retrospective anus (retrospective_anus.xm)

Overall Impression (10/10)

The overall impression can be described with one word: impressive.

Perhaps, due to the choice of the genre, but this is something you don't hear very often in mod music, and the way the brass and backing guitar is handled, while hints at sample usage, still demonstrates a ridiculous amount of skill and work put into this.

Technique, Arrangement, Composition (10/10)

Definitely a master at work.

In order to understand that, try shifting through the instruments. It is difficult to imagine that the source material could be used to create such an astounding arrangement, in spite there being some beat and brass samples.

A very clean handling of samples, simple and elegant volume enveloping of looped sounds like rides and cymbals, the speed slowing in the first pattern is an appealing visual experience. The transition in pattern 47 is equally satisfying.

The use of effects is beautifully utilitarian - everything is used for a specific musical purpose. The feeling is that the author went from the concept to implementation, not the other way around.

Perfect portamentos for the sine sound during the chorus part of the tune.

Development (10/10)

The stereo separation of instruments in this tune is nothing short of perfection. The mix is full, wide and professional, every sound sits tightly in the panorama.

Frequency balance is very even and the volume levels are perfectly aligned. Not once could I hear a mixing mistake anywhere.

One tiny quibble is that the string on channels 23 and 24 could have been changed more elegantly in places such as the end of pattern 24. The notes could have been placed in separate channels and faded out more cleanly. I tried it, and I like it better, although I can also understand that perhaps this way you can hear the punch of the incoming note better, so maybe that's what the author was going for.

Creativity (7/10)

Melodically the tune is actually nothing special and would probably be the least interesting part of the experience.

The chorus part is a bit too static from chorus to chorus and you shouldn't expect much variation. The reason for this might be technical: reliance on a limited set of samples precludes one from really exploring all the possibilities.

The excellent mix quickly becomes just a background, since the combo doesn't change throughout the track and your ears get used to all the elements. And it's one of those tracks that start out excellently, but you kind of never make it till the end.

Enjoyment (8/10)

Now, I might be a little bit unfair here, since the author really tries lots of variation, and I again think that he was sparring with the limited things he had to work with. And the breaks, chord changes and small little elements used are all very nice. For instance, the arpeggio at pattern 55 on channel 16 is so timely and so appropriate, I can't praise it enough.

The break at pattern 13 is good. And the melodies in general are solid: good jazz lead playing.

I guess what could have made this track more interesting was a more clear theme. When you listen to the initial patters with the brass backing, it seems exactly this: backing. But then it turns out, this IS the theme. And while the sine works, it still feels like background. One analogy I can make, perhaps, is that the refrain part of the tune would totally work as a hip-hop beat. But it seems to ask for something else.

Another suggestion, perhaps a more realistic one, would be to have less repetitions and just make the overall track twice as short. Take all the good parts, throw out repeating patterns and make it a non-stop variation ride.

Additional Comment

Not happy that the file is called "retrospective anus". I think that's a nasty name, and nothing within the module itself hints that this is what the author really called the track. If the author did actually call it that, that's a strange decision I cannot agree with.