Electric Strut (Song Version)

Electric Strut is a song I wrote about a year ago, when I first started getting into synth-based songwriting.  I was trying to learn more about programming arpeggios and came up with what I thought was an interesting pattern, which I applied to the Rapture "Moog Pedal Lead" patch.  I added some simple 909 drums, and a solo using Razor's super fat "5th Bass" patch, and I had the makings of a song.  I've been adding more and more to it in the last couple months, and at this point I've got a lot more under the hood, including some rhodes piano, tremolo guitar, and lots of LFO-controlled filters. ;)  Anyway, I hope you like it.
 
Electric Strut (Song Version) can be found at:
 
https://soundcloud.com/arcanor/electric-strut-song-version
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12526281
 
Thanks in advance for your time and feedback!

-Walt, although isn't really the kind of music I generally like - I found this to be very interesting - I really enjoyed this - well recorded, all in all - a really well done piece.

Nice one Walt. Has a nice funky electronica beat and looking forward to some added instrumentation and even some special effects to bring this full circle. Great start to something   HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHUGH!!
 
Peace and Blessings, John

theguitarplayer
Nice one Walt. Has a nice funky electronica beat and looking forward to some added instrumentation and even some special effects to bring this full circle. Great start to something   HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHUGH!!
 
Peace and Blessings, John

Thanks so much for listening John!  Is there anything in particular you think this song might need?  There are already 13 layers of stuff in there, and to be honest I'm actually thinking of removing one (the low filtery engine sound) to give it more space. ;)
 
It's true that there is no big strong lead voice blasting out "the melody" of the song.  But in my mind the main "melody" is actually that Moog arpeggio that starts the song, and everything else that comes in and builds is intended as a counter melody against it, but never actually taking over.  The overall sparseness is intentional, and hopefully the general funkiness of the beat makes you want to move your head from side to side, or jut your chin forward. ;)  I want to make sure I don't lose that.  Then again, maybe I'm the only one who thinks it's already got it?  Hmm.
 
Or maybe this could just be a matter of personal style?  Most of your songs seem to be "bigger" and more dramatic in order to underscore a philosophical/religious point you're trying to make.  This piece is intended to be subtle, intellectual, fun and playful, but with no deep meaning or message.

I am rapidly becoming a fan of yours.  Your melodies and movements are always very interesting.  THIS tune is similar (not the same) to a track that plays at the gym in the "TOTAL BODY ENHANCEMENT" BOOTH.  I call it Shake and Bake.  It is very smooth and kinda takes me away for a few minutes which is what your track does.  Really nice stuff, Walt!!  BTW, the next track came on, Electric Strut, and I am still listening.  You have taken what CAN be a redundant piece of music and added something.  I can't explain it but it keeps me listening.  Are you Arcanor?  Oh, I'm minding the Gap now.  Great stuff, Walt!!!

evadianepug
I am rapidly becoming a fan of yours.  Your melodies and movements are always very interesting.  THIS tune is similar (not the same) to a track that plays at the gym in the "TOTAL BODY ENHANCEMENT" BOOTH.  I call it Shake and Bake.  It is very smooth and kinda takes me away for a few minutes which is what your track does.  Really nice stuff, Walt!!  BTW, the next track came on, Electric Strut, and I am still listening.  You have taken what CAN be a redundant piece of music and added something.  I can't explain it but it keeps me listening.  Are you Arcanor?  Oh, I'm minding the Gap now.  Great stuff, Walt!!!

Wow, thanks so much Warren!  That is high praise indeed.  Yes, I'm a.k.a. Arcanor (which comes from my video game development work).
 
I definitely agree that a lot of electronic music can drone on and on a bit.  I guess many "electronica" songs are intended for dance parties where people just get into a groove and want it to keep going, so they don't mind it being repetitive.  But that's not what I prefer myself, so I try to create songs without so much repetition, using different combinations of layers, and bringing in new sounds and rhythms that compliment what's already going on.  I try to change something significant in each new song section, building, taking something away, and ultimately (hopefully) telling a kind of a musical story.
 
I'm still just starting out with synth music and learning as I go, but my years as a pop/rock producer have helped me keep the important things in mind, like frequencies, balance, loudness, space, instrument/voice selection, etc.  But now I've got a lot of nifty new tools to play with along the way.  Synth music is fun!

Wookiee
Nice stuff Walt, your production is excellent.  The mix and blend of textures is very good.
 
Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for listening John.  Always great to hear from you. :)

Very nice indeed Walt.  It has a great mixture of sounds and textures.  There are enough sounds and changes in this where it keeps one's attention on the song.  Some times electronica can get a bit boring but this number certainly does not.  I think that you an Blip have gotten me to start liking this genre.
Great number -- thanks for posting.

Freddy J
Very nice indeed Walt.  It has a great mixture of sounds and textures.  There are enough sounds and changes in this where it keeps one's attention on the song.  Some times electronica can get a bit boring but this number certainly does not.  I think that you an Blip have gotten me to start liking this genre.
Great number -- thanks for posting.

Thanks muchly Freddy. :)  I am always looking for tasty arpeggios, chord transitions, and voices to work with, and inspire me to write a new song.  I don't really write melodies much.  I figure if I create a catchy sequence of chords for people to listen to, they will soon be humming along and picking out their favorite notes from the chords, making their own melodies over top.
 
PS - Who is Blip?

I'm just exploring electronica and this is a nice introduction.
Not sterile, it evolves and keeps a good natural groove. Things I look for.
A very clean production

theguitarplayer
Well, thanks for asking for my thoughts Walt. I listened a couple of times and this is what's come into mind, and it's just my thoughts. I'm thinking that a nice muted sax might sound good at 1:04- 1:20, them maybe a nice little jazz guitar sound at 1:52- 2:07 and to give it a nice final touch maybe a flute at 2:41- 3:04.  Maybe a chimes sound in a couple of select place and a couple of metal hits around the low filter engine sounds. Just a thought. It sounds good as is, but you did mentioned mention about putting more under the hood in the past few months, and I didn't know if you were finished going under the hood or not, so these are just what came to my mind while listening.
 
Peace and Blessings, John

Thanks John.  I thought quite a bit about this and decided a couple of things:

1. I think you're right in selecting those particular sections, which are the "B" part.  They got added later in the production process, and perhaps they are a little bland in comparison with the rest of the song.
2. I think the voices you mentioned (sax, jazz guitar, flute) are not "Electric" sounding enough to match the theme of the song. ;)  Instead I added a new Reaktor synth part, running Photone (which I've been wanting to try) on the "More Wheel" patch.  It kinda sounds like a somewhat synthified percussive echoey guitar/piano, and I'm using a pitch bend making it sound a little like a ukelele crossed with some steel drums!  Okay, that sounds crazy, but I think it came out pretty good.  It first appears at about 0:58 (softly), then comes up for the "B" part from 1:04-1:20, then falls back a bit until the next "B" part at 1:52.  I'm still not sure if I like it or not in the context of this song, but I'd like to know what people think.  Is it too much?  I don't want to trample the groove.

jamesg1213
Hi Walt, I haven't been around much lately so this is the first tune of yours I've listened to. Right up my street, I like it a lot. Very tastefully arranged and your use of subtle sound textures is very nice indeed. That Rapture 'Moog Pedal Lead' is a favourite of mine, but I've never used it in an arpeggio like here, sounds great set against that Rhodes piano. Excellent stuff.

Thanks for checking it out James!  I actually took a listen to your Headscape page last week and really enjoyed it as well.  I love ambient/atmospheric music and you guys definitely do it quite well!  I was disappointed that I couldn't find you on soundcloud and "follow" you. :)

Nice work Walt, digging the warmth in the tones! The snare seems a bit staccato at some points but overall well done bro!

This would fit right in to an Alan Parsons Project record. Nice work! I really like your style and look forward to hearing more.
 
Regards,
Dan
 

rscain
Nice.
Definately got my "chin moving forward", LOL.
I like how it builds. At first the section where the lead synth repeats the same note seemed kinda bland to me, but then I found myself caught up in the rhythm of it so I'm thinking it works as intended....
Good job!

Thanks rscain.  I've added a little something there in the "B" part (the strummy high pitched sound, see my recent posts above), but not sure if it's enough.  To be honest maybe I selected a yawner of an arpeggio for the lead part there.  But I've since added several layers to augment/match it, so at this point there's no going back. ;)