What makes a sound or rhythm sound dated.....or TIMELESS?

[michael11]

Old strings on your guitar.

[elser]

Funny...I was streaming a suspense/horror movie via Netflix, The Keep, from the 80's.
The movie itself is not bad, but the soundtrack was done by Tangerine Dream, all synthisizers.
At the time it may have been hip and worked, but for me it just ruined it. Made it almost comical, in a bad way.
I couldn't help wondering how much better it would be with an orchestral soundtrack, which would hold up no matter how much time passes.

That's a point I'm sure has been made before, synth sounds get dated. Paul Haslinger was in Tangerine Dream and he's making some very interesting music, but obviously with different sounds. What if that same music had been made with orchestral sounds...hmmm...

[mazz]

It's REALLY hard to make electronic music that doesn't sound dated. With some styles it's dated before it ever comes out. If one does really current styles for production music, one better hope the library places it before it loses it's shelf life.

[Casey H]

I've found that acoustic guitar is a sound that has good potential to transcend date. I use the word 'potential' because obviously not every acoustic guitar based track or song will be perceived that way. My experience with libraries and Taxi listings has been a solid acoustic track (singer-songwriter song or an instrumental) that does a good job at setting a mood is always in demand.

Casey

[orest]

But some of the sounds/effects/synths might come back again.
Ke$ha and the Swedish band "The sounds" use a lot of the 80's sounds in their production.
You'll never know, what you must understand is the timing of everything.