dcallen - Bells of the Dragonslayer (PERFECT 10!!!)

Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 12:15 pm

ARTIST: dcallen

SONG: Bells of the Dragonslayer

HIFI: http://www.unsignedbandweb.com/music/play.php?band_id=2004&song_id=2623&mode=song_hifi

Okay i have had this song for almost 3 weeks now..ouch sorry. The CD i burnt this track on is still in my car...and i cant see myself taking this out anytime soon.

This review is very difficult for me based on the complexity of the song. Yeah i took music theroy, no i was not very good at it. I think i have the chord progression down...then it changes key. I have to admit at first the dissonance in the bassline made it kind of hard for me to get into the groove...but the synths that coming in at :57 seem to bring everything togehter nicely. By the end of the first listen i was enticed. By the end of the second listen i was hooked. This is very hard to do..especially with electronic music: Make a song that gets better with each listen.( It is something we should all strive to do)

At first i could have sworn there was a tri tone in the bassline...hence the reason why i wanted to take a copy into school with me so i could mess with a piano. SO i have messed around with it and this is my best guess that the bassline is going I, VII, raised VI, raised V+. (*disclamer: u4ea has been out music school for a long time now...and was never very good in the beginning...)
That is my guess and im sticking to it. Well the raised fifth explains why it would sound a bit stragne to me. But even by the end of the first listen i was grooving. By the time the 2nd and 3rd listen rolled around i was hooked. Hmmm, nice key changes that are really quite unoticable (possible i created them in my own head)...seem to bring the chord progression around to a finalizing/climax point.

It reminds me of something reminicant of the late 40's. Sounds very jazz infulenced...which is probably why i liked it so much. The dissonance and release is just great! The synth's take a bassline that perks your brain and turns it into a thing of melodic beauty. The drums are quite phat...especailly for someone who likes "ambient". Nice trip hop vibe going on.

The name is awesome. It toally fits the song...kinda of reminds me of some final fantasy music or perhaps some animated cartoon (the music in those video game went beyond the norm...hence all the millions of soundtracks they have sold). Did you ever see an animated movie called "flight of the dragon"? Probably not...but this song gives me flashbacks...makes me think of dragons flying around.

Does the dragonslayer win? its hard to tell from this song, but i can tell you that you will win if you listen to this track. It is at a level of intelligence that most would dismiss at first galance...DONT DO THIS! You will be a smarter person if you can understand this song. (i can not)Me and dcallen have a bit of histroy, once i told him before a contest that "An Ambient track could never beat a trance track"...well here i am...eatting my own words. I have rated his "ambient" track higher than any trance track i have reviewed.

So based on the quality of the track, the overall intelligence which is first visible in the "dissonant" chord progression, and the premium mastering job...i have no choice but to give this song a 10. I have listened to it many many many times, this is a song that keeps on giving. I promise you that the second time you listen will be better than the first, and so on.

Great work dcallen, you are the first person to recieve a 10

Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 12:43 pm

wow, great review!

Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:38 pm

I hardly know how to respond to this! Embarassed

First, wow thanks!!!!!!! A 10?!?!? wow, thanks again!!!!!! (that's not a 10 out of 100 is it?)
Okay, this was definately worth the wait. I wasn't in a hurry anyway, but wow! a 10!

Alright, the bass line is a simple C, A, G, F at the intro. Probably an incorrect progression according to theory so I'm glad I didn't take theory. Wink

Then up a whole from C to D then up a half from D to E-flat.
Also, I love jazz and jazz progressions, they are usually much more interesting than most other forms of music partly because they usually don't go where you would expect them to go. (Wow, a 10!)
I remember that contest by the way, and our bantering about the ambient versus trance and techno, that was fun. By the way, Organism is setting up another competition and had a couple spots open, join up if you haven't. Very Happy

Finally (will he ever stop?), thanks so much for such a wonderful review but mostly thanks for enjoying my music, that really means more to me than the great review! (wow, a 10!)....

cheers,
dave

Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:44 pm

u4ea... now THAT'S how you get me to listen to electronica. Who can't listen after that Excellent review? thanks for posting.

Happy thanksgiving everybody. smili

ubw newbie Joined: Oct 17, 2004 Location: CORK Posts: 45

I have to commend U4eA for such a good review. You definatley worked hard on it and got me to listen to the track.

I normally don't go seeking this kind of music. Your review got me to listen to the song more to rate you as a reviewer than anything else. I have to say you did an excellent job I would concur with your rating, IMHO the music is very good has a nice feel to it and is quite laid back. I would listen to this track again.

Well done ARTIST: dcallen

Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 6:19 pm

Happy Thanksgiving to you there in Music City USA!!! Cool

Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 6:29 pm

Thanks you so much ROGUE! I have always been a rock'n'roller from way back so I tend to approach electronic music from a different perspective. I have more rock, jazz, and classical influence than anything else. I'm happy to see you enjoyed the song and I want to listen to some of your music as well. I actually tried to but nothing opened for some reason!?

cheers,
dave

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 8:31 am

It's a nice song, too slow for my tast tho Very Happy

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 9:14 am

Awesome review...awesome track.....And I know another one from dcallen that can obtain a 12/10 lol!

Just check all his tracks....just awesome.

peace

alek Cool

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 10:23 am

thanks! yes it is on the downtempo side...

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 10:24 am

Wow Alek! First a 10/10 and now a 12/10! What a day this has been! Laughing

cheers friend!
dave

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 1:46 pm

LOL! The most popular review thread ever! Thanks to all the people who listened based on the review Very Happy

Well thanks for clearing up that chord progression for me dcallen. Very nice track

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 2:34 pm

It's an awesome review if you ask me! (and even if you don't it still is Very Happy

)

dcallen - Bells of the Dragonslayer (PERFECT 10!!!)

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