Step One

--Part One--

"Wrap My Head around It: Industrial 'Boom, Bap'"

The Base

The Meter

The Accent:  Foreshadowing the Banger

The Cadence

Jumping into this project, my inspiration was industrial “trip-hop,” and I thought, perhaps, that I would work exclusively with samples of pneumatic machinery. I abandoned that plan, though, after stumbling upon a sample of some kind of seemingly large hydraulic machinery. This was slightly more annoying than pneumatic tool samples, I thought, and thus potentially more interesting to exploit.

I usually write (lyrics) to a basic kick-snare loop, and so I wanted a dense base (like mayonnaise) – something that the percussion could settle into comfortably. I was fortunate in that while staring at the “Highest Rated Sounds” table on the Freesound page, I noticed the Tibetan Buddhist chant. It was exactly what I envisioned.

I still needed to solidify a meter and cadence, though, and so I continued my search for the appropriate sample (and, still, I wanted to work with pneumatic tool sounds). I found two that I felt established the meter and cadence well (though I’ll need to set them to the same tempo). I think because the samples are three seconds in length, they create a syncopated rhythm when looped, and this is good.

Digital music composition is laborious and reminds me that I lack a good foundation in music theory. The producers who I admire seem fully cognizant of the whys and wheres of “sample instrumentation,” and this has always befuddled me. This sort of exercise seems like a roundabout approach toward eliminating some of my confusion. That's the best I can hope for at this stage in my life, though, so I fully appreciate it.

Step Two

--Part Two--

After reading Caitlin's rant and listening to her stripped down loop, I felt her pain, but I wasn't "feeling" her composition. I wasn't convinced that the two files she chose meshed well or successfully created the ambiance for which she intended. I wanted desperately to lay vocals over the track (drum loop). I searched Freesound for a suitable a cappella and came up empty. I did, however, find this fairly high quality sample of a G-dubb speech and thought it would make a great prelude to a fuller composition. Follow that up with this ditty and you're cooking (read the description for this sample if you can't make out the effects). I would probably only use a portion of this sample, though (or lower the volume on this track). This, of course, is hardly a remix of her composition, but rather a sampling of her loop. I guess I was inspired by her rant and track selection.

I then moved on to Kristopher's composition, which I initially thought was impeccable. But, it was a bit drawn out, so I decided to add this sample of Spanish whispering. I think you would want to start this track 16-20 bars into the composition. If anyone speaks Spanish, please interpret.

Later in the composition, though I'm not sure how much later, you might want to tack on this track. I would conclude the composition with this screamed crescendo (Kristopher's three tracks would end before the final push of this track). I think this helps develop his work into a fuller composition, rather than a tool for inducing perpetual pensiveness.

My trip ended at Meagan's page where I was reminded of the only source of non-invasive tympanic incision - quite possibly the most annoying sound ever. Add this to the composition and I can get into the suicidal mood.

I would also amplify this sample tenfold. What the hell - make it twenty.

--Part Three--

Kristopher's composition is by far my favorite. As I previously mentioned, I found it nearly impeccable. If it were part of the score for a Michael Douglas movie, it would foreshadow the tragedy soon to unfold. It's a bit mature for my taste (without my proposed revisions), but that's irrelevant. It's a good mix, and in that context, it is probably perfect as-is.

I suppose my second favorite composition would be Crystal's (with suggested revisions). It is straightforward and, I think, effective. I'm not sure if it could be more successful - anything else might overwork the piece.

Insofar as it is straightforward, I will quote Crystal and say that it effectively "recreate(s) that atmosphere of waking up at the edge of the rain forest with a soft rain." I'd sleep to that.

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