Interested in synths electronic music or music production in general?
Hell yeah, I became a fan on synthesizers in high school, when a friend taught me how to program and play them. Since then, I've been making electronic music, and I pretty much ended up in the career that I have because of synthesizers. I used to think synthesizers were cheesy, and a horrible evil that was introduced in the 80s, and destroyed the radio in the disgustingly formulaic epic trance era of the 90s, until I discovered Kraftwerk, which sounded unlike anything I had heard at the time. Now I realize that synthesizers in the 80s were often used by rock keyboardists who didn't know shit about how to program them, and just used presets from a DX7, because it sounded novel at the time. I've always been theoretically minded, and synthesizers provided a way for me to apply that in a musical context. I've never been a great keyboard player, probably because I started when I was 18, and frankly only practiced a lot the first couple of years I played, but I've kept up with production ever since, as it's something that requires less maintenance for me, and comes more naturally. I've always been using software synths, except early on, when I had a Nord Lead 2. Frankly, the advantage of having knobs was never enough for me, compared to the basically limitless control software offers. I like doing everything in real time, instead of having to record one part at a time. The only instrument hardware I have and regularly use is a Yamaha Motif ES8, which I've kept around mainly for it's amazing weighted keys. Seminal synth records for me: Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express (Trans Europe Express) Autechre - Tri Repetae (Eutow (I cannot recommend this track enough)) Carl Craig - More Songs About Food and Revolutionary Art (Televised Green Smoke) The Orb - The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld (Little Fluffy Clouds)
Frankly, these are two of my favourite movie sound tracks of the last 30-40 years. Maybe it's because I know where Hans Zimmer, John Williams and Howard Shore steal from, and I'm not as familiar with the "literature" of electronic music, but I feel like there's a level of individuality and creativity, and of mood-setting that just doesn't come across in a lot of the sweeping orchestral sounds that have become stereotypical of film scores as of late. There's definitely something to be said of the film music of an older time, however. In my opinion, it saved classical music from itself. Props also to Nino Rota, who not only wrote some amazing film music but also the best piece for Bass and orchestra ever written.
Fun Fact: I used some royalty-free Saint Saens and some royalty-free Berlioz in a ripoff of Indiana Jones last year. Aquarium is so obviously Indiana Jones it hurts. Here's my two favorites. I'm nowhere near as literate as you but I have my preferences.
I think that's one of the fun things about classical music - no one can know everything about it. As ignorant as you may or may not think you are, what you and I know are drops in the ocean in 500 years of music. I love that. I'm listening to the first link now. Diggin' it. thanks for the share.
Mark Isham is a crazy-ass scientologist but he's got some real skill. Thomas Newman I know less about, but more people know him for this thing than for less than zero: By the way, were you aware that in Europe, Legend didn't have a Jerry Goldsmith score it had a Tangerine Dream score? Changes the hell out of the movie.
I did know about the Tangerine Dream score. I think that as a standalone piece, the Jerry Goldsmith score is better, but in-movie, the Tangerine Dream score is a little less intrusive. It definitely has a creepier vibe, though. The Goblins in particular come off a lot more darkly comedic.
I listened to this a few hundred times (on cassette, in my car) when I was a lad. Must find a copy and re-listen. Somewhat surprised that no one has yet mentioned Tomita
Yes. I'm Huge fan of synthy music. I play nothing, but I listen to a lot of Goblin and Tangerine Dream amongst other synth based artists.
Speaking of synths, here's a pretty epic assortment/performance that popped up in my feed today. http://soultrain.com/2013/08/01/the-80s-the-1985-grammy-award-synthesizer-jam/
This was my favourite synth album from back-in-the-day - synth and keyboard god RIck Wakeman's take on a Jules Verne classic : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journey_to_the_Centre_of_the_Earth_%28album%29
Yep. I currently am running a Roland jx8, dsi mopho, some home built modular ish circuits, an electribe, ad somewhere I have the nord lead :) Still trying to come up on an Jupiter 6 or 8 or the mks version they made would be awesome as well
I own a Korg R3. It's fun, but I can't do too much with it. I love the sound of the Oberheim OBX because of two songs:
Subdivsions and Jump
I just really like synthesizer music in general, especially if it's going for an 80's sound. http://dynatron.bandcamp.com/ But modern stuff is cool too And let's not forget the video game soundtracks
Hell yes! I recently added the craigslist app to my phone so that I could scrub the "musical instruments" section every day. Old analog synths are awesome. A guy I played music with, bkessler has the greatest collection of synths I've seen. They're a blast and if you know how to play them, they can sound amazing. So expressive. I also love electric pianos/organs. My favorite sound ever is that of a mellotron. I want one. Someday, someday. Also, great to see you around khaaan. It's been a while.