Alright, need to finally listen to this thing front-to-back.
First of all, Teffy, the mix sounds amazing. Not only does the background chatter set the scene well, but it also truly sounds like it's coming out of wall-mounted speakers and bouncing off of the tile floor. Great job!
"Walking Down the Road or Something" sounds bright and wintry, and also flows nicely into PurpleGhost's piece. I expected to hear a lot of mallets in this collab, and I was not disappointed lol. The brass samples at around the 1-minute mark are not the best quality (just sound very fake), but I like the melodies and percussion a lot.
HC1's track feels more laid-back and sultry, almost like a lounge at an upscale nightclub. The percussion here is also really strong, and the minimal texture and rich atmosphere suit the genre very well.
The pulsating "whooshes" at 3:30 offer a bit of a different timbre to the otherwise smooth-sounding pieces so far. The mix is a bit quiet, and I would've liked to hear more of the bass, but once the piano comes in at around 4:15 the mall vibe is coming through much more. Similar to HC1's track, this is downtempo and relaxing.
GoatSpunk's piece has some really interesting percussion at the beginning - reminds me of a train rattling on the tracks as it passes by. The light, orchestral sound design and melodic lines that tend to descend in pitch almost make it sound melancholic. Moody and evocative stuff.
Meanwhile, Inku-Inku is picking up the tempo with a bubbly groove. The crisp beat at 8:34 is really nice, although the harmonies get a bit drowned out with all the reverb in the texture. Love the sound design here, though - the vocal samples, E-piano, and guitar blend so well together.
Casper also has some cool vocal samples. I like the furtive intro and the gradual increase in the energy level during this piece. The melodic bridge at 11:08 is great - really gives those smooth pads a chance to shine. One of the catchiest pieces in the collab right here.
Stonmann's track has some neat rhythmic syncopations, and the saxophone melodies really hit the spot.
LBNewgrounds' track is very short, but it sounds so cute and mischievous.
Wobwobrob's piece has some great melodies, and also some nice percussion. The track sounds Christmas-y somehow - maybe it's the sound design?
I'm loving the energy of Xanxoepico's piece. The danceable sax solos and the strong off-beat emphasis really give this a sassy flavor. Apparently, those mannequins at Macy's talk back!
AnonymousFrog's track is full of neat percussion, and some beautiful pads. Sometimes, the pads get a little grating/dissonant, like at around 16:20, but overall this is a really majestic piece with an eerie undertone.
TVP06 has the best title in the collab IMO. The jazzy flair and bass-heavy sound design also get high marks from me. Really good example of how a stop-start sort of arrangement can be really effective at making a track sound fun and engaging.
HC1 is back at 18:36 with another banger! Love the mallets and the jazzy harmonies. Sounds like HC1 is writing the soundtrack for the next James Bond movie.
AhWham has a tranquil and bright sound design. The vocals caught me off guard at first, but also have great comedic value. The little "awww" after the announcer says the escalator is broken got me good. XD Then it's right back to the chill pads, with some extra layering at the end. It seems like the piece is over a little too soon, though, but props to the maintenance guy for that.
RetroCarrot's track is blissful and energetic, with some memorable melodies and cutesy sound design.
Beeetelgeuse has a unique one - the beat sounds vaguely hip-hop inspired, between the prominent hi-hat on the down beat and the minimal moving notes in the background. The mood is eerie and almost industrial - sounds like I'm shopping for a hitman to kill my ex-wife, and not clothes or a new blender.
7chains' submission sounds very 80s to me, like it's the soundtrack to a documentary on outer space that my substitute teacher put on. Definitely captures the sense of wonder of exploring a mall, especially one you haven't been to in a while.
POSTELVIS's track has some powerful percussion and rich pads toward the beginning, but they smooth out nicely by 29:00 to yield to a schmaltzy groove. The vocals were a pleasant surprise, too - they sound vaguely nostalgic and introspective, but it's hard for me to discern the lyrics. Still, this is a stand-out track in the collab for its narrative development and compositional details. Loved the sax solo at the end too.
Undertalekid12's piece has a nice, strong beat and some quirky vocals counterbalanced by some smooth pads and piano chords. I like how the texture gets progressively thicker over the course of the first 90 seconds, and how the beat falls away as the piano plays its final line.
Charlmot has a catchy track with some bouncy synths and clever syncopations.
Creeperforce's piece is cute and harmonious, with a lot of plucked strings and, later, some powerful percussion by around 36:00. Especially towards the end, it also sounds a bit mischievous.
URAYsan's track has a lot of variety in terms of sound design, with a sitar (?) solo punctuated by some prominent piano and woodwind solos. The rhythmic elements sound Latin-inspired - all that's missing is the clave in the drum kit. I love the ritardando at the end too.
YoannB, incidentally, has another piece with a Latin-sounding rhythm, this time with a organ lead. I love how the energy picks up by around 41:40, too. Later on, the jazzy piano solo is a great touch, accompanied by some lovely strings before the final refrain at 43:00 ties it all together. This is another stand-out piece of the collab IMO. Why yes, I take my salsa dancing lessons at the mall!
Alia Facies' track has some heavy, low-register piano chords, and later some brighter, higher-pitched harmonies to round out the texture nicely. Sometimes, the piano chords don't always sound very distinct - spacing out the notes a bit more widely might help with that. By 46:00, the piece is really blossoming into a melodic and graceful track. A lot of effort went into this composition, and it shows.
Redcarpet has a catchy track with some neat sound design. The main pads overwhelm the melodic content a bit in the mix a bit, although the bridge at 48:00 without the pads sounds more balanced and fruitful.
VoicesByCorey nailed his job interview as the intercom announcer at the mall I own.
Aalasteir's piece has some catchy beats and a mood that wavers between chill and unsettling. The pads are a little eerie and dissonant, but not in a grating way. Sounds like a wayward shopper cutting through the truck depot at the back of the mall, surrounded by graffiti and flickering lights.
LANpartyanimal's track is cheerful and soothing, with smooth pads, a strong snare, and dynamic melodies. The sax solo at 54:20 is probably a highlight of the piece, although the instrument itself sounds a bit inauthentic.
Mr. Purple's contribution is a cutesy and melodic track with synth arpeggios, an upbeat lead, and shimmering, bell-like harmonies. The percussion occasionally sounds a bit harsh in the mix, as does the melodic instrument at 56:50, but later on the beat smooths out and the guitar solo really hits the spot.
Mizemu has a catchy piece with jazzy harmonies full of innuendo, from the torrid strings to the rhythmic piano line and punchy drums. The texture sounds a tad too busy at times, especially around 59:00, although overall this is a fun and engaging composition.
Vividlance has a smooth, tranquil, almost otherworldly track with synth pads, jazzy harmonies, and creative percussion. This mall feels rather upscale - I can't decide if that "Shiny Sphere" is a disco ball or a chandelier, but by the end of this piece this sounds like some avant-garde 70s dance music.
Dynamic0 has a cutesy, whimsical oom-pah sort of beat here. Sounds like I'm in a video game trying to lure a giant out of his hiding place in a mountain, tbh. Very catchy track with some great sound design. The added piano harmonies at the end are really nice, too.
Nonomino brings back the jazzy sound of earlier tracks in full swing (pun intended). The E-piano lead melody and hat/cymbal-heavy drums really hit the spot. Tons of ornamentation on those melodies, too, and the switch to the lower-register at 1:07:00 adds some nice variety that I didn't even know it needed. One of my favorite tracks of the collab! Great for some high-energy shopping with a spring in my step.
PurpleJoe has some flashy pads at the beginning that then mellow out into a minimal, galloping beat and warm synth strings. Later, some higher-register synths help add some flavor and rhythmic appeal to the piece. Solid effort here!
JanBuilder has some great, smooth E-piano leading the way, and then the tambourine and slap bass hit and I'm 1,000% sold. The crisp drums and laid-back pacing really give this piece a great old school vibe, and the classic rock-style organ and the occasional flurry of E-piano notes don't hurt either. The rhythmic appeal of the piece is just as powerful as the soulful melodies and killer sound design, too. Top-notch effort here, Jan.
Ehh, piece #37 is okay, I guess.
Manvineo's track has some great percussion and an upbeat, easygoing harmonic structure. Love the saxophone lead and the balance of frequencies in the mix. The piece is melodic and engaging, but not too in-your-face either. Definitely striking the right balance for a mall. Super catchy and fun piece here, dude!
Jini has a smooth, downtempo groove with a prominent bass, as well as some really creative drums. I wanted to hear a bit more of the sax in the mix at 1:21:40, but the instruments all blend so well together. The energetic beat at 1:22:50 was also a good choice compositionally. Nice work, Jini!
I like the evocative pads at the beginning of realityreimagined's piece. The vocals were a nice touch - did you record them yourself? Their pop sensibilities really fit H&M's brand well. I'm glad someone dedicated their piece to a particular store. :D The rap part caught me off guard a bit, but overall this is a neat and energetic track that covers a lot of ground in terms of mood/genre. Solid work!
I like the chill pads and big 80s-style beat in Trah's piece. The vocals are smooth and vaguely somber, but certainly fit the laid-back vibe of the rest of the piece.
Alia Facies' second track has a great syncopation about it. I like how you used the guitars - that's one instrument I feel like I haven't heard a lot of in this collab. The metallic-sounding percussion and echo-y piano chords round out the sound design well here. I especially like the bass-y bridge at 1:30:45. Solid work!
Popolamusic's piece has a more upbeat, danceable vibe to it. I like the smooth pads and prominent bass. The E-piano solo at around 1:32:00 really hits the spot, and you do a good job of varying the sound design later in the piece too. The melodies at 1:33:00 feel like the climax of the piece - they're just very cathartic and refreshing-sounding. Great job!
It seems like everyone in this collab has better drum samples than me, and BlakeyTakeyTheCakey is no exception. Love the jazzy E-piano and crisp percussion. Some of the solos sound a bit bizarre, though - like the stuttering piano one at 1:34:55. The rhythm of the solos could also fit inside the beat pattern a little better - it's a little hard to follow the progression of the piece right now. Still, a lot of your individual melodic ideas are really good, and as I mentioned, I really like the sound design.
And of course Teffy wraps it up with an upbeat and melodic banger! Love the modulation at 1:37:30 and the rhythmic elements of this piece too. The sound design blends together very nicely, and the jazzy rolled chord at the end is truly a fitting conclusion to this epic collab.
What else is there to say? I am so grateful to have been a part of this! It seems that everyone interpreted "mall music" in their own way, yet the commonalities are undeniable - light, melodic, mostly upbeat, and vintage sound design. I'll be sure to throw this on my earbuds next time I'm doing some shopping. ^_^
10/10 * 45