paindrop
ELECTRONICA / TRIP HOP

A Massive Attack-inspired track with an incredibly simple progressive structure and very clean sound - only taking an afternoon to write and record. Provides an atmospheric ambience, but I think its main virtues are also its failing. Too simple and too clean? Needs something more, if you ask me.

forgotten
CINEMATIC / TRIP HOP

I remember thinking this was the best track I had ever written at the time. In hindsight, I think the best of this period was Through the Haze. As a friend from New Zealand said, the strings are too thick in places - and there's perhaps a few to many musical ideas in general...

untouched by man
AMBIENT / DRUM'n'BASS

With this one, the title and music hint towards a theme of deforestation - the first time a title spawned a piece of my music, as opposed to a music going unnamed for weeks. Drum-'n'-bass with beats and ambience. By this point, my fondness for soulful cello parts begins to emerge...

through the haze
CINEMATIC / TRIP HOP / CHILL-OUT

I suppose this would be my most 'successful' track at the time. When I sent this album off to some music magazines, this is the track they liked. Both Computer Music and Sound on Sound liked the music, but felt the final mixing was a bit on the dodgy side. At the time, my computer was barely fast enough to keep time, which shows in places, but I think a little more mixing would make this a fresh-sounding chillout tune (see Album 4).

demons and angels
DREAM HOUSE / TRIP HOP / CHILL-OUT

Several people have said this was their favourite track, with a very professional sound. Essentially it is a light trip hop piece with ethnic overtones (helped by the 'prayer' sounds) and the obligatory sinister string solo. The sampled vocals also help add a silkiness to the final mix. If only I liked hip-hop...

bay of bengal
DANCE / WORLD

The chord patterns used in this piece have been floating around my head for months. A more dancey piece, the drum is clean and refined, but still lacks something. I like the ethnic guitar 'riff' and the crescendo in the middle, aspects that were copied into the third album's Mute track.

the road (remix II)
AMBIENT / POST-INDUSTRIAL / DANCE

This is yet another remix of the The Road track from the first album. There is a wonderful industrial, fire-and-brimstone drum beat at the start, which fills into a generic (viz. dull) dance beat. A higher quality, cleaner mix which adds to the original versions, but perhaps in places loses something of the original's body. Perhaps the lo-fi quality of the original actually helped...?

city in winter
CINEMATIC / ELECTRONICA

For this one, imagine yourself floating over the City London watching the early dormant streets, stations and buildings become inundated with briefcase wielding commuters and business persons. The mix is muddled, the drums are poor quality, but the idea's there. Some remixing and re-engineering would improve this. 

pacific blue
CINEMATIC / AMBIENT / TRIP HOP

This begins a pleasant and inoffensive enough track, with good 'moving' drums and piano, then slowly builds to a climax, which has a catchy chord pattern, but unfulfilled potential. Those strings are too thick again, and the end lacks a focal (vocal?) element...

paradise lost
CINEMATIC / AMBIENT / CHILL-OUT

Not a patch on the poem I'm afraid. The title refers to the structure - as the track before, the piece starts innocent and then turns a bit satanic - distorted guitars and rock drums, ultimately. Holds the same gripes as the previous two tracks, but could pass a listener's time.

a new generation
DREAM HOUSE / CLUB / BIG BEAT

Following a challenge from a friend to write some cheesy club music... I did - complete with dreamy female voice. I think the track is proficient, but the music fails to inspire me. It's got structure, and a decent homemade synth pad. But he loved it, and it found its way to the local club scene (see entry "Horsham", Crap Towns), so what do I know...!

let me be
CLUB / TRANCE / BIG BEAT

Following the precedent set by A New Generation, this is the second of my commercial-by-design attempts. I prefer it. The friend didn't. Starts with heavy breaks then morphs into a Chicane-esque club tune (~3:00). Definitely lacks structure, but some potential.

sankt nimmerlein's tag
NEW AGE / IRISH / ROCK

In the festive mood, this almost-Irish folk tune was started on the morning of St.Patrick's Day and finished the same day. Clearly, the synthesized instruments don't quite fit with the folk tradition (unless you like Enya), but if you can see past that, it ain't too bad - some cite it as their favourite track.

tour de force
AMBIENT / DRUM'n'BASS

Originally 'Tour de France', a new slightly more pretentious (viz. 'arty') name was found. Regardless, imagining a load of cyclists pedling down hill, through towns, etc. captures the feel of the piece. This was completed with only IT2 and my CS1x, but still makes passable 'intelligent' drum n' bass.