great songs. You can fell that hey are very confident in every note they play.

If you are looking for well arranged songs and a nice UK rock vibe you just found it.

In the band´s page they wrote:"...In Isolation stand out because they do what a lot of bands don’t do anymore, they seem to be playing from the heart....

I agree 100%.

The voclas reminds me a bit some of old Duran Duran. I think this is fabulous! In a time that appears that every vocalist cannot sing without serious post processing procedures. The vocal performance is great!

The sounds choice are awesome, guitars, keyboards, bass, drums, everything!

A perfect song for what appears to be a perfect band.

A must have work, no doubt.

Artist: ZEBRABOOK

Title: alien bottle of love
Artist: ZEBRABOOK
Genre: Electronic

Zebrabook is a project from Mr. Jon Bushaway.

Mr bushaway is very well known in my reviews with his other project named "the dead company".

Zebrabook is quite differnt from the musical poetry work of "the dead company".

Zebrabook appears to be a lot more chill out/lounge eletronic music.

I was expecting something tremendously original, as usual, from Mr Bushaway. This is not the case. I think this is very easy listening. Don´t get me wrong, I kinda liked it.

I prefer innovative stuff, I must say. This song is far from being a bad song.

Very well engineered, the sound is crisp and clear. The sounds choice are very nice. Smooth electronic ambiences fill out the track. Panoramic changes gives a pleasant movement sensation. Everything is smooth and very well put.

Unfair if you compare it to "the dead company", wich have an unique freshness and originality, but if are lounge kind of listener this must be switable to your ears.

A nice job indeed.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Artist: Hani

Title: Wait Forever
Genre: Pop / Dance

It is very rare a pop/dance/RnB song artist or song fall in to my liking, if you know what I mean.

Most artists that are seeking the pop world Do almost the same thing, use the same formula.

Do not get me wrong, I Do not think it is bad for the scene. Is possible to have "easy listening bounceable" songs and , at the same time, get an true artistic valour.

You feel that in the first time you hear Hani songs. Freshness.

It is pop, yes. It sound like a lot of other things you already heard, yes. It can be in the playlist of a pop radio and fit in, yes.

But also, there is something else about Hani. I have the impression that he is liking what he is doing. And this is great.

Hani is an excellent singer, it is impressive how good an autotune sounds in a well sung voice, I understand why people like it so much in the pop industry.

Again, I must say I would like to read the lyrics as well. I always Do.

Anyway, if I hear this song in a night club in the dance floor I will be not caught in surprise.

A very good pop / dance song.

P.S. I just knew that today is Hani´s birthday. Congratulations! Only 26?

Artist: Andrew K-Rock

Title: 2012
Genre: Electronic

Yeah, the end of the world theme is gaining terrain again, it happens from time to time.

This is kind an industrial song. For my taste the intro (can I call that?) is too long.

The drums really enters only at 1:22. It gives me the impression that I was expecting 1 minute and 22 seconds to the song begins.

Great drums line by the way, I like it a lot.

When it happens, the result is pleasant. I like the attitude of this song.

It is almost a soundtrack. All the stops and gos are very refreshing. I can see a lot of images in my head, images of the planet we live.

At a point some voices enters and I think that it could have more speech (I am wondering thinking about Larry Ludwick and Jon Bushaway doing something here)

By the name you could expect somehing dark and agressive. Well, it is kind of dark, it is kind of agressive but it is also beautifull.

I cannot see it as an apocaliptical song.

It is very fresh in fact.

I liked it.

Artist: Michael Vincent Fusco

Title: Tempo for Sale
Genre: Electronic Noises

Well, this is a tough one to review.

It is that kind of piece that is not musical at all nor rhythmic.

It is a mosaic of eletronic sounds.

Here is what the author post in the song´s page about it:"I was exploring the possibilities of my software, fl studio 9, and figured out some new stuff. Then I went crazy with it. Practically everything is linked to a controller. Some are triggered by the kick, which you will probably be able to hear, and some are triggered by LFOs. The rest is messed up sound."

I like this type of stuff, really. I am afraid there is nothing much to say.

It is agressive, powerfull and very crazy.

Utterly pointless!

I love it.

Artist: Black Tiger Moss

Title: Dark Summer
Genre: Acoustic Rock

Well, there is not much info about the project in the artists page. I assume it is a band. Where are the lyrics by the way?

I can se they are from UK. At the begining I thought she (the singer) was singing in an exotic language, I understand very little about what is being sung. It is kind of veiled sound.

Do not get me wrong, I liked the voice, mostly. I just think it could be a lot better without the vibrato thing, I Do not like it. The voice timbre is great. It is smooth and beautifull and it is very well sung. Reminds me Enya sometimes.

The arrangements are nice, unusual, unique. It is not like anything you have heard before. The band is constructing a "voice" like I say sometimes.

Excellent composing, I wish I could understand more. I can only understand like 10% of the lyrics.

Maybe a violin, a fiddle or some other acoustic/exotic instruments could fit in beautifully.

I am looking forward to hear more from the Black Tiger Moss.

Artist: Luke

Title: Speechless(The Veronicas cover)
Genre: Rock

In the song page the author post this: "It's a cover. I rearranged it a bit, guitars and drums are my composition."

Well, reviewing a cover song is not confortable but since I Do not know the song nor the band I will treat it like it was a song composed by Luke. I Do not know if it is a famous song or not. I hope the author got the proper authoral rights authorization.

It is a balad, a love song. I admire very much love songs, they are very dificult to sound good. It is work for a just few.

I like very much the chords progression and the clean guitar sound. Talking about guitars the solo is great, sound and notes (must be the normal from Luke). One thing I must say about the guitars is the overdrived sound hat appears in the refrain: it is bad. Does not sound at all like a overdriven guitar. It is bloody digital and weak. Performance is fine, minor erros here and there but it is fine.

The arrangements are simple, he is not trying to impress the listener, I like that.

Perhaps the drums could have significative less open hihat, too much in my opinion, but the drums sounds nice.

The voice here reminds me John Lennon a bit, like a nasal tone doubled voice, very nice. It is a bit out of tune here and there but nothing bad.

One thing that bothers me a looooot is the low voice that enters ocasionally. I will cut it out, garbage can. The song will breed a lot more.

A nice song for those who likes love songs, like me.

Artist:stofer

Title: on fire..
Genre: HipHop : Christian Rap

If you are reading my recent reviews you will think now I am repeting myself.

No lyrics in the song page? I wonder why? Why an musical author would not post the lyrics? Huh?

I Do not know but I will keep alerting them. I miss the wroten lyrics, it makes a big difference to me. Reading the lyrics can show me a lot of things that probally will pass unnoticed just hearing the music.

This is a simple piece. Nothing much happens, perhaps it is just perfect like this, why complicate? It is all about the message. The music here (I guess) is just a comunication medium. The beat is ok, kinda repetitive but this is normal in the style.

At 1:05 something nice happens, it is like an answer machine recording, very clever, I like it a lot. The lofi effect on the voice is nice. This effect appears ocasionally in the song. The sound designs for the "stop/play buttons" are very well puted, you think about an answer machine right away. Well Done.

I think thatthe fire here have two meanings:

1st: The fire that burns out your sins if you accept God(?) in your heart. I will not judege anything here, I am not a religious person.

2nd: The fire from hell when you are burning there. This one must hurt I guess.

Not a particular excellent song but, at least, have a true and meaningfull message, rare thing in the rap music nowadays.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Artist: Conté Feat. Miras

Title: PlayBoy
Genre: Hiphop

This song was released exclusivelly at this site.

Conté is a Hiphop artist from Sweden who was born in Sierra Leone.

The intro is very interesting, it is like something hindu. There is an exotic flavour. It is a shame it lasts only 3 seconds.

Soon a Hiphop beat enters and it becomes a regular hiphop song with some exotic elements on it.

Two things you notice here: the scales used in the strings (minor harmonic, I am guessing) wich gives an especial exotic colour and a Darbuka percussion(i am guessing again). Those two elements gives the exotivness of the piece.

Vocal performance is ok.

After listening 5 or 6 times in a row I was actually liking it.

It is obviouslly greatlly produced. Excellent engineering skills behind it, no doubt. Cheers for the producer Miras wich is also singing along with Conté and Merre (I am guessing once more)

I would like to see more info posted in the artist page, like the lyrics for example. I can not understand 100% of what they are singing. Also ther are very few info about the artist, could be more.

I think it could be more profound in the meaning, this thing about "shake that ass" and this kind of machism stuff means nothig to me.

If you are the "guns and hos" type, this is for you.

Artist: nirmala07

Title: Stretch
Genre: Experimental

If you are looking for something hipotic and smooth not bouded with any format ot preconceived style here is " Stretch.

Nirmala is an artist from Germany that preety much found her own style.

This piece (just like the other one from her) have a unique flavor.

It is very easy to listen and very delicate.

There are not too many elements on it and it is just perfect.

A lot of "toy piano like" sounds plays beautifull melodies.

Special mention to the eletronic buzz that makes it a lot more interesting.

Very nice job as usual.

A must have for the lovers of the experimental music.

By the way, the ending is great!

Artist: ashadowman

Title: How many Last Straws
Genre: Acoustic

I had some problems classifing this song. It was posed under "Pop" by the author. I am not sure if I agree.

ashadowman have a strong country vein but this song is not a country song either.

Genre apart, this piece is very well performed. All guitars, bass and voice were played by the author, only the drums were programed (very well programed by the way).

The drums give an excellent beat to the song, very nice.

I like very much the playing style of Mr ashadowman. The harmonics solo is just awesome.

Everything is well dosed, no virtuosism.

I have to say that the author is not the best singer ever but it works.

A good song no doubt.

Artist: Daniel Persson

Title: A Taste of Summer
Genre: Dance

It is not the first time I review something from Daniel Persson

I remember his other track and I liked it.

This one is not working for me.

There are some nice elements. For example the pads and pianos. They are nice. I like the timbre, the lines.

But it could be less repetitive maybe. It could lead you to other places, other harmonic fields.

I have the impression that it is always the same thing.

Do not get me wrong, there is a lot elements that please me in this song.

I just think it could have more than 4 chords.

Much more.

Artist: LOkal Motif

Title: Rock Anthem
Genre: HipHop

When I push the play button I think with myself "This is not hiphop, it is a rock song".

Big mistake, after a few seconds a powerfull beat enters.

Wow, I am not a hiphop head but when the beat entered I start automatically to bouce my head. This means I am liking it, very dificult to me to bounce my head, rare, very rare.

The beat and the voice enters together and makes you almost jump of the chair and start dancing.

Excellent vocal performance, tons of attitude.

The only thing I can say I Did not like is the fact that the author Did not post the lyrics.

Other than that, it is just a perfect song to me.

Masterpiece here.

Artist:Schizotic

Title: Locomotive Arms
Genre: Alternative : Experimental

In the artists page you will have the impression that it will be something very fun.

Big mistake, this piece is serious instrumental music, beautifully arranged/played/engineered.

It is a song lead by a clean guitar with a lot of abient like elements. Could be easily a part of a movie soundtrack.

Excellent choice of sounds and effects.

Apparently, the author made this amazing piece with very few equipment. An excellent job indeed.

There are a great variety of instruments and sounds: violins, theremins, eletronic stuff, textures, rhythmic buzzes, delays and so on.

Impossible not to like it.

It is very rich in elements and it is not repetitive or over clustered.

It is a perfect piece of composition in my opinion.

Excellent job!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Artist: Wake of Destruction

Title: Run From Me
Genre: Electronica

This is an example of what we should be hearing in the radio.

New, inspiring, free, modern and familiar music.

Everything you want in a modern song is here.

Crazy FX in the voice. Absolutely wonderfull.

Vocal performance is perfect. Also the lyrics.

Great synths and distorted drums.

Music without fear, yes sir.

Great, great, great!

Very big FIIIIIIVE Stars.

Artist: Bright Midnight

Title: Floating Feather (Sleepy Mood)
Genre: Rock

Man, what a great worst song!

Sounds really bad, from begining to end.

The drummer is obviously drunk, or is a monkey playing.

I think I can say the same about the singer.

Deserves a big BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Artist: IHMJack

Title: Epic Full Orchestra Music #2
Genre: Orchestral

I like to think that are millions of artists around the world creating and exploring the boundaries of the modern music.

Sometimes it is made with old instruments, old concept of formation. Creating a new possibility for composers to reach the potentiality of an orchestra.

Author´s intention is great. I will not put under judgement the author´s choice of notes and arrangements.

It is his personal vision and I understand it.

My point is: if you want a fake orchestra, you have to make it sound like a real one.

And yes, it is possible.

In recognition and in an abet, I have to say it is not well mixed and the sounds do not stick together.

I dont want to be especific about frequencies and about why some instruments are more dificult to fake than others.

I think the author needs improvement in his sampling knowledge.

Sounds could be better. Period.

Artist: The Dust Jackets

Title: LP Hartley
Genre: Rock

This song makes me laugh, really. And this is not bad.

It is a funny song, what can I do?

The fact of the singer is totally out of tune in nothing here.

The mix is very clear and bright. Drumloops are effective.

It is a funny song!

Makes me laugh!

Artist: Pilesar

Title: Save Village from Evil Spirit
Genre: Alternative : Experimental

Very ineteresting acoustic music, totaly unexpected sonority, deep sensations, tribal feeling.

Pilesar´s music have a unique freshness.

It is definitely an alternative to the repetition of styles and formulas known as modern music.

It is very "world music", so to speak.

Definitely deserves a profund listening and research.

5 Stars

Artist: 333maxwell

Title: Do I Love You
Genre: ?

I am not going to say what I think about the eletronic drums. It could be better. Does that affect the song? Nop.

What can you say about a love song? I feel, as a composer, a great respect for someone who can express something so divine in a simple way like this.

How can I say it sounds bad? How can I say the voice is too this or that? How can I criticize how the author understands love?

"...You and I could reach the sky
Unless I'm just another guy
But the way you hold me is like you've told me
I can see it in your eye..."

Meaning is something so rare nowadays.

Thank you for allow me to breed a little.

This is definitely the strangest review I ever made.

It broke my heart.

5 stars.

Artist:Papa Baloo

Title: Wonder Bra
Genre: Rock

It is a live version of this song.

I can feel the band here and it looks like it is a great band.

It is almost a jam session, I believe that the parts are preety much open and Papa Baloo will never play it in the same way twice. This is great!

A band with strong personality, yes.

But, it sounds like crap. Very bad sound really.

Maybe it was recorded in a rehearsal, sound check or live event.

I like songs with good sounding mixes. It is a fact. It is very dificult to me to judge a song in a badly recorded piece.

Vocals also are not great but they are there.

Maybe if the author could record it better I could have a better opinion about it.

Sound is important for a rock band.

Artist: BERINO

Title: INTO THE RED
Genre: Electronica : Techno

Nice ambient track with some great sounds and VSTi´s.

For my taste, the drum intro is too long. The synths could appear before.

The synths are heavy and powerfull. Some nice pizzicatto strings essemble.

Arpegiators, LFOs, overdriven timbres in a dancing beat. It is almost atonal sometimes.

The author is doing something very difficult. He is presenting sucessive bass lines in layers.

I think it is very hard to use 2 basslines at the same time. Berino can easily put up 5 or 6 simultaneous synth basses and the overall result is athmospheric and gratifying.

4 stars.

Artist: Smelt

Title: Standing on a roof
Genre: Rock

It is a good rock song, kinda a punk feel, it is interesting.

It is a shame that the author did not put the lyrics on the music page.

Arrangements and composing are great but it really could be more well played.

There are too much errors in the performances, drummer, bass player and guitar.

It really doesn´t do any good to the music.

The overall sound is bad aswell but I dont think it jeopardize the song.

What really jeopardize the song is the errors in the musical performance.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Artist:Twizzie aka (Twisted) AnGeL

Title: The Corrupted
Genre: Hip hop

Another powerfull song.

The author says he wants to "..create the most innovative aggressive sound..."

Well, it is agressive and it is somewhat innovative, yes.

Anyway I dont see it as a major breakthrough in hip hop music but....but....it is an example of how interesting a good mix can be.

The mixing here is completely clear and it is distorted at the same time. A lot of sounds, several diferent sounds for the drums and the voice. Definitely interesting.

It is a good start for something experimental.

The author here is trying to find his soul. Well, he is wining the battle so far.

The battle is not the war, I hope he faces the many battles, because they can make him only stronger.

Congratulations for the producer and the mixer, the vocal<-- parts are great.

5 stars

Artist:the dead company

Song: Afternoon Show (Brutal Mix)
Genre: Experimental

Another one from the dead company.

And yes, the mix is brutal, I agree. Not only the mix. In fact, the entire song is brutal.

It is a composition that requires a lot of attention and an effort of the listener in order to complete the image that the author is trying to show.

It is basicaly music for inteligent people, if you are dumb do not listen!

It begins with a percussion pattern that is introspective, intriguing and beatifull.

Soon low frequencies and synths brings the talking voice:

"The walls colapse, people scream.
Agony filled the air.
Dust and blood fill the lungs
Of all the watchers there, trying desperatly trying to see..."

Very cool!

The song delivers abrupts changes and backs and wonderfull spoken lyrics along with dense atmospheres.

Lots of collors, smells, tastes and other sensorial experiences.

Very deep, intense and gratifying sonic experience.

It is dinamically perfect, intensity changes are absolute.

The end of the song, the last words spoken are deep and makes a lot of sense. I like very much the way the author finished the song and the sensation he was able to achieve, very clever.

5 stars, no doubt.

Artist:the dead company

Artist: the dead company
Song: The Old Man Of The Sea
Genre: Experimental

Very experimental sound design here. Allthough It holds musical concepts and structure, the song is like an audiomontage where the sounds are there to create the ambience, the "tone".

At 1:49 enters a nice electronic drum pattern and soon the voice appears.

It is not sung, It is a talking voice declaiming this beatifull and strong poem.

The poem speaks about the sea, the way we f**k the wheather, in a sad and thruthfull way.

Musically is not extraordinary, but I think it reaches it´s goals.

At 5:00 intensity grows, it become more unconfortable (in a good way).

The song goes on and on , with 13 minutes i was hoping something diferent happends.

All elements used/conceived by the author can be exposed in, lets say, 2 minutes?

For my personal taste, 13 min is toooooo loooooooooong. I think something could happen.

Anyway, I dont dislike it, I just think it could be more apelative, maybe.

I like the overall sound, but the voice is a bit hard to understand to me (a non english native).

I think the author is correct about leaving the voice with a natural sound, without enhancing it too much.

Maybe a bit more volume in the voice could help the inteligibility of the poem.

Very good.