one lap to go (xerxes_-_one_lap_to_go.it)

Overall Impression (10/10)

Xerxes is known for his atmospheric tunes, specifically for his signature percussion style, usually characterized by a slow beat and a bassline that uses several varieties of bass samples to achieve an interesting texture.

This is one of those tracks.

Technique, Arrangement, Composition (10/10)

This piece is not about tracker effects mastery, but more about using what's necessary to achieve the effect.

Xerxes uses the offset command to simulate a filtering effect, specifically on instrument 10, which then allows him to introduce subtle movement into the notes.

A use of vibrato on string notes gives them this very interesting flavor, reminiscent of a chorus effect.

While the beat largely doesn't change, its dynamics are well thought through and xerxes makes sure that notes are not played at a single volume, which gives his beat a pulsation that drives the whole tune.

Development (8/10)

What makes xerxes' works interesting is that he's figured out a balance for his tunes. His lows are restrained and are the backbone of the track. The rest of the sounds go organically on top, ranging from mid to high.

Panning is standard in a good sense of the word - lows are in the dead center, strings and some other instruments veer off from time to time.

I personally am not a huge fan of the panning envelope that has some higher string notes circle around all the time, but it's easily ignorable if it's not your thing.

The overall quality is very high. It sounds like a modern piece of electronic music made in a DAW and you would never think it is done in a tracker, as it lacks all the characteristic effects that trackers are known for.

Trackers don't have an EQ, unless you are using a modern tracker with plugins. This piece could definitely use some EQing to reduce the mids.

Creativity (10/10)

The development is atmospheric. Xerxes creates the foundation and then builds on top. Once the foundation is found, the rest is like adding shadows and colors to the original drawing.

There's a break in the middle, but otherwise the piece is homogeneous, which is exactly the artist's intention here.

Enjoyment (10/10)

This could stay looped in your background for hours, if you want to immerse yourself in this mood.

One small technical nitpick is that the way the piece is done, it doesn't lend itself to seamless looping in a tracker or a mod player, as there is a stray apttern at the end and when it restarts,as there is a fade out, and when it restarts, the strings continue playing on from the last patter. But I assume xerxes approached this is a standalone piece to be rendered to an mp3, not as a standalone mod piece.