CSI and House crime!

[orest]

2 songs can be found here: http://alexanderorest.com/crime.htm(The first one got forwarded a few months ago, but I've added some percussion and made it much faster this time!)What do you think?

[fusilierb]

Very nice Orest! I knew you were going to be in this one. I'm learning some tricks from you. These are cool. I don't have anything to say about the first one other than, I liked it. I really dug the rhythm of the second one once it got started. I'm not 100% sold on the piano opening in the beginning. It almost repeats the ascending scale too often without enough variation in the opening. Seems like you could break that line up a bit and layer it out more, cuase its great when the second theme comes in and then all the way to the repeat of it towards the end. I love that the phrase is in 9 so it repeats back on itself a bit differently every time, but perhaps if it was more of a melody than an ascending scale then it could fold back on itself, almost like a round, and create some really interesting tension and harmonies. My 2 cents.Really dug them both.Good Luck!B

[crs7string]

Orest,Listening to Crime 1 a couple of thoughts come to mind. The sound that sounds like a pluck on a koto sounds out of place to me. It sounds a little too ethnic for the genre. I would find something more electronic (some sort of blip or bleep) or percussive to play this part.Also, I would edit out the very last triangle hit, it doesn't do anything to resolve the ending.Crime 2. I agree with Brian on the opening piano riff. I think if you played the first part of the phrase and responded with something electronic before playing the longer phrase it could be effective. I have noticed somewhat of a formula in some of this genre where there is a melodic phrase for two measures and then more of a chordal, textural response for the next couple of measures, usually at the beginning of a track before any percussion and drums entrance. I've also noticed on the 24 stuff that there is frequently a sixteenth note synth type of pattern as a textural element.Chuck

[aldicicco]

Alexander,I'm absolutely new to this genre, so I'll tell you what I liked versus critique what you did.In Crime 1, I definitely like the underlying string motif. I thought it was very effective. It did sound eastern-ethnic, but I didn't mind at all. They've got their share of crime....Crime 2 had a dirty kind of vibe to it. I felt it was really suspenseful. Whatever you do in your final mixes, don't lose this feeling.You have a great foundation to build on!Best wishes,Al

[k o star]

hi Orest,I love the piano melodies in no.2 and I love the build up feel in no.1So, if it's possible for you to add more of that same build up feel from no.1 into no.2 also, that'd be awesome...what I'm tryna say is no.2 could use a little more climax... They're both very good for CSI, I can imagine...CSI Las Vegas yea!! =)-Kel

[orest]

Thanks! I will consider this! So, back to the studio!Actually number 1 got through to a CSI/House listing a few months ago with only the ethnic percussion to it! (I saw an episode with CSI featuring sounds like these, it was about a family from the eastern side of the world..)

[ideascapes]

I'm out of my element here, Alex, but can hear you're getting a high quality sound and am feeling the tension in both songs. Nice dynamics too. Agree with the comment about the triangle in #1.The piano in #2 sets a great feel. Not crazy about the drum sound, but the piece overall is very well done with some surprising harmonic changes.Vince

[tinozigzag]

Hi Orest.I am not expert on this genre but I like them both!!Tino

[mazz]

The first one has a very good melody that sounds very 24. Not much to say about that one except that maybe you could start simpler, introduce fewer timbres at the beginning. Many scores ease in at times and you don't realize that you're hearing the music until it's already in.On the second one, I'd dispense with the piano all together until it plays it's very first left hand octave, and I'd mute that so it's very dark sounding. If you need that riff at the beginning, give it to a muted instrument like a marimba played softly with felt mallets and octave lower than the part is now. Then when the piano and the drums come in it will be much more dramatic, IMO.You've caught the scent, stay with it!!!Mazz

[orest]

Mazz: Thank you! I will do what you suggest! I've already started redoing them, and begun with a third as well. now I'm more tired of my old sounds. The new Spectrasonic synth, that one I MUST have