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-- James Holden appreciation thread
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Which exactly are the pixie sounds in the tracks?

It's in the primary leads, which are drenched in delay as to make an indistinguishable barrage of sound...also giving rise to indistinct melodic meanderings that never seem to arrive anywhere. It's a sound that was milked all the way through 2004 by the likes of Leama & Moor.

For the first 1-2 years, I didn't mind it but it got to the boiling point as far as being overdone, even by Holden himself. Kudos to him for championing and really putting the sound on the map. I still enjoy some of it...like the aforementioned Mainline release on Bedrock (which is markedly more chilled than his solo remixes).

I have turned out the light
Nothing (Original and 93 Returning)
Innerspace

quote:

Originally posted by vinnie97 It's in the primary leads, which are drenched in delay as to make an indistinguishable barrage of sound...also giving rise to indistinct melodic meanderings that never seem to arrive anywhere. It's a sound that was milked all the way through 2004 by the likes of Leama & Moor. For the first 1-2 years, I didn't mind it but it got to the boiling point as far as being overdone, even by Holden himself. Kudos to him for championing and really putting the sound on the map. I still enjoy some of it...like the aforementioned Mainline release on Bedrock (which is markedly more chilled than his solo remixes).

Makes more sense now. Thanks for the explanation.

EDIT: Which track is at at min 21 in the EM?

Still a very creative, relevant and competent DJ and his latest works in the studio have been nothing short of decent IMHO. BC on the other hand seems to be on a downwards spiral. But Mr. Holden has been one of the landmarks of my EDM taste stepping stone and I consider him genius so I'm biased. I can't help but love the guy.



/mandatory

edit: seeing him in 2 weeks at electric zoo

quote:

Originally posted by Chimney Makes more sense now. Thanks for the explanation. EDIT: Which track is at at min 21 in the EM?

Ashtrax - Digital Reason (Ogenki Clinic Patamon mix)

Thanks man

Holden is one of those artists that I find increasingly interesting as his career unfolds, but simultaneously less enjoyable.

As I said in a previous thread, 2003-04 saw a beautiful retrospective halfway point between his Silver Planet days and the somewhat overcooked experimentalism from At the Controls onwards (not to say that I didn't enjoy "At the Controls").

As for Border Community, it has since come to feel like little more than an output folder for the casual musical tinkering of technically talented producers, without much serious lasting/listening value. The last thing I recall enjoying off BC was El Sunset, really.

Anyway, I don't think I could ever come to disown Holden from my top tier selection of favorite DJ's and producers, because although he hasn't really done much to grab my attention within the last few years, he's done it so astonishingly well many times before.

By the way, this thread needs more Wheel dropping:



Nothing short of incredible.

it's a cocoon track.

quote:

Originally posted by shonguiz it's a cocoon track.

Yeah, it was released on Cocoon E a few years back.

It's also a Holden track, which was the point.

quote:

Originally posted by Demoted For those who don't have it, here's a link to his 2002 EM. http://tedpromo.com/Essential%20Mix...es%20Holden.mp3 that's when Holden was producing really interesting tracks. The first hour or so is tremendous.

Cheers for posting this.

i guess im alone in thinking the only good thing he ever did was his remix of nathan fake sky was pink.



i keep wanting to hear something else by him even close to as good, i really want to, but its always boring synth pad heavy twinkly crap that goes nowhere. like when someone posted that cocoon track, the wheel, and said omg most awesome ever, i get so excited yay finally a good track other than his nathan fake remix, but yet i get let down once again and it turns out to be boring as fck like his other stuff. it actually almost makes me mad, like, how the the f are you going to release something this good, and then release a bunch of crap nowhere near as good. what is he trying to piss off a bunch of people or something? great, now im in a bad mood.

if you think there is another track better than his nathan fake remix, i would appreciate a youtube sample.

quote:

Originally posted by stev�sto i guess im alone in thinking the only good thing he ever did was his remix of nathan fake sky was pink. i keep wanting to hear something else by him even close to as good, i really want to, but its always boring synth pad heavy twinkly crap that goes nowhere. like when someone posted that cocoon track, the wheel, and said omg most awesome ever, i get so excited yay finally a good track other than his nathan fake remix, but yet i get let down once again and it turns out to be boring as fck like his other stuff. it actually almost makes me mad, like, how the the f are you going to release something this good, and then release a bunch of crap nowhere near as good. what is he trying to piss off a bunch of people or something? great, now im in a bad mood. if you think there is another track better than his nathan fake remix, i would appreciate a youtube sample.

Kirsty Hawkshaw - Fine Day
Britney Spears Remix


These are both better than the Sky Was Pink Remix

quote:

Originally posted by Guest Kirsty Hawkshaw - Fine Day Britney Spears Remix These are both better than the Sky Was Pink Remix

nope. thanks anyway though.

quote:

Originally posted by stev�sto i guess im alone in thinking the only good thing he ever did was his remix of nathan fake sky was pink.

yup

I can understand the "twinkly crap" sentiment...it was truly done to death and I already mentioned "The Sky Was Pink" as a massive remix but there are others worth hearing, some already mentioned. The Depeche Mode remix ("Darkest Star") is pretty huge.

As far as original works, there are some amazing compositions on the "Come to Me" single featuring Julie Thompson: http://www.discogs.com/Holden-Thomp...Me/master/37573

Speaking of classic progressive, "Horizons" was one of his first forays into the sound before he went all tinkly. The original was passable but Way Out West remixed the track to perfection back in 2000, and theirs is the version to seek out.

quote:

Originally posted by wotyzoid

thank you. this is decent, but still not as good as sky was pink remix. this one is too gloomy, it doesnt have as good as a beat, it doesnt have as much variation from beginning to end, has a simpler melody.

have you tried producing? after messing around with it for a few months myself, i listen to a track like Lump, and I hear a guy playing a 4 note melody, probably with one hand on his midi keyboard, and said ooh that sounds cool, so he loops that same melody throughout the whole song, and he just messes with parameters on the synth while the song plays. i can tell it didnt take long to make this track.

now, when i listen to sky was pink remix, i dont even know where to begin to make something like that.

quote:

Originally posted by stev�sto have you tried producing? after messing around with it for a few months myself, i listen to a track like Lump, and I hear a guy playing a 4 note melody, probably with one hand on his midi keyboard, and said ooh that sounds cool, so he loops that same melody throughout the whole song, and he just messes with parameters on the synth while the song plays. i can tell it didnt take long to make this track. now, when i listen to sky was pink remix, i dont even know where to begin to make something like that.

So you appreciate it for its engineering prowess? Because the melody isn't exactly terribly complex in that one, either.



His remix of "Nazi Trance Fuck Off" has some similar effects and sounds.

quote:

Originally posted by stev�sto have you tried producing? after messing around with it for a few months myself, i listen to a track like Lump, and I hear a guy playing a 4 note melody, probably with one hand on his midi keyboard, and said ooh that sounds cool, so he loops that same melody throughout the whole song, and he just messes with parameters on the synth while the song plays. i can tell it didnt take long to make this track.

Have you tried producing?

He did an EM with Nathan Fake a few years back. James' hour was awesome.

quote:

Originally posted by Paradox Lost Anyway, I don't think I could ever come to disown Holden from my top tier selection of favorite DJ's and producers, because although he hasn't really done much to grab my attention within the last few years, he's done it so astonishingly well many times before.

That's basically how I feel.

quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles "Nazi Trance Fuck Off"

hai

Respect the guy!

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