Over-engineered?

Magical Dream · Post by **Magical Dream** » 30 Jan 2005 16:47

Does anyone feel that some 808 tracks are 'over-cooked'? I personally think there is a fine line in having lots of layers in your tunes and counter-rhythms etc but sometimes a simple riff would suffice? The most successful 808 tunes have simple tunes which u can whistle in your head.

Whats your thoughts on this guys?

subcon959 · Post by **subcon959** » 30 Jan 2005 17:06

On the contrary, I think it's the elaborate engineering that makes the tracks.

The simple tunes are nice party tracks/floor-fillers, but not my personal favourites.

Can you give an example of a track that you think is over-engineered?

Magical Dream · Post by **Magical Dream** » 13 Feb 2005 18:00

I think alot of the tracks on DS are over-engineered. In yer face, cubik, magical dream etc are examples of tunes that were not 'over-crowded'
Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting 808 should 'dumb down' their music, but sometimes I feel too many ideas are fused into one track...Just my opinion.

PS I also think the chisler is a clever track.

1990techno · Post by **1990techno** » 21 Feb 2005 03:32

Well DS seems to go in a slightly different direction production, sound wise.
The tracks you listed have that repetitive melody/ lead part.

Cubik from UTD 90 has a lot going on in it. One of my favorite versions.

Magical Dream · Post by **Magical Dream** » 09 Aug 2005 16:35

The melodic element was the crux in differentiating between regular acid of the early days and 808.

Magical Dream · Post by **Magical Dream** » 09 Aug 2005 16:52

Marcus, I hope this doesn't turn into another one of the (many) 'have 808 State lost their way posts'.

Just to say that some of the material in the tunes could have been stretched into 2 or 3.

PS La luz is a crackin wee tune.

Pob · Post by **Pob** » 09 Aug 2005 20:12

I think its a fair comment.

Didn't Graham himself say that he thought there were too many ideas in 'Lift' and that it shouldn't have been released as a single?

Personally, I think that the creation of multi-layered rich dance music is an incredibly difficult thing to do and it is what makes 808 stand out from the tosh. It could also be the reason why they appear to have fallen out of hearts of the mainstream public who only seem to yearn for a four layer record - drum, synth, bass and a stupid vocal that loops endlessly.

red · Post by **red** » 10 Aug 2005 15:37

I'd have to say that what drew me to 808state originally were the multi layers in the music, pacific is a tune you could hum but there's plenty of other stuff going on in the track, cobra bora which i guess i've already said is a favourite is incredibly multi layered and 808 at their inventive best in my opinion, from what i've heard of their later or more recent works they've simplified things a bit too much although there's still quite a bit i haven't heard....