About the review

Title: Overload
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Artist: Project-X
Genre: Electronica: Trance
Reviewed by: Spectra on October 22, 2007 (All reviews by Spectra)

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1Overall Description
4.5-ish song...and this has got to have one of the most memorable moods, leads, I've ever heard. This is a great example of how, even within the strict confines of the trance genre, a generous (six+ chord) evolving progression,
layered fade-ins (the sweeping acid synth starting at 2:22, for example) and dynamics of fading in and out of a very strong break-beat/cymbal arrangement can keep a single theme fresh.
 
2Creativity Description
What would normally die from having a single theme is saved by creative fade-ins, layered beats and builds, and small but thematic twists in the melody (such as the one at 3:00 and also 3:40) that keep the feel of this one-theme-wonder surprisingly fresh. However the use of typical volume-envelopes/amplitude-modulations and no creative altercations to the beat (think bass kicks on off-beats and echoing snares/ghost-notes) is what would likely be needed to elevate this song further while in keeping with the "catchy single melody pop ethic". Therefore this one is left short of 5 stars.
 
3Artistic License Description
As mentioned in #2 a lot of the techniques around the melody are quite standard and not surprising or breathtaking, yet the way several layers are mixed in different synchronizations / at different rhythms give a distinct poly-rhythmic feel with the mood formed by the melody, while a tad high on "cheese", is also a very original mood and a bit like something Edzes (another artist on this site and a very well ranked one at that) might compose though different enough to be on its own ground.
 
4ArrangementDescription
See "sound quality" for the most part. There is nothing wrong at all with the transitions, balance, sample style/selection in this piece.
 
5Sound Quality Description
Though some of the synth spin around the panning spectrum very well the drums sound quite monophonic and kill a lot of the sense of space the melody implies. Also the bass seems to leave very little kick around under 100hz or so leaving a "toy kick drum" feel to an other-wise raging beat. The main reason I left this a 3, although sound quality approaches a 4 on a personal level for me, is that some of these tunings could/should be applied to this track to put it on a production level where it could reach the much wider audience it deserved.
 
6Does it work as a piece of music Description
Minus a bit of over-adherence to trance standards (IE lack of surprises in beat style and lack of pro-trance "warping" of harmonics of effects/instruments) and a few production flaws...this is essentially an up-to-date feeling track despite being produced in 2001...you guy(s) need to get back to making new music!
 
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