MadTracker - "oldbrian - standing still" by oldbrian

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oldbrian - standing still

by oldbrian

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Ogg Vorbis version

QBical

Originality:	8/10	Technical:	8/10
Theme:	8/10	Quality:	9/10
Arrangement:	10/10	Global:	9/10

Old brian with once again a huge file :D

now to the case, standing still is good, it's realy good.
Oldbrian realy knows how to combine great samples to an even greater sounding piece of ambient music.
The rythm works realy well with the whole track and is lovely mixed, not to much on the low end to keep the track realy dreamy, but not drowning in reverb to give the rhythm that edge.

My compliments!

Sunbuster

Originality:	9/10	Technical:	9/10
Theme:	10/10	Quality:	9/10
Arrangement:	10/10	Global:	10/10

Simply put, I like this track, very much so. It's calm and soothing in it's simplicity. Ambient downtempo at it's best. I like the rhodes and the indian flute and the slow pads that flow in and out. I can't imagine what kind of mood one must be to be able to write something this beautifull and full of emotion.

A slight minus is the short piece of vocal chant that plays at about the one minute marker. Although the style fits great in this track, I think the voice doesn't carry quite good enough. It sounds a bit unsecure, flutters too much. Would it be a bit louder, carry a bit longer and sound a bit more secure it would definetly add to the track. The way it's now it does more harm than good. Luckily(?), it dissapears pretty well in the rest of the track, so it's nothing that will kill the track.
The bassline could perhaps be emphasized a bit more also.

This one goes into the keepers folder.

TNK / ATK project

Originality:	9/10	Technical:	10/10
Theme:	8/10	Quality:	9/10
Arrangement:	10/10	Global:	10/10

Originality: 9/10
Theme: 8/10 (N/A really, as this is pure mood music)
Arrangement: 10/10
Technical: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Global: 10/10

Oldbrian enters MT compo 4 with ... some typical Oldbrian stuff.
Atmospherical, with a laid back rythm, some slight D&B elements.

I really have nothing to complain about this, except maybe that some lead melodies could be introduced here and there (and not just pre-sampled melodic samples, like your flute melody).

The very big plus of this song - not a surprise from Oldbrian however - is the atmosphere this song sets. I can really feel the relaxed and zen moods of the far east in this one. Definitely music I'ld send to TV channels / producers, 2 get it licensed in documentary movies. A beautiful soundscape that reaches the level of the best Enigma / Deep forest or Enya tracks. I'm really impressed. Without any doubt Oldbrian's best song so far.

While this song is pure moods, it never gets boring. You can play it over and over again and the magic remains. That's great !

Mixing is perfect to my ears (however I must say that such songs are quite easy to mix, as no element has to be very in front while the other ones still need 2 be heard like in dance music for exemple), the arrangement works perfectly within the genre.

One of this year's top entries. My congrats !

bigandymac

Originality:	7/10	Technical:	8/10
Theme:	9/10	Quality:	9/10
Arrangement:	10/10	Global:	9/10

good points:
the mood of the track is very soothing, and very well executed.
the structure is essentially flawless, well executed progression throughout, good bridging samples used. a couple of incidentals thrown in to give the track a more organic feeling.
great sample selection used, in particular the piano/organ the pipes and the drums all fit the mood of the track perfectly.
the drum programming is excellent, again really good sample selection. the use of the compressor levels the drums and brings them to the front of the mix.

not so good points:
its too short!
although there are some original touches, it is not an original concept (however it is excellent executed in this case).
vsts are only sparingly used apart from sampling the atmospheric pads from absynth (which some, although not me, would consider cheating). however the mt effects are used liberally.

summary:

excellent in composition, mood, sample selection, execution of style and technical competency. there is very little that can be faulted in this composition.