MRC Airwaves Challenge - Comments of the jury

By snout

Ambassador (5382)

06-03-2005, 22:31

A winter's tale (mp3)
Created by: Meits
Soundchips: MSX-AUDIO + MSX-MUSIC

Meits's track shows some good composing skills, a nice soundpalette and strong melodies. Special note goes to the drumtrack for the double kick and fill-ins,plus the tempo changing to that of a waltz fits very well within the piece. Overall it sounds moody,natural and has an unconventional "folklore" feel to it, making it exceptionally suitable for the current snowy landscape here in Holland.
Magical boxes (mp3)
Created by: Alfonso D.C.
Soundchips: PSG

Alfonso D.C.'s track magical boxes starts off slowly with a nice repeating melody, then a sliding bass adds to that and the music starts building up.A crunchy beat with nice echoes and an altered main melody suddenly culminate in a very addictive endpart.The crunchy filtering breakbeats with a spooky melody in the end just makes me want to hear more.
Cuando te miro (mp3)
Created by: SPL
Soundchips: MSX-MUSIC

SPL's track is a cute little gem,easy going and in a nice pace.Again a lot of detail has been put in the drumtrack,the rhythm changes subtly throughout the song.It starts off with a moody intro that changes in an easy going tune.The layering of melodies works well,and it never gets repetetive.Halfway the track changes again with a new melody,and becomes more moody with a beautiful end. Overall: Subtle, emotional and unconventional.
New generation of mighty monkey (mp3)
Created by: DRM
Soundchips: PSG, MSX-MUSIC, SCC

DRM's track is all over the place: funny,krrrrrrrazy and with some catchy hooks.I was amazed how all these different styles could be put together into a coherent mix,but damn it works. For some reason it conjures up images of playing super contra on the SNES,where you drop from one situation into another before you realize it.But,new generation of mighty monkey sounds as if Swiss lunatics/geniuses Yello were asked to do the soundtrack.And when you insert the cartridge it seems damaged.And in the end,so do I,after listening...damaged and smiling ACE !!!
Airwaves (mp3 Goodnight - mp3 Sweep on 1channel)
Created by: Joyrex
Soundchips: MSX-MUSIC

Joyrex (anything to do with aphex twin?) made 3 tracks for this competition, of which the hidden track sadly couldn't participate,since it was made earlier before the compo. That "mystery" one was my personal favourite,but the other 2 are fine enough too. Goodnight has a more dancy feel with funny out of tune melodies.The flute-like interlude at the beginning is repeated somewhere later with another out of tune sound. I like it,because it's basic and doesn't need anything else. The second one,sweep on one channel is the better of the 2.A mellow bassline and the dry shuffled drums provide a solid ground for the melodies. Nothing is out of place here again and both tracks fit well into the theme "modern music".
Mist (mp3)
Created by: Inexpensive
Soundchips: PSG

Inexpensive is the only person outside of MRC who took on the challenge of composing something on a computer he had never used in his life. Sadly, Sweden and MSX don't have a hystory apparently. Within 2 days he started making some first steps into the unknown world of the msx,choosing the PSG soundchip to compose it on (using bluemsx). I have a passion for PSG stuff anyway,and for a first attempt to compose something on an msx it ain't bad at all, specially since it was made in one day.It sounds playful,plain,and could have well been a gametune on an msx. Hopefully he'll continue exploring the possibilities of composing on the MSX,and spread the virus in Sweden
Wings (mp3)
Created by: Infinite
Soundchips: Moonsound

Then Last but not least,Wolf_'s entry to the challenge with the beautiful wings.After a long ambienteque intro, An industrial styled drumpattern comes in, which forms the perfect contrast with the crystalclear melodies. It works very well,the more mechanical rhythmstructure versus the fragile sounds.It gives the idea of freedom, something ascending,taking off and viewing the beauty of earth from a higher angle.All the sounds are well chosen, little extra touches here and there to add to the atmosphere (no pun intended) of the track.Special part in this track for me is halfway,when the rhythm stops and the bass repeats itself,with a peculiar use of triplets,with a hesitating pause after them.It works beautifully and is a nice resting point before it literally lifts off again.The main melody gets support of nice female style choir vocals. Overall,wings reminds me of the more ambient styled output of front line assembly,and the mid 90's electronica. Oh and it reminds me of boats,long battlecruisers,harpoons,boys climbing the masts,cleaning of decks etc. But that's only a visual thing of course

By spl

Paladin (856)

07-03-2005, 00:36

Thanks for the comments, Poke -1,170. Be sure that all of you will be able to listen more and more songs from me

By poke-1,170

Paladin (990)

07-03-2005, 01:13

de nada senor !

By Vincent van Dam

Champion (396)

07-03-2005, 17:09

Joyrex (anything to do with aphex twin?) ...
Caustic Window actually

Anyway, thanks for the comments!

By poke-1,170

Paladin (990)

07-03-2005, 23:58

yup,joyrex j4 and j5

Then again,caustic window IS aphex twin (or richard d james,afx,bradley stryder,polygon window,GAK,the dice man,(half of) universal indicator,rich (from mike & rich))

By poke-1,170

Paladin (990)

08-03-2005, 00:16

Vincent,for some reason it sound a bit like bradley's beat...ever heard that one?

By Vincent van Dam

Champion (396)

09-03-2005, 09:34

(something like) Ofcourse I knew Caustic Window is Mr. James

I didn't know he also produced stuff as Bradley Stryder, don't know Bradley's Beat either