One for the "positive and bright, drum and bass songs"

[Anders]

I often discover music (both old and new) from listening to referenced artists in taxilistings, which are also a great source for discovering genres.
It may not be wise to jump between genres too much, but it´s very fun.
Here´s my first attempt at drum and bass (in the vein of the ref. artists), all comments are most welcome.

POSITIVE and BRIGHT, DRUM and BASS SONGS and INSTRUMENTALS are needed by a rapidly growing Music Licensing Company that frequently pitches directly to Advertising agencies. Male and Female vocals are both welcome for this pitch. Give them lively, Up-Tempo Songs and/or Instrumentals in the stylistic wheelhouse of "The Whistle Song" by Netsky, "The First Note Is Silent" by High Contrast, "Hypnotize" by Matrix & Chords, "Uplifting" by Genetic Bros, "Major Happy" by Fred V & Grafix, etc. Please submit uplifting Songs and/or Instrumentals that give listeners a sense of adventure and optimism. If you submit Songs with vocals, please be sure your lyrics are universal and PG-Rated. Avoid specific names, places, dates, times, brands, etc. Do not copy or rip off the referenced artists in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, texture, and tone. This Library offers a NON-EXCLUSIVE Deal. You'll keep 75% of the sync fee, and the Library will get 25%. You'll keep 100% of your Master and Copyright, and ALL applicable backend royalties. You must own or control 100% of your Master and Copyright. Broadcast Quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine). Please submit one to three Songs and/or Instrumentals online or per CD, include lyrics (if applicable). All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI and must be received no later than Monday, May 19, 2014.
TAXI # S140519DB

Good times (I think it needs a new title)
https://limeparfait.bandcamp.com/

/Anders

[themichaelscott]

The arrangement/musicianship/mix is amazing. But the sounds remind me of Super Nintendo. I feel like I just rescued the princess. I think the drums are probably fine when they get to that classic fast drum and bass beat towards the end, but the synth sounds probably aren't current enough.

Michael

[HectorRContreras]

Hello dear Anders,

Yes, the History of the Genre : "Drum and Bass" is very interesting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_and_bass

"The genre places great importance on the "bass line", a deep sub-bass musical pattern which can be felt physically through powerful sound systems due to the low-range frequencies favoured. There has been considerable exploration of different timbres in the bass line region, particularly within techstep. The bass lines most notably originate from sampled sources or synthesizers.

Of equal importance is the TR-808 kick drum, an artificially pitch-downed or elongated bass drum sound sampled.

The complex syncopation of the drum tracks' breakbeat, is another facet of production on which producers can spend a very large amount of time. The Amen break is generally acknowledged to have been the most-used (and often considered the most powerful) break in drum and bass.

Many drum and bass tracks have featured more than one sampled breakbeat in them and a technique of switching between two breaks after each bar developed.

Drum and bass exhibits a full frequency response which can only be appreciated on sound systems which can handle very low frequencies."

I am listening to : "Good Times"

I like your inventive Musical Ideas. But at 1.04, I am still waiting for this Drum and Bass thing ... as you wrote in your Tags, it is more Alternative Indie Pop.
You use Snare Drums.
Ah, at 1.38, the Drums appear. But, not really Bass or Low Frequency.

Ok; dear Anders, I think more work is needed for "Good Times" to become a good "sense of adventure and optimism" Musically, and more importantly to become a real Drum and Bass Track.
And did not the Listing mentioned Vocals, Male or Female Vocals ?

[WaddyP]

I really liked your piece. I think the drums and bass sounded too nice tonally for the D&B genre. I am not at all versed in D&B as I just took my first stab at it and I don't really know if I am even close. Here is my effort: https://soundcloud.com/waddyp/moonscapes I did play it for my kid who knows most of the current genres and sub genres and she said I am kinda there. I did listen to a lot of examples of this genre, and I found a video by Noisia which showed them in the studio and a lot of techniques they use. It seems that they really like to distort the drum samples and manipulate them a lot. To me your piece sounds a bit too nice and too musical to fit the genre. That's just my 2 cents, which may not even be worth that much. I did like it though for what it is. Good work.

[Anders]

Thank you Michael, and I needed to hear that Super Nintendo reference, I see your point.
I spent some time polishing the synths and was aiming to publish an updated version here but just realized there really is no improvement so far.
I´m currently working with Xpand and Structure...guess I need an update. I will certainly have another round with it before submitting. Don´t really know in which end to start right now though…

Thank you Hector and Catherine. I have been trying to shape the track into something I feel relates to the referenced songs rather than following the more general definition of drum and bass.
But perhaps you´re right, maybe it´s not drum and bass enough.
...The bandcamp-tags are unintentionally they come from some older general setting. I intend to start soundcloud instead.
The listing did say "and INSTRUMENTALS" but 4 out of the 5 tracks had vocals and I think they are all using it effectively to lift the songs but unfortunately I did not have time for this

Thanks Waddy, I listened to Moonscapes (3 times in a row) and I like it a lot.
I really enjoy that "off" theme but was still sort of waiting for it to land in that more "steady" drum and bass beat somewhere.
Good luck with it, I think you stand a good chance, would be intersting to know either way...

I´m still a newbie here but I have to say it´s a really inspiring community!

/Anders

[HectorRContreras]

You are so welcome dear Anders !