MadTracker - MT2 Compo

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Magnetic Rainbows

By ahegner

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Yannick

Originality:	7	Technical:	6
Theme:	6	Quality:	7
Arrangement:	7	Global:	7

Sunbuster

Originality:	7	Technical:	7
Theme:	8	Quality:	8
Arrangement:	5	Global:	7

This track has a somewhat happy theme. It, to me at least, creates a nice summery vibe. It has a pretty simple structure but it still has pretty much going on in the background.

There is perhaps a bit too much drifting from one thing to another. I get the sence that there's something missing that links the various pieces togheter.

I like the drums here. They sit quietly in the back, but still they give a lot to the tune. But I'd give more time into panning them as well as the other instruments are panned. Believe me, it's astounishing how much well panned drums do to a tracks atmoshpere.

The flute melody is nice. But like most of the melodies, it's a bit all over the place. There needs to be a path that it follows I think, something that links it all togheter like I said earlier. Now it feels more like a set of random notes that happen to work well togheter.

Sample quality is good here. Even though the flute is only at 8kHz it works well in the tune. This might actually be a place where a low quality sample works better. It gives the flute that slightly dirty sound.

A nice lush piece overall, but it perhaps has a bit too much going on everywhere.

Novus

Originality:	8	Technical:	6
Theme:	7	Quality:	6
Arrangement:	7	Global:	7

With "Magnetic Rainbows," Ahegner fuses together elements of pop, fantasy and electronica into an intriguing hybrid that's short on melody but long on atmosphere. The result isn't all that memorable, but it's still pleasant, and hints at what Ahegner may be capable of in the future.

Melodically, the song needs work. "Magnetic Rainbows" is utterly devoid of hooks, and this makes the song hard to remember. The few lead melodies that show up from time to time are so weak that it's often more entertaining to pay attention to what's happening in the background.

Fortunately, that's where the song pays off. At any given point there are so many neat little things going on in the background with the bassline, the percussion, the backing harmonies and chords. All of this makes for a wonderful sense of atmosphere about the song, and that's truly what makes it worth listening to. If the melodies were more interesting, I would be holding this up alongside similar tunes by Awesome and Nighthawk.

The sample selection is less-than-professional, but still adequate. The volume and panning mixing sounds a little muddy at times as well, which holds the song back a little more.

On the plus side, you simply don't hear many tunes like this. "Magnetic Rainbows" is fairly original, pleasant, and certainly worth a listen. Ahegner is a name to watch. He's not quite there yet, but he's on his way.