not easy at all… i had to listen to most of these a few times. you all brought it this time. limiting the samples really focused everyone. it was interesting to hear how folks treated even the same sections of some of the sources, while most of you picked out parts i’d not even considered. hearing people’s different perspectives really energizes me. i’m also kicking myself for not using the deep orchestral stuff as a bass line; same with using a cycle/wave for a synth or bass element. living and learning…
anyway, here are my picks. all of you should be proud. you are kicking some ass.
- @looms - nice drum work in here. the sub bass hits just right. your mix works really well, too. damn, i didn’t expect the vocals in the last part. nice segue into what could even be a separate song.
mentions:
- @PeteSasqwax - ominous start with that EQed bass line. love the sizzle and grit on the high hats. we both went dirty on this battle; yours hits the spot. nice work!
- @infovore - damn, such a nice flow… all the samples are really well integrated here. i am envious of these string and pluck chops. great track.
drrumble - love the intro, sample chops, and the little flourishes. it all flows nicely. the piano/orchestra clip for the bass element works really well, too. so solid.
lyingdalai - those intro slices into staccato bass… oof. i dig all the orchestral flourishes mingling with the uptempo beat behind. you made a whole bunch of elements feel very cohesive.
tinara - really interesting chop here. there’s lots of space for those orchestral clips. i’d love to hear this with a crisper mix; volume and dynamics were a little low for my old ears.
pineappledave - i can’t believe you made this on a calculator. awesome job, dude. has that classic flow with enough variation to keep it interesting. this is another track i’d like to hear with a different mix.
new_drugs - a concept song! i dig the energy in this one. it feels unlike your previous entries. each piece has its own character. kudos!
sleepyhead - classic flow, as always. i love how the plucks play off the horns in this one. are those single cycle synth lines in there? such a mellow vibe. i could let this roll all morning.
yabba - damn, those guitar snips are pretty here. i dig the air around everything. you let it breathe. yeessh… the flute, too. love it.
doug - oh, snap… the bounce and the filter swept stabs came out swinging. the stuff you’re doing with the DT consistently impresses me. i dig that bonus beat, too. props!
daevlor - ooh, i like how you chopped the strings. nice flow here, mix sounds good, i dug it.
sezare56 - another quick tempo one! pitching up the russian vox made me chuckle. it totally works here without being gimmicky. this reminds me of some early 2000s big beat stuff a bit. i love the sliding strings and your integration of the disco refrain toward the end.
ccmp - gah! that wobbly bass and drum intro slams! love the bell/zylophone sound and the mix. excellent work.
fnkstrng - very nice. i enjoyed the orchestral focus. it’s like sitting in a cozy chair. great work once again for not having much time.
claid - solid intro; dig the orchestra swells and slinky bass line. i enjoyed this one.
definitely the most interesting approach to this brief I think.
Reality, is I had a few different ideas and decides to go for all of them. I was targeting smoother transitions between them but not managed. I clearly see from where the feeling of tuning in a radio comes from. Thank you 
and definitely needs to work on my mixing chops a lot. Maybe I will try a make over of the track one day. It was clearly the element, I was the less happy with on the track.
Feels hype and exciting when making the track, then listening back it’s sound undefined and fatiguing. Bad habits are hard to break, ha.
