This review covers the trance track The Generator – Where Are You Now? (Moonman Remix).
This track was released in 1999 as part of a single.
The track starts with a general trance drum kit. A single note synth joins the track. After a few extra cymbal crashes, a brief vocoded voice sample makes an appearance. The bassline then comes in with an additional synth. Another vocoded voice sample makes an appearance before a synth melody joins the track. A snare roll then hits.
Large portions of the drum kit drop out. The synth melodies drop back while the vocoded voice samples gradually take over. Other elements also drop out. From there, small portions of the drum kit gradually come into the track. A synth melody then joins the track.
From there, the bassline re-joins the track along with more of the vocoded voice work. After that, the drum kit and main synth melody takes over. A synth pad also makes a subtle appearance here. The main melody then drops out, leaving the sub-melodies and bassline.
The vocoded voice makes some brief appearances again. Those pads make an appearance along with some synth strings. After that, the vocoded vocals return with parts of the track dropping out again. After that, the main synth melody takes over along with the full drum kit. The vocoded vocals return over top of everything as well.
That section ends with just the drum kit and sub melodies being left behind. Some of the synths gradually get pulled back as well. Some automation is added to the bassline before this too drops out. A high hat then leads the track out.
For me, the main synth melody is definitely a highlight. It really works well to not only give the track a nice sound, but also gives the track a nice way to establish itself.
Another major feature with this track is the vocoded vocals. I’m personally of a mixed opinion on this one. On the one hand, it really gives this track a very distinct sound. It also nicely offsets the main synth melody and gives this track a nice sense progression. On the other hand, it can be a bit tough to hear the lyrics. It would have been nice to hear a bit of an unfiltered variation in the vocals as well to offset the heavy filtering. It’s a pretty interesting feature, but by no means is it perfect.
The flow is also pretty reasonable as well. I like how it builds up and carries on throughout. The way it pulls back and comes back in in general works quite well.
Overall, this is a pretty solid track. It’s got some nice melodies and the flow works quite well. I do have a bit of a mixed feeling on the vocals, but that’s about the only real complaint I have. Still a track worth listening to.
Score
7/10
Drew Wilson on Twitter: @icecube85 and Facebook.
