From what you say the client might be looking for a resonat filter modulated by an lfo sound. Such were all over the 50s\60s scifi movies. Simply get a resonant filter going, tracking the key pitch (it doesn't have to be 100%), modulate it w/ a fast (audible) oscillator and amp envelope the sound. You recognise the sound as soon as you patch it - swooping pure pitch followed by bastard offsprings. If you've seen a space ship in space from the 50s you've heard it. Echo to taste. Easy w/ a VA, and I just used a Z3TA patch that did that exact trick. Don't recall the name, but it is sooo easy to set up you would be wasting time looking for the patch.
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