Update XV

So next on the list is "Hurt Like You've Never Been Loved". An interesting song. Hardly any clean vocals. Mostly growls. And the good thing about growls is they are not in any melody. So there is no chord pattern to follow and the remix really could be anything! Well, anything at 230/115 BPM...

So, I've done a tune which builds up with a breakbeat kind of kick pattern, an arpeg kind of line and lead line, both sourced from the original tune. Then a break, some vocal build up and into a 4/4 beat with a rolling bassline. More build up, more vocals, break down again, then another build up of a simple but truly effective riff. Then everything back in and finish off with the syncopated vocals at the end of the original tune. I never thought a tune running at 115 BPM could feel like it has energy and drive but here we are.

Production wise, I usually use the XFer Records LFO Tool for my ducking/pumping/sidechaining, which is really good if you're on a straight 4 to the floor kick. Anything outside of this and it's a bit of a pain. You can set it to be triggered on a MIDI input, and it will duck on that input, but also duck on whatever rate it is on. It's weird. I might have to investigate further but also explore other possibilities. I used to use the Vengeance Multiband Sidechain so might have to dig that out again. Thing is, that used to be licensed on eLicenser, which was a USB dongle, and I'm definetely way past that kind of pain. Might also investigate the native Cubase offering - Auto LFO. But this can all wait for the Mixing & Mastering stage, which isn't too far away now :)

Next up, the first song on the original album, X (51.362820, 0.213735). And this one will be difficult. Difficult because I think it is a fantastic song already, a great way to start the album, so I really have no idea what to do with it.

I'm also starting to think about the ordering of the album. Coming from a DJ background, I like to have an album (or set) take you on a journey. Most of the time this will be a powerful start, some anthems, a tune or two to bring the tempo and feel down, a super emotional low point, then back up towards the end with a big ending. Hopefully at the end the listener will go "holy fuck that was awesome, I need to listen to it again". Goals. Thing is, depending on how the next tune goes, I might have 4 songs which are low in tempo, and that might be too much of a low point. Might have to rethink and have a mini low after a couple of tunes, then a real low a couple of songs later. We shall see. 

Anyway, enough rambling. This is just a brief glimpse into the thoughts in my head at the moment. It's a dangerous place to be sometimes... :)