listening diary

play song OK, let’s remember to listen objectively here. The listening diary is about focusing on what can be heard in the track, over and above the things we may know about the track/artist etc. that cannot be ascertained simply by listening to the track. So, in this case, let’s forget that it is a [&hellip

play song The track begins with a processed drum loop that sounds almost like clattering stones or the bubblegum card clacking in the spokes of the kid’s bike. Most interesting is the absence of a backbeat in the loop which creates a false rhythm (ie. the impression that the 1 is occurring later) and makes [&hellip

play song The track begins with two electric guitars playing a riff with fairly open ringing chords. There is warm amp distortion on the guitars, most noticeable when they come together to strum the main chord. The guitar playing the more rhythmic part is panned left, and the other guitar playing the more detailed fiddly [&hellip

play anything The track begins with a distorted guitar chord strum from which emerges a rhythmic organ/synth solo for about 30 seconds. The solo is a true solo in that there are no other instruments for this section. The EQ of the synth is modulated from bright to dull and back again. The synth/organ part [&hellip

play song The track begins with an acoustic guitar. Its a clean, close miked steel string – you can hear the plectrum strums. And it feels slightly off to the right. After a few bars of intro the lead vocal enters, dead centre. At the pattern change mid way through the first verse the bass [&hellip

play song The intro is rich with sweet strings, a bass guitar with a thick chorus effect on it, and a reverbed piano. The verse begins with just a piano and lead vocal but both are treated to sound unnatural. The lead vocal is processed with EQ to sound like a telephone. The piano has [&hellip

play song blah blah telstar

play song The track begins with an 8 bar intro section that sets the drum pattern. Without a bass line or chordal elements it feels like marching on the spot. But a slow glissandi of noise creates a sense of movement as it descends into the melodic beginning of the track. There’s a stereo effect [&hellip

play song The track begins with a loose acoustic guitar panned left. I call it ‘loose’ because the main acoustic guitar that drives the track is sharp and rhythmic in comparison. This first acoustic is boomy and full sounding while the latter guitar is thinner and steelier. A deep bass guitar run introduces the song [&hellip